Finding Color in Winter

I am constantly on the lookout for great photo spots. During this winter season we've been blanketed in the color of white (which I do find beautiful) . . . but as the snow melts our whitescape becomes more muddy, gritty, grungy, brownish. Not so beautiful. So in search of some color, I recently noticed a couple of spots in the area that were calling to be photographed. I convinced my "middle model" to join me on an adventure, with the promise of picking out a treat at the end. {Please tell me most parents resort to bribing their children from time to time?}

{This darling crochet brown hat is from chloereese . . . I just ordered a couple of hats last week and I was anxious to get them. As I was ready to leave for this shoot, they magically appeared in the mailbox and I was delighted. I highly recommend this website for children's hair accessories!!}

{A wonderful friend let me borrow her canon 70-200L f/4 lens for this shoot. I did enjoy it . . . and am even more hopeful that some day I may acquire the 70-200L f/2.8 IS lens. I did "try on" the f/2.8 recently and it was "beauty and the beast" all in one. The f/4 does have an appeal in being slightly less monstrous!}

{This one makes my heart flutter. She's just gorgeous! Minutes after this she asked, "Can we go home yet?" Doesn't she know this is as good as it gets?!?}

{Childhood. Imagination. Surreal. Great location, eh?}