I brake for penguins

On the ride home from Montreal, we stopped for lunch at Lake George, roughly the halfway mark in the trip. Rather than heading straight back to the New York State Thruway, I was driving through town looking for a gas station or an ATM, I don’t remember which when, out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Christmas whizz by. As soon as it was safe, I made a U-turn and, sure enough, pulled in to A Christmas to Remember, a big store with a lot of promise. I only found these two ornaments, but their quality made the stop worthwhile. The skater skillfully balancing a couple armfuls of wrapped gifts and nattily dressed caroler with peppermint cane and top hat are made of plaster I think. They’re very heavy and beautifully painted and decorated. Zoom in to check out the band on the top hat. When I unpack the penguins I'm going to try to take a better detail shot, but you can see how nice it is even on this snapshot.

Skater balancing gifts
Acquired: September 15, 2002, A Christmas to Remember, Lake George, New York
Number: 197
Size: about 4.5 inches tall

Caroler with top hat and cane

Acquired: September 15, 2002, A Christmas to Remember, Lake George, New York

Number: 198

Size: about 4.5 inches tall

Pittsburgh Penguin

I had two missions to accomplish when I revisited Pittsburgh in 2008. One was to see the Pirates in their new home near where the old Three Rivers Stadium was located. It’s a beautiful spot, a short walk across a bridge from downtown with excellent views of the skyline beyond the outfield. It was one of the few times I’ve been rained out of a baseball game, but the delay made it possible for me to see my first double header the next day. I was worried about falling behind schedule on my intended route through Cincinnati, St. Louis and Kansas City to check off some of the other ballparks I hadn’t visited yet. But the extra day in Pittsburgh gave me more time for my other mission: to find some Pittsburgh Penguin booty and maybe even a Penguins tree ornament. I needed the extra day because the Penguins shop was closed at the Mellon Arena. It’s known as the Igloo because of it’s domed shape, because of the icy sport that’s played inside and because of a misconceived geographical connection between penguins and igloos, but I think Mellon is an equally descriptive name for the building. The next day I arrived early so I could do my shopping and still make it to the baseball stadium in time for the first pitch. I came away with a t-shirt commemorating the Penguins’ conference title and also this hockey player ornament. He qualifies as a penguin tree ornament on two levels. First, he’s wearing a hockey sweater with Pittsburgh Penguin team emblems and, second, he is, himself, a Penguin. I have tried to replace the removable hockey stick with a candy cane, but his hands are too small. I’m not a hockey fan, so I didn’t pay attention to the fact that he represents an actual person, Jordan Staal, who is one of three brothers playing in the National Hockey League. Brother Eric, of he Carolina Hurricanes, is a member of Canada’s Olympic team this year. Eric and Jordan played together on Canada’s world championship team in 2007. Brother Marc is a New York Ranger, and another brother, Jared, who was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes, currently plays for the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League. Hallmark had a smaller Penguins ornament of Sidney Crosby last year, but the one I saw was gone when I went back to the store to buy it a couple of weeks later. I have one other Penguins ornament which we’ll get to another day. It’s a good one too.

Forever Collectibles Jordan Staal Pittsburgh Penguins player ornament with removable hockey stick

Acquired: May 2008, Pittsburgh Penguins Team Store at the Igloo

Number: 462

Price: $5 (originally $15)

Size: 5 inches tall

Behind every skater

Olympic athletes know how to get the job done when it’s time for competition. But they also depend on a lot of support from their coaches, friends and family on the sidelines. So while the skating penguin takes to the ice, his mate watches from the stands, enjoying a big ice cream cone. These ornaments are big and heavy, probably solid plaster.

Pair of heavy penguins, one skating, the other eating an ice cream cone

Acquired: December 2001, Target, Middletown, N.J.
Number: 0176 0177

Size: both 4.25 inches tall; skater 4.5 inches long