Picky, Picky

All decorated for a baby shower.

 

Okay, time to let a little steam loose from the vent. 

Yes, yes, yes, I realize there are many more important issues going on than 

this personal one of mine.

First, though, I ask a simple question:

What do you call the planked piece above a fireplace opening?

You know, the place where stockings are hung at Christmastime,

the place where candles, framed pictures and other "treasures"

find as a home for display?

(Hint:  It's a six-letter word that has no apparent rhyme partner, but does act as a last name for a famous baseball player MICKEY _ _ _ _ _ _.)

Decorated with random picture frames.And pictures in some of those random frames.

             ^{(Further hint:  see dictionary choices below.)}

¹man·tle

noun \ˈman-t^əl\

: a loose piece of clothing without sleeves that was worn over other clothes especially in the past
: the position of someone who has responsibility or authority

man·tel

noun \ˈman-t^əl\

: the shelf above a fireplace

  : a beam, stone, or arch serving as a lintel to support the masonry above a fireplace 

  :  the finish around a fireplace

Okay, it's a m-a-n-t-e-l. The e comes before the l. On decorating blogs and advertising come-ons, I am seeing that the l is coming before the e and it makes me nuts. This is my public service announcement to just stop it.  Right now.  Be picky about how you spell, people.

Decorated for Christmas with company soon arriving. No tree?  Just use the large frond!

 

I guess I must've gotten picky because a few years back we got a place with a mantel.

A humble little mantel. A non-worthy-editorial mantel never going to be on any glossy

magazine page.  But, a mantel is still a mantel and I change it up seasonally.

Decorated for Annie, Sandy and Batman.

And always try to spell it correctly.