Merry Christmas!

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  Again. Already!  This year has sped by, and I have not felt ready for this Holiday season to be upon us yet.  What with Matt's hospital visit earlier in the year, the loss of our cat, the horrible storms that damaged our town,the loss of my nephew Marty,  the loss of my friend and colleague Melodie, this year has been full of difficult and NOT very celebratory times.  Yet we have the house decorated, and I have made the usual sweets, though not as many.  We have friends coming to visit tomorrow, to share food and good times.  So many blessings to help offset the sorrows.  The weather is a paradox right now.  It is so cold out that we feel like we are living inside a giant freezer.  Everything is coated in ice EXCEPT the roads and sidewalks. Every other outdoor surface has at least a half inch of ice coating it.  Many trees have lost limbs, many more are bowing low to the ground.  The ice is a worry if the wind picks up, but as it is, it is beautiful, especially at night, and in the sunlight.

This is a tree near a neighbor's Christmas lights.  Lovely sparkly effect on the tree branches from the ice.

This tree is on the street East of us. A sculpture by Jack Frost.

The street sign and stop sign on the corner about 2 houses South of our house.  It has been this way since Friday night.  See the cable television bundled cables in the background.  Let us HOPE the wind stays low!









I feel more in the spirit of the season now.  I am done with work until the day AFTER Christmas, and my voice studio recital is over.  I did pretty well, I thought. There is a link to follow that you can go to and listen to the song I sang.  The piece is Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head by John Jacob Niles.  It was performed by me, accompanied by Karen Smith-Pearson, my vocal coach, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oklahoma City on Sunday, December 22, 2013.

Katie Armistead Voice Recital - Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head


There are only a few last minute things to be done, and we will be ready to celebrate the joy of Christmas with our friends.  We sing at the late service tomorrow night.  10:30 pm Festival Music, and the service starts at 11pm.  Usually over after midnight.  If you are in the 405, and would like to join us at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, 127 NW 7th St, Oklahoma City, OK
You can find out more about St. Paul's, and hear recordings of our choirs and the pipe organ, and even download the Worship Guides (bulletins) for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services at The Cathedral's Website

May you all know the warmth and joy of the season, may you find love and caring where you least expect it, and may your New Year be filled to overflowing with good things.

Thanks for reading.
As Ever,
Katie