Author: Louis Dell'Olio

……………..I woke up this morning at 4:30am…..I tried to go back to sleep, but sleep wouldn’t come…….so I decided not to fight it and got up………..When I looked out of my bedroom window….this is what I saw…..a perfect golden crescent moon in a clear black sky….with a few lights on Long Island across the Long Island Sound……What a surprise, and what a gift at 4:30 am…….so I thought it needed to be shared, because by the time most of you get up it will be long gone with the rising sun, and you would have missed this beautiful sight……I just want to say the photo pales in comparison to what it really looked like!

………………..This Christmas season I have found a new interest in NUTCRACKERS!!!…..Jac’s mom had some in her room on her desk, and they were there spring, summer, fall and winter…for years!……This Christmas I decided to bring them down to my Gathering Room….I also got some additional ones, and some new ones to add to my own tree ornaments….To keep the Nutcracker theme going I added a Nutcracker Tree Skirt, and a Nutcracker pillow I saw on line…………..The Nutcracker doll originated in the Ore Mountains [Erzgebirge] region of Germany in the late 17th century….Miners in the area carved Nutcracker figures to supplement their income after the region’s mineral resources began to decline. The Nutcrackers were originally not associate with Christmas, but became so over time….In German tradition, Nutcrackers were considered a symbol of good luck and were used to scare away bad spirits…….so I have many!!!…….LOL

………..My Nutcracker collection was actually started by Jac’s mom….When she moved in with us she brought with her three Nutcrackers….one is actually missing a foot, but we didn’t tell him, so he stands as proudly as the others…..Among the Nutcrackers Is an “Uncle Sam” holding an American flag….a very dashing skier with a knit fair isle cap and sweater , sunglasses perched on his head and skis….a gentleman holding a decorated wreath….a Santa holding a mini Christmas tree two soldiers….one tall and one short…..a King in a black cape….three bakers, one behind the other with Ginger men in their hands and candy on their clothes, a another gentleman with a tartan jacket and pants…..In the very front is a Nutcracker MUSIC BOX. The center Nutcracker stands at attention and the three seated ones spin on a revolving part of the box….their legs flying in the air……..In front of the Nutcrackers are four metal MERRY-GO-ROUNDS, that spin when a candle it lit. Chantal gave me my first one last Christmas after she went to a Christmas Fair in Europe….I liked it so much I added three more!

………………..I love the detailing on the nutcrackers…..I would get more….but…..there isn’t any more room on the coffee table!…..As Jac used to say to me when I was going overboard…….”Louis…..take yourself in hand”……….I’ll have to remember that the next time I get tempted!

……………..A closer look at the Nutcrackers, and my Nutcracker pillow that matches my new Nutcracker tree skirt.