Last New Year's

Leave only footprints

A boy and his dog. Check out that big grin!
Gracie wanted so bad to "get the birdies".



Working our way into the dock.

This is what we did New Year's Eve...LAST YEAR! We did one of our all time favorite things to do here in Jax...took the May Port Ferry (aka St. John's Ferry) over to Huguenot Memorial Park for a little fun and sun. The Ferry is a quick ride across the St. John's River from May Port to Fort George Island. Until moving here, we'd never been on a car ferry before. The novelty still hasn't warn off, we're pretty easy to entertain, so I hope it never does. Who knows, we may do a repeat tomorrow for New Year's Day '09..??

"Leave only footprints" was a Camp Fire saying for when we'd go camping. You know, don't leave anything behind (trash...whatever)...only footprints.

New Job!!

I was hired today to work part-time (three days a week) at St. Margaret's church in Fleming Island. I'll be job sharing with a terrific gal named Tracy. I'm really ready for this and looking forward to this great adventure!

Tyreega

I thought I'd actually post a knitting update. On the sock front, I'm working on two pairs of socks, one is plain 2x2 rib on dark, splitty yarn (yuck) and the other is this wonderful fun pattern called Spring Forward in a wonderful yarn you all know well, Jitterbug. I'm so happy when I knit these socks...the colors change quickly and are bright and beautiful. They look like they might be on the big side so I may not keep them...it's gonna be tough to part with those colors!!

Being a new cat owner, I didn't realize that they would attack during knit photo shoots. He had a blast killing my yarn. He's got the camera strap in his mouth, by the way. Oh...the new nick name for the cat is Tyreega (play on Tiger), but his official name is still Jake.

Christmas ala Oma

This was a gift from Oma (aka Elsie), Christmas 1999. She had to wait until we were done on the kid front so everyone would be included. The candle holder up on top holds a b-day candle...so cute!

Love Glued In by Justine 2003

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Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

This was one of the ornaments we did at one of our Christmas Craft Parties. When the kids were small I'd have a party where they could invite all their friends and we'd make crafts, decorate Christmas cookies and munch n crunch on some goodies.

I love this guy...he's made from craft foam, a ribbon, beads, buttons, a pompom, glue...and love.

Oh Birdie, My Birdie

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Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

A few years ago, Becky and I went to a Christmas Store and bought a bunch of stuff to get our Christmas mojo going. I got a set of these birdies...they clip onto the branch. I really love ornaments that clip on to the branch because we have so many ornaments, there aren't many places left to hang things. He catches the light and sparkles...love it!

Camp Fire Christmas

Camp Fire Christmas
Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

This was an ornament Veronica made at one of our Camp Fire (if you go to this link, you'll see Justine in one of the photos at the top of the page, several of the kids in the photos are my former Camp Fire kids) meetings. This was such a low cost project for us. The pine cones came from my friend Jenny's yard, sticks from my tree, fleece scarf from some scraps I had in my fabric stash...I only had to buy the Styrofoam balls and mini presents. Eyes and mouth are from a Sharpie poked into the foam. The nose is made from a toothpick the girls colored orange with a marker. A little hot glue and viola!

Merry Christmas

Ok, so it's not an ornament, but it is appriopriate for the day, don't you think? Happy Birthday Jesus and Merry Christmas to everyone!

Today we had a ball exchanging gifts and finding out what all our family across the country had sent to us. My favorite: Swift and ball winder from my dad. Just about all hanks have been caked...fun, fun, fun! Thanks dad!

Oldie but a Goodie

Oldie but a Goodie
Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

Elsie gave me a couple of these clip on candle holders. They're very old...from Germany, I think. The base actually rotates around, so no matter where you clip it on the branch, you can have the candle upright. Very clever! She says that in Germany they still use these, you know, instead of electric lights...on REAL trees! She tells a funny story about her and Bob being at a restaurant one Christmas Eve that had a tree covered with these...candles all burning! She kept waiting for the tree to go up in a blaze of fire. I like them because they're so old fashioned. This year Elsie sent me two boxes of candles. I'm so glad because our candles melted in storage up in the attic over the summer.

C is for Cookie...that's good enough for me!

Veronica's Masterpiece!

The kids finally get to decorate the Christmas Cookies!!! Let the Sugarfest begin!

Yesterday we had the oven pre-heated, the cookie dough ready to go and I'll be darned if we couldn't find the cookie cutters! We looked for hours and then finally last night while I was at knitting, Veronica found them in the garage. Yippee!!!

Painted Ornaments

1999 - I bought these at the Oktoberfest. I just love how sweet they look, hand painted and all. Joey was so happy to have a Fire Truck on his ornament.

Candy Cane Junkies

Every year we have fun finding room for these guys on the tree. I ordered this from Oriental Trading Company. It's like a sleeve that goes on a candy cane...and it's so cute! I gave my mom several a few years back...her tree just needed some. By the time the tree comes down after New Year's, these guys are the only candy canes left (I usually by over two dozen.). My kids are candy cane junkies! Veronica said this year she's gonna break up some candy canes to use on the Christmas cookies, which I thought was a pretty good idea.

Testing New Skills...again

Ok, hang in there while I try this hyperlink thing. I refered to my current WIP called Picots and Ropes cardigan. Oh man, I'm gonna set this as a "post" and see if I can click on the hyperlink and have it work. Holding my breath...

ETA: I DID IT!! I DID IT!!!

Tami-Thank you so much! It was so easy! I appreciate you taking the time to send me those teaching emails...you're wonderful!

Frosty

My friend Martha made this for me many, many years ago. I'm always surprised to pull it from the ornament box and find the those little stick arms haven't broken. Martha was the Captain of the first playgroup Veronica and I joined (V was 14 mos. old).

This guys is so sweet...hand stitched with his little ear muffs and cloth scarf...I smile whenever I see him hanging merrily from the Christmas tree.

Oops...forgot!

Well, the best laid plans sometimes go to, you know where. I completely forgot to post yesterday. I was busy all day cleaning, making the kids clean, doing laundry, etc. It was a very productive day, but I still have more to do today! That's really fine with me, I want to get all this "hard" work out of the way so I can relax and enjoy time with the family and of course, Christmas!

Last night we had Mike's company Christmas party. It was a dinner cruise on the St. Johns River. We had such a good time. The weather was perfect, not too cold but cool enough to require a light jacket. The sunset was spectacular...a partially cloudy sky with brilliant oranges and yellows...just lovely. Afterwards we went with another couple to Avondale for the Luminaria, which we discovered is actually tonight, so we settled for dessert and coffee at Biscotti's. My jaw was sore from so much laughing. Has that ever happened to you? We all shared funny stories about the kids and the pets...great fun.

I think maybe tonight we'll try the Luminaria again. I read about it in the paper, it's supposed to be very nice...I guess you walk the streets around the Avondale/Riverside area (old historic area of Jacksonville) and the luminaria bags are lining the streets with the houses decorated in all their Christmas splendor. I think we'll drag the kids with us, too. Maybe I'll even make a few calls and recruit some friends, too. Sounds like fun to me!

I'm always surprised that some people who have lived in Jacksonville for years just don't get out much to do all the fun things the city has to offer. You've got to get out of your neighborhood and explore your surroundings people! Just look in the paper and find something to do or a restaurant you've never been to or ask someone to recommend one. It's amazing the fun and adventure you can have when you leave your comfort zone.

Knit Meter

Just for the record...I'm going start the knit meter with all projects finished in 2009. That includes projects started in 2008 (or earlier). It might say that I haven't been knitting much lately, but you KNOW that's no where near the truth!

With the Christmas knitting done, I'm really enjoying working on my Picots and Ropes sweater. I'm toying with the idea of making a button band, instead of snaps. It's pretty warm here sometimes and having to keep it snapped up to hide the snaps would bug me. I'm pretty sure I can figure out the picot edge with a button hole. I'll do a practice one to make sure. I'm thinking about 3/4 sleeves, too. I have plenty of yarn for long sleeves, but I'm really liking the 3/4 length lately. I have plenty of time to mill it over seeing as how I'm still on the back with two fronts to go after that.

It seems a bit weird sometimes, this blog thing. Like I'm writing to someone, but I'm not sure who. I think from now on, I'll keep my "followers" in mind when blogging. That way I'll have a friendly face in mind.

The Parent Connection

For about five years I was on the Board of Directors of a local organization in San Diego called The Parent Connection (formerly Las Madres). The focus of the organization was arranging playgroups for local moms and their kids. Playgroups were organized by your area of town and your kid's age, so you were automatically paired with parents in your neighborhood with kids the same age as yours...it was awesome! I joined a playgroup, after hearing about the organization from a friend, when Veronica was about 14 months. I was a bit desperate to find something to do with my baby that also got me out of the house. I made friends I still have to this day through that playgroup (Veronica, too). And for the first time in my life I volunteered to help at one of their functions. They must have seen me coming a mile away, because I was immediately invited to a Board meeting. I was the Volunteer Coordinator for two years, the Assistant Chairperson for one and Co-Chairperson for two years. After Justine was born (1999), I decided that "super mom" was taking it's toll on me and my family and resigned from the organization. This ornament was a craft we did at one of the Board Christmas parties. It's one of those paint your own ceramic things. It's a wonderful reminder to me of all those years of going to playgroup once a week at the park, watching Veronica and then Joey, run and play.

That's one thing I miss, going to the park with the kids. They're older now with other interests, but every once in a while I can talk them into going to the park. They still climb on the equipment and have a great time, but they're usually the first to say "let's go" instead of me saying it, like when they were little. There are so many beautiful parks in Jacksonville! There's one on San Juan that's on the water I just love. I find that's one of the hardest things for me as a parent; the kids grow out of some activities, but I still want to do them. Sitting and reading together is another one. I can still get Justine to sit and read with me, once in a while. I'm happy for that.

Snowmen

Justine and Veronica made these
ornaments at Family Craft night 2004.

Justine was 5 at the time, and Veronica was 9.

Can you guess which one belongs to each?

Ok, that was lame, not many
First graders can write cursive, huh? Although, I've heard parents brag as much.

Angel 2001

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Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

This is one of three I bought for the kids at the Oktoberfest. You can tell she's made of wood and is about one inch thick, but it must be pine because she's super light weight and I don't have to hide her inside. I love her clunky feet and striped socks. This one is Justine's, Veronica's is a reindeer and Joey's is a Santa.

Today I'm fighting off a cold, but I'm determined to win! I'm gonna ramp up the liquids today and hopefully that will help break things up. It's Christmas! I can't get sick!!! I'm seeing Donna today to do some Christmas shopping so I know that will put me in a great mood. Donna. Not the Christmas shopping.

2004 Candy Cane

Elsie and I were shopping in this little village in Rancho Bernardo, I think, when I found this. It was after Christmas and everything was on sale. I got quite a few ornaments for the tree, some I gave away and some I kept. I think it's made of polymer clay.

These outings with Elsie have ended since my move to Florida. When I was living in San Diego, she would come visit her family in SD from New Jersey and we would go on all kinds of adventures around town. The best ones were trips to Coronado to see the Christmas tree at The Hotel Del and to Julian. Julian is a town in the Cuyamaca Mountains in San Diego. Most included shopping and lunch (and wine). The times when we didn't bring the kids were my favorite. Mostly because we didn't have the kids (nice break for me) but also because then we could really talk and eat at places that didn't have chicken nuggets on the menu. We did bring the kids with us many, many times...from when they were infants on up. Elsie still talks about the time we had Veronica in the stroller when we were having lunch at that restaurant in Sea Port Village that goes out over the water (can't recall the name of the place right now).

I knit Elsie a pair of gloves (see earlier post) this year for Christmas, for when she returns to New Jersey, she sure won't need them in San Diego! I hope she likes them and they fit. Her hands are old and little bent from arthritis so I think they deserve some knitted love to keep them warm.

Duh. Thanks Tami.

Yesterday I was so frustrated that I couldn't figure out how to "link" my recipe for Almond Roca from Word to my Blog. Today, just now when I was readying Tami's blog about her fabulous bread recipe, I thought, "Copy and paste...duh!" So that's what I've done. Hope you try this...it's really pretty easy. You can buy a candy thermometer at the grocery store. It's so yummy (the candy, not the thermometer)!


Brenda's Easy Almond Roca

1 stick margarine
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup sliced almonds, chopped fine

Line a 8 or 9 inch round cake pan (layered cake type) with aluminum foil, dull side up. You will want to get all your ingredients measured and ready to go, because the candy must be stirred constantly. Melt the margarine and butter in a medium sauce pan over med-high heat until melted. Add the sugar, stirring constantly from this point on. When the mixture comes to a full boil, add the half cup sliced almonds. Hold a CANDY THERMOMETER in the candy (keep stirring), careful not to touch the bottom of the pan, until the thermometer reaches 300 degrees (hard crack). Remove from heat and pour the mixture in the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly on the top and wait about 30 seconds. The chocolate will melt enough to spread gently over the candy. Lastly, sprinkle the chopped almonds over the top of the chocolate. When the candy has COMPLETELY cooled (over night), remove from the pan and peel off the foil. Take the disk of almond roca and place it in a one gallon zip lock baggie and wrap in a dish towel. Use a hammer to gently break the candy by hitting the candy (not chocolate) side of the disk. Makes about 1 pound of candy. Enjoy!

Weasley Sweaters 2007

Last year I knit three of the mini Weasley sweaters for our tree and several more for trees of friends. I knit one for every member of the Holmes family with their initials...kinda warms my heart to know that this year the sweaters will be on their tree (hopefully, if the dogs haven't ate the ornaments...or the tree).

Family and friends in San Diego seem even further away this time of year. ::heavy sigh::

Yarn Confession: Last night I realized that I've been in a bit of a frenzy, knowing that buying yarn will no longer be an option come January 1, looming so close on the horizon! I've been adding to the stash quite a bit over the last two months...like I'm worried that I'll actually RUN OUT of yarn in 2009. Oh. Brother. I added enough yarn to the stash to make 2 sweaters, 1 hat and 4 pairs of socks. There's probably more but that's all I can remember after only one cup of coffee.

Maybe I should add some sort of clause to my "knit only from the stash in 2009" quest...you know, like if I use up ALL my stash before the end of 2009 I get to do something wonderful....like go to Stitches South in 2010? I can't go to Stitches this year because if falls over the weekend my sister is coming to visit, Justine's play, and our Anniversary. Besides...I'm. Not. Buying. Any. Yarn. In. 2009!!!!!

Get Ready, Get Set....ROCA!

Well, today we broke our first batch of Almond Roca! I have the best recipe for homemade Almond Roca, if I do say so myself. The best part is breaking it with a hammer after it's cooled. I probably don't need to say this, but it's a million times better than that "pink can" stuff (and not that hard to make, either). Anyway, I've been making more Roca and Fudge today. My family is pretty happy with me, to say the least. I also have dinner in the oven...beef stew...slow cooking it's way to dinner at 6pm. I have about two hours to work on a Christmas present that needs to be mailed early next week. I'm knitting as fast as I can!

Today's ornament is one Justine made at one of my Christmas Craft parties in 2003. I just think it's so cute...glue stains and all.

Growing Up

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Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

This is one of Veronica's ornaments I bought for her at the Oktoberfest in La Mesa, California...way back in 1999. That was the year Justine was born, Veronica was 5 years old and in Kindergarten. When Veronica started school, it took her half the year to make a friend. She was on the shy side so she took her time getting to know the other kids. Her teacher, Mrs. Magor (the best teacher ever) would tell me how good she's doing in class, very smart, etc. All I wanted to know is if she had made a friend yet. I knew she was smart, I wanted her to be happy.

Well, no one who knows her would ever put Veronica in the "shy" category now. She's grown into a lovely young lady...in January she'll be 15. She's outgoing, funny, and super smart. I'm proud to call her my daughter.

Crusin' Santa

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Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

Mike and I bought this on a trip to visit his grandmother, oh, back in 1991 I think. That would make it a pre-marriage ornament, since we tied the knot in '92. We got this mostly because Mike had just bought a VW van. He bought it for $500 from a guy at work and it barely ran, the seats needed to be covered and there was rust (not bad rust, but enough to cause problems over the 15 years we owned it).

We always referred to our VW as "the Bus" which was confusing to some people. I'd say, "Mike took the Bus to work today." They'd say, "Oh, what's wrong, did his car break down?" We loved the Bus...we took it camping to the desert many times, he re-did the engine a few years back over the summer, and best of all, he proposed marriage to me in the Bus on a two week camping trip to Oregon and back. Great memories. He decided to sell it before our move across country to a guy who shipped it to England, so now the Bus is more well travelled than we are!

Oh My...

I told R2 this hat didn't go with his outfit, but you know how stubborn he can be.

Well, as you've probably guessed, the R2D2 ornament is Joey's. The hat is one of those super old ornaments that should have been retired years ago only I don't have the heart to throw it away. Don't ask me why, I don't even remember where and when I got it. R2 looks kind of cute, huh?

All that Glitters...

Joey made this ornament in 2002. Our elementary school in San Diego (Fletcher Hills Elementary) did many wonderful events for the student body and their families. One was called "Family Craft Night". Always in early December, it was an evening event where families came and made crafts...um, maybe that was obvious. The different grades hosted different crafts and you went from classroom to classroom watching your kids create wonderful things. Fifth grade would always have a snack booth to raise money for their end of the year activities (the school was K-5). I always loved to watch those parents who couldn't stand to let their kids do it themselves. They'd hover over a shoulder and end up making the ornament while the kids got up and ran around with their friends. For me, it was a social event. I'd get to chat with teachers and other parents while my kids worked on their crafts, ran around the hallways (don't get to do that during school, you know) or enjoyed a cookie and hot cocoa with a friend.

Larry the Lizzard

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Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

This is Justine's favorite. He's construction paper, crayons and yarn. What's not to love?

Snow Man City...Sweetheart

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Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

This sweet little snowman is Joey's ornament from Mike's mom, Christmas 1999. Grandma used to buy the kids an ornament every year, but she stopped a few years back. I used to do the same. I wonder why I stopped...probably because we've run out of room on the darn tree! When my kids have their own homes (and Christmas trees), I guess I'll have to let them take their ornaments. I'll be so sad to see all the ornaments I've come to know and love, leave. I just realized, that will give me an excuse to visit my kids. Sweet!

He looks like he's felted which is probably why I think he's so adorable. He's about 3 inches long, too. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the small and cute.

Dressing Up

Oma & Opa
Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

I got this ornament from Elsie quite a few years ago. Somehow it escaped a date, too (oops).

When we decorate our tree, the kids like get sneaky and on the sly, hang ornaments in our back pockets. Two years ago Mike was walking around with this dress on his back pocket for about 20 minutes before he noticed it. LOL!

Beached Santa

Beached Santa
Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

Every October our town in San Diego (La Mesa) holds an Oktoberfest that is one of the largest on the West Coast. When I was a kid in high school it was small with fun things to do and a few craft booths. The beer garden complete with the oom-paa band was small, it always packed but you could always find a seat. There was a booth set up like an old jail and for 50 cents you could have
someone "arrested". Well, my friends thought it would be fun to do that to me! I got thrown in jail and did my time with a drunk band parent. I'll never forget Mr. Mountain...he was always so normal on the band trips, and here he was drunk off his ass. It was so funny!

Today if you go to the Oktoberfest, it's crowded beyond crowded, no parking, almost entirely craft booths, the beer garden has a line and is expensive...and of course there's no "jail". I guess another example of how things change, huh?

Anyway, I bought this guy at one of the Oktoberfests when Mike and I were first married. It's one of the few ornaments that doesn't have a date on it, but I'd estimate it to be in 1992 or 3. In case you're sight-challenged like me...it's a star fish.

Dreaming of Mountains

Idyllwild
Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

This little guy we got in the gift shop at the visitor's center in Idyllwild, California. Several winters in a row our family along with Don, Keiko and the kids would drive up to Idyllwild to play in the snow for a weekend. One year we stayed in town at the Idyllwild Inn, Don wasn't with us because he was in serving in the War in Iraq. The other times we were all together and we rented a house in Pine Cove. Pine Cove is about 5 miles out of town BUT it's 1,000 feet higher in elevation so you know what that means? More snow!

My favorite memory is when we drove into the woods, built a snowman...and then ran it over with the Larry (Don's Jeep). Sounds sick but it was so funny! The head was on the hood for goodness sake!

This past summer while on a visit back home and did a repeat of our Idyllwild weekend with our friends. No snow to play in, but we had a great time anyway.

Camp Bondsteel

For our Troops
Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

Becky and I made this ornament and a bunch more to give to our adopted US Soldiers at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo.

Here's the story: After my Camp Fire club held a bake sale to raise funds for local military families, I was contacted by Armed Forces Support to see if I would be interested in having our club send goodies to a group of our guys in Kosovo. She said the Sargent had contacted her in hopes of some support. At the time, US troops in Afghanistan were getting all the attention and these guys were feeling a bit forgotten. I told Becky that I wanted to help, but I knew that my club would only be able to send one box, maybe two. I thought she might be interested in sending a box. She suggested we both work together and send the troops a box of goodies, BUT she said, "If we're gonna do this, we need to make a commitment to send them a box a month. Don't you think?" Who was I to say no?

So that's what we did...for 5 years. One box a month to Camp Bondsteel filled with home made cookies, candy, magazines, movies, letters, and of course love. The number of soldiers slowly reduced over the years, but the appreciation never changed...they were so grateful to be remembered every month by us two gals in California. They sent us stuff, too! I have three American flags in my home that were flown over Camp Bondsteel...very cool. We also received many plaques to recognize the support we gave them. They didn't have to do that, but I'm glad they did. I look at the plaques and read the names and remember my friendships with people I'll never meet but love and appreciate anyway. Actually, we did end up meeting a couple of our friends...but that's another story.

It was the most satisfying "work" I've ever done.

O Teddy Bear

O Teddy Bear, O Teddy Bear, something, something...something. Good thing I gave up that career as a song writer, huh? This little guy is hand made by ME! In my early 20's I wanted to make some homemade Christmas gifts and someone gave this pattern to me. It's made of plastic canvas, plastic yarn...um, I mean acrylic yarn, beads and pom-poms. He does have a back side...complete with a pom-pom tail. I made a ton of these guys and thank God kept one for me. My dear friend Elsie has two that she keeps hung on her closet doors year round...thanks Elsie!

After our move to Florida, I was cleaning out some boxes and found all my supplies for this project. For a fleeting moment, I thought about making a few more...don't worry, it passed without incident.

Joey at the Beach - 1998

Joey at the beach
Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

This ornament was a project for my Camp Fire Club, but being the leader and being a freak about having enough supplies, I had plenty stuff left over to make one for Joey. I love this photo because it shows what a blondie he used to be back when he was two! He's so cute in that red coat! Was that really 10 years ago?

We were on a road-camping-trip to the Redwoods, this photo was taken about half way there, at Pismo Beach. The campground we stayed at was walking distance to the beach so we had to check it out. I remember being so shocked to see cars driving on the beach...people were actually camping on the beach! In Florida that's no big deal, but being from San Diego, it was quite a novelty.

I love that one bead is missing.

Mrs. Claus

Mrs. Clause
Originally uploaded by brenda.pirie

In an effort to get myself in the habit of blogging on a regular basis, I'm going to post a photo and description of my favorite Christmas ornaments that hang on my tree. Hope you enjoy it!

This ornament was part of a kit that my mom and I bought at Lee Wards back in the 80's. That year my dad dropped the box of ornaments killing most of them, so my mom was on a mission to replace them with hand made ornaments. This kit was awesome...it had about two dozen different clothes pin doll type ornaments you could make. I guess I never completed my kit because this is the only one I have...oh well. She's kinda cute, huh? My mom still has all the ornaments on her tree. Some are missing a limb, but they bring back wonderful memories of me and my mom sitting for hours making the clothes pin people come to life.