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Show B1 Wednesday, December 1 9, 2007 MpteSSLOng By Kristin Baldwin Express Writer Collecting has always been an American pastime and what better items to collect at this time of year than Christmas nativities, nutcrackers and ornaments? or-naments? Karilynne Pearson of Vernal first caught the collecting collect-ing bug during a Tupperware-style Tupperware-style Christmas party. "Years ago I got my first two nutcrackers and I still remember remem-ber being excited. I remember which ones those are and how much I liked having them," explained Pearson. "I now collect nutcrackers, nativities, fiber optic houses, lighthouses, music ornaments and beanie babies all just for Christmas." Pearson now owns 51 nutcrackers nut-crackers and 40 nativities. The Pearsons bought their first nativity na-tivity for their first Christmas together as a married couple. This nativity is her favorite because it is made from olive wood and they bought it while visiting Isreal. Karilynne decided to start officially collecting nativities after receiving a special one from her mother- and father-in-law. "This nativity opens up," recalled re-called Karilynne. "I loved it so much that I decided to collect nativities every year. It was unique and I thought I should get a few every year and have an actual collection of them." The nativity collection is Karilyniie's favorite because it focuses on Christ as the center of Christmas. A second favorite is her collection of music ornaments, which hang on a large tree in the Pearson's music room. "For me, Christmas is about music but it is so hard to find music mu-sic ornaments," said Karilynne. "You have to think if you didn't have music you wouldn't have Christmas because all the carols are about Jesus and Santa too! So I have a tree in my music room that is just a music tree. I love it!" Karilynne also collects lighthouses and village pieces specifically specifi-cally to display for Christmas. About ten years ago a friend gave her a tiny village set as a gift. "I loved it so much that the next year I bought something to go with that set and every year I add to it. Then one year a friend gave me a lighthouse to go with the village and I loved it too, so after Christmas I bought another one to go with the first." She has several lighthouses that are on display year round but the Christmas lighthouses are unique. Some light up with fiber optics and others are adorned with Christmas trees and ornamentation. orna-mentation. Each collection represents the meaning of Christmas to the Pearson household. According to Karilynne the nativities are the story of Christ and the music ornaments represent the music of Christmas. Even the lights in the village represent celebration, festivities, and the light of Christ. Karilynne began collecting nutcrackers simply because she liked them. But the meaning soon blossomed as she read the messages on the boxes the nutcrackers were packaged in. One box explained, "In legend the nutcrackers possessed miraculous powers bringing good fortune and protection from evil spirits." The Pearson family likes to think of this legend as they enjoy their nutcrackers on display each Christmas season. The nutcrackers nut-crackers add to the festive atmosphere in their home, as do the other elaborate collections. At dusk the family turns on the lights throughout each display and on the trees. The warm atmosphere is one that Karilynne said her children like to be a part of. While a few of the Pearson's collectibles are rare, like the nativity na-tivity from Isreal, the majority of their collecting took place here in Vernal. From Wal-Mart to the many gift stores, collectibles are abundant in Vernal and readily available says Karilynne. Mary Moulton is another Christmas collector in Vernal. Her extensive collection of ornaments and elaborate Christmas china clearly set her apart. Like many families, Mary grew up adding ornaments to the Christmas tree. Aside from the normal accumulation of orna- ' ments, however, her mother would buy one special ornament each year that the family would all hang on the tree together. Mary, with her brothers and sister, looked forward to this family tradition each year. As each grew older and married, the tradition carried car-ried on because it was deeply instilled. "The ornament had to remind us of home or remind us of some place that we had lived. It needed to hold special significance to us and our kids," said Mary. "One of my favorite ornaments is my huge red ball ornament that has a snow scene painted on it. It has a little house and tree that reminds me of the house I grew up in, in Pine Dale, Wyo. When I saw that ornament I knew that I had to have it because it reminded me of that house." Mary also cherishes her Christmas china collection. She started collecting china when she was in high school and had an entire set before she graduated. She started with blue and white but soon fell in love with red and white transfer ware, sometimes finding Christmas Christ-mas plates to add to her collection. "My favorite dishes are red and white transfer trans-fer ware that my sister gave me," said Mary. "They tell the story of the night before Christmas. Christ-mas. And those are the first dishes that I put out after Thanksgiving when I start decorating' for Christmas." Surprisingly it can be inexpensive to collect even the most beautiful and unique Christmas items. Not all collectors buy rare or expensive expen-sive items to add to their collections. Pearson recommends purchasing new items during the after-Christmas sales when they are 50 percent to sometimes 75 percent off. Another easy way to add to the collection is by accepting the items as gifts from others. Once family members or friends know that you like collecting a certain item, many are happy to buy you what you want and love. " ...iiw.pi nil -, yi . . , -. V , .t ',r': .' i'.fV .. .- V:V. P 1 V L: :V J - . 1 - JnlfflSiOnn.ftW f I YR ill (s f' ? r P J Li U VT3 I'J U r J Every year the Pearson family adds to their collection col-lection of nativities. The displays range from snow globe nativities to hand carved nativities. Karilynne purchased her first nutcrackers at a Tupperware-style Christmas party she attended years ago. There are now 51 nutcrackers in her collection. T X, H f - s f X !-- i L ; -'i , . .... i ." The snow scene painted on this ornament reminded Mary Moulton of a home she lived in as a young girl in Pine Dale, Wyo. She immediately knew she had to buy this ornament because of the special meaning it held for her. mm i.juuii l. . i ifm ' M.IH! yuMMi ' v . ...,. ...... . ...... j - . 1 ... Vn j ;V;J : ' , , ..... ' .,.,-,.. -j " The Pearsons bought this olive wood nativity while visiting Isreall when they were first married. have collected. It was the first of 40 nativities they Moulton's loveforcollecting china began during her teen years. She received a set from her sister that tells the story of the night before Christmas and looks forward to displaying it each holiday season. ' f'tr'.i f u.fjj.tfj-fit Calm, ... ii r . .... . I y t - v i ''I i ' t ft a - .: V r?f. ,.-.H-r---4 i - . f J ! I 1 J. I- 4 1 I 1 t , Don't face cancer alone. Call 800-ACS-2345 or log on to www. cancer.org 247 for information or to find free services available in the Uintah Basin. December Uintah Recreation District fall and winter programs for youths, teens and adults. Call 781-0982 for - more information. Golden Age Center Dances, 155 S. 100W. Vernal. Every Friday night 8 to 10 p.m. Kays Band, all are welcome. TOPS meetsThursday at the city offices, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fall Kundalini Yoga classes. Wednesdays 6-7:30 p.m. Call Maragret 781-8711 for more information. Vernal Family History Center classes every Wednesday. Call 789-3618 789-3618 for times at the VHC. Uintah County Library, Toddler Story Time Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. & Tot and Mom Book Club Thursday at 11 a.m. Call 789-0091. Ski Bus-The Canyons, Uintah Recreation District, 12-18 (high school), Dec. 15, Jan. 12 & 26, Feb. 9 & 23, March 8. Wildlife of the Uinta Basin exhibit, Utah Field House of Natural History, 496 E. Main, Vernal. Call 789-3799. 789-3799. Christmas Holiday Fabric Display at the Western Heritage Museum, 328 E. 200 S.,Dec. 4-21. Call 789-7399. 789-7399. December 19 Uintah County Library, Santa Claus will be visiting the library between 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. Call 789-0091. 789-0091. ... ' December 20 Emerson Drive in concert, Roosevelt Junior High, Charley Jenkins as special uest, doors open at :30 p.m. December 21-22 The Nutcracker, presented by the Powerhouse Dancers, Uintah High School Auditorium, 7 p.m., Admission is free. December 22 Breakfast with Santa, Western park, free. From 8 to 10:30 a.m., sponsored by Vernal City, . The Elks and Western Family. December 24 Helping Hands Christmas Eve Dinner, delivered to shut ins OR available for dining at Western Park between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Call Stacy Samuels 790-7576. 790-7576. Candlelight Service at the Kingsbury Community Church, 65 E. 100 N. Vernal at 7 p.m. Lessons and Carols. Dec. 24 to Jan. 1 Uintah School District Christmas Break, schools closed. Monday through Tuesday closure, school resumes Wed. Jan. 2. January 19 Back Country Horsemen of Utah, Free Trail Riding Information Clinic, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m at Davis County Legacy arena in Farmington. Call Craig Allen 801-388-1175. 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