All Wrapped Up With a Pretty Red Bow

A random photo from this morning, my Franklin Mint 1951 Mercury Monterey (from 1987) looks as if it's ready to be unwrapped. Last year I took a walk along the beach road on Christmas morning and saw a brand new white Lexus LS600h with a five-foot red bow on its roof sitting in one of the driveways. I've always wanted to wake up and find a new car like that! Of course, finding an old car like that would be swell too, lol. Isn't that a cool twig that is curling and twisting above the car framing the vintage print of kittens on a chessboard? I can always find something artistic outside that adds interest inside.

Many little details in this shot, also taken just a few minutes ago. The snapshot in the background is my Dad dressed as Santa which he did in a local department for a few years after he retired. The small Dalmatian belonged to my mother, as a remembrance of her childhood pet, Lady, and stands in guard of a photo of her taken in the 1930s. Above the dried hydrangeas you'll notice the back of a tiny cat hanging on the rim of the blue vase, as if trying to get to the origami present sitting there, as a little jockey gallops away on his Derby steed.

This sad little hanging Santa's body is mesh, and was most likely filled with foil-wrapped chocolates or some other small stocking stuffers. His countenance is world-weary and his shoulders, slumped with age, seem to say, "There are no toys for the boys and girls this year." He's one of my favorite vintage Santas. The chrome script for our long-gone '66 Country Squire is at the top of the photo, and a red tin "Beetle" which originally carried a holiday assortment of M&Ms, given to me by my friend Debbie, sits on the right. An early '60s Austin Mini, a "Bugeye" Sprite, and a Mazda Miata are parked on the cabinet behind him. Santa hangs from a very heavy chromed, cast-brass hood ornament from a '51 Packard. Santa hangs here all year long. He's sad enough that I just can't add to his misery by packing him away in a drawer!