See Beautiful: If You Look

I'm going to be honest with you. I lacked inspiration for this month's See Beautiful post.

It's not that there wasn't tons of beauty. It's just that it was holiday and family-related. The kind of thing you would have to be family to be even remotely interested in. Also, the kids understandably don't want our private holiday zaniness on the web for all to see. 

However there's one photo I took of my granddaughter Christmas night that her mother already shared online:

She's showing the waving hologram of Mickey Mouse her new Minnie Mouse watch.

So, anyway, stumped, I came across Sugar's post. "Beauty is all around us." Looking out the window at the dreary, cold, gray winter day, I decided to take Sugar's phrase as inspiration. Is there beauty in my neglected back yard? With camera in hand and Toby beside me, we went out to see.
Here are the results.

"It's been twenty minutes. Time to go in, don'cha think?"

I love the double cowlick on Toby's chest.

Can you tell it was spinning?

It's a tree on a tree. Or an arrow. Rorschach test?

 All this time I could hear the birds chattering away. I wanted so badly to try to photograph them, but they weren't close enough. It was maddening to know they were all around our yard, but not in it because of my presence.
Then just as I was ready to give up, a cardinal came in. He was soon followed by chickadees, juncos, and a mourning dove!  

Thank you Sugar of Golden Woofs for hosting the {This Moment} See Beautiful blog hop, and for reminding me that you can see beautiful everywhere but you have to look!