My childhood memories are filled with Christmas at Chicago’s Marshall Field department store. My recollection is the center court of the store housed the tallest (I thought) Christmas tree in the world, reaching from the first to the 5th or 6th floors:
- One could spend her entire lifetime just looking at that tree and hoping, wishing, barely-able-to-wait for Christmas.
- One could go to each floor and look out from the balcony, getting a closer view of the tree’s decorations.
The 14th letter of the alphabet is N and Daniel Saboda’s Christmas Alphabet Book‘s popup is the nutcracker. Both of the only two I own have interesting stories:
The first – on the left – I bought around my 50th birthday from a major Washington DC department store – Woodward & Lothrop. Woodie’s (as it was fondly known ) was a real department store with 4+ levels and everything one needed, from clothes to furniture to toys, What I liked best about the store is that it was a smaller version of Chicago’s famed Marshall Field’s. I don’t know why but nutcrackers were a big part of my Marshall Field’s memory and when I saw this one, I bought it. All for a mere $19.99, then… I still have the box. Sadly, shortly after the holiday season, Woodies closed its doors forever.
The other nutcracker is a more recent purchase; I think maybe in the past 10 years. It – a “quilter” – usually resided in my sewing studio. Several years ago it disappeared; I couldn’t find it anywhere. This year when I looked in a storage bin, there it was! No doubt, time thieves at work again: building time, picking up something by mistake, realizing their mistake, and putting the missing object back where it belonged so it could, would be “found!” Eureka!
A lot of Christmas holiday magic is remembering and reliving childhood memories, don’t you agree?
Cheers~
Morning Glory Studio 
Oh Marshall Fields!!!!! So many memories but not of the downtown store! I love your nutcrackers! Glad that one came out of hiding. We were thinking of my mom and Fireman’s mom yesterday and ALlison and I agreed since they both had a grasshopper drink on Christmas Eve, we will do so too, this year . In their honor!
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The drink in memory of your mom & MIL…great idea; I’ll have eggnog!
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I loved Marshal Fields! It was such a magnificent place to visit any time of the year, but Christmas is extra special! I love your nutcrackers too!
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It’s really sad today’s kids don’t have that memory…but I guess they don’t know what’s missing…
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I’m glad you have BOTH of your nutcrackers to bring back fond memories of times (and stores) gone by.
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Me too! They warm my heart.
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Looking back is a big part of what I love about this season! your Quilter nutcracker is awesome – how cleverly all the components are put together!
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Yes, looking back is always the best part of the season for me…and most, i suspect!
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The nutcracker is fun…which is why I was so glad when he reappeared!
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The quilting nutcracker is so cool – how clever is that? I miss the “old” department stores. I loved that I could go into one store for everything.
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I am so glad I found that nutcracker this year; I’d missed him for several holidays.
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Yes! Those were the good old days…and inventory was of quality!
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