Winter Mantel Mix: Fresh Cedar & Faux Pine
They say it’s better late than never, and I’m excited to finally share my outdoor mantel decorated with fresh cedar garland and faux pine garland.
Repost from 2023
Back Porch Living
The back porch, with its cozy fireplace and outdoor kitchen, is hands down my favorite spot in our home. When we built this house, I insisted on having this space, and I’m so glad I did. It’s not perfect—it could be bigger. You never really know what you need until you’ve lived in it for a while. Still, it’s my happy place, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Fall is when this space truly shines. As soon as the temperatures drop below 60, especially on weekends, you’ll likely find me on the porch in front of a roaring fire. That first fire of the season is always special, and once it’s lit, I’m done for the day. There’s just something about staring into the flames that’s so mesmerizing. The TV might be on above the fireplace, or I’ll have my laptop out browsing, blogging, or editing photos—feet to the fire, of course.
I used to feel a little guilty about spending so much time just sitting there, knowing there are always things that “need” to be done around the house. But the longer I sit, the more that guilt fades away. I have to remind myself it’s okay to relax and enjoy the moment. Being retired means we’ve earned the right to slow down. And for me, the back porch is the perfect place to do just that.
Fresh Garland
I have to admit, I had a bit of a head start on decorating my outdoor mantel this year, thanks to a family wedding.
Our grandson AJ and his fiancée Taaylor got married in early December. While the wedding wasn’t Christmas-themed, it featured stunning fresh green garlands as part of the decor. The day after the wedding, I helped take down the flowers and decorations. Rachel Wiygul, the talented floral designer at Trendy Tree, created breathtaking arrangements for the event. When it came time to dismantle, most of the fresh garlands would have been discarded—but I had other plans!
With a Sunday School brunch coming up in a week, I salvaged the garlands and some of the fresh blooms to use for that gathering. After the brunch, the garlands made their way to my house. They found a second (or maybe third!) life on our deck rails and outdoor mantel. Talk about repurposing!
The garland was a beautiful mix of cedar, Leyland cypress, and spruce. To style it on my mantel, I started with a base of faux pine garland, then layered the fresh greenery on top. A few red Nandina berries from David’s mom’s house and some tiny lights woven throughout completed the look. Simple, fresh, and festive!
Faux Pine Garland
Using faux pine garland as a base added extra bulk and height to the display, making the fresh cedar garland stand out even more. This year, I skipped adding ribbons or bows, letting the natural greenery take center stage. The fresh garland has held up surprisingly well. I took this photo just yesterday, and while it has dried out a bit, it’s far from “dead dead.”
I plan to take down my holiday decorations this weekend, but the outdoor mantel will stay as it is until the garland completely dries out. Living in Mississippi, we don’t usually get the coldest winters until February or March. I’m impressed it has lasted this long—four weeks and still looking lovely!
Fresh Greenery
I’ve enjoyed this pre-made fresh garland so much this year that I’m already planning for next year! It’s not likely to have another family wedding to provide garland. I’ll need to purchase it myself next time or make is fresh cedar garland from scratch. But look what I found on Sam’s website!
You can get 25 feet of fresh mixed pine and cedar garland for just under $50—well, $49.98. But “under $50” has a nicer ring to it))) That much garland goes a long way, at least at our house. It’s something to keep in mind for next year if you’re thinking about a fresh cedar garland! And the best part about using fresh greenery? When it’s time to take it down, you can simply toss it. No storage required—gotta love that!)))
Fireplace Memories
I grew up in a house with one fireplace in the living room for heat. It’s no wonder we slept under covers so heavy you could hardly move. Mornings were a mad dash from bed straight to the fireplace. Of course, if you were facing the fire, your front would get warm while your backside stayed cold—and vice versa!))) Life got a lot easier when we finally had a butane heater in the kitchen.
We did have a popcorn popper for the fireplace, but I remember it wasn’t the greatest. A lot of the popcorn ended up burned))) I don’t recall any other cooking being done at the fireplace, but my grandmother sometimes used her coal stove to warm a pot of food. Looking back, it really makes you appreciate gas and electricity.
Before my dad passed away, my brother would bring him to our house on Sundays for lunch. After that he would take him back home, or later, back to the nursing home. Even after he was in the nursing home, we continued bringing him over as long as we could—until Covid put a stop to it. During those visits, he always made his way out to the back porch to smoke. Now, no comments about the smoking, please))). He was 98 when he passed, and he didn’t have lung disease, heart issues, or even COPD! He once told me he started smoking as a young teenager. Strange how things work out, isn’t it? He fell, broke his hip, had surgery, and died a few days later.
He never quite understood the point of having a fireplace on the back porch. Every time he’d say, “Jeannie Dale, you’re losing all your heat up the chimney!” I didn’t dare tell him we had a gas log starter—he would’ve thought that was downright wasteful!)))
