You'll shoot yer eye out, kid.

So, it's already January, but I absolutely must post a few pics of my "Christmas Story" themed decorating since I almost forgot...

Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of my mantel this year. I know, boo on me.

Just picture all the stockings hung with care, a table-top sized leg lamp, the original Red Ryder BB gun (from my dad's childhood, circa 1945 or so) propped up against the mirror, 12 screenshots of pictures from the movie all stuck up on the mirror, and then these lovelies in the built-in bookshelf to the left of the mantel...



The new "Christmas Story" houses from Department 56! Woot! Oh, and it looks like you can barely catch a glimpse of my mantel in that picture. (Click on it to try and see a part of the leg lamp and the movie stillshots stuck up to the mirror.)



Higbee's Department Store with Ralphie peering in the window...



Ralphie's house, complete with leg lamp in the window...



the Chinese restaurant with the "Fa-ra-ra-ra-ra" guys...



and Cleveland Elementary School with the infamous frozen tongue incident...



The only other items I want to add to my Dept. 56 Christmas Story collection are the little figures of the bullies (Scott Farkus, the yellow-eyed bully, and his little sidekick) and Ralphie in the bunny suit, and then the bigger figurine of Ralphie going down the Santa slide. Hopefully I can pick these up on eBay or somewhere for not too much between now and next Christmas. The good thing about this collection is the fact that it can't really grow as there won't be new pieces to add each year, etc., so it is a nice, small, manageable Christmas house collection.

Told you I was quirky...