Thanksgiving Mantel

Last month, I posted my Halloween mantel.

(A first for me as I have never put a Halloween mantel together.)

After I put the Halloween decorations away,

I was left with an empty mantel and

a decision to make....

put my Fall mantel back up or come up with a Thanksgiving mantel?

Hmmmm.... 

a Thanksgiving mantel it is! 

(Another first for me.)

Hard to believe, but everything I used, I already had. 

I love it when that happens!

I purchased the pilgrim couple at TJ Maxx

after Thanksgiving a few years ago. 

I love them! 

I had to include this last photo below
 because I have a story to tell.

I bought these wooden characters 19 years ago.  

A coworker's Mom made them and I was so happy

to have these small Thanksgiving related pieces. 

At the time, there really wasn't much in the way of

Thanksgiving decor for sale anywhere.  

I have always placed them on the fireplace as shown.

This year,  however, I left the characters in the box. 

Honestly, they really aren't my style anymore,

so I thought I would just pack them away.

After I finished the mantel, my son came to me

and here is our conversation:

Johnny:   Why aren't those wooden pilgrims on the mantel?

Me:  I wasn't going to put them out this year; I'm not really crazy about them.

Johnny:  But they belong on the mantel like always.

Me:  Ok, I'll go get them.

So, out of the box they came

and onto the mantel, like always.

Far be it from me to mess with like always.