Gnomes

 I've been going through a lot of boxes from the garage lately.  Sorting stuff and seeing what's still good and what needs to be tossed.  And I have thrown things out, believe it or not LOL  I actually really enjoy looking through boxes because it fills up my time but it also brings back so many great memories of times past.  You know how I love that!

One of the things I have come across in my digging through boxes is my collection, or at least part of my collection, of Tom Clark gnomes.  I have been collecting them since 1984 and I have Mrs. Goebel and our "Academically Gifted" class to thank for that.  One day, she brought one of them into our class to talk about gnomes.  They were beginning to be very popular then.  Our first big project that fall was to create our own gnome village and write a book about it.  I remember mine was a Hawaiian gnome village.  I still have that book somewhere....go figure LOL  We even did a play called The Gnome's Halloween that year.  I was only the sound guy because I was shy and didn't want to be on stage....that didn't last very long LOL

Anyway, I began my love of gnomes with her.  She was just one of the best teachers and I wish I had gotten to tell her that.  But, that Christmas I got my first gnome.  His name is Jeff.  Aunt Sara gave him to me for Christmas.  I was overjoyed with it.  It came from a flower and gift shop in Wingate called Petals and Packages.  Thus my collection began.  I got gnomes for all occasions and loved every one of them.  I remember going into The Candlewick at the Monroe Mall and perusing their display of gnomes.  Pam Laney would often help me pick one out.  

After going through this first box, I had found about 30 gnomes.  I know there are more because my favorite one, McNeal, is still in a box somewhere.  Right now I have them displayed in my bookcase and just love looking at them.  Now, to find McNeal and all of the others!