I have done very little decorating this year,
as our Christmas will be very quiet, but
I have refused to succumb to the holiday
doldrums, so I put this small tree on the dining
room table to remind us of all the wonderful
Christmases we've enjoyed over the years.
as our Christmas will be very quiet, but
I have refused to succumb to the holiday
doldrums, so I put this small tree on the dining
room table to remind us of all the wonderful
Christmases we've enjoyed over the years.
When the kids were young, Leann & I looked forward
to attending the Hall's Department Store's 1/2 price
after Christmas sale, while dad & Alex stayed home to
play with the latest "boy" toy. Hall's is the department
store division of the Kansas City based Hallmark
cards & every year they had a fabulous Christmas decor
section with amazing things from all around the
world. I would drool over the blown glass ornaments,
Santas & nutcrackers, but Leann was always drawn to the
little flocked Wagner animal ornaments from Germany.
play with the latest "boy" toy. Hall's is the department
store division of the Kansas City based Hallmark
cards & every year they had a fabulous Christmas decor
section with amazing things from all around the
world. I would drool over the blown glass ornaments,
Santas & nutcrackers, but Leann was always drawn to the
little flocked Wagner animal ornaments from Germany.
After a few years there were enough to decorate a small
tree. The hubby made a wooden container & painted it
red for that old world German look. The kids decorated
it with miniature bubble lights, a few German candles
and some glass & wooden beads.
red for that old world German look. The kids decorated
it with miniature bubble lights, a few German candles
and some glass & wooden beads.
These little critters were made by Fritz Wagner,
a sculptor and mold designer, in his Rodental
workshop. The workshop made over 300
a sculptor and mold designer, in his Rodental
workshop. The workshop made over 300
different animals in several sizes beginning in the
late 1940's, until closing their doors in 1998.
My favorites are the hedge hogs.
This is the wee baby.
This fella lost his tusks ages ago &
several have lost their hangers.
These animals were often played with!
A simple little tree, but big memories for us both.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To learn more about the history of these
little critters visit the Wagner Animals Blog
&
The link below is the latest Wagner Animals
blog post, all about Polar bears, very cute.
