Grey seasons need some smiling, e.g. by looking to this from both sides:
Sodium Sulfate crystallizes from water solution in many shapes, also under coverslide as shown, taking several days. The smallest crystals produce almost no polarization color, so my 1230nm-retarder gives only the background. Objective 20x. Translation: DESERT SCENE / DISPAIRED TINKERER.
Keep smiling!
Ernst Hippe