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June 20, 2014

Flickr Favourites: June 20, 2014





{Young woman modeling a two-piece swim suit in Tampa, Florida ~ State Library and Archives of Florida}



{King of the castle ~ Kirstyxo}



{Boardwalk Camera early 1930s ~ PLCjr}



{1953 Le Petit Echo de la Mode cover ~ april-mo}



{Bathing Beauties 2 ~ I'm so vintage}



{Starfish at the beach ~ Laura Jarman}



{Swimming 1940s ~ dianecordell}



{1949 Kodak Color Film Ad ~ Classic Film}



{Eleanor Tierney at Starlight Park ca. 1921 ~ syscosteve}


 photo 8538485285_ec3ba7a88e_b_zpsd48ca974.jpg

{Nora Carrol and Lois Duncan Steinmetz: Sarasota, Florida ~ State Library and Archives of Florida}



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


♥ ♥ ♥


There was a certain unmistakable magic to the first swim of the summer when we were growing up. Brave, with the sort of hearty gusto and disposition that only the earliest days of youth affords most, we'd sometimes plunge into the water in May (there may have even been one time we dared to do so in April), icicles all but forming on our eyebrows as we did. The air might have had almost-summer warmth to it, but the water temperature was still far more inline with the bone chilly days of winter.

Nevertheless, we'd put our brave faces, egging each other on to see who would dip their whole body underneath first, our small hands growing progressively more blue with each passing minute. Inevitably, at least when we were still young enough to require an adult to be present when we went to the beach, someone's mom or dad, if not my own, would always stand safely back from the shoreline and shout out, "Okay, kids, that's about enough, you don't want to get catch your death of a cold from that freezing water!", and we'd pretend to leave the lake's cool embrace far more begrudgingly than we really were (in addition to knowing full well, at least by a certain age, that you don't actually catch a cold simply from being cold).

We knew it we might as well have been using icebergs as air mattresses and that it would be a few more weeks still until one could safely venture into the water without needing a narwhal's body composition to stay warm while doing as much. And so we'd wait, as the days on the calendar ticked by, not only on the school year (which always let out us for us at the very end of June), but also on Penticton's two lakes (Okanagan and Skaha) to reach the kind of temperature where we could frolic and splash around until we were wrinkled like raisins, happily exhausted, and ready to retire to our waiting sun-kissed beach towels before getting a second wind and racing headlong into the gentle surf once more.

If the spring had been a particularly warm and favourable one, that usually started being able to happen right around this time of the year. Sometimes it might take a little longer, say closer to Canada Day, but by mid-June, you could almost always find at least a handful of robust souls in swimwear inching their way into the lake, that telltale look of surprise over the water's true temperature registering on their face from a mile away. It is the memory of those first swims of the year as a child that spurred on the visual inspiration for today's Flickr Favourites post and which has been on my mind frequently as of late.

Though, for many years now because of my health, I've not been able to much in the way of swimming, I still eagerly anticipate this time of the year, when I'll do a little wading or floating on my back in the water, before setting up camp on the beach and enjoying watching today's generation of children barrel across the sand and leap into the gentle waves. The sound of motorboats humming in the distance, jet skis bobbing noisily closer to shore, and the squeals of excitement coming from young and young at heart alike as they splash merrily in the waves.

In a few more week's time, when the dog days of summer are biting at our heels once more, both lakes will take on a near-bathwater warm quality that's hard to match anywhere else in this country (which is a large part of the reason that Penticton and the Okanagan as a whole has always been such an immensely popular Canadian summer tourist destination). A quality which, I swear, is all the more true if you're game for going for a night swim. This was something else that I sincerely adored doing as a youngster, when I'd paddle out a hundred feet or so from the beach and lay on my back, the rhythmic waves almost hypnotizing me into a zen-like state of serenity as stared up at the twinkling neon lights from all the motels and restaurants on the other side of the street.

These are the kinds of memories that endear summer to our heart and make us nothing short of gleeful to see it return once more, whether we'll be doing much actual swimming this year or not, and which will always help make the return of the warmest season every bit as fun and exciting as those ice cold plunges into the lake that we enjoyed so very much as children.


25 comments:

  1. This winter was so cold that according to reports June 12th was the first day that Lake Huron was ice free. I'm afraid this year the beach will be walking only till maybe August for us. :(

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  2. I'm actually hosting a vintage-themed beach party next weekend, so this post is almost eerily, perfectly well-timed! Thanks so much for sharing these fabulous photos and some of your lovely childhood memories. :)

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  3. mmmhhhh - beautiful!
    thinking of my first swim this summer at the lido, venice :-)

    xxxxxxxxxx

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  4. Dearest Jessica,

    I love everything about this post. You write so well about the joys of childhood, something we all enjoy recalling - a time when life was as simple as summer days are long.

    My favorite photo here is that of the four lovely smiling girls.

    Happy Friday!
    Hugs, Hope

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  5. That Florida photo of the two girls in the swamp? That's the, "Before" photo because you just *know* an alligator is about to grab one of them by the leg.

    Swimming probably would be good for my health (I can move easier in water) and we have a pool two minute's walk away, so thanks for reminding me that it is in fact summer. No alligators in Nebraska either!

    Off topic-Last night I followed your link to the website where you bought your wig, and found a couple inexpensive styles that might work for me. Thank you so much for posting the information. I do have a wig shop in town ($$$) but figured I'd give this a try first. I wore wigs years ago when I was lazy about doing my hair, but now my hair has thinned enough where I really need to do something. Anyway, thank you.

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    1. Oh my, that's a terrifying thought (re: alligator), I really hope not, but it is always a very genuine danger in that part of the world (and numerous others). At least around these parts, when we go swimming, all we have to worry about is the Ogopogo. :D

      You're so very welcome. There is, by and large, so little spoken about blogs in the mainstream or vintage fashion blog world, which is a real shame, as there's nothing to be ashamed about in wearing wigs, be it just for fun or due to hair loss. Please know that I'm always here if there's anything I can to help you on the wig front (questions, sources, styling tips, etc).

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  6. I live near Lake Michigan and the water is still a bit cold for my taste so I can imagine in Canada you have some time to wait!

    I love the collection of pics you chose. The ladies look effortlessly glamorous, as one should look at the beach, right? :)

    Sarah

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  7. these are all fantastic pictures I particularly love the two ladies in each pajamas

    retro rover

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  8. Ahh what lovely imagery you create! Here we are in Winter Solstice today, and your post was just the thing to have me dreaming of sunnier days. :)

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  9. wonderful pictures! sadly it got qhite chilly again here ... i almost have to wear tights again ...

    thanks for your comment ... on schwarz, rot, gold. i think it's because of german history, that they don't show and wear the colours of the flag like british, French, american and candian do on national bank holidays par example to 4th of july/usa, germans would never hang the flag on their house or wear black, red and gold like americans do with joy and pride. germans (from my generation) actually don't have a 'relationsship' to their flag like other countries, we don't learn how to hold or fold it in school ... it's just some fabric hanging from the reichstag/house of parliament.
    the history of ww2 made the last generations of germans pretty shy in showing from where they come from. i always felt bad, when i had to tell that i'm german when i met new people on holidays.
    sports (olympics, especially soccer) was the only thing to show that your proud of your country. during the last 20 years german people started to feel more comfortable to show their 'colours' during the big sport events. especially when the world cup was hold in germany 2000 the ice broke and everything and everyone wore black, red and gold.
    let's see what i wear when germany is playing agains usa ... being an american wife and the us team coached by juergen klinsmann could make me change the colours ... ;)

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    1. Hello my lovely friend, thank you very much such a detailed and highly interesting response to my comment on your blog about the wearing of national colours in Germany. I appreciate the time and thought that you put into it. I can certainly see why so many Germans felt the way they did for a long time (the same feelings prevailed amongst my German relatives and then their children who grew up in the 50s-70s here in Canada, even though they'd been living in Canada during WW2) and am glad that some people in your generation is slowly starting to become more comfortable with showing off their national pride. There is no undoing the past, of course, but those events do not need to control and speak for a country and its people, especially generations later, for all of time and I don't think there's anything wrong with showing your national pride these days.

      Thank you again & have a fantastic start of summer,
      ♥ Jessica

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  10. Such a lovely post. I too am feeling nostalgic for beach visits, but being winter I feel that summer is just a bit further away for me. I do really dislike the cold. This weekend I have gotten to enjoy a bit of sunshine and sea watching some boat races which is really exciting for our town. I kind of forgot about taking pictures though, so hopefully will get some nice ones in today :)

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  11. It's definitely warm enough here for swimming and we've done a bit of pool swimming, but unfortunately the river which is super close to us is too polluted for swimming. We do have some nice smaller swimming holes in some creeks and lakes but they're a little drive for us. However, even the kiddie pool feels great one the days we've had lately with temperatures already in the high 90s fahrenheit. This summer being pregnant in high humidity and hot temps already, I would much prefer Canadian summer this year.
    And that last color picture is my favorite. I love it when you find an older picture showing just how vibrant the colors were. And 30s beachwear has to be some of the chicest of all time. Thanks for sharing.
    Sarah

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    1. Hello dear Sarah, I can certainly imagine that summer's humid wrath is all the more difficult when you're with child. It's not the same thing of course, but I noticed from the very first summer (twelve years ago now) that I started to become chronically ill that summer affected me in a very different way than it had up until that point, and though I do love it dearly all the same, it can knock the wind out of my sails a fair bit of the time.

      We'll soon be at those temps and possibly high, too ourselves here. I live in one of the hottest regions of Canada, where it's not uncommon to reach 100F or more, especially in a small town nearby called Osoyoos, which has set some records over the years for its sizzling hot temperatures. We fortunate though that, being in a desert-like climate, we tend to have dry heat here. I lived in Ontario for six years and the summers there were crazy humid! I pined for those of the Okanagan (where I grew up and once again live now) something fierce every year.

      I hope dearly that this summer isn't too brutal a one for you, dear gal. Keep the fan running, popsicles in the freezer, and lots of cold compresses (and/or ice packs) to hand - that's my approach and it really does help a bit, no matter if the heat is dry or humid.

      ♥ Jessica

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  12. I love that none of the women are stick insects! Makes me happy :)

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  13. A lovely post once more! And how graceful were old bathing suits ... girls enjoyed their staying on the beach with great elegance! The bathing beauties in your photos remind me my grandmother, who was a very stylish lady!

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  14. I love looking at the array of bathing costumes in these photos. It is really interesting reading about your childhood swimming experiences. I have never swum in a lake or swum at night, it sounds lovely. Growing up our holidays were always on the East Coast of the UK and the North Sea is very rarely warm. I even remember swimming in the sea in a hail storm. It was freezing!

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    1. As do I! There was such a graceful beauty to many yesteryear swimsuits, and of course, the ladies who inhabited them, too. I hope you get to go night swimming and/or swim in a lake one day, dear Kate. Should you ever happen to come to the Okanagan during the summer, you can do both here anytime from late June to early September (with July and August usually having the very warmest water).

      Oh my! I've swam (dangerously, I know, but it was always a matter of the weather turning on us once we were a ways out from shore) during thunderstorms, but never hail. That really must have super cold! Yikes!!!

      I hope that summer if off to a wonderful start for you, dear gal!
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. I don't think I would enjoy a swim in a thunderstorm! You are much braver than me! I will be looking out for lake swimming opportunities though. It is actually feeling quite summery here, we have had a run of sunny warm weather which is quite a rarity in West Yorkshire! My summer dresses have been able to come out! Hope you have a lovely weekend.

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    3. Thank you very much, dear Kate, I hope you have a stellar first weekend of summer, too! It was raining her earlier this morning, but is warm all the same and I sense it's going to clear up out there fairly soon.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  15. Oh, Jessica, how I love your Flickr favourites. This also brought me down memory lane, where we spent all summer in our little summer cottage at the country and played all day. Today is midsummer's day in Denmark, so from today the days will be shorter, and I already feel sad. I hope we will have a fabulous summer for two more months, before autumn sets in (which I also love, I just think winter is way too long and dark for my taste). Wishing you a lovely day, dear. :)

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Sanne, I truly wish the same for you as well. I was up until the wee hours of the night on the longest day of the year and watched the sun set over the tall Okanagan hills. It was beautiful and very relaxing - just as I hope as many days as the coming season as possible will be as well. I'd be perfectly content with if the only "big action" was on the yard sale and vintage sourcing front this season. Tranquility suits me just fine and goes hand-in-hand so very nicely with the sizzling heat of this gorgeous season, I find at least.

      Have an amazing summer, my lovely friend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  16. Thank you Jessica, these photos are full of fun! I particularly like the elegant 1930's ladies in their wide trousers/long striped skirt, very elegant beach styles. I also have wonderful childhood memories of floating in the sea though, not the beach, including at night. Magical!

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  17. I love all of these photos, but especially love 'Bathing Beauties 2' as I just adore all of their matching hair styles! Swimming costumes were definitely a lot more fun and quirky (whilst still being flattering) back in the day.

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  18. how i wish i could spend a week or two at a cabin by a lake and just totally veg out! alas that won't be, but these images did help me day dream some.

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