More Nutcrackers

 This group of nutcrackers is the group lovingly referred to as the family crackers. They include a leprechaun for our shared Irish heritage; a couple of Germans for my German grandfather, one sort of warlike and one holding a stein; a mountain climber for my husband; a golfer for my middle son; a chef for my youngest son; and an array of wild animals playing musical instruments for the son who always marched to a different drummer. There is also a specially commissioned female nutcracker in a swimsuit and swim cap given to me by one of the teams I coached at the time.

 This group of nutcrackers is the Santa group--Santas of all types from St. Nicholas to the toymaker Santa,  and more.

This group of nutcrackers is all the character nutcrackers--native Americans, fishermen, angels, chimney sweeps, skiers, the statue of Liberty, etc.

Once again, even all of these added to the previous photo do not add up to the full number of nutcrackers. There are a couple of different groups of the three kings, a small group of female nutcrackers. For some reason there just aren't many female nutcrackers made but I do have a few including a knitting nutcracker though not a quilting nutcracker.

So the day after Thanksgiving, I will be moving from the first floor to the basement and back again, with the glue gun plugged in for those minor repairs, setting out all the nutcrackers. There are numerous other decorations that have become traditional so those will go out as well. It is weird but it is also like seeing old friends after being away for a while.