By the Bucket

After shutting down the stream due to sub-freezing weather returning, I noticed that a water-filled bucket had frozen over again. This was not surprising.

What was surprising was how very pretty the ice was.

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It wasn't your normal white or clear ice, as you can see. Well, maybe it was clear, but the dirty water in the bucket combined with the sunlight shining through the sides of the white plastic bucket resulted in a golden glow that really caught my eye.

Add to that the tiny streams of bubbles that were captured in the ice, and you have something that wouldn't be out of place on TV during a Sunday afternoon NFL commercial break.

In fact, let me start this post over...

"What's refreshingly icy, a smooth amber color, and enlivened by tiny streams of bubbles?"

"It's a bucket full of frozen leaf-stained water of course!"

I really love the colors in this bucket, and the bubble details are very satisfying.

reflection of crispy bamboo leaves

Luckily I came outside at just the right time, when the sunlight was hitting the side of the bucket. Otherwise I would probably have walked right by and missed this. I often wonder how many cool things I miss in the garden every day because I'm not in the right place at the right time, or I'm just not paying close enough attention.

I guess that's why I spend so much time down on the ground looking at ants or spiders or mushrooms or frost or any of dozens of other captivating garden subjects: the first step to seeing is looking!