My Favorite Christmas Ornaments

Each year I take great pleasure in putting up my Christmas tree. My tree is not one of those better homes and gardens trees. It is a memory tree. As I unwrap my ornaments each year I remember the friends and relatives who have given me these wonderful ornaments. Some ornaments are just sentimental and remind me of different times in my life. I want to share a few of my favorite ornaments with you.

This Owl was a gift from my sister Felicia. She knows I love Harry Potter and this ornament reminds me of Hedwig. This is a recent addition from Felicia. I just lover her little face.

This is a nice vintage ornament that my Mother-In-Law Vera gave me.

This is a beautiful handmade ornament that my sister-in-law Suzanne made.

This little fairy was a Hallmark purchase. I gave one to each of my sisters that year.

This cute snuggly cat was a gift from some friends in Texas.

This vintage ornament was a gift from my good friend Lynn in Albuquerque.

This handmade ornament was made by my Mother and Father-in-law.

This vintage parrot ornament is part of my collection of vintage glass bird ornaments. I am now seeing reproductions on the market and actually bought one this year.

This antique German ornament was put on e-bay by my sister Patty. I saw it and had to have it.
This Irish Santa was given to me by my Dad and his wife Jean one Christmas.


This is one of my vintage glass ornaments that I bought when I was working an estate sale. I came across a box of nice ornaments. I think it may be pink mercury glass. The pink is very vivid.

I found this ornament at Marshals last year. Being Polish this ornament had great meaning to me. It is Our Lady of Czestochowa, also known as the Black Madonna.

Black Madonnas--Our Lady of Czestochowa

This is a little wooden cuckoo clock that I purchased when I first got married. I just find it sweet and comforting. It reminds me of my childhood in Germany. It also reminds me of my brother-in-law Joe, the clock guy :)
This blown egg ornament was made by my sister Felicia. I have had it for years and am lucky not to have broken it. It is in the Polish Nesting Doll style.

Another one of my vintage glass bird ornaments.

I usually purchase one ornament each year for myself. This was this years purchase. I totally love her.
This was one of my vintage estate sale ornaments.

This ornament was purchased in South Carolina. My sister Brigid was visiting and we did a little shopping. It is two peas in a pod and reminds me of Brigid's boys whenever I see it.

This handmade ornament was purchased in Salt Lake City. I was traveling on business and was in downtown Salt Lake City and happened upon a church bazaar. It is hand crocheted and starched. It has held up nicely throughout the years.
This was a brief tour of my Christmas ornament collection. I hope you enjoyed it. Merry Chrismas!

Best Birthday Bundt Cake

Having a birthday near Christmas can be torture for a child. I always felt a little ripped off when I was a kid because manytimes I would get the usual "This gift is for your birthday and Christmas" routine.

As an adult I've always hated when well meaning co-workers organized a birthday lunch or gifts because I knew it was Christmas time and they were already being nickled and dimed to death with gift exhanges, secret Santas, obligatory gifts for people they barely knew but had to buy for because it was the right thing to do.

This year a kind co-worker and friend surprised me with a darling cake. It was wrapped in festive plastic in an open cake box and inside was a great red velvet bunt cake. I could not remember the last time I had a birthday cake on my birthday. I was very touched. I was even more touched when I found out that her husband picked up the cake on his Harley and bungied it to the back. I wish I had a photo of that.

I received some very thoughtful gifts from family and friends and my husbands parents called me on my drive home and sang Happy Birthday to me. It feels good to be loved.

What I Won't Be Wearing for Christmas

Need I say more.

Cornflake Girl, An Introduction

Gary & his toy mouse

I'm new to the blogging world. I've chosen the name Cornflake Girl from the Tori Amos song of the same name. I love the piano intro.

I live in Arizona and have family members and friends in other states. Basically I wanted to create this blog to post some photos and stories of my personal adventures. I'm not the most interesting person in the world but follow along and find out for yourself.

My interests are art, photography, flea markets, my cat Gary, my family and friends.

Below are a few photos from Thanksgiving in Santa Fe. It was a cold and snowy day at the Tesuque Pueblo Flea Market. There were not a lot of visitors. I loved this Buddha under the tent.

Cold, snowy and muddy. As I was leaving the market I noticed a sign that said "no photographs". oops.Nice colorful beads. This market has a great atmosphere, especially if the weather is nice. It is nestled in the mountains next to the Santa Fe Opera. You can find great deals on art and jewelry. They have a lot of international vendors selling goods from Guatemala, Africa and local wares.A nice crafty art display.Another of my favorite places in Santa Fe. The Inn of the Anasazi. I love to have lunch there. It has a great atmosphere and is such a treat.I love this door and fence. So pretty. So Santa Fe.Some cool and colorful boots at a shop in Santa Fe.A cold November day at the square in Santa Fe.