Computer whiz

I’m not going to pretend to know what I’m missing out on, but this penguin apparently came with a pass code that would have let me into the online world of Webkinz, presumably to find a virtual version of this ornament and a bunch of his animated friends. I’m just in this for the ornament and to have a souvenir of my trip to Florida a couple of Thanksgivings ago. I was in New York this Thanksgiving with a small gathering of the northern division of my family. I didn’t post a penguin ornament yesterday, but I did see a couple of them in a store window that I might go back for after Christmas, if I can hold out that long. It’s not that I forgot to post on the blog yesterday. It’s just that I was having fun with my relatives, I was far away from my ornament notes and I fell asleep early after two rounds of turkey.

Webkinz Ring in the Season penguin with gold bell

Acquired: Nov. 30, 2010,, Cracker Barrel, Altamonte Springs, Fla.

Number: 0574

Size: 2.5 inches tall

Price: $5.99

Self-made penguins

These two penguins came from a kit that made four finger puppet ornaments. I bought it on the way to a family gathering for Thanksgiving. We had a good time putting them together, although it was difficult because they are so small. I remember it was especially tricky wrapping a black pipe cleaner around a paper cone for the body, gluing it down as you twisted it around. My great niece and great nephew, Hayley Brown and Cory McDonald kept two of them. I intended to take only the one I made, but I forgot to pack it although I assigned it a number. My brother mailed it to me later with some presents and I opened it on Christmas Day to find not one but two penguins inside. By that time I had added a number of other ornaments, so their numbers are not consecutive. If whoever made the extra ornament wants it, I’ll be happy to send it along. Meanwhile, both are happily ensconced at My Penguin Tree.

Do-it-yourself kit penguins

Acquired: November 18, 2007, Cracker Barrel, Walterboro, S.C.

Number: 0402 0445

Size: 4.75 inches tall

Price: $1.49

Hey! (repeat verse)

You can keep singing if you want, but these two penguins bring Jingle Bell Week to a close here at My Penguin Tree. They are both enjoying the winter weather in keeping with the mood of the song. One is on skis equipped with toothpick poles, and the other is gliding along on skates. So, jingle bell fans, I’m sure we’ll find a few more ornaments down the road, just not bunched together like we had this week. Today’s penguins represent another milestone in the ornament collection, taking me over the 400 mark. We still have hundreds of penguins to go, so stay tuned.

Round, green and blue penguins on skis and skates with dangling jingle bells by CBOCS, Lebanon, Tenn.

Acquired: Nov. 18, 2007, Cracker Barrel, Fredericksburg, Va.

Number: 0400 0401

Size: 4.5 inches tall

Price: $2.99 each

In a one-horse open sleigh

Ditto from yesterday’s post on the title not matching today’s ornament, but it’s still Jingle Bell Week on My Penguin Tree until we run out of either lyrics or jingle bells or both. Like yesterday’s penguin, these two seem to be attired appropriately for dashing through the snow, and it looks like they’ve just come home from the woods with a freshly cut Christmas tree.  Oddly, one penguin has a normal ceramic body while the other’s body is a red jingle bell.

Stacked up penguins on a jingle bell by CBOCS, Lebanon, Tenn.

Acquired: November 18, 2007, Cracker Barrel, Walterboro, S.C.

Number: 0403

Size: 4.5 inches tall

Price: $1.99

Milestone

Ornament No. 300 is one of my favorites. It looks like a teething ring, except for those tiny dangling parts that would be horrible choking hazards. Too bad, because this ornament could keep a baby busy for hours. The wings are attached with springs and the jingle bells make a racket at even the slightest touch. It makes me happy just to see and touch it. Thanks to ornaments like this one, I go out of my way to stop at Cracker Barrel around Christmas time, even if I don’t get anything to eat.

Jingly penguin that looks like a teething ring

Acquired: September 4, 2006, Cracker Barrel, St. Augustine, Fla.

Number: 300

Size: 4.5 inches tall

Price: $2.99

Pop goes the penguin!

You can’t close the lid, there’s no crank and no music, but this penguin is mounted on a spring and it wiggles like a jack-in-the-box clown when you shake it. Cracker Barrel came through with another excellent penguin ornament. It was a real bargain too. But wait ‘til you see tomorrow’s penguin, also from Cracker Barrel.

Jack-in-the-box penguin

Acquired: September 4, 2006, Cracker Barrel, St. Augustine, Fla.

Number: 0299

Size: 4 inches tall

Price: $3.99

Over a barrel

After finding this crazy ornament at a Cracker Barrel store, I now go out of my way to look for penguin Christmas ornaments there. It was the first time I had ever been to a Cracker Barrel, after the Florida-Georgia football game with my sister Gale. I have to admit I liked the place and the food. I've found a few other good ornaments over the years at different stores, but none quite like this first one with a rubbery skating penguin sprawled across a frost-covered silver ball and tangled in a string of lights.

Acquired: October 30, 1999, Cracker Barrel, Jacksonville, Fla.
Number: 0152
Size: 4 inches tall