In a Vase On Monday Advent 3

The third week of advent is also known as Gautete (Latin for "Rejoice") Sunday.  This "lighter" week of advent comes to us from a time when Advent was a 40 day fast in preparation for Christmas, similar to the penitent season of Lent which precedes Easter.  The day is marked by the lighting of the third advent candle which, if the others are traditional purple, would be a rose-colored candle. For more on this, check out the Wikipedia article here.

Hopefully, today's arrangement reflects a bit of light and warmth, a rejoicing that the darkness will soon flee as the light returns. The container I chose is not in a vase at all but in this new pot I found on sale at Wight's Home and Garden.



It was a busy day and I didn't have enough light to gather a lot from the garden so I cheated a bit and added some things that I had around, and a few that I bought for the season.

Gathering...

Challenging myself to stretch beyond my usual  red poinsettia thing.  Here is one whose name I forgot but that's o.k. because I didn't use it and the hard to capture the true color of  'Autumn Leaves.'

Rose hips and Holly. 

Some crotons, a pot of black mondo grass and one of an orange-leaved Libertia(both liberated from the garden,)

It's still autumn, the days continue to get shorter.  There is still dying and decay but even amidst that are stirrings of life and light.

In December Darkness by Ann Weems

The whole world waits in December darkness

     for a glimpse of the Light of God.

Even those who snarl "humbug!" 

     and chase away the carolers

     have been seen looking toward the skies.

The one who declared he never would forgive

     has forgiven,

   and those who left home

     have retruned,

   and even wars are halted,

     if briefly,

   as the whole world looks starward.

In the December darkness 

     we peer from our windows

       watching for an angel with rainbow wings

           to announce the Hope of the World.

  Now all I have to do is move it to dust the the tiles on the floor.  We seldom go in this room so things sort of  get overlooked until one sees them in photographs he's about to post on the interweb but isn't about to re-take.  Oops.

In a Vase on Monday is hosted by the inspirational goddess of floral arrangement, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  Check her blog for arrangements made by other participants in the floral party!