December 1, 2012

Saturday Snapshots: December 1, 2012




{In an act as old as driveways, walkways and paths that needed clearing, a darling little girl dons her rubber boats and helps to shovel away some of winter's snowy wrath during the winter of 1947.}




{Artistry and elegance spill over in abundance in this incredibly lovely 1920s portrait of a woman sitting alone at her writing desk in a beautifully furnished room.}




{In what has to be one of my all-time favourite vintage colour street scene shots, we see a pretty young woman hard at work (in jeans no less!) as she puts together a new store front display for a Fenwick department store.}




{Titled "Marcia and the twins, Dec. 1949" (with no further background info given) we see three completely charming little ladies each posing and radiating sweetness and confidence alike - especially the latter in the case of little Miss Marcia in the middle! Smile}




{The moment I saw this delightful 1930s photograph of a smiling couple posing in a cheerful dandelion filled field, I couldn't help but think of all those in the southern hemisphere who are kicking off their summers just as our winter begins. And so, sweet friends, I dedicate this sunny scene to all of you and the hope that your summer is every bit as happy, too.}




{You've got to love a house painting, beer drinking, trouser wearing 1940s mom hard at work while two teeny puppies play at her feet.}




{Though I doubt she intended to on purpose, it's rather cool how this 1950s gal's outfit (blouse, skirt, and apron) coordinate quite stylishly with the eye-catching, boldly patterned atomic print couch she's reclining on.}




{Though it will be - baring vacations - a long time still before many of us will be able to slide our bare toes into warm sand once again, the moment I spied this wonderful beach shot recently, I knew it was too charming not to include in the next edition of Saturday Snapshots.}




{From the gentle doe eyes to her immensely sweet braided hairdo and porcelain complexion, this beautiful young 1920s lady looks as though she could have just stepped of the set of one of the eras silent movies.}




{I always adore crisp vintage group shots, such as this one from 1949 which looks as though it may have been taken outside of a university, as they so often give you a chance to see multiple real world fashions from the same year displayed side-by-side in photo.}


{All images above are from Flickr. To learn more about a specific image, 
please click on it to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}


♥ ♥ ♥


December has entered, stage right, and as of the first moment of this morning, we can officially say we're partaking in the last month of the year. It's a touch too soon to reflect on 2012 as a whole, given that we do still have one 1/12 of it to experience still, but I will say that over all, I have loved this year and hope dearly that December proves as positive and lovely as many of its predecessors.

I am eager for this month to unfold, and yet part of me wants to savour each frosty air filled moment, too. Winter often gets a negative rap. It's not terribly hard to see why, it is the coldest of all seasons (if you live north of the equator) and the few amongst us relish the opportunity to drive (or walk) on ice slicked streets as near white out snow bombards our windshields (or faces). The soft palette of the earth, tinted in delicate greys, ashy browns, whisper soft blues and long faded browns can seem dreary at times, but much like artist Andrew Wyeth said in the quote above, it does entail a sense of what remains unseen, just waiting to be discovered or break forth.

I've never hated or even disliked winter, not for one tiny day. It's chill and serenity resonate deeply with me, a definite homebody who loves hankering inside from the elements or enjoying a tranquil stroll across unmarked powder. In winter my mind often springs to life in ways that are nearly impossible during the sweltering summer months, when the heat seems to gnaw away and your brain, zapping every last shred of energy you might have in the process.

As snow swirls, icicles form, and Christmas season springs to life, I cannot help but feel a sense of intense renewal this year, as I often have in winters past. New Year's may still be thirty-one days off, but already there is newness, excitement, potential, and joy in the final bow of the seasons. This month will be hectic and harried, beautiful, brazen, meaningful and memorable.

There will be carols and cocoa plenty, last minute shopping, beloved rituals and brand new traditions alike. It's the first year Tony and I have been able to spend the holidays with my family (as we always lived thousands of miles apart prior to this), and I cannot even begin to put into words how special that is to me.

Also on the winter firsts front, this winter is the first time we've had a car to de-ice the windows on or a front step of our own to shovel snow off of (having living together in apartments, basements suits, or other front step-less dwellings before this year). We get to catch snowflakes on our tongues standing in our little yard (which many of you no doubt know from the scores of vintage outfit photos that were snapped there this year), attend local holiday events together sans public transit, and even string Christmas lights outside (another first in the course of our time together).

I never completely lost that wide eyed sense of magic and wonder that children get at Christmas, yet not in many a year have I felt it so strongly - or so early in the season - as I do this December. Something is indeed waiting beneath the surface this month: the chance for so many firsts and favourites, the passion and power of the holidays, and the final moments of what has been a sincerely wonderful year.

25 comments:

  1. Charming pictures :-)

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  2. Oh that portrait of the young lady, those eyes! Beautiful photos, thank you for sharing !:)

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  3. All of these photos are great! I love the photo of "little Marcia and the twins". It's amazing that you can tell the twin on the left is taller than the twin on the right.
    We've been getting a lot of rain around her so I'm hoping this will lead to some snow. I really want to have a white Christmas.

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  4. As we´ll still renovate our place, I feel a connection between me and the beer drinking, trouser wearing 40s lady :-) Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Oh Jessica I love the 2 sunny Summer scenes you so thoughtfully included.

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  6. I'm in LOVE with that sofa that woman is sitting on in the color photograph four up from the bottom!

    I love your reflection on the upcoming winter months. I'm so eager to wear green and red together!!

    xoxo
    -Janey

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  7. As expected, I love this post. There are too many beautiful things to say regarding those photos. And the quote you used at the top, ah, love. "the bone structure of the landscape". Too lovely.
    -Jamie
    http://chatterblossom.blogspot.com/

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  8. December and Christmas = magic for sure! I've had wonderful daydreams of snow recently. Dreamy scenes of sleigh rides and hot chocolate and ice skating. We have rain here in winter, but that's all right with me. I love the Christmas carols, and play them often.. and every year, my husband and i watch Holiday Inn and White Christmas at least twice! :)

    This is a beautiful post! I love all these pics. Especially the woman dressed in white writing in that wonderful room! You definitely have a knack for finding the best vintage shots. So much fun! Have a relaxing rest of the weekend, Jessica! :)

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  9. I felt this same sense of wonder as we got our first snowfall of the year today! I had my riding lesson and the stables are so much more romantic with the horses in their jackets in their snow covered exercise pens.

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  10. You have such great taste! I love them all, truly! I love the background of the photo with the girl wking in the window and those little girls-that Marcia is just like my bunny girl-she poses and models hehee How darling are these!!?? I dislike extreme weather-my body reacts badly to too much heat or too much cold. Lately I totally feel like an old lady...constantly cold brrrrrrrrrrrr now to get under the covers heheh Happy Saturday to you my dear! xox

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  11. I enjoy all four seasons and am thankful that I live in an area where I get to experience each one. For me there is always something magical about winter, almost electric at times.

    Love this grouping of photos and have a particular fondness of the twins and Marcia, being that I have twins myself.

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  12. I love your attitude toward December. Beautiful thoughts.

    These photos are so engaging. We "see" what we're capable of understanding and you, certainly, have sharp eyes. I love these images and what you perceive in them.

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  13. This is such a lovely selection of photos I don't know which to comment on! Christmas draws near but the summer beach shot is closer to my Christmas experience :)

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  14. Great photos. I love the second one...such a beautiful image. The one of the people at the beach remind me of photos of my nana. She has shown me so many photos of her beach holidays when she was younger.

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  15. What fun photos!!! They all seem to have such good stories with them. I just discovered your blog, and I'm loving it!

    http://flashbacksummer.blogspot.com/

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  16. Wonderful Snapshots today. I adore winter as well. If nothing else, I adore the change of seasons. Have a wonderful weekend!

    Best Wishes,
    Amanda

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  17. Beautiful photos as always. We are celebrating our second Christmas at the house, every year it's getting bigger and better, it's all about family and I'm so happy to be near them now!

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  18. Jessica, what a beautifully ode to winter you have written.
    The second picture is breathtaking. I love everything about it; the girl's expression as she reads her mail, her dress, her hair, the writing table mirror. Its all so beautiful.

    Now I'm craving a writing table and a dress like hers. :)

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  19. Love your blog and pins. Thank you for following back. I have a link oh your blog on mine. Hope you do not mine ? Best, Tina Marie www.lavintagefarmhouse.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi Tina Marie, thank you very much for your lovely comment and for including a link to my blog on your site. I very much appreciate that and am delighted to have you as a reader.

      ♥ Jessica

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  20. Yes...winter is a time for days of frolicking in the snow and cozy evenings sharing hot cocoa and enjoying the warmth of friends and family. I, too, love winter. Here I am in California. We only “visit” the snow. But I did spend many younger years in Wisconsin and Minnesota, so I do know the joys of winter holidays.

    :)Hope

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  21. These pictures are stunning- I adore them! The little girl with the sewpt up braided hair is so sweet. And the little girl shovelling snow is cute- makes me want to put my own kids to child labour ;-)

    Janine x

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  22. Oops I mean of and mind. On my comment. Sorry I did not edit. Best Tina Marie ps Jessica would love to have you as a follower on my Pinterest @ la vintage farmhouse ! Link on my blog too. www.lavintagefarmhouse.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi Tina Marie,

      No worries at all - who hasn't pressed the enter key before, only to spot a tiny typo in a blog comment the very next moment.

      I tried commenting on your blog both yesterday and today, but for some reason, I cannot. No matter how many times I click to start writing a comment in the comment section, nothing happens. I tried reloading the page many times both days, tried three different internet browsers and cleared my cache, but nothing helped. I'll try again later in the week though, and in the meantime (and certainly after) will be following you on Pinterest.

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. What lovely vintage prints - you've got me feeling very christmassy now!

      Now I just need to sort out everyone's cards, gifts, wrapping..... gah! :D

      www.mancunianvintage.com

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