Winter

“To think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted.”

George Kneller 

Participating in an exchange to a country where the winter climate is in direct contrast to ours at home on the Gold Coast is intriguing, exciting and forces us to look at things with new eyes. The seemingly insignificant becomes more interesting.  What is often taken for granted or dismissed becomes a point of interest.  From the humble swing set, to a fence line to a fire hydrant - they all take on a whole new look.

Some locals try to escape the ravages of winter for warm weather and blue skies in places like Hawaii or Mexico.  I guess this akin to birds travelling South for the winter.  Granted the days are certainly shorter and the skies are much greyer, the sun hardly peaks its head out to say hello.  I do miss the sun and blue skies, yet I can't seem to get enough of the 'white stuff'.

Minus temperatures, heavy snowfall and ice create a landscape far different than what we are used to. It is treacherous, yet beautiful and gives us the opportunity to participate in activities and experiences we would be unlikely to come across at home.  Take this morning for example.  On the playground at the boys school we saw snow forts, children tobogganing, a see saw covered in snow and snow angel imprints.  Today Caleb is heading off to Crystal Mountain to try cross country skiing for the first time.
By being here we have seen that the boys are accepting of, excited by, and more than willing to try new things which is really heartening.  Perhaps in time this will translate to their own desire to see the world, to be daring and adventurous or to maybe just enjoy with whole heartedness the simple things life has to offer.

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you make look back and realize they were the big things.” ~Robert Brault

Shoes on the telephone wires

Looking out the kitchen window

Frost on some glass panelling

I call these snowy plum puddings

Swings to get a cold bum by!!!