BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Christmas trees, lights around your home and chestnuts roasting on an open fire; are all of the signs of the holidays.
Liz Haley is a retired school teacher who collects nutcracker figurines. Hayley said she stopped counting after she collected around 675 nutcracker figurines, and believes she now has close to 700.
"I love them so much. I keep them even when they are missing body parts and they go to the infirmary because I can't throw any of them away," Haley said.
In 1991 Haley's home was featured on the Chez Noël Holiday Home Tours, an annual event hosted by the Assistance League of Bakersfield.
Haley's husband bought her one nutcracker figurine that year which kicked off her holiday collection.
The nutcracker figurines come in all shapes and sizes, including a few on her decorated Christmas tree.
Haley has to put the figurines into groups such as rockstars, snoopy and mickey mouse themed and nutcracker figurines that represent various careers.
Each year when Haley unpacks her hundreds of nutcracker figurines, she said it allows her a moment to reflect.
"You think about a time in your life and maybe the special person who gave it to you," Haley said.
After a few days of decorating, Haley said her collection brings holiday cheer to her home.
"Thank you for making my Christmas merry and bright and then they get to rest and I pull them out the next year," Haley said.
