When we stopped at Stevens Pass to stretch our legs, I tried to devilishly form a sad-looking snowball from the light snow that covered the ground.

BBC: A route of life-changing moments

Things got worse by the Toys "R" Us store, where there was competition from a Mickey and Minnie, two Super Marios, a SpongeBob, another Elmo and a sad-looking Hello Kitty.

WSJ: Getting Into a Character

Pablo and Anselmo knew how good they were and while Pablo stood now proud and less sad-looking, watching them lovingly, the old man acted as though they were some great surprise that he had produced, suddenly, himself.

NPR: Robert Jordan, Hemingway's Bipartisan Hero

There are other pitfalls that can thwart a novice and leave well-intended plantings looking sad.

WSJ: Who Put Lettuce in My Daffodils?