Quick view of the Old World Christmas Showroom in Atlanta

Here's a quick video showing part of the Old World Christmas showroom in Atlanta. Such a stunning place! The ornament displays are to die for!

Be sure to visit us at Trendy Ornaments for all the new 2017 ornaments from Old World Christmas. Ornaments for every occasion!

And don't forget! We have free shipping on ornament orders of $25 or more....all the time!

Deli Sandwich Ornament Display

A visit to the Merck Family’s Old World Christmas showroom in Atlanta is ….what can I say….other than WOW! Browsing through their showroom is like being a kid in a candy shop…..so much to see….new styles…..old favorites displayed in the most whimsical fashion. You can spend sometime and money in there)))

This image above shows an interesting way to display the Deli Sandwich….a long time favorite item along with the Peanut ornament in a football bowl. This was a tailgating type display and we’ll show you more images later. The SKU for the Deli Sandwich is 32109 and the hang tag reads: Named after the 4th Earl of Sandwich in 1762, sandwiches have been a favorite food for centuries. Known as a sub, submarine, grinder, hoagie, or hero, a sandwich made to order fresh from a deli is one of the best. Delicious and convenient, a deli sandwich is a great snack or meal anytime.

Our 2015 buying trip was a huge success and we came away with about 150 new styles…..can you believe it! 150 NEW STYLES….

On this trip, we also added the new 2015 collectible Christmas and Halloween Lights along with a couple of styles from years previous. We’ll post images of those for you later.

Taste of Chicago June 24 - July 3, 2011

Taste of Chicago is the nation’s premier outdoor food festival showcasing the diversity of Chicago’s dining community. The delicious array of food served at Taste of Chicago is complemented by music and exciting activities for the entire family. Every summer since 1980, Chicago’s beautiful Grant Park on the city’s magnificent lakefront has been home to the world’s largest food festival.

My favorite Chicago food…..is Chicago Pizza….truly the BEST pizza in the world!

Wikipedia: The Chicago-style “deep-dish” pizza was invented at Pizzeria Uno, in Chicago, in 1943. This pizza is far from the roots of an original Italian pizza. It does not include thin crusts or delicate toppings, but rather it is made with a heavy, thick crust and large amounts of cheese, sauce and ingredients.

The pizza begins with a thick layer of dough made with olive oil and cornmeal laid into a deep round pan and pulled up by the sides, then parbaked before the toppings are added to give it greater spring; the pan is oiled heavily in order to create a fried effect on the outside of the crust. The crust is covered with cheese (generally sliced mozzarella) and meats, usually in a solid layer or patty, just above the crust. Italian sausage (a Chicago staple), as well as vegetables such as onions, mushrooms and bell peppers are also used. A sauce, usually uncooked, made from shredded or puréed tomatoes is added.

The Old World Christmas ornament is more of the thin crust style Pizza. The Chicago Thin Crust pizza has a bit more of a crunch to it, not like the New York style thin crust pizza.

Very good……you must have Pizza in Chicago!

Georgia Peach Facts

Georgia Peach to us at Trendy Tree .....means the delicious peaches we get from Cherry Creek Orchards in the summer time that our grandchildren love so well and the Christmas ornaments we have in stock from Old World Christmas.

But, there are other uses and meaning of the words "Georgia Peach."

Ty Cobb, the American Major League baseball player was nicknamed "Georgia Peach."

"Georgia Peach" refers to beautiful Southern girls.

There are 40 different varieties of sweet Georgia peaches grown across the state of Georgia, producing 130 million pounds a year! It is the official state fruit of Georgia.

The Georgia Peach Festival in Peach County, GA is June 4-11, 2011

The Georgia Peach Award highlights and promotes the development of cooperative school and public library services for young adults in Georgia of high school age.

The Georgia Peach Shuttle operates out of the Atlanta airport.

Georgia Peach is an album released by female rap artist Rasheeda. (There are lots of songs out there titled Georgia Peach.)

The Georgia Peach is a restaurant and lounge at underground Atlanta. One of the menu items features fried green tomatoes served with Feta cheese and drizzled with a roasted red pepper, garlic and basil sauce......hmmmmm.

Georgia Peach is the color of a Heuchera villosa hybrid....more commonly known as the perennial Coral Bells.

Georgia Peach is a Ben and Jerry's ice cream. (Actually it's Peach Cobbler)

All this reviewing makes me want to look more closely at recipes with Georgia peaches......see y'all later!

Vladimir Horowitz

Today in History 

May 9, 1965 Vladimir Horowitz played his first public concert in 12 years at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The audience applauded the piano virtuoso with a standing ovation that lasted for 30 minutes.

Horowitz was born in 1903, but in order to make him appear too young for military service so as not to risk damaging his hands, his father took a year off his son's age by claiming he was born in 1904. The 1904 date appeared in many reference works during the pianist's lifetime.

He played all over the world and made his debut in the United States in 1928 at Carnegie Hall.
Despite rapturous receptions at recitals, Horowitz became increasingly unsure of his abilities as a pianist. On several occasions, the pianist had to be pushed onto the stage. Several times, he withdrew from public performances - during 1936 to 1938, 1953 to 1965, 1969 to 1974, and 1983 to 1985. After his comeback in 1965 he rarely gave solo recitals. He made his television debut on September 22, 1968, in a concert televised by CBS from Carnegie Hall. (Wikipedia)

Vladimir Horowitz died on November 5, 1989 in New York of a heart attack, aged 86

 Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more musical instrument Christmas Ornaments from Old World Christmas.

Teacher Appreciation Day!

Today is Teacher Appreciation Day!

Visit our Trendy Tree Facebook Page and make a recommendation of your favorite teacher. We'll choose one from the comments and send them this Teacher's Apple keepsake Christmas ornament from Merck Family's Old World Christmas.

Find the post with the Teacher's Apple Ornament and make your comments there. Once we've chosen the teacher, we'll contact you for complete name and shipping address.

5/9/11 Congratulations to Aimee Stahl Vargas

Thank you Aimee for being an outstanding Teacher. We appreciate you!

Hot Chocolate! It didn't Start Out as Hot Chocolate.

Cortez, the Spanish conquistador, was the first European to taste chocolate. Montezuma, the Aztec emperor of Mexico, gave a big feast and served "chocolatl" to his guest in a golden goblet. it was really a bitter mush, served stone cold. Cacao beans had been roasted and ground, then mixed with corn meal, vanilla, peppers, spices and herbs. Cortez learned that the cacao beans were used as money among the Indians. he procured some. Soon the Dutch, Italians, Austrians and French were experimenting with these beans. in 1637, a notice to a London newspaper announced that a Frenchman in Bishopgate street was offering an excellent West Indian drink, "jacolatte." Chocolate houses sprang up where society gathered afternoon to gossip and drink the new delicacy. Soon chocolate was being served by English colonist in America. (Betty Crocker picture cookbook, 1950)

Type of Cocoa and Chocolate Available Today (Betty Crocker, 1950)

Unsweetened Chocolate: Made from cocoa beans with no fat removed.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate: just enough sweetening added to give a partially sweet flavor. More cocoa butter is also added.

Cocoa: Made for cocoa beans with varying amount of cocoa butter removed.

Breakfast Cocoa: Has a minimum of 22% cocoa fat.

Dutch Process Cocoa: Made from special cocoa beans processed to make the more soluble.

Ready to Serve Cocoa: Needs only addition of hot or cold water or milk to be ready to serve.

Hot Cocoa: For each cup of cocoa, mix together 1 tsp. sugar, 2 tsp. cocoa and 1/4 cup cold water. Cook over low heat (boil about 4 minutes). Add 1 cup of milk. Heat until scalded, but do not boil. Add a pinch of salt (a drop of vanilla, too, if desired.) Just before serving, stir until smooth. Serve hot. Pour over a marshmallow in each cup.

Hot Chocolate: For 6 servings, heat over low heat 2 squares of unsweetened chocolate (2 ounces) and 1 cup of water, stirring until chocolate melts. Add a pinch of salt and 3 to 4 tablespoons of sugar. Boil 4 min., stirring. Then slowly stir in 3 cups of milk. heat until scalded. Do not boil. Just before serving, beat with rotary beater until smooth. Top with whipped cream. Serve hot.

Iced Chocolate: Make cocoa or chocolate your favorite way. Cool. Serve in glasses with chopped ice. Top with sweetened whipped cream.

(recipes from Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook, 1950 - my mothers cookbook)

Visit us on Trendy Tree for more great gifting ideas from Old World Christmas!

Father Christmas - Origins and Legends Book on Sale!

Father Christmas” is a small hardcover book from Merck Family’s Old World Christmas. A collection of much-loved traditions and stories.

“Father Christmas” preserves the magic of the holiday season for children and adults around the world. His kind, gentle spirit personifies the love and generosity that makes Christmas so special. people from many distinct cultures share their abundance of cherished stories in the hope of enriching Christmas celebrations for us all. These age old legends and rich traditions surrounding Father Christmas continue to create deep seated enjoyment and excitement in our hearts.

On sale now! Only a few left so order soon.

Get Your Kicks.....On Route 66!

History Road Sign Christmas Ornament

36136 Introduced 2011

Established in 1926, Route 66 was one of the original U. S. highways. It's 2,400 mile route from Chicago to Los Angeles travels through some of the most celebrated portions of the American West. It became known as the "Main Street of America." It symbolizes American's love of the automobile and wide open spaces.

Wikipedia:
Route 66 is an American TV series in which two young men traveled across America. The show ran weekly on CBS from 1960 to 1964. It starred Martin Milner as Tod Stiles and, for two and a half seasons, George Maharis as Buz Murdock. Maharis was ill for much of the third season, during which time Tod was shown traveling on his own. Tod met Lincoln Case, played by Glenn Corbett, late in the third season, and traveled with him until the end of the fourth and final season.

The series is best remembered for its Corvette convertible and its instrumental theme song (composed and performed by Nelson Riddle), which became a major pop hit.

The Route 66 Sign ornament makes a great gift for any Baby Boomer! Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more new ornaments from Old World Christmas.

The Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole Clip on Bird Ornament 18059

Birds are symbols of joy and happiness so they are regarded as a necessity on the Christmas tree. With its striking orange and black plumage, the Oriole, is a favorite among bird watchers and is eagerly awaited each spring migration.

Wikipedia: Adults have a pointed bill and white bars on the wings. The adult male is orange on the underparts, shoulder patch and rump. All of the rest of the male is black. The adult female is yellow-brown on the upper parts with darker wings, and dull orange on the breast and belly.

Baltimore Orioles forage in trees and shrubs, also making short flights to catch insects. They mainly eat insects, berries and nectar, and are often seen sipping at hummingbird feeders. . Baltimore Orioles are also fond of halved oranges, grape jelly.

The male sings a loud flutey whistle that often gives away the bird's location before any sighting can be made.

Wikipedia Image

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see our huge collection of hand painted bird Christmas ornaments.

Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie is named after the small, tart limes from the Florida Keys. Since no refrigeration, fresh milk, or ice was available in the Keys till the 1930′s, sweetened condensed milk was used to give the pie its smooth creamy texture. It is the official state pie of Florida and absolutely delicious!
Here’s a great recipe for Key Lime Pie from Emeril and the Food Network:

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick butter) melted
• 2 (14-ounce) cans condensed milk
• 1 cup key lime or regular lime juice
• 2 whole eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon lime zest

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
In a bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter with your hands. Press the mixture firmly into a 9-inch pie pan, and bake until brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature before filling.
Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
In a separate bowl, combine the condensed milk, lime juice, and eggs. Whisk until well blended and place the filling in the cooled pie shell. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes and allow to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Once chilled, combine the sour cream and powdered sugar and spread over the top of the pie using a spatula. Sprinkle the lime zest as a garnish on top of the sour cream and serve chilled.

Gift Idea!

Serve a Key Lime Pie at your next dinner or party function and present each guest an Old World Christmas Key Lime Pie Ornament. Makes a great table favor!

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more of the new 2011 Christmas Ornaments from Merck Family's Old World Christmas.

The Three Bears

No...this post isn't about the fairy tale The Three Bears, but it is about three NEW bear Christmas ornaments from Old World Christmas for 2011.

The Honey Bear Cub 12364

The Panda Cub 12357

Koala Bear 12356

But, come to think of it. Any one or ALL of these ornaments would make great keepsake gifts to go along with gifting a copy of the beloved fairy tale "The Three Bears" or "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

The history of the famous tale is very interesting and can be read on Wikipedia. It actually dates back into the 1800's.

Flopsy Bunny Christmas Ornament

Who doesn't remember the tales about Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter Rabbit! As a little girl, in addition to the Beatrix Potter book, I had the 45 record of the Peter in Mr. McGregor's garden. I must have played it a thousand times on my portable record player that folded up as a little case.

This new Flopsy Christmas ornament from Old World Christmas would make a great keepsake for Easter. Just package it in an Easter basket with one of the Beatrix Potter books sure to delight any small child. Also would make a perfect baby shower gift accompanied by a book.

 Flopsy 12350

According to Wikipedia: In The Flopsy Bunnies, Benjamin Bunny and his cousins Peter and Flopsy are adult rabbits. Benjamin and Flopsy are married, and the parents of six children called simply The Flopsy Bunnies. Food is not always readily available to the large family and they are forced to resort to Mr. McGregor's rubbish heap of rotten vegetables for sustenance. Mr. McGregor catches the six Flopsy Bunnies after they fall asleep in the rubbish heap and puts them in a sack, intending to sell them for tobacco. When McGregor is distracted for a moment, the sextet is freed by Thomasina Tittlemouse, a woodmouse, and the sack filled with rotten vegetables by Benjamin and Flopsy. At home, Mr. McGregor receives a sharp scolding from his wife when she discovers the vegetables and believes her husband is playing a trick on her.

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more great ornaments that are perfect as Easter basket treats!

Pet Rat

Well I don't think his name is Ben, but he's a Pet Rat! New from Old World Christmas 2011.

 

Pet Rat 12349

Wikipedia: The fancy rat is a domesticated brown rat, which is the most common type of pet rat.  
 Fancy rats are commonly sold as pets in stores and by breeders. In fiction, pet brown rats tend to be depicted as tamed rather than domesticated, akin to when a character befriends a wolf. As tamed pets, they have played roles that vary from evil, to ambiguous, to lovable.

Cobra Snake Christmas Ornament

Cobra Snake 12339 - New for 2011

Wikipedia: Cobra is a venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae. However, not all snakes commonly referred to as cobras are of the same genus, or even of the same family. The name is short for cobra de capelo or cobra-de-capelo, which is Portuguese for "snake with hood", or "hood-snake".When disturbed, most of these snakes can rear up and spread their neck (or hood) in a characteristic threat display.

Wikipedia Image

Three Billy Goats Gruff

Billy Goat Christmas Ornament - New for 2011

ONCE upon a time there were three billy goats, who were to go up to the hillside to eat grass and make themselves fat. The name of each one of them was “Gruff”.

On the way up was a bridge over a cascading stream they had to cross; and under the bridge lived a great ugly troll, with eyes as big as saucers, and a nose as long as a poker.

So first of all came the youngest Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge.

“Trip, trap! trip, trap!” went the bridge as he trotted across.

“Who’s that tripping over my bridge?” roared the troll.

“Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff, and I’m going up to the hillside to make myself fat,” said the billy goat, with such a small voice.

“Now, I’m coming to gobble you up,” said the troll.

“Oh, no! pray don’t take me. I’m too little, that I am,” said the billy goat. “Wait a bit till the second Billy Goat Gruff comes. He’s much bigger.”

“Well, be off with you,” said the troll.

A little while after came the second Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge.
“TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP!” went the bridge.

“Who’s that tripping over my bridge?” roared the troll.

“Oh, it’s the second Billy Goat Gruff, and I’m going up to the hillside to make myself fat,” said the billy goat, who hadn’t such a small voice.

“Now I’m coming to gobble you up,” said the troll.
“Oh, no! Don’t take me. Wait a little till the big Billy Goat Gruff comes. He’s much bigger.”
“Very well! Be off with you,” said the troll.

But just then up came the big Billy Goat Gruff.
“TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP!” went the bridge, for the billy goat was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him.

“Who’s that tramping over my bridge?” roared the troll.
“It’s I! The big Billy Goat Gruff,” said the billy goat, who had an ugly hoarse voice of his own.
“Now I ‘m coming to gobble you up,” roared the troll.

Well, come along! I’ve got two spears,
And I’ll poke your eyeballs out at your ears;
I’ve got besides two curling-stones,
And I’ll crush you to bits, body and bones.

That was what the big billy goat said. And then he flew at the troll, and poked his eyes out with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body and bones, and tossed him out into the ravine and after that he went up to the hillside.

There the billy goats got so fat they were scarcely able to walk home again. And if the fat hasn’t fallen off them, why, they’re still fat; and so,

Snip Snap Snout

This Tale is out!

Old World Christmas Ornaments - Uniquely Different!

I mean really.....how often do you find an exquisite glass ornament in the form of a Llama in your favorite department store! Old World Christmas just never ceases to surprise me with the new styles from year to year. The Llama is one of those ornaments))

 Llama 12284

A traditionally dressed Quechua girl with a llama in Cuzco
Wikipedia Image

According to Wikipedia: Llamas are very social animals and like to live with other llamas as a herd. Overall, the fiber produced by a llama is very soft and is naturally lanolin free. Llamas are intelligent and can learn simple tasks after a few repetitions. When using a pack, llamas can carry about 25% to 30% of their body weight for several miles.


Llamas which are well-socialized and trained to halter and lead after weaning are very friendly and pleasant to be around. They are extremely curious and most will approach people easily.

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more unique offerings from Old World Christmas for 2011!

Cash Cow Christmas Ornament

The Cash Cow

Cash Cow Christmas Ornament
12265 Merck Family's Old World Christmas
Introduced 2011
Made of mouth blown, hand painted glass. Measures approximately 4"

According to Wikipedia: In business, a cash cow is a product or a business unit that generates unusually high profit margins: so high that it is responsible for a large amount of a company's operating profit. This profit far exceeds the amount necessary to maintain the cash cow business, and the excess is used by the business for other purposes.

"Cash cow" is also used sarcastically by sales & business people to describe a customer or organization that has no control over its spending. Quite often used to describe government departments like: Foreign Aid; Highways & Social Security, where the spending is out of proportion to the services or goods received

Arriving soon to Trendy Tree!

Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly

Swallowtail Butterfly Christmas Ornament

12164 MerckFamily's Old World Christmas
Measures approximately 3 1/2"
Mouth blown, hand painted, glass Christmas ornament from Merck Family's Old World Christmas. Yellow butterfly with beautiful glitter details.

From Wikipedia: Swallowtails differ from all other butterflies in a number of anatomical traits. Most notably, their caterpillars possess a unique organ behind their heads, called the osmeterium. Normally hidden, this forked structure can be everted when the caterpillar is threatened, or forced out with a gentle squeeze, and emits smelly secretions containing terpenes. The adults are often tailed like the forked tail of some swallows, giving the insect its name.

Wikipedia Image

The Swallowtail Butterfly ornament is arriving soon to Trendy Tree along with other varieties. Visit us soon to see the rest of the collection!

The Republican Elephant and Democratic Donkey are Christmas ornaments from Old World Christmas new to Trendy Tree for this year.

According to Fact Monster:

Ever wondered what the story was behind these two famous party animals?

The now-famous Democratic donkey was first associated with Democrat Andrew Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign. His opponents called him a jackass (a donkey), and Jackson decided to use the image of the strong-willed animal on his campaign posters. Later, cartoonist Thomas Nast used the Democratic donkey in newspaper cartoons and made the symbol famous.

Wikipedia Image

Nast invented another famous symbol—the Republican elephant. In a cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874, Nast drew a donkey clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of those animals, the elephant, was labeled “The Republican Vote.” That's all it took for the elephant to become associated with the Republican Party. (image from Wikipedia)



Democrats today say the donkey is smart and brave, while Republicans say the elephant is strong and dignified.