Early bargains

I was surprised when I took this ornament and the parachutist from yesterday’s post to the checkout counter and found out how cheap they were. Christmas was still weeks away, but the ornaments and other decorations were all marked down from an already marked down price. Nice.

Black glittery body, red top hat, red and yellow candy cane, bow tie, red and blue buttons

Acquired: December 9, 2011, Bon Ton, Steamtown Mall, Scranton, Pa.

Number: 1015

Size: 4.5 inches tall

Price: $3.84 (double markdown of 60 and 20 percent from $12)

Lost and found

Before I post each ornament on the blog, I put all its information on an index card. It’s the ultimate backup system and the only place the information exists between buying ornaments and recording them on the blog. So I had a little panic tonight when I couldn’t find my mini-pack of cards for this year’s new ornaments. About half of them are already posted, but another 50 are in limbo. It would have taken days to dig up receipts and tags to reconstruct the missing cards. At the same time, I was missing a turquoise ring that I’ve worn every day for 30 years. It’s a souvenir I bought in Bernalillo, N.M., when I first visited my Uncle Lee and Aunt Lillian who lived nearby. It was Aunt Lillian who taught me the rhyming prayer “St. Anthony, St. Anthony, please come around, something is lost and cannot be found.” So I went to her and him for help and moments later spotted the ring half buried in the carpet in my TV room. Then I found the index cards where they had fallen to the floor through my spiral staircase when I was carrying a pile of things upstairs. I’m still missing the receipt from my shopping spree at Bronner’s, where I found today’s ornament in the bargain area. Two out of three is an excellent record however, so thank you, Aunt Lillian, and thank you, St. Anthony.

Dressed up glass couple in red top hat, green vest and black jacket, and pink hat and necklace

Acquired: September 23, 2011, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, Frankenmuth, Mich.

Number: 0956

Size: 4.5 inches tall

Price: $4.98 (originally $7.99)

Flower power

This smartly attired penguin is made of three puffy black balls trimmed with pieces of felt for the wings, feet, stomach, beak and that white top hat. A bent pipe cleaner is his cane. While not technically a Christmas ornament, it had a string attached and it seemed only natural to hang it on the tree. He came to me on a flower arrangement, I think from my sister Gale, possibly for my birthday, or for a new job, or as a get well gift. It’s hard to remember, because I grew up in a family of florists, and flowers showed up all the time and for all occasions. I spent a lot of time in flower shops doing various odd jobs, including delivery and bookkeeping. All flower shops smell the same and any time I walk into one it brings back good memories. Just like this ornament does.

Puff ball penguin with felt accents

Acquired: 1980s

Number: 0045

Size: 4.5 inches tall