How do you develop your visual vocabulary?

I was just out walking in the woods and got drawn to a beautiful ice formation. I have no idea whether or how it will make its way into my creative work, but it is compelling to me. So I stop and look at it and soak it up. 

What I have found over and over is that later, sometimes much later, I will realize that I have made something that was inspired or influenced by something I saw. Its like it goes in and sits in the reservoir, or maybe it ferments like a good wine or a cheese, and emerges of its own when it is ripe.

The other thing about it is that taking that time to be pleased by what pleases me, is nourishing and gives me energy to keep moving with all that I am doing and creating. It reminds me that I am connected to something much larger than myself, that I am part of a living breathing earth. I don't have to feel so alone.

And, as an added bonus, that niggling hunger that is never really satisfied with the chips and chocolate that calls to me when I am not feeling nourished subsides a bit.