Saturday, January 5, 2019

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.











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.
 


39 comments:

  1. Those are all fantastic photos and Josie sure looks cozy!

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  2. It sounds like you had a good Christmas.

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  3. I didn't make fruitcake but did make a fruit bread, Yule Kaga, a piece of my heritage. I found candied citron early so put it away to bake later. Sometimes close to Christmas it is all gone in the local stores. - Margy

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  4. I enjoyed your Post for MosaicMonday... wish you and of course your family a very good New Year!
    Heidrun

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  5. ...Christmas sure was a busy time for you, Happy New Year.

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  6. Looks and sounds like a wonderful holiday! And finally, someone else who loves fruitcake...lol We are having a snowy day down here. Watching the playoffs! I hope you have a wonderful New Year. Kit

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  7. You have great neighbors and friends! Glad you had a good trip to celebrate with loved ones. Love those hedgehog chocolates. A very Happy New Year to you and yours, Angie!

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  8. Cheers,Angie! Your winter photos are stunning. Seeing your fruitcake has me wanting to make one. It's been decades since I baked one. The Careers game has me curious....I just read the Wikipedia article. It sounds like the format I used to write career articles. hahaha.

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  9. Cheers to 2019, Angie. I love seeing each of these mosaics with a hint at all you have been up to. And I love playing board games! Monopoly is my favorite, but no one to play with. What mosaic program do you use? I've been a longtime Picmonkey fan, but they have changed their format. I am so frustrated! I couldn't get any mosaics made for this post and had to pull in my top nine from IG. I need a solution! Why Picmonkey did away with a straightforward and easy format i do not know!!!
    Thanks for hosting!

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  10. yum, you sure ate well. Being from Florida, I see anyone able to snow ski as very cool. Really pretty pics and lucky you to have a family like yours!

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  11. HI Angie
    Happy New Year! I am back from my mini blog break for Christmas. It looks like you had a lovely Christmas filled with family, fun and good food. I have the same "Go To The Head of The Class" game from the 80's--my children loved to play it and I'm hoping my grandchildren will too when they get a little older.

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  12. Dearest Angie; Happy New Year from Japan. I really wished to taste yours and your neighbor's delicious looking sweets -;) I truly enjoyed your winter scenery and nature (animals) which we cannot see where we live.
    I'm looking forward to reading your next post; my mother died at the age of 69 and I have no immediate family now. 卒寿 (sotujyu) is the special name for the celebration of 90th birthday.
    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend, xoxo Miyako*

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  13. a lot of nice things going on in your place. My world is foggy today and not that nice at all :(

    Happy New Year to you and yorus :)

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  14. Looks and sounds like you had a fantastic Christmas Angie. Your neighbours are very generous and kind to deliver such beautiful presents. If you are like us though, you are on chocolate and cake overload so now we are trying to cut the calories. for a while at least.

    Here's wishing you and SU a happy and Prosperous New Year. say hello to your Mom too.

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  15. What a month you had. Great food, games, relaxing, celebrating, being with family, and observing your wildlife neighbors.Your month makes mine look pretty tame.

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  16. I hear you, regarding the hare. When I've been walking, they pop out and scare me. It's really funny!
    Wonderful photos!

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  17. Happy New Year, Angie. A delightful tapestry of photos make for a great virtual visit to your world. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. How nice to see the snow while we broil under the Summer sun here in Australia... Even virtual snow is welcome here! :-)

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  19. We love playing games at our gatherings too, Angie. Especially word games, and yes I see a Scrabble board there :-)

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  20. Happy New Year !!!!
    The crackers in your Santa Platter look like "Crix' baked by Bermudez in Trinidad and Tobago

    much love...

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  21. What a marvelous photo post with all kinds of nature delights! Love your kitty amongst the Xmas gifts ~ ^_^

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  22. Happy New year to you, beautiful photos and discription of the food smells...yum!! Love the snow photos. It is wonderful all the family can get together even if just for a short time.

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  23. Sounds like a really delightful Christmas. Good food, fun with family, some fresh air and exercise. It is wonderful to get home after a trip, so enjoy settling in.
    Happy New Year, Angie!

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  24. You had a wonderful Cristmas - delicious plates and fun with the family <3 You look so great all of you in the skiing photo and I loved the snowy views with wildlife. Here the Christmas weather was grey and wet - no winter wonderland. But it reappeared last night - out to photograph as the world gets lighter.

    Wishing you Happy 2019!

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  25. Wonderful shots! You sure know how to create good memories for the future.

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  26. Pygmy Owls are diurnal hunters so it is not surprising to see them during the day. In fact they are fairly easy to call in by imitating their call, which is quite easy. It will also bring in a whole bunch of songbirds seeking to drive the owl away. Your sighting of the owl was the best Christmas gift of all in my opinion!

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  28. What an exhaustively satisfying Christmas you've had in a wonderland filled with good food, family and friends. My very best wishes to you and yours in the New Year!

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  29. Looks like you had a great holiday season with fun, family and food. Happy New Year and may you create lots of new memories for 2019.

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  30. Hi Angie wow what a lovely post love all the gifts and love your pics,hope you and your family have a safe and happy New Year my friend xx

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  31. such a wonderful photo of you and family while skiing and snowboarding.

    happy new year

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  32. love allthe photos angie i see josie is as inquisitive still as ever. happy new year to you both.l.u.l. xx,joy,

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  33. Hope this belated Happy New Year wish finds you safely at home after your birthday visit. And belated best to your mother! Your December review was fun ....beautiful scenery, great wildlife, fun family time, and food that made me glad I’d just finished a meal (and yet still made me hungry). Thank you for MM!.

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  34. What a lovely post.
    It looks and sounds like you had a great holiday season with family - enjoying lots of fun and eating delicious food.

    Wishing you a happy and healthy 2019, my good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  35. Such a beautiful collection of photos Angie! I always wonder about people who are traveling in airports too, so many people going so many places, lots of stories indeed. It always feels good to get away, but the best part is being back in your own bed! Love the gorgeous pictures you shared of winter in your backyard, how wonderful to spot the owl! We have coyote visitors too, but have never captured them on our trail cam. I haven't used any collages in my posts, so I won't share my blog, but I am truly grateful to have found yours, blessings and hugs :)

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