Extending the Joy of ROSES

 Guess by now, you all know how much I do love ROSES...

Sadly we no longer have our own roses, but once in a while we enjoy a nosegay.

When doing our usual shopping round in Atlanta at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Market and Costco wholesale, I grabbed a dozen of these perfect yellow roses.

When this dozen of yellow roses was showing signs of letting down, I salvaged several of the best and placed them inside this Wedgwood Cream Color on Cream Color compote bowl.

Together with a placemat from Le Jacquard Français they looked stunning!

For best light, I went onto our balcony on the round teak table...

Lovely buds that never fully opened!

Do you love ROSES?

Roast Beef Canapés

 For our Christmas Party with the Chancel Choir I prepared these: 

The finished ROSES of Roast Beef Canapés...

Did not have any marygold flowers for garnishing as in the magazines photo below.

Roast Beef Canapés - Victoria Magazine September 2021 recipe in comment click on link to my Pinterest board ROSES as FOOD

On a sheet of parchment I put the baguette slices and brushed them with olive oil.

Into the oven for 15 minutes on 370℉

While they cooled down, I made the rosettes.

From the thin sliced ¼ pound of roast beef I started cutting each slice in half.

That was NOT mentioned in the recipe however but I figured this out by looking at the roast beef 'roses'.

Next each half needs to be folded over and then rolled into a roast beef rosette...

With a small butter knife I spread the mayonaise mixture on each crostino.

Fanning out three pieces of arugula on mixture, before placing the roast beef rosettes.

Using the Mason's Patent Ironstone Mandalay tray...

It was fun creating these edible roses!

One of our Mason's Patent Ironstone Mandalay vases... with a placemat from Le Jacquard Français.

Wishing you Peace during this time of the year!

Related link:

{Wishing YOU a Happy 4th Advent 2013!} | previous post by me with info Mason's Mandalay at Christie's

Nothing is more Heavenly than Händel's Messiah

 Once more I enjoyed singing in Händel's Messiah, did so with Pieter together in 1995 in a community concert.

Georg Friedrich Händel was German by birth but lived and performed in England.

There is no better language than music and especially this masterpiece, for touching ones soul...

First United Methodist Church Christmas Concert 2021 ←click link to YouTube video from TV35 WDIG!

Our organist Zachary Golden is visible in the mirror, next to our director M. Dwain Little...

Second from left, I'm visible... our soprano corner.

Händel Messiah

Chancel Choir and Orchestra

Tenor Collin LaHood who traveled from Macon to join us.

Matthew Kersey also traveled quite a distance for teaming up with us to sing his solo pieces.

Matthew Kersey ended up singing the parts of Elizabeth Colemann as she was unable to be with us...

Matthew is an excellent choral educator who studied at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.

Soprano Cindy Claxton did an excellent job singing her solos.

Soprano Kathy Jones, as usual did an excellent job!

Our Orchestra:

Erica Cliett, Oboe

Jeremy Messenger, Trumpet

Mark Lee, Trumpet

Richard Horne, Timpani

Zachary Golden, Organ

Ben Cork, Violin

Julia Sellman, Violin

Amanda Zhang, Violin

Brant Harlacher, Cello

Our Director M. Dwain Little put a lot of time and effort into this and it was worth it!

Pieter said, he would not have wanted to MISS these two performances.

It makes one happy and most people appreciated it.

Such a joy to perform for others, to enjoy Händel's Masterpiece.

The final part of Hallelujah was well received and turned into a sing along for some.

~

Merry Christmas to ALL!

Related link:

LOVED singing in Händel's Messiah | previous post by me from 2018