Peace on Earth

I was at an all girls high school and every year the whole school of about 600 girls would put on a Christmas Carol Service for the public to come and listen to.

We would practice for hours every day in the months leading up to this big event.

 

 

We all had to wear white knee length dresses and have our hair neatly tied back.

 

 

 Some of the carols were sung in other languages, and there were harmonies, descants and alto's.

It really was a beautiful occasion and to this day, many, many years later, I still remember the whole of Silent Night in German and Oh Come all ye Faithful in Latin.

A recording was made of the event and every year, when we decorate our Christmas tree, I play the CD of The Collegiate Carols and take a trip down memory lane. 

 



 

We ended the carol service with a very moving hymn called "Deep Peace"....

...and it is with these words that I would like to extend best wishes to you, my wonderful readers......

Deep peace of the running wave to you....
Deep peace of the flowing air to you....
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you....
Deep peace of the shining stars to you....

Amen

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful year ahead.

 

Till next time

 

Sharon x

Image source: 1. Unknown, 2. Simplypix, 3-10.  Tumblr, 11. Zsa Zsa Bellagio 

Monday Musings - Why I'm not decorating for Christmas

I am not putting up any Christmas decorations this year! It's not a statement against commercialism or any anti-Christmas sentiment, it's purely because we are going to be away on holiday for almost the whole of December so there doesn't really seem to be any point. It actually feels a bit strange not to be thinking about what sort of look or colour scheme I would be choosing this year, not having that ritual of unpacking the decorations and deciding how to place things, and having the memories associated with hanging the decorations obtained from various travels. 

To be honest - it has me feeling a bit upside down! But, being a blogger, allows me to have a bit of fun and do some virtual decorating instead.

I've decided to keep it simple and natural with touches of red.

The stockings will be hung on the mantel ....

...Christmas cookies will be baked...

...the decorations will be unpacked and arranged...

.... presents will be wrapped with plain white or brown paper...

....and tied up with pretty red ribbons or twine...

...and delivered in person and on time....

...or maybe Santa can help a bit with this task!

The table will be set, fresh greenery with touches of red...

The wreaths will be hung...

 ...we won't neglect the outside...

 ...and doing it virtually means I can have snow...in sunny South Africa!!

...maybe even the dogs will be decorated....

And when you have a virtual Christmas, the dog can't eat the turkey!..

 

We will be sure to bring back some mementos from our travels.

But before we set sail for distant shores, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, all my wonderful blog friends and readers, for your fantastic support of my little blog. It truly means the world to me!

I would also like to wish you and your families a beautiful Christmas filled with love and laughter.

Till next year...

Sharon x

Image source: 1. Blue Room Lady 2. Zsa Zsa Bellagio 3. Pinterest 4. Le Petit Chou Chou 5. Coffee, Pearls and Poetry, 6. Coffee, Pearls and Poetry 7. Zara 8. Tumblr, 9. A Spoonful of Sugar Designs 10. Odessa May Blog 11. Serenityyou.com 12. Annie Girl 13. Crush Cul de Sac 14, 15 & 16 Casa Decorada 17. Blue Room Lady 18. An Eclectic Pause 19. Casa Decorada 20.  Zsa Zsa Bellagio 21. Tumblr 22, 23, 24 Google 25. Tumblr

Christmas Greetings and a Thank You

 

To all my friends, followers, fans, subscribers, lurkers, commenters, pinteresters, anyone and everyone who reads my blog - A GIGANTIC THANK-YOU. I truly appreciate every last one of you and wish you a wonderful Christmas filled with love and laughter.

I will be back early in 2012 and my head is bursting with new ideas for posts so please keep visiting!

Till then

x Sharon

Image 1 via Space for Inspiration

Image 2 via Casa Decorada

Image 3 via Tumblr