Mosaic Monday #108: Christmas Spirit

Are you in the Christmas spirit?  How would you describe Christmas spirit?  I think we all know it when it arrives, but can we capture it in words, this force that can be as fleeting as a snowflake landing on your tongue? Perhaps ...

It's a feeling of lightness, a joy that overcomes any problems or burdens.  For me, songs can be a trigger.  Songs such as We Need a Little Christmas and A Marshmallow World.

It's a feeling that makes you want to reach out and hug the person closest to you, even if it's a stranger on the street.  Sometimes, when I am Christmas shopping on my own, I get this little shiver of excitement when I know I have found just the right gift for someone.  Happiness like that should be shared! (and it will be again, post pandemic!)

(I like to treat myself to lunch out, when shopping.  These days, I choose carefully.  And we discovered a new place nearby, the Big Mountain Ciderworks, which produces its own cider and makes great food, too.)

It's the comfort of traditions, which anchor us.  I love it when the emcees announce the arrival of Santa at the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and say that Santa heralds the beginning of the holiday season.

It's the deep sense of contentment when the "halls" have been "decked".

It's the awe of strolling through a winter wonderland, each twig and pine needle sparkling with the diamond sheen of hoarfrost.  Does this even come close to the awe the shepherds felt looking upon the manger?

It's the delight of time with family, playing games, baking holiday goodies or just being in the same room.  

(Head Chef developed a recipe for a deliciously warming martini that we have been enjoying regularly.  2 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. apple cider, 1 oz. sweet vermouth, 1/4 oz. orange juice, 1/4 oz. Cointreau)    

(A shout out to Pat at Mille Fiori Favoriti for the inspiration and recipe for this Pumpkin Buttermilk Pound Cake.  FABULOUS!)

It's the comfort of crafting/artistry, curled up on the couch near a roaring fire.

It's looking after critters, as they try to survive through the cold and deep snow.

(The chickadees know that I am a source of food. Every time I leave the house when the feeders are empty, they will fly up to me and scold me for my lack of attention.  The video above was taken immediately after the feeder was re-filled - my goodness, what a flurry of activity!)

It's a feeling of warmth, a glow that radiates from within.  Cold can't penetrate it; world news can't put it out.  The Good News prevails.

I pray, as 2020 draws to a close, that you are in good spirits, be they tied to Christmas or another tradition.  From my house to yours, I wish you lightness, joy, comfort, contentment, awe, delight and warmth.  

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. Tuesday (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. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter