Mosaic Monday #115: Jolly, Jubilant and Joyous

January 2021 is treating me well.  From winter recreation to Whitefish Winter Carnival merriment to the invigorating inauguration of President Biden, I have a myriad of reasons for celebration.  

La Nina may not have delivered the mounds of snow that we expected, but we have enough to support our winter sports, including downhill and cross-country skiing.  And it's only January 24; lots of "winter" remains!!!

Last week brought a wild wind storm that tumbled trees and power lines, knocking out power across the valley.  We were fortunate to be without electricity for only a few hours; some waited a couple of days!  We have newly resolved to purchase a generator.

Whitefish has been the home of the Whitefish Winter Carnival for over 60 years, and I have been fortunate to be involved since the fall of 2019.  My main responsibility has been the design and sale of the Carnival buttons, a role I share with another Board member.  This year, none of our traditional events will be held as a safety precaution.  (If you need a refresher, I wrote extensively about the final weekend of 2020 Carnival in my February 16, 2020 post.  My March 2, 2018 post explains many of the other traditions.)  This presented an opportunity for the Board to find creative ways to keep the spirit of Carnival alive.  The theme SURVIVOR was chosen, and this opened the door to brainstorm "challenges" that could be entertaining and safe. (If you have ever watched the show, you know contestants have to participate in various challenges.)

The community has enthusiastically responded - businesses have helped create and conduct challenges, and people have jumped at the chance for distraction and prizes!  To mention just a few: The Great Toilet Paper Challenge required participants to guess the number of toilet paper rolls in the shop window at Imagination Station.  The Virtual Penguin Plunge raises money for Special Olympics; by February 6, teams will film themselves "freezin' for a reason" - I surmise this could take many forms!  The Stumptown Art Studio is hosting Technicolor Yeti, a ornament painting contest.  Double the Bubble, Double the Fun is sponsored by Sage & Cedar; competitors will estimate the number of soap slices sold in 2020.  First place wins this stuffed yeti and a slice of soap!

Given my role selling buttons to the businesses, it quickly evolved that I became heavily engaged in coordinating quite a few of the challenges.  Imagine my delight when, for my contribution "to the realm", I was knighted last week.  The Executive Director of the Museum where I volunteer lured me there early, with the ruse of a special project.  Little did I know that the royalty was gathering nearby.  I am not on the Board for the recognition, but it is wonderful to be appreciated!  (During a knighting, the Prime Minister reads the scroll, King Ullr performs the knighting, and the Queen of the Snows places the ribbon on the new "liege of the realm".  The knight is also presented with pins from the King and Prime.)  I was so surprised, I was crying - masks are good for more than just viruses!

January has been a historic month in the US for several reasons; for diehard Cleveland Browns fans, the 2020-2021 season marked the first time in 18 years that their beloved team made it to the playoffs!  With great anticipation, we gathered around the big screen on January 10 for the match-up with the Steelers.  There is no love lost between these long-time rivals, and almost no one was predicting that the Browns could win.  But win they did, 48-37.  Such vindication, especially considering the head coach, Kevin Stefanski, was sequestered in the basement of his house due to COVID exposure.  The following week, we battled with the Kansas City Chiefs, and eventually succumbed 22-17.  I think I speak for all the fans when I write that we are very pleased with the season, and are ready for even greater things next season!

Mid-month, I was tickled to get a text from a neighbor, offering us fresh eggs.  Together with her husband, she is on 28-day cleanse and couldn't use the abundance produced by her hens.  It was fabulous to find this basket on our front porch the next morning; eggs in many colors and sizes, some of them practically luminous.  And you know the taste is so much richer and deeper than store eggs!

A friend of ours from Cleveland came for a week-long visit; he just departed yesterday.  I have christened Tim the "Best Guest from the Midwest" - he is generous to a fault, and helps around the house during his stay.  Apart from our kids, he has been our most frequent visitor and the next time he comes, I will probably have a sign on the guest room door that reads "Tim's Room".   

The day we visited Kootenai Falls, a train passed by and our waving prompted the engineer to blow the horn.  I love trains!

The month has also seen other blissful moments. The storm I mentioned at the beginning of this post shredded my moose flag beyond further repair, so I purchased a new one.  A Christmas gift I ordered for Spousal Unit (chocolate liqueurs) finally arrived.  Deer by the creek, captured on my trail cam.  A sunrise over Whitefish Mountain Resort on the way to work.  The sparkle of a million snowflakes, glistening in the meadow as I ski with Dear Neighbor Friend.  We all have our problems, and the world certainly does, but at these times, I am filled with cheer and optimism.

I will leave you with one final video.  Winter Carnival conducted a Songwriter's Challenge, with several terrific entries.  The winner, "Wake Me" by Big Sky City Lights, is a showcase for the talent that thrives in the Flathead Valley.  It is a song about hope, about the journey.  It is simple, with a hauntingly beautiful melody.  Set in a Montana barn with light snow falling, it gently encourages us - it is "time to start living".

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.

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