A Christmas Mantle

"Heap on more wood! -the wind is chill; 

But let it whistle as it will,

We'll keep our Christmas merry still."

Sir Walter Scott

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In the Keeping room,

we'll TRY to stay warm in this 120 year old house, it won't be easy.

But with little wooden birds chirping on the mantle,

and antique Christmas postcards featuring same tiny birds  who bid us  much merriment and Joy to the World,

we will fire up the wood,

And  sip hot cider as we enjoy the blaze.

This is the Parlor Mantle and I reserve this for my old paper mache Nativity. I love this set probably from the 30's or 40's.

 I gather little plaster animals from all over the house to add to the menagerie...

They all gather round,

under the evergreen boughs, rosehips and tiny lights of Bethlehem.

The little stars reflect in the old mirror behind the mantel, doubling the light.

 

It reminds me of our nativity set as children. Sitting beneath the small tree, lights all ablaze, we would stare in peaceful wonder.

Some things never change, I have those same sweet emotions as I smell the scent of the boughs, and place a  small baby Jesus in his manger..