Page 18 - Leisure Living Magazine Holiday 2017

It’s All About Nutcrackers
By JD Noll, Feature Writer
It was 1987 when the first nutcracker came to live with the Noll family.
My young son, Christopher, now 38 was in 3rd grade and was selected to perform in the school Nutcracker play. At the end of the show, a PTA mom presented Chris with his first nutcracker in remembrance of his role. And, that began the collection which the family quickly embraced because it was such fun searching for all the different characters. Fast forward to 2017 and the collection has grown to over 500. Half of the collection was
given to me by friends
whose mother had
collected them, but
had passed away.
There are nutcracker
candlesticks, rugs,
flags, dishes, etc. all
featuring the wooden
images.
It’s everything nutcracker artistically displayed throughout three floors along with Christmas trees and other seasonal decorations. But, it’s the “nuts” that take
center stage, and what everyone comes to see.
“What’s so special about
them? They all look alike one friend said to me.” No, not at all.
There are special nutcracker collections of sports figures, Wizard of Oz characters, kitchen figures, nativities, Santas, etc. They are all grouped and displayed accordingly to show their differences with the biggest ones prominently staged on the steps leading to the second floor. I
jokingly call them my “step nuts” or “grand nuts.”
But, my favorite nutcracker of all was built and painted by my brother, Lon Washtak of Maumee. At over 5 1/2’ tall, he is sentinel of the landing and #1 in the
collection.
Photos by Barb Clemons
18 |LeisureLiving Holiday 2017
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It’s everything nutcracker at the Noll residence with three floors filled with the lovable characters during the Holiday season.