Christmas Decorations for France

Amidst all the chaos of the usual

Christmas preparations

I've been sewing

decorations for

my daughters Christmas tree.

I found some vintage
Christmas images

that I love

and transferred
them on to calico fabric.

and then the sewing began!

 I chose calico/muslin,

and a red striped fabric

as the background.

Then the fun started
with embellishing,

using gold trims and thread,

and tiny pieces of lace
and ribbon saved
from other projects.

some red stitching

to circle a Christmas tree

Tulle, lace, pearls
and a little
gold bell

more lace
and a little
gold glitter!!!

gold thread and beads
for the carolers

The decorations have all
been posted to France
and should now be on their tree.

my favourite one

the Nativity scene

in the stable at

Bethlehem

where

Christmas

began.

Thank you to all my dear friends

for visiting.

We've only got 12 more sleeps!

Be kind to one another

Christmas hugs

Shane x

Light a candle and remember the children

This Sunday is
Worldwide Candle Lighting
day
to honour and remember
the children who
have left us too soon...

Each year
at 7pm

on the second Sunday
of December
we light candles
in memory
of the children
of the world
who have died.

New Zealand
is the first country
on Earth
to light our candles.



Please honour our children

who have gone before us

by lighting your candle

for an hour

on Sunday 12th December

 at 7pm

in your time zone.

 You will help create

 a wave of light

 that will travel the globe

 in quiet remembrance…

Thank you dear friends

for your comments

and emails

of encouragement.

I'm back on track

and getting into

the Christmas spirit.

Be kind to one another.

Christmas hugs

Shane x

Lost for words....

It's been a difficult week...
and everything's finally
caught up with me.
There are no words left...
I'm feeling incredibly
empty.

Please enjoy
these quintessentially
New Zealand
images.

 
A Maori waka (canoe)
such as the ones used in
the great migration from
 Hawaiki
to New Zealand
1000 years ago.

The Sky Tower
in my home town
Auckland.

The indomitable majesty of
Mitre Peak in the
Fiords.

These images are
who I am -
intrinsically
kiwi!
They give me strength.

Have a wonderful Friday
I'll be back to my
old self tomorrow!!

Take care of one another
hugs
Shane x



The rainforest wept in grief today

A Memorial Service

was held today

at Pike River for

the 29 miners

who lost their lives.

Pike River mine

is in a tranquil location

in a rainforest



The New Zealand native fern

is our national symbol

it tells who we are.

It is also a symbol of

mourning.

Each miners family
had a "tribute table"
where they had placed
memories of their
loved one.

The ferns were placed
on each table also.

Todays final tribute

was a haunting rendition of

'Going Home'

by a solitary piper.

May their souls Rest in Peace.



They are coming home.....

and I couldn't possibly
be happier!!!

"Going Home"
is the title of the beautiful
song on this video clip.

When I heard the words

I thought

how appropriate it is

for my theme this week

"my family is coming home". 

Please take the time

to listen.

It will only take a few

precious moments

and I promise it

will make you feel

warm all over!

It comes courtesy

of Tiffany from

Tiffany's Writing Compendium

a lovely blog I found

only last week.

She very sweetly

allowed me to use it here

thank you Tiffany!

Please visit her

- I'm sure you'll be as

enchanted as I am

with her writings.

I'm listening to the

music again as I write

this post and the tears

are welling up.

The anticipation of my family

coming home is

my dream come true!

I hope you are all having

an enjoyable and happy week.

Amidst the Christmas preparations

please take time out to

be kind to one another and

put the Christ back in to

Christmas.

Hugs

Shane x