Hall of Fame Toys

A few inductees from the list. Every year more toys are nominated and inducted. I asked if there were a Slinky in the house. (No there was not? But they did find….

My grandson Charlie snd his friend and neighbor Cammie were a big help gathering the items for the photo in this post.

A kind of scavenger hunt for some of the toys that are on the list of the Toy Hall of Fame. Yes, there’s an actual museum in Rochester New York. The Strong National Museum of Play states “The National Toy Hall of Fame recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and enjoyed popularity over a sustained period. Each year, the hall inducts new honorees and displays examples in the Toy Halls of Fame gallery.”

One of the items is a Cardboard Box.

A bicycle and kite weren’t readily available and there was no Barbie on the premises.

Here’s what Charlie and Cammie helped. collect for the pic.

Etch-a-Sketch,a Puppet, LEGO, checkers and chess, glass marbles, Yo-Yo, top, ball, Teddy Bear,Crayola crayons, baseball cards, wooden building blocks with letters on them. Play-Doh, sidewalk chalk, UNO, Clue , Scrabble, a Rubik’s Cube, Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, Star Wars Action figures ,and a Transformer. No Little ponies in their house, either.

A partial list we were working from to find examples in the house

Bubbles in December

Roy (2) has mastered blowing bubbles

Rainy Day on Monday

Central Ohio Model Railroad Club Open House

Central Ohio Model Railroad Club Open House

You walk into this amazing Polar Express Display and the club member engineer operating the four trains invited the kids to come under the bridge and get closer.

So nice of him. There will be seven trains going in that display as they are working on it. Many hours of dedication and hard work create these terrific model train displays. Click to watch Polar Express

Roy Laura and Charlie are ready to enter


Model Train Video Click link to watch

Scrabble Saturday Night

Charlie (9) beat me by almost 100 points.

We had a fun game.

I asked Laura if she had a Scrabble Dictionary and she said “No, but just Google it.” I was telling Charlie about the two and three letter word lists which are good to know.

Originally called Criss Cross, the game, which was based on the crossword puzzle and anagrams, was developed by Alfred M. Butts, an architect, in 1931. It was redesigned, renamed as Scrabble, and marketed by James Brunot in 1948. It was first sold in Great Britain in 1954.” Brittanica

It’s been a long time since I played Scrabble. How about you?

Holiday Train at the Main Library

Columbus Ohio. Holiday Train built by Paul Busse click link.

Laura and Roy head for the Holiday Train Display



Click to watch – Here’s a 30 second video of two of the trains
Santa is waving from the engine


“The Huntington Holiday Train has delighted people of all ages since 1992. This downtown holiday treasure was generously loaned to Columbus Metropolitan Library by Huntington National Bank in 2009 and is displayed in Main Library’s Grand Atrium.

Leaves on the Sidewalk Thursday Morning

Throwback Thursday – 15 years ago

What Steve Put on the Mantel

Reblog from 15 years ago –

“Deborah McLaren’s still life is one I purchased at the PERSAD  Celebrate Life Celebrate Art auction at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh last May.  

The other day I sat at the table, looked up and saw Steve’s additions to the decor.  He has been purchasing RITZ crackers frequently since I bought the painting, subliminal influence?  I wrote to the artist for her permission to post the image of her painting along with his props. Steve’s fun additions- the unexpected sight of them in front of the still life-  I laughed out loud!  How to make life fun!

Still Life Painting by Deborah McLaren

Conversation with Ernie

Ernie is a favorite.

Roy brings Ernie to life

Roy was behind the chair with Ernie doing some puppeteering.

Then they looked out the window.

Ernie sings a Sesame Street favorite in this video I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon

My sister stitched Bert and Ernie in this crewel embroidery in the late 70’s which is now a pillow.

Mary captured Bert and Ernie in stitches

Do You Still Use Cookbooks?

I used to read a lot of cookbooks, especially at night. I have three shelves full but don’t refer to them often. They are there for reference. This winter I’m hoping to rectify that situation and keep a stack nearby to reacquaint myself.

My friend Joanne just sent me an article 25 Most Influential Cookbooks of the last 100 years.

I have just four from the list in my possession. I’ve had a few others but who knows where they disappeared -Moosewood, Silver Palate and the Marcella Hazan Italian Essentials were a few I’ve had I my collection.