The Christmas Mantle

Tonia, I'm into the egg nog ahead of you. :)
You'll have Gather looking quite festive with these treasures!

What fun to visit your mantle - great photos! Thanks for sharing a little Christmas with all of us.............

that deer is gorgeous

I don't have to decorate for Christmas -- I can just enjoy everyone else's decorations!

Dannielle - it does seem to be the theme of the moment so I figured, why not? Glad you enjoyed these.

flit - it really is, isn't it - this package arrived unexpectedly at the door a few weeks ago and it contained a pair of these deer (the other one is standing on its hind legs and was too awkward to photograph).

Katrina - my pleasure - hope you are also enjoying the season.

Deb - I figured you'd enjoy seeing these here.

nice decorations

Great pics!

It's very nice. I like the way you zero in on the objects.

10 4 u

Those are so precious. The deer is gorgeous - a suberb piece of art. The santa in the kayek made me laugh - no wonder it was hard to find! Who ever thinks of Santa kayeking down white water rapids with all the gifts? The snowshoes on the bear are so cute! Great holiday display and your pictures put me in a Christmasy mood.

Very pretty, and I'm sure meaningful, ornaments for your mantle.

Jennifer - the deer will actually be a year round residents of the mantle - they fit the season perfectly though and so got to stay.

Thanks everyone for stopping by.

What a neat idea. I love it!

Very unique and lovely items with lots of meaning attached to them. Merry Christmas. I'm glad you and Debbie are part of my life.

Your decorations are so beautiful!! What a great way to get in the holiday spirit [by reading your photo essay and looking at the pictures!]

Very pretty and unique ornaments. It's great when each one has a little story behind it.

They are all just beautiful! I have a 2' plastic tree with little colored lights and icicles on it. It is lashed to a hook on the wall and also stuck down with duct tape. I think it's cat proofl

Very nice items.

The deer adds such a lovely touch. It's lines are so graceful and peaceful. In the past we have had homes with mantles. What fun to decorate them. Your display adds to the festive air these days!



Review Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Songs

I love Gather and the fact that I can go into folks houses and look at their decorations - what a trip that is - I can view your lovely deers and mantle pieces and celebrate with you - this is almost unbelievable and I do not take anything for granted - thank for showing us these and you and Miz Debbie have a good nite Miz Tonia - Salud.

Just the thing for some bright Christmas colour, Tonia.

This was fun, sort of like driving around and seeing Christmas lights, except I'm sitting here and just scrolling through the photos instead. Love that deer. A great gift. And I liked the kayak Santa too.

Those decorations are so nice, Tonia. They all have special meanings to you both and that's the best part.

Definitely interesting, and different, Christmas decorating. Thanks for the tour!

I really like how we're all doing this. It's kind of like we're driving to each other's houses and admiring what we've each done. Sometimes this community just boggles my mind.

Your statement about the animals not being respectful of family treasures reminded me of how my daughter's dog ate an entire box full of ornaments I had saved for her through the years. Not just things from when she was a baby, but a few from when I was little, also. I was sickened by that. Outside of a dog who knocked a tree over one year in an attempt to get a piece of chocolate off of it, I've been fairly lucky with my animals. The cats have always enjoyed sitting under it, but that's about it.

Now I'm off to the Lenox web sit. You know that Kevin and I love to kayak, too...

Shoot. It must have been a limited edition because I can't find one.

Kevin says he'll just whittle another one. We have whittled kayaks all over the tree, too.

Raven - that's the only way to do eggnog :-)

Ina - it is a limited edition - I think that I found it on eBay. Here's a link to an ornament I found, and yes, it is on our little tree. And it has been fun to see what others are doing - you were my inspiration for putting this up.

Roy - ah, it's just a little bit of fun.

Faith - Christmas is definitely low key around here but it is fun to drag these out.

Lynn - that's a good way to put it - driving around looking at lights is one my favorite things - NW Arkansas is known for the light displays that go up in the squares of a number of towns - maybe we'll get out to see them and then of course, there will be photos.

Magi - yes, Christmas certainly is a time of colour.

Thanks Marianne - I do hope it is a blessed Christmas for you also.

Mariana - taking a peek into the homes of others has certainly been quite fun.

Beverly - yes, the deer seems to add a touch of class ;-)

Thanks Stephanie.

Ruth - you made me laugh - I can so relate to duct taping things down in order to cat proof them!

Vicky - yes, I've always enjoyed the stories - somewhere I have a little box that contains three ornaments I made from tinfoil many years ago - I was very poor at the time but wanted to do a little something to add some holiday cheer - I'll have to go search for them and put them on the tree.

Teresa - I'm usually a grinch right up until a day or two before Christmas - this year feels different and I find that I am getting into the spirit of things much earlier.

Verie - thank you - and we are both so glad to have you in ours lives.

Thanks Corina.

Great ornaments, Tonia! I especially like the bear and the deer.

I love ornaments that have meaning...the reindeer is just magnificent...such delicate antlers. And of course the bear, who couldn't love that!

Back from shoveling...have been sitting by the fire warming my hands and drinking hot cocoa... the tree is in the living room but as yet haven't gone up to the attic to get down the lights and ornaments.

Wonderful collection, Tonia...I especially love the snowshoe Santa bear. have a lovely Christmas!

wonderful, tonia! (isn't it mantel?) - i esp love the loons circling santa's kayak. i need something like that! your newest treasure is just that, a gem. thank you for sharing!

Lots of visual interest in those mementos, Tonia. The new one especially intrigues me.

Dropping back by - you are so blessed to have a mantle - Salud.

jessie - you are right - it should be mantel - and all these years I've been getting that one wrong - sigh - thanks for the correction.

Thanks all for stopping by to enjoy our little bit of holiday cheer - that deer sure does seem to be a hit.

I'm coming late to the gathering. I have been yearning for real eggnog for weeks now. Hard to yearn for something you've never had. I've always been satisfied with the stuff out of the carton. A splash of bourbon and a good sprinkle of nutmeg makes it just fine for me. But I have been seeing so many eggnog recipes lately. Maybe before the season is over .......

Tonia, what a precious collection!

The grazing deer is superb, Tonia. Each year I keep at least one Christmas ornament on display. 'Cuz sometimes ya just need a little Christmas.

Lovely ornamentation!