Mosaic Monday #122: A Simple Post

It's been a busy week, folks.  Not in a bad way, mind you.  No regrets.  It just means I haven't had much time to compose a post.  So, it's going to be a simple one this week!  I am sure some of you will celebrate this moment - not quite as much to read!  

Simple pleasures are joyful, right?  Who needs more complexity in life?  What are your ordinary delights?  I have so MANY!

Fritos, skiing, cooking by the Head Chef, puffy clouds, jigsaw puzzles, stuffed animals, wild animals and PEEPS! Peeps - 5 squishy-soft, sugar-coated moments of sheer bliss!!!

Spending time with people we love are some of the best occasions of our lives.  For several weeks, Dear Neighbor Friend and I had been planning a trip to Blacktail for cross-country skiing.  On the day we went, the skies were blue, the snow in perfect condition and the company entertaining.  And I only fell twice!  Downhill skiers don't adapt well to snow-plowing with a pair of skinny skis that have no edges!!!

I am one of the most blessed women on earth -- to have a hubby who is also Head Chef in our house.  I think sometimes he is surprised when I thank him for a simple meal, but I genuinely enjoy each and every morsel.  I love food, and it doesn't have to be fancy to make me happy.  

#1 Daughter and I started a jigsaw puzzle over Christmas, and I am delighted to say that I finally finished it this week.  It didn't take long, really, but somehow it always fell to the bottom of my list.  What a great sense of satisfaction to put in the final piece!  And to text our daughter that it is done!

I derive deep contentment from walking the back forty at any time of year.  Sometimes, I can just sit and observe the cloud formations as they skate across an imaginary ice rink in the sky.  

I am easily amused, so a "ski ramp" built by the lift attendants at the top of Chair 7 (Whitefish Mountain Resort), and populated by skiing/boarding stuffed animals, tickled my funny bone.

And then there are the real animals who continually amaze and fascinate me.  I have written in the past about otters (March 1, 2020) (October 10, 2020), and you can imagine my glee to discover otter photos on my trail cam recently.  One (or perhaps more) has returned to the spring at the lake below our property.  This is the same spring where the eagles have been feasting (see post February 7, 2021).  The collage below has just a few photos - the playful personality shines through, don't you think?

And yes, it's carrying a fish!  Looks quite sassy, doesn't it?

Farewell until next week.  I am praying that life brings you abundant, everyday, simple joys!

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

Mosaic Monday #100: September Spotlight

I intended to keep this post short, with only the BEST photos from September.  Well ... the more I looked, the more I found! Once I had my list, I pinched my lip, considering.  The inside and outside fire pictures - nothing out of the ordinary.  Gone.  What about the food photos?  Leaving them out might hurt the delicate feelings of Head Chef, and seeing as he feeds me - they stay in.  Hmmm ... six photos from our September camping trip?  Sometime in the future, I will write a whole post about that adventure.  Out.  How many lake pictures do YOU want to see?  But some are with #1 Son - can't leave those out.  Maybe I could discard the hand-drawn birthday cards I made - but then I am pretty darn proud of them.  All right, enough dithering, let's just get on with it and see how we go.  Work for you? 

In this post, I wrote about my pillow cross-stitch project.  I am pleased to report that the stitching is complete, and I will be taking all the materials I need on an upcoming road trip; I will use my sister-in-law's sewing machine to install the zipper and complete the project!

As long as we are on the crafty subject, below is  a mosaic with the two birthday cards I made during the month.  The coffee and cake-themed card went to one of my sisters, and the over-the-hill theme went to a former colleague in Arizona.  She has a whacky sense of humor and I knew she would appreciate it!

We've had a stretch of lovely weather the last couple of weeks; unending sunshine and temperatures in the low 70s.   Most days, I spend a few hours pottering in the garden.  Cutting plants down to the ground to promote future growth.  Transplanting volunteers and the prolific coreopsis to bring a bit more order to the flower beds.  Collecting seeds for fall and spring planting.  Along the way, I encounter little critters such as caterpillars and grasshoppers.  The spotted tussock moth caterpillar was shuttling across the driveway; I moved him to the edge of the forest, but 10 minutes later he was back on the driveway, on his original heading.  I transported him again, but this time in the direction he wanted to go.  I didn't see him again!

Mid-month, I had the opportunity to join Dear Neighbor Friend and another acquaintance for a morning kayak.  As we left the creek and entered the lake proper, we spotted something in the water.  Too low to be ducks.  Wrong shape for beaver.  As we got closer, the playful movements made it obvious that we were looking at otters!  It turned out to be a magical morning, as we saw up to 8 or 9 otters at various points around the lake.  Our phones didn't do the best job of capturing photos, but you can get the general idea.

At the beginning of the month, I moved my trail camera, and the location has yielded a plethora of critters.  I believe it is the water that makes this such an attractive site for all of these animals, especially the birds.  It has brought me great joy to identify those I didn't already recognize!

(For those real birders out there, please correct me if I've got it wrong!)

In the case of the marsh wren and the dowitcher, I was aided in the identification by having seen them in person before I saw them on camera.  The picture of the dowitcher certainly does not do its plumage justice!

I was also struck by the glorious feathers of the Canada Jay, especially how the gray tail is tinged with white.  Handsome, indeed!

In most of the photos, the Canada Jay appears alone, but in this series, two are bathing in the water.

Two more treats were in store - Williamson's Sapsucker and Clark's Nutcracker (look closely at the bottom picture in the second collage - can you see four of the nutcrackers?)  I have never seen these birds in person, so I am thrilled that the trail camera has captured them!

 

Moving on from birds, it would be a shocking day without at least one shot of deer.  I worked long into the night (!) to down select to only the most unique and interesting!

Well, folks, it's happened.  This post is long, and I fear even the most intrepid reader is wondering "will it ever end?"  So, come back next week for part 2!  More critters and more lake scenery.  Maybe even a rainbow to brighten your day.

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

Mosaic Monday #73: Lockdown

March 2020 will be forever fixed in my brain as the month our world was turned upside down.  It began simply enough.  Head Chef concocted comfort foods; we enjoyed winter splendor; I waited for my Dear Neighbor Friend to return from a trip to visit family and friends in California/Mexico. 

Steak Pie with Roasted Potatoes and Mushy Peas

Frozen waterfall - a 20-minute drive from our house

March 15 dawned bright and crisp; the dash temperature gauge warned us to layer up as we headed to the mountain for a play day.  

We couldn't get enough of the views and the time together.

So it was that we stopped for lunch later than normal, only to hear the news that the resort would be closing THAT DAY.  The resigned dismay hung like a pall over our Ambassador locker room; each of us had our own reasons to regret losing three weeks of ski season.  Word spread quickly through Whitefish, and locals thronged to the mountain that afternoon to get in the last few runs of the season.  Later, you could see the shock on people's faces as they cleared out their lockers, toting skis, poles, helmets and all manner of other equipment to their cars.  Little did we know it was just the beginning. (Montana had 4 cases.)

Maggie says "What's all the fuss about?"

Spousal Unit and I made the tough decision to begin self-isolation right away.  We skipped the traditional Ambassador St. Patrick's Day party, and chose not to attend the Employee Ski Day on March 20.  This was particularly difficult for my social butterfly of a husband!  After that, most organizations began dropping events, thereby resolving any dilemma.  All Masses and church gatherings were cancelled until at least March 30, following the Governor's March 17 directive limiting gatherings to less than 50 people.  Email starting flowing in from every organization that has my address - craft stores (buy supplies to stay busy), pharmacies (free delivery), Expedia (recommendations for current and future travel), the dentist (my appointment might have to be re-scheduled), my congressmen (join a town hall).  

Social media exploded with humorous videos, memes and suggestions for coping with everything from isolation to home-schooling to cooking EVERY DAY.  Of course, cooking is not a problem in our house, and I have never been more grateful.  For all those cooks out there - thank you.  And hopefully, like my Head Chef, you are finding some escape in the kitchen.

Breakfast frittata

For my part, getting outside delivers tranquility and restores my faith.  Nature continues on her way, oblivious to the virus.  I walk the "back forty" most days, and with no time constraints, I observe small things that I might otherwise miss.

Otter tracks - bottom picture is a "slide" mark going into the creek

Far right: coyote tracks

On March 20, the Governor closed high-risk businesses such as bars, restaurants and workout facilities.  Spousal Unit and I began to talk about alternative activities to keep ourselves entertained.  Hikes.  Cooking together.  Movie nights.  Spring cleaning. (How did that get on the list?)  And some distractions continued unabated, such as adult beverages!  If we can't go to the bar, we'll bring the bar to us! (Montana had 27 cases.)

Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but that same day I spotted a new bird visiting our suet feeder.  It came three times that day, but I haven't seen it since.  And I have been engaged in lengthy bird-watching, let me tell you.  It was a male Varied Thrush.  The still picture is from the Web, and the video is mine (not super quality, but proof that it was here!)  Isn't it a handsome specimen?

Andouille sausage - those tiles in the

background are two we are considering

for a future backsplash

On March 23, our kids (both in Ohio) became subject to that state's shelter in place mandate.  I have been so impressed (and relieved) by how they are handling the constant change and ongoing ambiguity.  Our daughter's theatre had to cease productions, and is adapting by streaming past performances.  Our son will finish his college degree from his apartment, and is highly unlikely to "walk" in the classic graduation ceremony since it has been postponed indefinitely.  That day, I was sous chef for Head Chef as we prepared Red Beans and Rice, with cornbread on the side.  I tried to add some levity by texting the recipe to the kids, complaining that we have no bay leaves!  (Click here if you need a refresher on how I named my blog!)  (Montana had 34 cases.)

March 24 saw Governor Bullock extending school and high-risk business closures to April 10, and reducing the size of gatherings from 50 to 10.  His announcement pointed out that the previous day saw a 25% increase in cases in Montana.  In our house, we took comfort in regular routines such as yoga, cooking, listening to music, and running on the treadmill.  The isolation also presented new opportunities, such as contacting old friends and starting up a genealogy project that has been on my to-do list for eons.  Spousal Unit offered to play Scrabble - you know we are in desperate times now - and I was only too tickled to accept (and win!)

Canada Geese have returned to our lake,

leaving adorable tracks in the snow

As many have pointed out, COVID-19 has affected the entire world in a way that has not been seen since the Spanish Flu of 1918.  Not even world wars or 9-11 suspended daily life to such a great extent.  Everyone has a story.  A wedding that has been postponed.  Small businesses that have been shuttered, putting their future in jeopardy.  Cancelled vacations.  People laid off from work, who are now struggling to pay their bills.  First responders and health professionals who continue to put their lives on the line for the greater good. In the moments when I get down, I try to remember that my "problems" are miniscule compared to others.  I am grateful that I have my faith.  I continue walking outdoors, reveling in little signs of spring.

The proverbial clouds of this crisis do offer some silver linings.  We were able to view our daughter's last show - Alabaster - via on demand streaming.  Otherwise, as with most of her shows, this would be a powerful performance we would have missed.  On a day that we would have normally been working on the mountain, Spousal Unit and I went on a hike in Glacier National Park.  I retrieved the trail cam disks for my neighbor, yielding innumerable fabulous wildlife photos.  (Watch for a future post for the hike and the critters.) A fellow blogger pointed us to live streaming coverage of a Barred Owl nest.  Even when Mama Owl is just sleeping, I find the background chirping and singing birds to be soothing.  A group is organizing a Virtual Catholic Women's Conference the first weekend in April, and I hope to participate in part of it with my daughter.  Ample free time has translated to more progress on my Violet Protest square.

And then, just as I sat down to begin to compose this post (March 26), the email arrived from Governor Bullock.  7.04 PM. "Today I issued a Directive requiring Montanans to stay home and temporarily closing all nonessential businesses to stop the spread of COVID-19.  The order goes into effect at 12:01 am on March 28 and will buy us time for health care workers on the frontlines to limit long-term impacts to the state's economy."  Yes, lockdown has arrived in Montana and will last until at least April 10.  Get the hot chocolate and light the fire, darling, we are here for the long haul.  (Montana had 90 cases and its first death.)

Ants emerge from winter "hibernation" - now that's a group hug!

The next day, Glacier National Park announced its temporary closure.  This profoundly impacted me. More dismay and more unanswered questions.  Will they continue working to process back-country camping applications?  Will the park re-open in time for our earliest application (June 15), assuming it gets approved?  When is COVID-19 likely to peak in the U.S. and in Montana in particular?  Out of a desire to maintain our sanity, we have been limiting our news consumption, but at times you just want some answers.  I think it is human nature to need "the light at the end of the tunnel".  We've pretty much accepted that we are not going to Ohio as planned on May 1 (our son's graduation was scheduled for May 3), nor to Grand Cayman on May 7 for a family vacation.  But I need a glimmer of hope that life will eventually return to normal.  (A friend texted me - on the lighter side, there will be no question what my natural hair color is!)  Perhaps it was to have an event, any event, scheduled, or maybe out of sheer defiance, I booked a hotel for August 15-16 so that we can attend the 102nd Annual Crow Fair Celebration Powwow & Rodeo.  Take that, COVID-19! (March 27 - Montana had 121 cases and 1 death)

What are you anticipating post-virus?  It seems selfish and cavalier to even think of these things when people are dying from COVID-19.  But I need to look past today and have plans.  I can't wait to see my Dear Neighbor Friend, and to exchange hugs.  To go to church again.  A sloppy burger with fries at a restaurant teeming with people.  Rescheduling our trip to Cayman and seeing our kids.  Dancing to the New Wave Time Trippers at the Great Northern Bar in Whitefish.  Hosting friends at our house for a dinner party.  In the meantime, I pray that you and your families are well.  Special thoughts to all those leaders and health professionals who are working diligently to protect us.  Keep the faith!  (At the time of publication, Montana had 154 cases and 1 death.)

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. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Mosaic Monday #69: You "Otter" See This!

Living remotely as we do, we risk complacency.  We might take for granted the forest, the lake, the majestic hills.  And then, it happens - a chance encounter reminds me we are blessed that wilderness still exists, and no further than our doorstep.

Two weeks ago, I bundled up for an extended walk in our "back yard".  I had no particular destination in mind; my goal was physical exercise and fresh air.  Given the snow, animal tracks are evident at this time of year, and often I will follow an intriguing game trail to see where it leads.  That day, I decided to skirt the edge of the lake at the bottom of our property.  It is shallow on the edges, and with ice thick enough to be safe, I can walk in areas that would normally be too marshy.

Can you see the dark brown spot in the middle of the photo?

As I wove through thickets of alder, with the frozen lake on my left, I spotted a patch of open water ahead.  Strange.  I moved closer and suddenly there was movement in the dried reeds - a solid brown body slid forward and into the water.  I automatically assumed beaver - I have written before about our dam-building buddies (here and here).  I retreated a bit and trained my binoculars on the spot where the critter had entered the water.  Within minutes, a whiskered nose emerged, followed by a glistening pelt and lengthy tail.  It was an otter!

February 19; 6.40 AM

I snapped some pictures and video with my phone, but none of it was satisfactory as you can see with the picture above.  I watched the otter for 10 - 15 minutes, and it spent the time rolling in the snow and cleaning its fur.  (I have since learned that North American river otters dry themselves and uphold the insulative quality of their fur by frequent rubbing and rolling on grass, bare ground and logs.)  When I could tear myself from the spectacle, I looked in the snow for tracks that might lead me to the den.  Sure enough, nearby was the tell-tale glide/pawprints/glide/pawprints pattern, ending at the mouth of a hole under a fallen tree.  I looked at the horizon and realized there would not be enough time to retrieve my trail cam and place it here.  Sigh.  It was a couple of days before I did so, and it was torture to wait several more days before retrieving the disk.  But so worth it!  As you can see in the photo above, the trail cam started delivering photos right away.  

The trail cam captured other pictures between February 20 and 25, but they are blurred or not the best angle.  As you can see from the time stamps, this "fellow" is an early riser!  It is interesting that the trail cam has not documented the otter returning to the den (the den is to the right in all of these photos, so it would seem that these are pictures of the otter leaving the den.)  I might shift the camera angle in the future to get shots of the hole itself.  So far, the picture below is the only one in "daylight".

You may be wondering if this is always the same otter - in other words, might there be a pair, and can we expect kits?  You will find out when I do!  (I have read that adult females move and den alone from mid-winter through the breeding season.)  The trail cam did not capture any pictures of the otter between February 25 and the afternoon of February 27, the last time I retrieved the disk.  So it was worrisome to see this as one of the final pictures on the disk:

But rest easy, my friends, I could see the otter in the grass near the open water - it is alive and well!  I am beside myself with joy to know that this marvelous creature is our neighbor.  In my reading, I learned that otters are quite particular about their habitat, and their presence indicates good water quality.  Somehow its residence comforts me, a sign of something that is still wild, pure and natural.  It reminds me of why we came to Montana, and rekindles my passion to preserve our little slice of wild for future generations.

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. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter