Mosaic Monday #9 - December Delights

Josie cat-napping by the Christmas pillow

Welcome to Mosaic Monday 2019!  As I begin this post, I am typing from a concourse at the Cincinnati Airport.  I look around at my fellow passengers, and wonder about their stories.  I imagine that most of them are returning home after a holiday trip, as we are.  College kids heading back to school.  Or business people wrapping up a short week.  Yes, Christmas and New Year's are once more in the rear view mirror.  But I can extend my holiday spirit by scanning my photo gallery from December.  Will you join me?






FESTIVE FARE

Preparing fruitcake at the beginning of the month is one of our Christmas customs (see last year's post on this topic).  Every year, we exercise the ultimate patience until Christmas morning to enjoy the rich, brandy-infused flavor of the cake, accompanied by a slice of cheddar cheese.  

In the meantime, neighbors and friends spoiled us with delicious foodstuffs and food-oriented gifts.

Breakfast made with deer sausage from our neighbors

"Hedgehog" Chocolates from former neighbors in Cleveland

Handmade cupcakes from one of our neighbors

Santa platter from one of our neighbors

FAMILY TIME

The family that plays together, stays together!  I got my fill of board games after #1 Son arrived home, and I won't even hold it against him that he had the winning record.









On Christmas morning, the stockings were full and the tree surrounded by gifts; what a relief to know that Santa could find our new house!  Josie hid among the bags and boxes when she wasn't nibbling on ribbons …

As we lounged in front of the fire throughout the day, the aroma of turkey, ham and other mouth-watering vittles wafted through the house.  As always, Spousal Unit fed us well, and a clean kitchen with all the dishes and pots washed was our payback - a win-win for everyone!  (Christmas crackers are customary at our Christmas table - this party favor consists of a decorated cardboard cylinder that typically contains a paper crown, a joke/riddle, a snap that opens with a BANG and a gift or novelty item.)

And a winter in Montana is not complete without skiing and snowboarding - although #1 Daughter was only home for four days, we managed to squeeze in a family outing at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

FOREST SPLENDOR

A glittering winter wonderland is only as far as our back forty at this time of year.  The barren aspen branches reveal the summer nests that were previously hidden from view.  How cute they are with their elfin caps of snow!

Animal tracks are prolific; you could spend many a happy hour following them.  Despite my best efforts, I have yet to locate the burrows of the snowshoe hares that hop in a seemingly willy-nilly way throughout the woods.  I've been a little luckier with the trail cam, capturing squirrels, a healthy buck and one of my favorites, the coyote.

On one of our walks to check the trail cam, #1 Daughter and I spotted a pygmy owl high atop a pine - I couldn't believe it was out in the middle of the day in such a conspicuous spot!  Both shots are poor, but you get the idea!

FAST-FORWARD TO 2019

In my next post, I'll write about our trip to Ohio, which was centered on the celebration of my Mother's 90th birthday.  For now, I am eager for home.  To see fresh-fallen snow around the log house.  To be greeted by our cats at the mud room door.  To sleep in my own bed.  To have time to re-connect with all my blogging buddies.  I pray that Christmas and New Year's brought you joy and peace, and I merrily anticipate all that 2019 will bring as we share our journeys.

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.
Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us. 

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