So, every time I come across this recent photograph of a vintage child’s sink and oven, it brings me back to my younger days.
Yes, I had an old tin pink toy washing machine that you could fill with water and an old oven, I believe. Of course, my memory is a little fuzzy about this, but I think it was an oven.
Both items came from the local dump, but they worked out fine for me. I loved playing house with them.
I would fill the washing machine with water and a little soap, then swish the agitator around with my hands.
To complete things, I also had a metal utility shelf on wheels. However, the wheels didn’t help much because I kept my set outside on dirt. No, you could not roll those small wheels in the dirt.
Let’s see I pretended to cook meals, so I gathered up a bunch of found items from around the yard like seed pods, acorns, etc. I stored things into tossed out strawberry boxes. I’m sure I had an old spoon or stick to stir my pretend meals on the stove. Also, I probably had an old pot to play with.
For the table and chairs, I rolled a large section of an oak log for the table and two smaller logs for the seats. Yes, those oak pieces were heavy, so the only way I could get them into place was to roll them for a distance.
Making Something Out of Nothing
From there I branched off into making my own plant potting soil using oak leaf soil. Initially, I added hot water and stirred things together. When the mixture was totally dry, I labeled brown lunch bags filled the bags with it. Thinking it would be great for growing plants, and I was going to “sell it”.
When in a creative mood, I also painted oval rocks from the beach into bright ladybugs with black spots. Actually, I sold a few of these ladybugs and also gifted them to some relatives. Also, I made mushrooms out of, I believe it was Plaster of Paris and painted them in bright colors. The ladybug in the photograph is actually painted two colors, a bright orange on the front and a red on the black. I can still see my initials painted into the back of the rock. These ladybug rocks made great paperweights and the larger ones, door stops.
Actually, can you believe I still have a mushroom with a tiny ladybug perched on top and a regular sized ladybug I made during my childhood. These were returned to me after a relative passed away.
Ending Notes on Playing House
Little did I know that by playing house, that would set me up for keeping a real house.
So often, children pretend and try out different occupations and situations. It’s great for the growing mind.
In ending today’s blog, we close down another sweet chapter from memory lane.
The vintage toy sink and oven were found in the Reston/Herndon Habitat for Humanity ReStore Shop. Thank you for allowing me to take photographs and blog about your fun, fabulous shop.