Mountain City Montage
by PAULINE TOM
In Decembers, threads of the same color and texture weave through “Mountain City Montage,” in and out, over and over. Repeat. Repeat.
For December 2010, we’ve a doe show at our place that’s anything but calm and quiet. A mother axis deer protects her nearby infant (usually on the other side of the fence). BoD and Kiss’Me’ fervently and high-pitchedly insist the doe leave their territory. RonTom and I, protecting, chaotically run and stomp and shoo to break up aggressive back and forth darting. Repeat. Repeat.
It’s easy-as-stocking filling to stuff this column with repeated-from-years-past, fit-just-pertinently, tidbits.
•••
Happy December 22 anniversary to Rick & Nancy Waddell. Nancy’s attire for her wedding day in Buda was a little red suit with a mini-skirt.
American Goldfinch flock to thistle feeders these days. Orange-crowned Warblers, various woodpeckers, titmice, cardinals, wrens and blue jays (and, this year, Eastern Bluebirds) are among the birds that have fed on the “Bird Butter” concoction in my suet feeders this week.
Great views are possible when birds are attracted to birdbaths and to feeders with black-oil sunflower seeds, thistle seed, peanuts, mealworms and such. (Refrain from feeding bread crumbs and cheap mixed birdseed containing millet … since those attract the dreaded House Sparrow).
And, so much more awesome are the views with a good pair of binoculars!
The vibrant yellow and red of individual feathers on the head of a Golden-fronted Woodpecker can be seen with bare eyes when he comes to the suet feeder that touches the window above my kitchen sink.
•••
Ron & I celebrated our anniversary in the Kuykendall Suite at Inn Above Onion Creek. We shared the splendor of an unlike-anything-else vista, the suite’s 3rd floor jacuzzi that sits on the very edge of the Texas Hill Country and looks out for forever (this time with picnic food sitting on the very ledge of the tub - sushi, strawberries, chocolate, champagne).
Priceless. Never in 12,419 days (this time, 14,243 days) had we treasure-chested a memory quite like that. Wow. Glory to God in the Highest.
•••
The God who created specks and spectaculars in and around Mountain City left his home in glory and became one of us in this world of darkness.
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin will conceive a child and she will give birth to a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” The gift of the presence of God incarnate.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but will have everlasting life.”
Happy Birthday, dear Jesus.
