Fisher Price - Picture Story Camera

Time to "say cheese" again today on Fisher Price Friday.  I've got a lovely little vintage gem to share, the Picture Story Camera #784.  This was the original FP camera, coming out before the Pocket Camera #464.  The Picture Story Camera was made from 1967-1973.  

The camera base is wood covered in lithographs.  The rest of the camera is made of plastic including the wrist strap.

The camera has a viewfinder with photos inside as well as a see through lens for kids to take their own "photos".  The camera includes a dial on the top that changes the color for the see through lens from red, blue, yellow or clear.

 

The flash cube has stickers on each side of a snowflake, sunshine, leaf and a flower.

The camera has 8 views inside, all with animal themes.  Now it's tricky to photograph the inside of a camera but I made attempts so you can see these adorable pictures!

Aren't they sweet?

It's a beauty from top to bottom. 

If you love cameras check out:

Pocket Camera #464

Also check out my Etsy shop I have plans to sell some extra cameras on there soon.

Throwback Thursday - Hawaii

Did you know that I used to live in Hawaii?  For a few years I lived it up enjoying sunsets just like this one.  It's been over a decade since I moved away to start my life with my now-husband, but back in the day I was a single girl in Hawaii. :)

I surfed, ate local food, wore slippers (aka flip-flops), learned how to make rice, spoke a little pidgin, worked hard and made amazing friends.

I had the best memories with these two wahine.  Fortunately for me (and them!!) they still live in Hawaii, married to locals and now with adorable children.  So I have more reasons to go back and visit!

Here we are 10 years later (taken last spring).

Spring 11 years ago.  I haven't changed a bit right?  Right? ;)

Dreaming of Hawaii today and reliving so many lovely memories.

Fisher Price Friday - Safety School Bus

I was going to try to wait until next fall to share this oldie but goodie with you but I just can't!  It's the Safety School Bus #990 made from 1962-1965.  This wasn't the first school or second bus created, that honor belonged to the #983/984 Safety School Buses. These three buses look very similar, with the main differences being the bus roof and the eyes on the front.  

Now I have to admit that my bus has been very well loved and shows a bit of wear and is kind of dirty.  I haven't been able to clean anything except the roof since the rest is made of wood and lithographs.  No plastic = No water. ;)

The Safety School Bus came with five wooden people.  The #983 had lithograph wrapped people while the newer #984 and #990 have all wooden people.  Much more sturdy and closer to the classic Little People figures to come (but a little taller and wider).  The blue boy and green girl were also released with the #234 Nifty Station Wagon (as the mom and dad) made from 1960-1962.

 

The bus is driven by a man with a wooden head.  He is permanently attached and his head moves back and forth when the bus is pulled.  The front of the bus has wooden eyes that move up and down when the bus is pulled by the red plastic chord.  The moving eyes are the only difference between #994 and this #990.

The driver includes a lithograph of him holding a steering wheel in his brown driving uniform.  Don't you love his unibrow? ;)

This side of the bus includes lithographs with a teacher ringing a bell, school books, a FP name, logo and a plastic swinging stop sign.  The other side of the bus has lithographs of an apple, chalk board, pencil bag, School Bus sign, swinging door and the toy number.

The top of this bus is open.  The earlier version #983 included a wooden removable bus top, but this one and the #994 do not.  You can see four wooden built in seats with five holes in front and behind them for each of the people to sit in.

The school bus door opens and shuts with a spring.

When pulled the bus makes a little "putt putt" type sound thanks to the piece shown towards the front of the underside of the bus.

The black wheels are also wooden.

It is a sturdy and fun toy, hopefully it lasts another 50 years!

For other buses check out:
School Bus #192
Play Family Mini Bus #141
Little People School #2550 Bus

Mashed Cauliflower side-dish in the Vitamix!

This beautiful colored cauliflower (cheddar colored) was included in my CSA box a couple weeks ago.  I was inspired by a recent date-night dinner at a local restaurant (salmon resting on a cauliflower puree) and decided to try to make my own version.  I didn't have salmon on hand so I made a side-dish version to go along with a favorite Crispy Oven Chicken recipe.

Recipe based on a recipe from Pretty Little Paleo

Cauliflower Puree

Ingredients 

Cauliflower head

2 cups chicken stock 

1 tsp dried rosemary (or 2 sprigs fresh)

5 cloves of garlic - smashed

Directions 

1. Prepare the cauliflower by removing the leaves and then cutting it into pieces.  Place the cauliflower into a large pot.  Add the garlic, chicken broth and rosemary.  Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes or until soft.  2. Drain the cauliflower and place into the Vitamix (or another blender/food processor).  Mix at medium speeds until smooth.  We serve with some melted butter and salt to taste. :)

The results were a far more flavorful and creamy cauliflower than my usual recipe of steam then mix (with the kitchenAid mixer).  However, I will note that my kids pointed out that it resembled baby food.  Ah, what do they know? ;)

Happy St Patricks Day!

Happy St Patricks Day!  May the luck of the Irish bring you treasure at the end of a rainbow today.

Fisher Price Friday - The Westerners

Today we go back West for Fisher Price Friday.  I am introducing the Westerners #676 produced from 1984-1990.  This was an accessory set for the Play Family Western Town #934 (1982-1984) but could also be used by itself.

This first version was made from 1984-1988 and included the Cowboy with a 10 gallon hat (and handlebar mustache), the Gambler (sometimes referred to as Mayor) and a Indian with blue scarf and red markings on his hat.

The Gambler may look familiar, he looks a lot like the Ringmaster from the Circus Train #991 and the Play Family Circus #135.  The main difference is size, the ringmaster is short while the Gambler is tall.

The second version was made from 1989-1990, can you spot the difference?  The Cowboy and Gambler are the same, only the Indian has a slight variation.  This one has a blue scarf and blue markings.  It is also a lighter red color.

The Western Town also came with an Indian, and the catalogues and sets I've seen show a Orange Indian with markings on his chest.  However, they are many other Indians (more than I have shown here) that must have come with either a different version of the Westerners or with the Town.  Ah, mysteries.  

If you're looking for Western people I have a few for sale in my Etsy shop.

(semi) Wordless Wednesday - How Much is That Doggie In the Window?

"How much is that doggie in the window?" ($6K!!!)

"The one with the waggley tail?" (it had better do something magical for that price)

"How much is that doggie in the window?  I sure hope that doggie's for sale". 

Not gonna happen honey, no matter how cute he is.

(It's a Blue English Bulldog)

Fisher Price Friday - Toot-Toot Smokie!

We're back on the tracks today for Fisher Price friday.  I'd like to share a couple little train engines with you.  Fisher Price really liked trains and there have been many different toy trains produced over the years.  Smokie #642 was made from 1960-1962.  His very similar looking cousin the Toot-Toot #643 was made for quite a bit longer, from 1964-1986.  

Both trains are tiny at 6-1/4" long and 4-1/4" high and are made of wood and plastic.  They make the same clickity-clack sound when pushed or pulled.

They have almost the exact same wooden base.

First up is Smokie #642.  Smokie was the second little wooden engine produced by Fisher Price, he came after the #642 Dinky Engine.  Smokie has a wood body, wheels and smokestack.  The grill, cab and wheel pistons are made of plastic.  He has a black lithograph over the body with the word SMOKIE on both sides.  The FP logo is on top and the toy number is on the left front side.  

Next up is Toot-Toot #643, not to be confused with the Toot-Toot #641 which was made from 1963-1964.  Toot-Toot #643 had a few variations over the years but he started out with a wood body, wood wheels and wood stack also.  Towards the end of production the wheels switched to plastic but the rest of the toy remained wood.

Other variations to Toot-Toot included the color of the wheels and smokestack.  The wheels could be blue or black and the smokestack black, blue or yellow.  In addition the smokestack could have designs on top (as pictured) or be plain.  I will point out that my engine combo with a yellow smokestack does not appear in any of the reference books or sites that I've seen.  I am not sure how unique this engine is, but perhaps he was made with leftover stacks from his cousin Smokie. 

Toot-Toot has a red lithograph on the body with the words TOOT-TOOT on both sides.  The FP logo is on top with the words "Original Fisher-Price Toy".  The toy number is on the left front side (by the tire) in early editions and moves to above the rear wheels in newer editions.

Toot-Toot was re-released in 1987 as #2253 Toot-Toot Engine and Little Golden Book, a Fisher Price Classics set.  The Little Golden book Tootle is the same as original copies but has the label "Special Edition Book 'n Toy Fisher Price" on the front cover.

For More Trains Check Out:

Little People Express Train #2581
Play Family Circus Train #991

National Pancake Day!

Have you celebrated National Pancake Day yet?  Oh yes, a day devoted to eating yummy syrup laden pancakes, bring it on!  I will admit that I didn't make pancakes this morning, I started my day with a beet green and berry smoothie but I intend on whipping up some for dinner.

Here are a couple of my favorite Pancake recipes in case you want to try something new.  Or you can go to Ihop, I hear they are giving out pancakes for free! ;)

First up Perfect Buttermilk Pancakes: These are special because they are made from scratch, not a mix!  This simple recipe takes only a couple minutes to make and the pancakes come out consistent every time.  After trying this recipe I've never gone back to a boxed "easy" mix ever again!

Or to be a little more adventurous try my Puffy Pancakes Recipe :  It may not look like a traditional pancake but it is truly delicious.  Also known as German Pancakes or Dutch Babies this is a light and fluffy pancake perfect with berries and a little powdered sugar.

However you make them have a Happy Pancake Day!