Hi Ruth! With such a long mantel . . . and your very prominent fireplace, my take is that you need to balance it out with taller, larger items. Things that won't be overwhelmed by the sheer bulk of your very pretty fireplace. A couple larger, framed pictures with a large clock in the middle would be the first thing I'd try. They don't have to be Christmas themed art, although that would be lovely as well. Two matching large mirrors would also work, if they'd reflect something you want to highlight. 2-3 big chunky candleholders, or two of the red ones you have in your pic already. I'd then add greenery and lights. The bottom line, IMHO, is that you need larger items to balance your fireplace's mass. Lynn

This year, I did just that! The kitchen renovation was completed after Thanksgiving and I'm still continuing the clean up. I haven't had the time to pull out any Xmas deco. While at Lowe's purchasing items for the kitchen, I bought a natural wreath. They also had some shatter proof ornaments on sale and I bought them to dress up the wreath with some ribbons that I already got. I also purchased a couple of nice large red Poinsettia pots. I have 1 on the front door and 1 over the bar countertop that is facing the living room. At the bar countertop, I also displayed the beautiful Xmas cards that I've been receiving. These things alone brighten up the messy rooms. You're right, it does makes it festive even with a little deco.

Good evening, I am sorry it has taken me so long to post my envie. Jayeanne sent me a pretty sparkly snowflake card that she made. (I might add it was full of confetti, lol). She put in a pretty beaded bookmark and calendula, cucumber and african daisy seeds. I will make these a part of my new gardens this year. Thank you Jayeanne Thanks to Jeanne for the fantastic month of fun. Margo

My mother spent her last years in a nursing home with vascular dementia. She continued to read until shortly before the final months of her life. She read much simpler books than she had read in her earlier years, and she rarely finished them. I suspect she forgot what happened in chapter one by the time she reached chapter three, but so long as she took pleasure from the process, it was worthwhile to her. It must have been. She requested a new supply each week and seemed to enjoy the effort. Reading was the fundamental activity of her life. The nurses told us that she was the only patient on the dementia ward that they had ever seen reading. The others watched television, which she ignored.