
Welcome to the new year of monthly color challenges for 2026. My color challenges are available now on my Sunday Stills page.
January’s colors recall ice, glaciers, and colors you would see in the winter months or in the water. The delicate colors of icy blue, reminiscent of freshly fallen snow …

… contrast beautifully with the warm tones of aquamarine, evoking images of sparkling, sunlit waters.

Winter
“He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter.” — John Burroughs
The interplay between cool and warm shades captures the essence of the season, reminding us of the beauty of nature in the coldest months of the year. These icicles hanging from the front of our house were seen through the transom window. What an interesting contrast with the aquamarine vase placed there.

Winter roadtrips yield fresh, cold landscapes.

Even our home and property look like a winter wonderland.

These colors evoke a sense of tranquility and calm, inviting us to reflect on nature’s quiet beauty.
Are you shivering in your boots? Let’s dive into summer’s version of aquamarines and icy blues, promising warmth and vibrancy in contrast to the harsh winter season.
Summer (or Someplace Like It)
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” – John Steinbeck
Human and Avian snowbirds head south for the winter when possible. Before we made the permanent move to the Northwest, we regularly joined our families in Southern California during the holidays. Aquamarine ocean water greeted us during a visit to San Diego’s La Jolla Cove and in the gap left in the Pacific Beach Pier.


During three separate Januaries, we also flew further south to bask on the wind-swept shores of the Sea of Cortez to enjoy adventures in Baja Sur, Mexico. The summer-like temperatures were a balm to the soul.

“What exists beneath the sea? I’d always pictured it in colors of emerald and aquamarine…” – Kelly Easton
I found quiet serenity floating in the aquamarine waters as I waited for the huge whale sharks to visit.

And when they visited?? Whoa!


Sharing this week for Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday.

Whether you live in the northern hemisphere and enjoy snowy winters, or head south to the warmth of summer-like weather, the colors of icy blue and aquamarine will be found in those places
Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders
The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.
- Remember to title your blog post a little differently from mine.
- Please create a new post for the theme or link to a recent one.
- Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
- Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
- Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
- I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.
If you are participating in the photo challenge, I look forward to seeing how you interpret this week’s color challenge theme! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme. Join me next week as we explore 10/Ten (the number, decade, years, symbols, etc.).

“Great shades of blue, you find them in nature. They’re all magic.” – Bryan Batt

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What is YOUR perspective? Please include your name if WP identifies you as “anonymous.