Christmas Mantle Garland

It smells a lot like Christmas in our house thanks to my friend Shannon. She offered (and royally delivered) to make some garland for my Christmas mantle. I had to warn her, my mantle is YUGE, but was no sweat to Shannon. She brought me a 12ft of real cedar and pine wrapped into a lovely full garland and it not only smells heavenly, but is absolutely beautiful!

Shannon has a beautiful farm nearby that has been in her husband Kevin’s family for many generations. To them, the Sunny Slope Ranch (as they’ve named it) and loved ones are the center of life and they spend a great deal of time tending the farm and connecting the branches of their large family tree. I, myself, can be found on the farthest stretches of the limbs as Kevin’s grandpa, known to many as Coonie, was my great-grandmother Ethel’s brother. Ethel and Coonie (Delmar) were among nine children to Shelt and Anvelin Collins and around our small town it’s hard not to throw a stick and hit someone that is a relative of their line, myself included.

Would you like your own custom garland, like this one? Read below the pictures to find out how.

During the Christmas season, Shannon is making this beautiful real garland for anyone in the area interested. You let her know the length and she will create for you a beautiful fragrant piece of garland to put over your fireplace or on your table for $4 a foot. To preserve your garland, give it an occasional mist of water 1-2 times a day. It has also shown to be beneficial to spray it with hairspray, if you’re so inclined. Misting the garland with water will keep it fresh and alive well past Christmas. To contact Shannon for your own custom garland, call 417-505-9623.