Round Robin - Childhood Memories

The theme for this Round Robin challenge is Childhood memories---"get out your skates, and skate keys, your teddy bears, and your Matchbox cars and your imagination, of course, and take a giant step back in time to childhood. Simon says, share with us what you enjoyed in those carefree days so long ago. You are only limited by your imagination with this one, so why not let it out to play? "

Since I am a "Child of the 70's", I decided to apply Pioneer Woman's 70's Action to my photos for this challenge.

Here is my childhood home--I drove by it the other day and took a picture. The shutters are a different color of green now and we didn't have a fence around it, but it still brought back tons of memories of flag football games in the front yard and playing catching fireflies in the summer. My favorite toys when I was young were dolls. I spent hours playing dolls with my friend, Kathy (until I was probably way too old to be playing with them). Being the first granddaughter on either side of the family meant that I was the recipient of the beginnings of a wonderful doll collection. Most of the dolls aren't necessarily valuable, but many have stories that go along with them. We loved making up names for the dolls and making long lists of them. Here's one that my mother saved---such inventive spelling. (wow that soldier really has scary eyes!!!)This "beautiful" doll with the long, multi-colored legs was named "Goldie". (I have no idea why, since she doesn't have even a hint of gold on her) I took her on one of our vacations and left her in the back car window along with a few crayons. Needless to say, my parents were less than happy about the fact that the crayons not only melted onto Goldie, but also onto the back upholstery!!! And last, but certainly not least, here are my Little Kiddles!!! I loved these little dolls (as evidenced by the wire sticking through the hand of one).
Check out some of the other Round Robins on their sites:

http://monica-frameofmind.blogspot.com

http://ellipsissuddenlycarly.blogspot.com

http://suzyq421sphotoblog.blogspot.com

http://outmavarin.blogspot.com

http://hipchickphotos.blogspot.com

http://happywonderer.wordpress.com

http://nancyluvspix.blogspot.com

http://quilt--works.blogspot.com

http://sandytrefger.wordpress.com

http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com

http://mummyjam.blogspot.com

I Remember Barbie

When I was a little girl, my very favorite toys were any kind of dolls--baby dolls, collectible dolls, Little Kittles and of course Barbie dolls. I played with dolls until I was way too old to admit it, but because one of my closest friends was a few years younger than me, I could get away with it (for her sake, of course).

When I saw this commercial posted on OliveRue, I couldn't help but remember the countless hours Kathy and I spent playing with our dolls. Although we never had a fancy house like this, we had lots of fun converting shoe boxes and constructing furniture from cardboard. My grandmother hand-sewed a complete wardrobe for my dolls and even made a couple of things for me to match my doll--we had pretty pink nightgowns and corduroy robes. In addition to Barbie, I had a Midge. Midge had blue eyes and freckles, just like me, so when my mother cut my hair into a short "pixie" haircut, I felt Midge needed the same thing. I lopped off the permanent "flip" that she had and even chopped away at her bangs (I didn't have bangs). I pretty much ruined her look, and soon learned that her bangs would NOT grow back, but I loved her anyway.

All this reminiscing about Barbie makes me wonder where my Midge is? And where is my Barbie autograph book? Hmmm. . . .