Santas and Books—Or Not
My name is Sandy Ardoin and I am a Santa-holic.
Yes, come this time of year, my home becomes one gigantic display of St. Nicholas. Miniature. Child-sized. Round. Thin as a pencil. Red and white. Blue. Ceramic. Wood. Stuffed. Pirate. Fisherman. You name the style, I probably have a Santa Claus that fits. (Pssst…I even have a couple of signs that tell visitors I’m a Santa collector…as if they need that clarification.)
Like any addiction, it started with one purchase. Then another. And another. Soon, I was adding two or three of the jolly old men each Christmas, rubbing my hands together and laughing once I’d set them in their proper places. It’s reached the point where I don’t have room for more.
Aw, okay, there’s always room for one more.
Since I normally post about something involving Christian fiction, the probable question in your mind must be, “What is the point of this post?” I’m not sure there is one.
I could compare collecting Santas with collecting books. I could compare the different types of Santas with different book genres. I could even compare my tiny Santas to flash fiction and the big ones to epic novels.
But I won’t. I’m just describing one of the things I enjoy about the Christmas season—unpacking and arranging my collection. Sometimes I forget about one or two of them. When I unwrap the protective paper, it’s like opening a present. Hmm…maybe I could compare that to opening the cover of a book I’m not sure I want to read and finding a beautiful story inside.
So…what is your most unusual/beloved ornament or Christmas decoration? Do you have a Christmas collection or favorite tradition?
Sandra Ardoin
As an author of heartwarming historical and contemporary romance, Sandra Ardoin engages readers with page-turning stories of love and faith. Rarely out of reach of a book, she's also an armchair sports enthusiast, country music listener, and seldom says no to eating out.
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Heidi Chiavaroli
Love the post, Sandy!
My favorite ornament is a small mouse sleeping in a sleeping bag. It has my name on it and my mother made it when I was a baby. It’s always been my favorite!
Sandra Ardoin
Oh, I love treasures that have sentimental value like that! Thanks, Heidi!
Blessed Silence
I have a mouse like that, too, but it was commercially made. Very sweet.
Sandra Ardoin
Thanks for stopping by to tell about your mouse ornament! My daughter has one dated 2002 with a mouse next to an open calendar book.
BTW, it’s nice to meet another horse person.
Edwina Cowgill
We have a birdfeeder in our backyard and the cardinals are constant visitors that we can watch through the french doors of our TV room in the basement. So when we decorated for our first Christmas after the basement was finished, cardinals was my theme. I have them everywhere – there are about 20 on the tree, and I have 4 cardinal figurines sitting out and I have stained glass cardinals on the french doors.
Sandra Ardoin
I bet that’s an awesome sight, Edwina! Aren’t collections fun? I have a suncatcher of a cardinal that I hang on my breakfast room window.