Daydreaming about taking a vintage sleigh ride

✯ Day 335 of Vintage 365 ✯

There are scenes, whether illustrated or photographed, from the past that evoke such a strong sense of longing - for an era I never got the chance to call my own - that it is  impossible for me to ever forget them. So entrenched in my mind do these images become that I almost turn them into memories of my own.

I must say, I don't mind this one bit and feel blessed that history touches me (as I know it does many of you, too) so deeply.

One recent example of an image I chanced upon that made me pine to travel back in time and hop right into it, is the terrifically pretty magazine cover pictured below of a winter's eve farm neighbourhood scene in which two fine, strong horses pulls a sleigh merrily through a carpet of crunchy snow.

{Immensely lovely, heartwarmingly sweet illustrated winter themed cover of the December 1940 edition of Woman's Day magazine. Image by way of Charm and Poise on Flickr.}

 

I am almost 100% certain that I've never had the pleasure of enjoying a good old-fashioned sleigh ride myself (if I did, I'm too young to remember it). Something which, until this very morning, I'd stopped and given too much thought to.

Having grown up watching TV shows (such as the Canadian classic Road to Avonlea) and movies in which yesteryear life was portrayed, paired with singing jingle bells countless times, almost made it feel as though I dashed through the snow in a one horse open sleigh of my own each winter.

Alas, such is not the case, but it's fun to keep on imaging that it is. One day, I'm sure, I'll get the opportunity to fly through a farmer's field, clearing in the woods, or a snow covered back road in a sleigh much akin to the wonderful example in this beautiful 1940s illustration. Until then though, I'll keep on living out my wintertime sleigh ride ambitions vicariously through vintage images like this marvelous one.

Here's to the start of December - that most magical, meaningful of months - and all the memories, dreams, and wishes it holds for each of us, sweet friends.