Photo op

Hallmark introduced another year’s worth of Keepsake ornaments last summer, including several with penguins. Leading off the lineup are Snowball and Tuxedo, the familiar but unlikely pals from opposite poles. Click here for more about this excellent ornament series, now in its eleventh year.

Hallmark Keepsake “Snap Happy Friends,” Snowball and Tuxedo series No. 11, Joanne Eschrich, artist

Acquired: July 24, 2011, Jill’s Hallmark, Easton, Pa.

Number: 0920

Size: 2.5 inches tall

Price: $12.95

Polar bear express

What’s a flightless bird to do when he has to get somewhere fast? Why, just find a winged polar bear and you’re on your way. It’s a wonder this ornament ever made it to the tree. The bear’s right forepaw broke during the trip from Montreal to New Jersey. Then I nearly destroyed it and myself when I fell on it from the back of my couch while reaching to hang some decorations. The bear’s wings had to be glued back together and every year I have to reattach a feather or two.

Krinkl Xmas penguin on a flying polar bear with gold crowns

Acquired: July 1, 2006, Noël Eternel, Montreal, PQ

Number: 0291

Size: 3.5 inches long

Price: 15.99 $CAN

Snowball and Tuxedo

Tuxedo the penguin and Snowball the polar bear have been hanging out for 10 years now in a Hallmark Keepsake ornament series by the artist Joanne Eschrich. I bought No. 4 in the series, called Fancy Footwork, at a store close to where I was living in Middletown, N.J. I don’t think I was aware that it was part of a series then, and I don’t remember seeing any of the others until a couple of weeks ago when Hallmark introduced a number of the new ornaments for 2010. One of the new offerings is a special 10^th anniversary edition of Snowball and Tuxedo, and they also have a regular 10^th-in-a-series rendition of the bipolar pals cutting out snowflakes, paper doll style. I suspect the Hallmark series ornaments get snapped up quickly by collectors and that’s why I don’t have any of the others. I know I could probably find the rest online, but I’d rather see if I can stumble upon them in my travels.

Fancy Footwork, No. 4 in Snowball and Tuxedo Hallmark Keepsake series

Acquired: Dec.21, 2005, Sunray Drugs, Middletown, N.J.

Number: 0277

Size: 3.25 inches tall

Price: $7.95

Ten Terrific Years, Snowball and Tuxedo special edition 2010 Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Premiere

Acquired: July 7, 2010, Jay’s Hallmark, Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York City

Number: 0778

Size: 2.5 inches tall

Price: $9.95

Snowflakes With Style, No. 10 in Snowball and Tuxedo Hallmark Keepsake series

Acquired: July 11, 2010, Jill's Hallmark, Broadheadsville, Pa.

Number: 0783

Size: 2.5 inches tall

Price: $9.95

Winnie and Penny

I don’t remember a penguin when I read Winnie the Pooh stories as a child, but thanks to our friends at Disney, we get a frosty Winnie and a penguin friend together in one ornament. Poor Pooh’s ears snapped off. I was able to find one of them last year and glued it back on. If you click on the picture, you can see what a lousy job I did. I’m still hoping the other ear is somewhere in the packing material I use to store the ornaments.

Frosty Winnie the Pooh and a penguin pal

Acquired: December 2004, Downtown Disney, Anaheim, Calif.

Number: 258 (number corrected July 12, 2010

Size: 3.75 inches tall