Birch bark

... peeling in the frosty morning sunshine.

Our birch tree is currently shedding some of its bark, as it seems to do at this time of year.
Birch bark, apart from having a lovely texture and silvery appearance is actually useful stuff.
Native Americans used to use it for canoe construction and wigwam coverings. Long ago, birch bark containers were used for the storage of food, making fishing gear and musical instruments.
Even today birch bark remains a popular type of wood for various handicrafts and arts.

That's today's nugget of information brought to you by digitaldave!