Advent Solstice shrub

We put up our Christmas lights this past weekend.About 9 little trees with lights on them to line the front of the house on one side.To even it up on the other side, Jean put some lights on the thigh high Rosemary plant.I was a little worried it would be "tacky"...but no!Jean put her grandmother's star on it and it looked great.When the lights aren't on it looks a little hmmm...frumpy but it is really quite beautiful at night.I call it our solstice shrub.

Well Advent made it's way into our lives this week.Usually watching the Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D puts me in the Christmas mood...but another tradition we have taken part in is the Taize service they have at St.Peter's Catholic in Charlotte.Taize is a place in France started by some monks.Their devotion is to worship and prayer,simplicity and silence...thus the service is one of simplicity and silence as well.(check out www.taize.com)The altar is full of wonderful icons...Mostly of Mary and Jesus but I did see one of St.Nicholas(my patron saint).Anyway,the church is dark except for candles mostly votives with a few candles from the church.The service is started with the sounding of a Tibetan singing bowl...there are prayers,readings,songs sung in beautiful harmony,classical guitar...and lots of silence in between....I fidget and my mind wanders...but it is a wonderfilled time of meditation and presence easily embraced.