Every year we add an ornament or two to our collection representing some trip or event of the year. Not that we need any more ornaments, but it is a great way to share a good memory year to year. We add these new ornaments to the old ones, never thinking of replacing the older ones now falling apart that the kids made years ago. The macaroni might be breaking for falling off the ones from pre-school, but they still hold a special place on the tree each year.

Earlier in the year, I put up a thistle feeder to try and lure the neighborhood goldfinches to our house. I was quite successful and at times, there would be 10 beautiful yellow birds on the feeder. While in PA earlier this fall, my sister and I went into a small shop and they had some beautiful quilled bird ornaments. I bought a  pretty goldfinch one to celebrate my great success getting them to my feeder. We shopped a few other places and we were putting our purchases in the back of Kathleen’s car as we went along.  When we got home, I couldn’t find the ornament. It weighs almost nothing and it is small so it could have easily been misplaced but of course, I knew my sister had taken it. I didn’t know why but obviously, she wasn’t giving it back. So, I went ahead and called the shop and ordered a new one.

This morning Mike found the original ornament in a plastic bag that had been put in our bag recycling cabinet. Guess it seemed like there wasn’t anything in the bag and it got put in with the other empty ones. Now I have a double reminder of my birding success and Kathleen is off the hook for taking it.

I’m just kidding about her – she was never a suspect.

In addition to my goldfinch ornament, I bought an ornament of the iconic big red London telephone booths so we can remember our trip there this summer. Smokey doesn’t know it but we have a little kit to make an ornament from his paw print. He’s really going to hate that but it can’t be a worst experience than tonight’s photo shoot with Albert (the Guinea pig).

Tonight, instead of a song, I would encourage everyone to listen to any of David Sedaris’ Christmas stories (easily found on YouTube). Here’s a link for Santaland Diaries. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu8QfIC5fhI)  Like Albert and Smokey, Sedaris got to wear an elf costume. He worked at Macy’s Santaland. This is truly is one of the best things I’ve ever read/heard. We even have a few ornaments from when we visited Santa there. Enjoy!