Roses de Décembre
English version below the pictures
Cet après -midi je taillais les rosiers buissons qui avaient déjà perdu leur feuilles .
Toutefois je me suis arrêté devant un rosier qui avait encore quelques fleurs . Les roses de Décembre . Les dernière roses de l’année . Et sans doute les dernières fleurs de l’année en compagnie de quelques pélargoniums que Janine cultive sur les appuis de fenêtre . Le jardin potager est totalement au repos un peu comme moi Cela me rendait un peu nostalgique
Je pensais alors au psaume 80 que nous allons chanter Dimanche prochain, 4ème Dimanche de l’Avent . J’ ai enregistré ce psaume à l’ église en 2014 ( il était chanté cette année -là pendant le messe du 1er Dimanche de l’Avent ) . Je l’ ai trouvé réconfortant. Voir ci-dessous.

This afternoon I was pruning the bush roses which had already lost their leaves. However, I stopped in front of a rosebush which still had a few flowers. The roses of December. The last roses of the year. And undoubtedly the last flowers of the year in the company of some pelargoniums that Janine grows on the window sills. The vegetable garden is totally at rest a bit like me It made me a little nostalgic I was thinking then of Psalm 80 that we are going to sing next Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Advent. I recorded this psalm at the church in 2014 (it was sung that year during Mass on the 1st Sunday of Advent). I found it heartwarming ( see below)
J ‘ ai donc enregistré le psaume 80 qui est un chant d ‘ appel et d’attente . Les versets étaient chantés par une jeune femme et un jeune homme . Je dois dire que j’ ai été touché par les mots , par la fraîcheur des voix et l’ harmonie des mélodies . Pour accentuer cette impression de fraîcheur j’ entendais le babil et les petits cris des jeunes enfants qui se tenaient avec leur parents derrière moi( on les entend dans la vidéo). On notera aussi sur les marches de l’ autel la lampe du veilleur dans l’ attente de la naissance du Christ.
Voici donc ce psaume ( en fait ce sont seulement des extraits du psaume 80)
Dieu, fais nous revenir;
que ton visage s’éclaire,
et nous serons sauvés. bis)
Berger d’Israël, écoute,
toi qui conduis ton troupeau, resplendis !
Réveille ta vaillance
et viens nous sauver.
Dieu, fais nous revenir;
que ton visage s’éclaire,
et nous serons sauvés.
Dieu de l’univers reviens !
Du haut des cieux, regarde et vois :
Visite cette vigne, protège-la,
celle qu’a plantée ta main puissante
Dieu, fais nous revenir;
que ton visage s’éclaire,
et nous serons sauvés.
So, I recorded Psalm 80 which is a calling song and waiting. The verses were sung by a young woman and a young man. I must say that I have been touched by the words, by the freshness of voices and the harmony of the melodies. To accentuate this impression of freshness I heard the babble and little cries of young children who were standing behind me with their parents (we hear them in the video). Note also on the steps of the altar the vigil lamp pending the birth of Christ.
Psalm 80 (excerpts)
Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved. (bis)
Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock. shine forth
Awaken your might;
come and save us.
Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved
Return to us, God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine,
the root your right hand has planted,
Nous attendons Noël avec impatience en espérant que cette année nous ne serons pas bloqués par un retour de l’épidémie et que nous pourrons réunir la famille.

We look forward to Christmas hoping that this year we will not be blocked by a return of the epidemic and that we can reunite the family.
_________________________________________________________________________________
22 Décembre 2021; 2021 December 22
Je vous souhaite un bon Noël . , en bonne santé et en paix , pour vous et les votres
I wish you a merry and healthy Christmas in peace , to you and yours.
We cherish the last roses, the faithful roses …Looking at the beauty of the rose while listening to the beautiful singing and music of Psalm 80…Such a wonderful way to start the day…The beauty of roses and the sound of heavenly music…all giving praise to our maker, and savior.
Love to you and Janine…
votre amie
Francoise.
I am happy, Françoise, that this entry has brought you a feeling of peace and deep joy. .<3
A touching post Michel. I also hope the epidemic goes away so we can gather again with our loved ones.
Hopeful you , Gail and family, have a good and quiet Christmas . ❤
what a lovely memory … the video is not working, sorry I didn’t get to hear it!
I am sorry too, Kate . The song was so beautiful . Internet has its mysteries !
I’m am finding that sometimes I’m blocked for being in Australia … no idea why! Thanks kind gent 🙂
No, you’re not stuck in Australia, Kate.
Your poems spread all over the world .
lol I know that, too kind Michel … I meant I’m often blocked from watching various videos! They claim it’s not available in my country …
I’m sorry, Kate.
I suggest you make a video of yourself telling some of your poems and post it. I will be able to see if I can open it.
But this is only a modest suggestion.
lol no idea how to do that Michel, way beyond my tech skills 😉 cheeky beggar, nice try 🙂
Ask a friend to film you with his camera in video mode when you read one or more of your poems and tell him(her) to put the video on You Tube. It’s very simple . Go for it! ❤
lol not likely Michel … I’m a sunflower and I have no intention of shattering that image 🙂
If i was a Australian man I would make that video like I did for the psalm 80
But I can say your poems have a musical tune quite pleasant. ❤
my reading of them is quite stilted and I have no musical ability whatsoever … but a kind NZ friend put some of my earliest poem into song form .. thanks kind gent!
This confirms what I told you,Kate.
I didn’t doubt you, just that it’s beyond my talent 🙂
🙂
Simply lovely. Merry Christmas, my friend.
Thanks, Judy and merry Christmas to you both .<3
Wonderfully sung! I had Sparky listen to it and he enjoyed it too! He will be singing “Behold a Star from Jacob” by Felix Mendelssohn.
This song you mention is divinely beautiful, Val. I just listened to it
Is Sparky singing in a choir? And maybe you too? ❤
Awesome! This post has inspired me. The words of prayers just touched me…
I am so happy this post inspired you, Angy. ❤
Prayers the pandemic will lose its ability to thrive and families can once more enjoy the holiday. I wish for you and your family a blessed Christmas.
Thank you, Bonnie for your kind words.
I wish too you both got the best Christmas possible . ❤
A beautiful nativity scene.
I thought of you when I posted the old nativity scene . Perhaps you will picture the yours ? ❤
I can. I made a rustic stablr to house mine.
You are right to make this humble stable. I will be happy when you post it
Thank you. Tomorrow it should get dugged out.
I am waiting for! 🙂 Have you owned this nativity scene for a long time?
I think I got the nativity in 2016.
5 years ago . I don’t remember well the year of your mariage.
We will.be celebrating 10 years in January. We were married in 2012.
I had told my mother-in-law many times I wanted a nice nativity. She bought me one that I love.
I forgot to get pictures but my next post will be when we are home Christmas Eve Eve or Christmas Eve so I will include it in that post.
Yes . I will see it at this time. You are right.
Ok.
Lovely roses, and precious memories. I love reading the Psalms. God’s love shines through them.
I agree with you, Gracia . Thanks for your comment. ❤
Especially poignant this time of year , beautiful roses and memories. ❤️
Yes , Holly: life and memory. Enjoy Christmas. ❤
You too Michel, have a wonderful Christmas! ❤
Thanks Holly.
Such a beautiful post, Michel! What pretty roses! Beautiful music! Precious Psalms! Treasured Nativity scene! 🙂
You bring us joy, peace, and hope! Thank you! ❤
Merry Christmas!
🌟👪 🌹🙏🕯⛪ 🌹 🔔🎉👼 🌹🎄🌟🎶
(((HUGS))) 🙂
You are so kind , Carolyn . Yes joy, peace and hope for the world .
Do you have family at Christmas? ❤
What a joy to have flowers outside in December! I remember reading about how a vineyard or fruit trees (I don’t recall which) grew in Paris by planting the vines by a masonry wall. I had a rose that used to last well into Autumn by growing next to the white stucco wall of the apartment where I live. If I recall your home, don’t you have a masonry wall around your home? Or that tall hedge. Either would offer some protection for roses. Of course, your home surely retains the sun’s heat during the day, which would help the roses, too. Regardless, con gratulations on having these beautiful roses well in the season!
We have a row of rose bushes along the house, indeed. They are very old and some are particularly resistant. There are even still buds! . It’s really surprising.
In the distant past there were vines in Amiens (northern France) in a well-exposed valley slope.
Gardeners spend a lifetime experimenting ways to extend the growing season!
Yes , the same genus has early and late varieties.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since horticulturists have bred numerous varieties of roses, a have rose hobbyists!
However the rose bushes I speak about are old varieties since they already were here before we bought the house in 1986 🙂
But you are right , Doug , the agriculture and horticulture are very changed: for the best or the worst!
Where I used to live, we had a couple of climbing roses that were very old varieties with strong scents. One was a beautiful yellow rose, and the other a pink variety a family friend brought from Newfoundland. The yellow rose outside my bathroom window seems to be the same variety as the one at the old house, so is much appreciated by me!
Yes the climbing roses are beautiful with a great scent. I had one at my latest house in Arras ;
In my youuth I knew them at my parents’s and in a farm wall . memorie!
Yes, They are a part of the memories of my youth, too! I believe smell is a bigger part of memory than memories based on other senses. The memory of bread baking, for example, is a strong one!
Is the development of new varieties of roses a good or bad thing? A beautiful almost-silver rose I planted in my garden years ago was also scentless! I couldn’t believe the visual beauty of the variety was worth sacrificing the scent, but the seller did!
It is sure a beautiful rose without scent is weird . A bit deceiving .
It is a disappointment.
I tend to think so ! 🙂
Michel, beautiful roses and lovely music. Thank you for sharing the beauty with us! I am hoping that you are able to have a big, jolly Christmas with all of your family! Enough pandemic already! Merry Christmas to you and Janine and your lovely family!
Love ❤
Cheryl
Thanks , Cheryl, for your wishes . Me too I hope we will be able to have our traditional Christmas familial gathering .
I wish you a merry Christmas ❤
bonsoir Michel,
elles font énormément plaisir ces dernières roses dans le jardin, mon mari m’en a rentré un petit bouquet il y a quelques jours, et j’étais étonnée, elles ont duré assez longtemps encore malgré la chaleur de la maison. Tout comme ton épouse, j’ai encore des quelques géraniums sur le rebord de la fenêtre de la cuisine , l’an dernier j’étais arrivée à les conserver mais ce n’est pas toujours le cas.
bises et bons préparatifs à vous !
Les géraniums sur un appui de fenêtre recoivent sans doute un peu de chaleur de la maison qui leur permet de résister à des températures assez basses ( mais pas trop quand même ! 🙂
En principe nous devrions être 27 au repas du jour de Noël ❤
bonsoir Michel,
vous êtes vraiment une grande famille , soyez heureux tous ensemble pour Noël .
Mes parents avaient organisé une fête dans leur jardin cet été, pour nous réunir tous, mais autrement je ne sais pas comment cela serait possible.
Nous fêterons le jour de Noel avec nos trois fils , belle-fille et petit-fils, mais déja notre petite fille ne viendra plus cette année, elle ira dans sa belle-famille.
bises !
je vous souhaite un bon Noël en famille avec quand même la menace du Covid Omicron!
Very beautiful.
Thanks.
I understand the nostalgia about the last roses. When I lived in Sweden, I saw roses covered with snow. The looked beautiful even though they were at the end of their lives. They gave all the beauty of their being to the world and to the people who admire them. I hope you have a heartwarming 4th advent this coming Sunday and that you and your family can unite during Christmas. Hugs!
La simplicité et la beauté des ces dernières roses est touchante, Louisa.
Oui Dimanche prochain est le 4ème Dimanche de l’Avent avec l’ évangile de la Visitation et le psaume ci_dessus . Nous recevrons aussi la flamme de la Paix venant de la grotte de Bethléem et ramenée par des scouts.
Merry Christmas to yoy, Louisa. ❤
Lovely and the words touch the heart.
What a wonderful, cherished treasure you have in the nativity.
Hope you can all get together during Christmas. Hugs.
Thanks Elizabeth. I am glad this post touches you.
I hope you have too a happy gathering at Christmas . ❤
I can’t see the video but I’m happy you included the Psalm in English. I do remember one you posted years ago, I wonder if that’s the one you’re referring to.
Lovely to see that last burst of flowers there too. Flowers are long gone here and if any had survived they would have blown away in the recent winds anyway.
Michel, I treasure your friendship and wish you and Janine, and your whole family, a blessed and happy Christmas and a safe and healthy new year.
❤️ Christine
Not surprising about the psalm 80 . I registered it in 2014 , Christine,and I have certainely posted on Xanga at this time.
About flowers I am myself surprised by the resistance of those roses .
Thanks for your kind words and merry Christmas to you. ❤
Beautiful post Michel! May you and your family have the most wonderful Christmas this year ❤ God bless you all!
Thanks for all , Gayle and merry Christmas to you with especially a good health. ❤
We’ve had a few days this December that have been 15C, Michel. I wonder if the roses I had at ‘home’ had some late bloomers as well.
Let us look forward to safer times ahead in 2022.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
I hope you have learned how to use something on the computer/phone where you can talk to your family with video – that has helped our family a lot !!
Much love to you all xoxoxo
Yes we start to try the visiophony, Marlaine .
I hope you find some roseS still in bloom!
Thanks for your Christmas wishes . The same for you. ❤
Thank you for your lovely prayer to God. I was with you in your worship. Love to all, Nancy
I am glad you enjoyed this entry, Nancy and you share it. ❤
Michel,
December roses to you and all you love!
🌹❤️
The same for you, Resa and enjoy Christmas ! ❤
Wonderful to see your last rose of winter…. So many late blooms in the garden this year Michel.
I too am late in my bloom, in arriving after all these months back here… I have so missed being in blog land… Good to see your pruning sheers have been busy… And I hope too that your family gathering goes ahead as planned..
Blessings to you both. ❤
It’s a pleasure to see again you , Sue . I hope all was well with you . ❤
All is well now dear Michel… Thank you for asking… Sending Huge hugs your way my friend ❤
Thanks, Sue . This reassures me.
Such a heart-warming post, Uncle Michel❤️ May God keep you and your family safe and healthy and may He put an end to this global pandemic as well.
I share what you say , Isabel and indeed we would be relieved to see the end of this pandemic. ❤
A beautiful post here, Michel. Your roses are so pretty and remind me of smiling faces! 😊 A very happy Christmas 🎄 to you and your family. ❤
Thank you Marion . I think you have also rose bushees in your yard and totaly in bloom at this time of the year. ❤
Love to you and you family at Christmas, may the end of the year be as sweet as the last roses. ❤️🌹
Yes, Susan. Those last roses bring much comfort and encouragement. ❤
Marilyn Thysell said :
You still have roses blooming. How wonderful
Kathy Colvin said:
Lovely roses. Mine are still blooming, too. I shut down my vege garden today (what’s left of it) because we will be getting more freezing weather and it’s just too late to try to keep everything. I harvested dozens of tomatoes and green and purple bell… Voir plus
Zakiah Ali said:
Beautiful roses in a beautiful garden.
Michele Devall said:
Joyeux Noel mon ami!
amazing! Flowers. We have dead ones but none like that. The nativity is beautiful. Hope you and yours enjoy your Christmas this year. We will be scaling ours down due to covid. Not happy about that but we try to keep everyone safe. And happy new year too.
I am so happy to read you , Tudy . You are right to scale down the familial gathering . Last year it was totally impossible ( Christmas 2020 ). This year we hope to get a true Christmas the covid being at a lower level ..
Bonjour ou bonsoir MON AMI MICHEL

Merci pour tes souhaits et la jolie image, Bernard
The last roses and pelargoniums are beautiful, Michel. I hope you and Janine are able to get together with family this Christmas season.
Much love to you, Janine and the family,
Lavinia
Thanks Lavinia for your kind comment. I am wondering if there are some roses at this time in Oregon . ❤
The last one had a small bloom back in late November, but it was a hard year for them here with the summer heat and drought.
I agree , Lavinia, the weather was not well balanced this year .
Here in Amiens we don’ t know anymore where are the seasons . ❤
Bonjour Michel. Merci pour ce joli billet. Roses en décembre est compréhensible ici. Ici, lors du premier Avent, l’hymne Hoosianna est chanté dans les églises. Nous allons à l’église de Noël le 25 décembre à 7 heures du matin. Dans certaines églises il y a aussi des Berceaux.
Joyeux Noël à toi et aux tiens ! Amitiés
Matti
Merci , Matti et je vous souhaite , moi aussi, un joyeux Noël
So beautiful, Michel. Thank you for sharing. To find roses in December—what a great surprise! Such gorgeous color.
Oh, I hope and pray your family can be together this Christmas, too. Our area has had many, many cases of the virus. It seems everyone we know within a five-mile radius who had not gotten, has gotten it now—ourselves included.
When I studied art history in college, my favorite part of the class was studying the cathedrals in Europe. Of all the cathedrals, my favorite was Amiens. So, I really enjoy the pictures and videos of it that you have shared. It’s one thing to see pictures of an empty sanctuary in a book, but quite another to see and hear people gathered there to worship God.
God bless and keep you and yours, Michel. Merry Christmas!
Love,
Caroline❤️
Sorry about the virus, Caroline . I wonder when this will be gone . I hope you have not been too ill . In the family until then three people got it and about them my sister in law who has been weak during a year.
I agree, of course, about the cathedrals , They have to be a living and praying body such when they are filled of people worshiping.
Take care of you both, Caroline and have a merry Chtristmas ❤
Merry Merry Christmas Morning Glorie, I too have a beautiful pink rose about to bloom. It’s so good to read your post, I think of you and your family often. Happy new year also, Yes! I pray for a more settled year to come! ILYM ❣️🌲❣️
It’s a pleasure to read your comment, Marsha :” Morning glory!!”
Thank you for your thoughts and wishes for us . ❤
Such lovely roses and a beautiful psalm! My spirit was uplifted as I read your post.
I, too, hope the pandemic gets contained so we can spend Christmas with our loved ones. I wish you and your family a blessed Christmas, Michel!
Glad my post inspired you, Suzy , .
Have a blessed Christmas . ❤
A good psalm for the season – and thanks for sharing a beautiful musical version that touched you. Cheers to the final rose of the season and for you preparing the way for their return n the new season. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Stay safe.
I am glad , Frank , you enjoy the sung psalm?
The rose still is in bloom but I fear not for long as the weather is at low temmperatures ( ice) )
Very much so …. and I like singing the psalms at our church services. Stay warm when the temperatures drop!
Yes it’s cold and the Covid -19 is lurking. When will we get rid of it?
Music and December roses are ingredients to a magical time! Merry Christmas to you!
Rose were in bloom until the extreme limit in the frost. They are symbol of love. ❤
Merry Christmas my dear friend.
Thanks . You need a great Christmas too.
Thank you. We will try.
Noel ! Joyeux Noel ! Bon Noel à toutes et tous !
Merci , Maidy .
Un heureux Noël à toi et les tiens . ❤
Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noel! to you, Michel, and to your precious family! 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
🙏🕯⛪👼🎄🌟
Thanks Carolyn . We hope our familial gathering won’ be spoiled by the pandemic that seems to restart in Europe .
Reminds me of my favorite Advent song, Michael Praetorius’ “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen”. Any flower still blooming this later in the season h\is a joyful thing, and how appropriate that yours is a rose!
Wishing you, Janine, and your family a blesseed Christmas, Michel, and a healthy 2022!
I will watch your vido of Praetorius on You Tube as it does not worl on my blog .
I wish you a mkrry Christmas ,Doug , and a happy New year
It doesn’t work except on YouTube because of restrictions put on it by the singing group, but it can be viewed on YouTube with no problems. (Besides, it is the same piece as the one you posted that you made and posted on your channel.)
It’s great that you still have some roses at this time of year. I think your rose bushes are very strong. Have a wonderful Christmas Michel!
Yes those roses are source of hope,Matt.
A merry Christmas to you and yours .
Divines roses et voix !
Meilleurs voeux pour un Divin Noël avec votre famille réunie 💝
Cordialement,
Anne-Marie & Johann
sur notre terrasse dans un bac à fleurs (fleuri de capucines à la belle saison) 4 mini roses de Noël (hellébores) sont en attente d’éclosion. elles y sont venues toutes seules … miracle très apprécié 🙂 ❤️
Sur Xanga j’ avais écrit une entrée appelée “ma fleur ”
C’était une rose de Noël qui fleurissait chaque année dans un coin du jardin. Un jour on l’a changée de place pour qu’elle soit mieux . Résultat: elle n’ a pas survécu . Ces Hellébores ont du caractère.!
Merci pour ton commentaire Anne-Marie et tes souhaits de Noël? ❤
Dear Michel,
I had left a comment on this post through Face Book a couple or three days back. I don’t see it here. I thought if I left a comment on FB, it would show up here also.
I loved reading your post, the roses are so dramatic and the nativity scene and the singing of the Psalm. Love it.
Have a wonderful and joyous new year.
Love,
Zakiah.
Thanks Zakiah . On Facebook it is only a simpe link to lead my ancient xangafriends on my word press post where they may comment as they want . ❤
Merry Christmas
Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas!
Thank you,Marica . Have a happy year 2022 in hoping we stauy in touch. .
Merci beaucoup, Michel. I wish you and Jeanine and family good health and many family times in 2022. Thanks for sharing the psalm, beautiful with hope and faith.
Glad you like this post Cynthia and thanks for your wishes
I wish for you a happy and creative year for 2022.
Love ❤
Michel
Thank you, Michel. My apologies for misspelling Janine’s name.
I’ve heard revival has come upon France. May France be a blessing to the nations around it.