For many years I’ve had a vague memory of a small toy I once played with at a neighbor’s house; I seemed to recall long plastic handles with magnets on the end with which you could manipulate small people/figures inside a house.  I had no idea what this toy was called or where it came from — and there were plenty of times I thought I must have imagined the whole thing!

So imagine my surprise when, browsing through a shop full of knick-knacks in Old Sacramento, I came upon a small house with some very familiar tiny rooms, plus a flagstone veranda…

The kitchen

Livingroom

Bedroom, with adjoining bathroom

Nursery

Terrace and garage

It was such an odd feeling to stand there in the shop, with my childhood memories flooding over me!  I couldn’t afford to buy the little house, so I did the next best thing and took pictures.  I wonder if anyone else remembers this charming little house from their childhood?