A MANTLE - TO BE OR NOT TO BE...

When is a mantle 

not a mantle?

The first camellia of the season!

When

 it is a shelf!

There are a few shelves

 in the Cottage

 who desperately want to be 

mantles 

when they grow up.

Some are just youngsters 

with dreams of achievement

 that are quite beyond

 their reach..

Some

 are a little more 

advanced...

...but

 still have room 

for growth...

...then

 there is the one

 that has reached its full potential 

but,

 unless the sofa under it

 catches fire, 

will never have the ability 

to actually

 claim the title.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, 

let's get down 

to brass tacks...

This actual mantle 

in the sitting room

 is the heart of the home. 

 It is our main source of heat 

and gets a workout 

during the long winter months.

 A few of the crocks from our collection 

sit on the corner shelf.

 This is where faux greenery,

 not only softens the look,

 but is totally acceptable 

because of the heat

 from the stove pipe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the parlor

 there is a full fledged mantle 

which once held the glow of firelight,

 but now is content

 with the memories of long ago

 of the warmth

 from my great-grandmother's

 little black parlor stove.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The mantle 

in the guest room 

never had dreams

 of growing up to be

 anything other than what it was...

...a few old door casings,

 some odd pieces of shelving,

 an antique dresser,

 and backing off the shelves

 of a big box store.

Now

 all those pieces

 stand as one

 and treat our guests to a 

soft bed and 

a warm welcome.

Hope everyone

 has a romantic 

and wonderful

 Valentine's Day.

...Judy...

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