BUT FIRST, BACK TO RON. WELL, BYRON THANK YOU. SOME DECORATE THEIR HOUSE FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH LIGHTS. OTHERS WITH BLOW UP FIGURINES. BUT ONE RIO RANCHO WOMAN HAS GONE A DIFFERENT ROUTE WITH A WHOLE ARMY OF NUTCRACKERS. JASON MCNABB IS GETTING THE CHANCE TO SEE THEM ALL UP CLOSE. WELL, THIS IS WHAT YOU’RE GREETED BY AT THIS HOUSE IN RIO RANCHO, AND IT’S JUST A FRACTION OF WHAT YOU’LL SEE INSIDE. AND WELCOME TO THE NUTCRACKER HEAVEN. HERE THEY ARE. VERNELL CLINE HAS BEEN COLLECTING NUTCRACKERS FOR A LONG TIME. SO THIS IS WHAT, 30 YEARS OF NUTCRACKERS LOOKS LIKE? YES. WOW. YOU MAY RECOGNIZE CLINE FROM ANOTHER STORY. KOAT AIRED NEAR HALLOWEEN, WHERE SHE SHOWED OFF HER MASSIVE FRANKENSTEIN COLLECTION. AS IT TURNS OUT, NUTCRACKERS ALSO HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN HER HEART, COLLECTING THEM AFTER WATCHING A 30S MOVIE CALLED BABES IN TOYLAND. THOSE NUTCRACKERS HAVE JUST BEEN ON MY MIND EVER SINCE. SHE ESTIMATES SHE HAS OVER 300 NUTCRACKERS IN HER POSSESSION OF ALL VARIOUS SHAPES, SIZES AND STYLES AND ADDS AT LEAST TEN TO HER COLLECTION EVERY YEAR. SHOW ME SOME OF THE ONES THAT, IN YOUR OPINION, ARE MOST SPECIAL TO YOU. NO DOUBT YOU CANNOT. YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THEY’RE ALL MY FAVORITES. WHILE SHE SWEARS SHE CAN’T NAME A FAVORITE, THERE IS ONE THAT CAUGHT HER EYE MORE THAN THE OTHERS. OKAY, I’M GOING TO SAY THIS ONE. AND I JUST GOT HIM THIS YEAR. ONLY BECAUSE HE’S HE’S DANCING, HE’S SALUTING. BUT AGAIN. BUT HE’S NOT MY FAVORITE. DON’T DON’T GET HE’S NOT MY FAVORITE. CHRISTMAS EVE IS ALSO VANELLI’S BIRTHDAY. AND SHE SAYS THERE’S NOWHERE ELSE SHE’D RATHER SPEND IT THAN WITH HER WOODEN ARMY. I LOVE THEM, THEY MAKE ME. THEY MAKE ME HAPPY. AND THEY MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY. AND THIS COLLECTION HERE STILL GROWING. KLEIN SAYS SHE’S NOT PLANNING ON STOPPING ANYTIME SOON. IN RIO RANCHO, I’M JASON MCNABB, KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. JASON, THANK YOU AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KLEIN. SHE SAYS HER FRIENDS HAVE ASKED HER TO SUBMIT HER COLLECTION TO THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS, BUT SHE THINKS THERE’S AN EVEN BIGGER NUTCRACKER FANATIC OUT THERE. I’M NOT SO SURE T
Rio Rancho woman showcases 30 years of nutcracker collecting
Vernell Kline of Rio Rancho has amassed a collection of over 300 nutcrackers over 30 years, inspired by a classic film, and continues to add to her collection annually.
Vernell Kline of Rio Rancho has spent 30 years collecting over 300 nutcrackers, inspired by the 1930s movie “Babes in Toyland.” Kline, who was previously featured by KOAT for her extensive Frankenstein collection, began collecting nutcrackers after watching the film. “Those nutcrackers have just been on my mind ever since,” she said.Her collection includes nutcrackers of various shapes, sizes, and styles, and she adds at least 10 new pieces each year. When asked to choose a favorite, Kline said, “You’re not allowed to ask that question! They’re all my favorites.” However, she did highlight one recent addition, saying, “I’m gonna say this one, and I just got him this year. Only because he’s dancing, he’s saluting,” but quickly added, “But he’s not my favorite. Don’t get, he’s not my favorite.”Christmas Eve, which is also Kline’s birthday, is a special time for her to enjoy her collection. “I love them. They make me happy, and they make a lot of people happy,” she said.Kline’s collection continues to grow, and she has no plans to stop. Her friends have suggested she submit her collection to the Guinness Book of World Records, but she believes there may be an even bigger nutcracker enthusiast out there, as the record collection contains more than 10,000 figurines.
Vernell Kline of Rio Rancho has spent 30 years collecting over 300 nutcrackers, inspired by the 1930s movie “Babes in Toyland.”
Kline, who was previously featured by KOAT for her extensive Frankenstein collection, began collecting nutcrackers after watching the film. “Those nutcrackers have just been on my mind ever since,” she said.
Her collection includes nutcrackers of various shapes, sizes, and styles, and she adds at least 10 new pieces each year. When asked to choose a favorite, Kline said, “You’re not allowed to ask that question! They’re all my favorites.” However, she did highlight one recent addition, saying, “I’m gonna say this one, and I just got him this year. Only because he’s dancing, he’s saluting,” but quickly added, “But he’s not my favorite. Don’t get, he’s not my favorite.”
Christmas Eve, which is also Kline’s birthday, is a special time for her to enjoy her collection. “I love them. They make me happy, and they make a lot of people happy,” she said.
Kline’s collection continues to grow, and she has no plans to stop. Her friends have suggested she submit her collection to the Guinness Book of World Records, but she believes there may be an even bigger nutcracker enthusiast out there, as the record collection contains more than 10,000 figurines.
