Space - the Final Frontier

I've almost finished moving all of Duncan's downstairs toys up to his room. If it weren't for Ikea, we'd still be tripping over diggers in the living room. Here are some snaps from his newly updated room - which hadn't been altered much since he was born almost five years ago.

We bought four of these nifty storage units: the two tall ones you see here and two shorter ones. On the top is a very old hand-made barn my grandfather build for my brother (the silo is Fisher-Price from more recent times). We bought four shelves and several bins for all those little bits and pieces...

like Lego...

wooden building blocks...

old and new Fisher-Price toys... Playmobil, etc..

Speaking of Fisher-Price, here's the family home, which I bought at a yard sale for next to nothing a few years ago. I also bought the garage at Value Village shortly after Duncan was born. It had a $1.99 tag on it, so I snatched it up before they realized that it was vintage F-P. I remember pushing the stroller home through the snow with this big, honkin' garage balanced on the top. It was worth it. Duncan plays with it all the time.

Here's my Play Family Camper from my childhood. It's weathered the years quite well and my mom told me that she bought it used when I was a kid. Isn't that neat? My nephew and niece played with it and now it belongs to Duncan. Those toys were so well made. I never took to the newer, chunky anti-choking sized Fisher-Price Play Family pieces. Some of the charm got lost. I guess at least the kids are safe, so that's a good thing.

Looking at these toys I'm washed with warm feelings that make me think of this song - "Wonderful Life." This has to be one of the most beautiful videos ever made. It looks like it was filmed in coastal England or Wales. I also love the song and the singer's voice. At about 2:40, he starts to run on a pier. I wish they included more of him running in the video. Enjoy.

Here's another shelf from Ikea. I had no idea that Duncan had as many books as he did. I pulled a bunch for my class and also filled a garbage bag for Goodwill. It's hard to feel guilty about having too many books.
Here's the top of the book shelf with thrifted treasures from the Anglican Japanese Congregation rummage sale last fall. The tin holds Scotch tape and I've put the wooden bits and pieces to good use.

This Ikea play carpet was buried under piles of toys. I got out the big shop vac today and gave it a good cleaning. I love all the details on it. The kiddie rocking chair was a thrifted gift from my folks who bought it either at a rummage sale or yard sale in St. Catharines.
On top of the short storage units you'll find: a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey puck that came free with canned tuna fish (ha!), starfish from Myrtle Beach, honeycomb from a girl in my class during my first year teaching, beta fish (still alive, even), plastic pirate skull with flip up eye patch from the East York Lawn Bowling Club rummage sale, Thomas trading cards, a Swiss cowbell from VV in St. Catharines, a very old spelling contraption that came from Australia (I think it was my dad's great uncle's or something), and two paintings I garbage picked from a local artist.
This shelf is in the process of having "baby things" taken off it. On the bottom shelf are the suede moccasins that my grandfather bought for my mother when she was born. I have a picture of Duncan wearing them when he was a baby. I will treasure these.
Duncan has books from authors of all time periods. I was, however, surprised by all the books he has that were published under the Dr. Seuss imprint.
On the top of the other bookshelf in his room, you'll find a Fisher-Price school house that my mom found at a yard sale in St. Catharines. The two Fisher-Price pieces from my childhood that I want so badly are the hospital and A-Frame. They cost a lot on ebay.
Spook sits waiting patiently for his lunch to be served.

Hope you enjoyed the trip through toyland.

Erin