59 - TOMBOY TOYS

TOMBOY TOYS
6 ½ x 18 inches
(A livestock watering tank)

A huge, corrugated metal watering tank was essential on the farm for livestock, but when emptied, it transformed into an oversized plaything. Small garter snakes and mice often gathered at the bottom of the tank, and as children, we embraced them not with fear, but as our gentle little pets. We played with these creatures respectfully, fostering an early connection with nature.

Farm toys weren’t store-bought but fashioned from whatever we could find. A hay rake became a bucking horse, empty corncribs and barns served as playhouses, stacked bales of hay turned into climbing walls and forts, and tall grasses formed natural obstacle courses—far from the typical “girlie girl” toys. These childhood freedoms sparked a creativity that taught me to see multiple uses for everyday objects. With abundant resources around, thinking outside the box was a way of life, perfect for a budding artist with a tomboy streak.

Despite the idyllic freedom farm life offered, memories of its harsher realities remain vivid. Animals were viewed as commodities, and witnessing this as a child left lasting impressions that still give me pause.

Life on the farm meant hard work for every member of the family. We tended a large garden, canned fruit harvested from an orchard, churned our own butter, sewed clothes—chores were never-ending. But the most dreaded task I recall was plucking chickens—the smell alone was enough to make the job unbearable. This mix of freedom and toil shaped the complex reality of growing up on a farm.