Toy Stories

I remember being troubled that my childhood friend Jennifer had barbie furniture and I did not.  It was lovely wicker and all match-y.  I just had a few dolls which I far too often left laying around the house with no clothes on.

My dad really hated that.

I would build homes and furniture using boxes, cups, legos, drawers, etc, etc.  The advantage of this was the joy of building a new home with every play session.  Shoes became sporty cars and occasionally a carebear doubled as a trusty steed.  (Which meant my barbies rode magical horses who could shoot rainbows out of their bellies.  Jealous?)   

My Ken doll was decapitated in an accident which I'm sure had something to do with being on a date with one of the ladies and having to fight some evil ninja turtle in her defense.  OO-la-la  -am I right ladies?  He was mended by shoving playdough in his hollow head and hollow torso, then using a little wood stick and smooshing the body back together.

It worked pretty good until the next date...

My mom would sew little outfits that I wish wish wish I still had.  What happened to those?  At the time I thought it was because you just can't have enough clothes, but really it was the cost and immodesty of the store-bought outfits.  I tried a few times to make lovely dresses using my socks.  Not the regular kind, but the socks with lacy ruffles and colorful rainbows.  The bloated spot where your heel goes makes for a good bustle!  Unless you've already worn a hole in the heel.  ...Then she better be wearing underwear...

I guess I'm rambling because I love those memories.  As Tim Gunn would say I "made it work".

I wasn't at all deprived.  I had plenty of toys.  Enough to inspire years of pleasure, yet not too many to stifle ingenuity.

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Today Suzie couldn't find the farmer's horse.

She gracefully brought in a temp that was warmly welcomed by his farm-mates.

As soon as Suzie wears out her colorful socks that horse is getting a dress...