Same time, same place

These two ornaments are not part of a matched set, but I bought them together at the Holiday Gift Festival at Grand Central Terminal one year. They came in a “buy two, get one free” deal, but there were only two penguins. The third ornament was a nativity scene in the same flat cookie cutter style, and I gave to my brother and sister-in-law.

Carolyn Jordan Selections 2005 ceramic cookie cutter style penguin couple

Acquired: December 12, 2005, Grand Central Terminal Holiday Market

Number: 275

Size: about 3.5 inches tall

Price: 3 for $15

Carolyn Jordan Selections ceramic penguin ornament with holly and red ribbon bow tie

Acquired: December 12, 2005, Grand Central Terminal Holiday Market

Number: 276

Size: about 3.5 inches tall

Price: 3 for $15

Information updated July 23, 2010

Joy, oh joy

Joy is exactly what I felt when I found this ornament at the Grand Central Holiday Market in New York. A few weeks before, I was in Alice Springs, Australia, about as far away from anywhere as you can get, when I saw the same ornament at a gift shop. I liked the ornament a lot and I almost bought it then, but it was missing one of the letters and I think the wire garland was broken. Besides, I already had an excellent souvenir penguin ornament, the Alice Springs angel, from another shop down the street. I always regret it when I leave an ornament behind and this time was no exception. So, to find the again halfway around the world a few weeks later, with all its parts intact, made my day. As a bonus, it came with a matching partner, the heart-wreath skater from the Feb. 14 post and it looks like a got a little discount for buying them together.

Joy penguin

Acquired: December 2004, Grand Central Terminal Holiday Market, New York City

Number: 260

Size: 3.75 inches tall

Price: $12.50 (two for $25)

Remember

It always makes me a little sad when I see this ornament. I bought it at the Grand Central Holiday Fair in December 2001, not long after the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon and the plane crash in Pennsylvania. The fire was still burning below the rubble at Ground Zero in December even as the cleanup was well under way. Our emotions were still raw, but I think Christmas did a lot to help us return to our normal routines. Although things would never be the same, life went on.

New York 2001 ceramic penguin

Acquired: December 2001

Number: 0192

Size: 2 inches tall

One of a kind

I was at the holiday fair at Grand Central when I was faced with a dilemma. Here was a box full of beaded penguins, each in its own handcrafted pattern. How could I pick one and leave the rest behind or go way over budget and take them all? Finally I decided I could afford one this year and hope the booth was open next year when I could buy another. I’m not even sure they were intended to be tree ornaments, but each one had a ribbon tied around its neck for hanging. I still have the tag attached with the name of the artist, a disadvantaged person from the townships of Capetown, South Africa.

Monkeybiz South Africa bead ornament

Acquired: December 21, 2009, Grand Central Terminal Holiday Festival, New York City

Number: 764

Size: 3.5 inches tall

Price: $25

From the heart

Here's a skier, wearing a heart-shaped wreath, that's just right for continuing the Olumpic theme and also for sending a Valentine's Day greeting. It resemles another ornament that I bought the same day, which I'll have more to tell about in a future post. Happy Valentine's Day!

Skier with heart shaped wreath
Acquired: December 2004, Grand Central Terminal Holiday Market, New York City
Number: 259 (number and year corrected July 11, 2010)
Price: $12.50 (two for $25)
Size: 4 inches tall