Beyond The Snow

March has arrived, and it may be an understatement to say that most of us are ready to move beyond winter. I’m of the same mindset. It usually takes me until March, at the earliest, to get into a non-winter way of thinking. I love the winter months and have since I was a child. As I grow older, I know that all things need rest, even the joys of winter. With that, let’s jump into what has been happening around these parts.

I started February with a spark of an idea. As I was on my daily morning nature walks with Stormy, as we have diligently done these past 4 years, I was enjoying the cold February mornings and viewing all the sights and sounds that we have become accustomed to. There is nothing super exciting in the way of scenery along the miles of walking trails we explore. But there are things of interest, at least for me. And of course, Stormy loves just running through the trees, brush, and grasses. So it’s always exciting for him. 

We explore a large park with miles of off-pavement trails, which we always choose to take. Scattered throughout roughly 600 acres of parkland are numerous bird boxes. These are specifically Bluebird boxes. However, over the years, some have been worked on by woodpeckers, flickers, and undoubtedly other birds in attempts to make a home out of them.

These Bluebird boxes are attached to mostly metal posts and then anchored to the ground. I have seen them for years, never thinking too much about them other than occasionally seeing a Bluebird or two hanging around them.  Which in itself is a tremendous joy to watch.

Spark of an idea?

On one early February morning, I had the idea of taking a picture of many of these bird boxes with the thought of making a photo project with them. That is the basis of my Sepia Textured Bird Boxes. 

Since there was nothing particularly appealing visually about any of these birdboxes, I wanted to put a little personal creative touch on them. February isn’t known for much in the way of color in these parts. The landscape after a long winter remains for the most part brown, still in its winter slumber state. 

I kept things as simple as possible when processing these images. A conversion to black & white, a warm-toned sepia filter, a varying textured overlay. That’s about it. 

So, with some creative ideas and a little time with a creative thinking cap on my little February project came to be. 

I’m sharing 12 photos in this project series. If you click on them, you can get a larger view. In the lower left corner will be the number of the bird box. I have numbered them 1 through 12. If you have a favorite, let me know in the comments. I do have a favorite, so I’m curious if anyone else might. If I get a few others’ opinions, I will share mine as well. You will also notice one bird feeder. For some reason, I felt a need to include it as well. Hey, birds have to eat! 

A bluebird box is perhaps the easiest and most rewarding way to do something good for the environment.
– North American Bluebird Society

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.
~Hal Borland

Thanks for visiting!

I will see you next month with more photos, stories, and adventures.
Take care.

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