Earlier this year, my husband helped me gather some vines in the woods to make a wreath. I’d added a few dried hydrangeas and turkey feathers to it for fall.
When it came time to redo the mantle for Christmas, I was still enjoying the look. So my changes are minimal. The feathers were plucked from the wreath, and more dried blooms were tucked into the branches. Nothing is glued or wired, so redos are as simple as sticking stems into the twisted vines.
The plan was to hang some ornaments on it too, but I decided to keep it simple.
For sparkle, I did add a few ornies to the candle holders next to my Great Aunt Caroline’s clock.
A flocked garland was laid along the oak mantle, and I thought I was done.
But then, I had to figure out a safe place to store all of the hydrangeas I’d dried from the garden and displayed around the house. I’d taken them down to make way for Christmas trees and didn’t want them to get smashed.
For the twenty plus years we have lived here, I desperately tried to grow hydrangeas. I have no idea the body count of plants that I killed over the years. I figured I should just be planting twenty dollar bills and save myself some effort.
Then 2020 rolls around. The year that sucks for the entire world. Everyone but the hydrangeas in my garden!
My harvest was gorgeous and plentiful. And I am happy to have the mantle focused on one bright spot of this year.
Comments