West Michigan's Winter Color Palette

As January creeps to an end, many of us are growing weary of early morning car-scraping and donning seven layers just to get the mail. The winter grays (i.e. wanting to bury yourself in a pile of blankets until spring) are settling in. And yet, somewhere in the twitter world, somebody recently wrote that our dear state is shaped like a mitten just to remind us how much fun Michigan is during this oh-so-chilly season. Perfect timing for this fabulous notion!

This week, I would like to give you a challenge. Pull on those mittens, Michiganders! Emerge from your blanket cocoon and brush away the grays. In fact, I want you to take a moment to notice how very not-gray West Michigan winters are. When you go outside to take part in your favorite snow-bound activity, whether it be cross-country skiing, downhill racing, tobogganing, snowshoeing or simply building a snowman (snow sport ideas), stop and ask yourself what colors you're actually seeing. Typically, clouds aren't really white and gray; they're purple, yellow, and blue. Is winter water gray or does it have reflecting golds and orange?

Below are three images I took over the weekend paired with colors pulled from the photograph. Look at the rainbow we have!

Forget the grays and enjoy West Michigan's winter palette while exploring the great outdoors this week. While you're at it, perhaps you can snap a few images of your own to share in next week's West Michigan Wednesday.

High five,

-Shannon