Saturday Snapshots: October 13, 2012

{I adore vintage photos that warm the heart, and this darling 1940s shot of a young woman cradling a cat and kitten does just that.}




{These kids have got the right idea for sure! While we're still got a few glorious days of autumn shine left, why not bust out the hot dogs and have a scrumptious weeny roast over a crackling fire?}




{There are a lot of interesting elements to this 1940s wedding shot. From the mens' military uniforms, to the fact that maid-of-honour's dress and veil is almost seems to be overshadowing that of the bride, to the question of whose - I'm guessing - mother that is on the left. The mixed expressions/levels of enthusiasm across these five faces only adds to questions that this indoor wedding photo puts forth.}




{A chap with good fashion sense is often a rare commodity these days, but in decades past more men still knew how to dress with class and style, even when going on a simple outing. Case in point, this stylish fellow enjoying a sunny afternoon spent at the seaside.}




{Odd - and perhaps unintentionally morbid - as this might sound, I love old photographs of elderly people, especially because - if we opt not to sugar coat reality - one obviously knows that they likely did not live for too many more years after the photo was captured. Of course I don't love that they passed away, what matters to me is that while they were still with us, someone ensured their memory would live on though the medium of photography. Though sadly no names are given for the ladies in this snapshot, I'm very glad that we still get to spend time with them, even decades after they departed this world.}




{In a familiar scene that all of us can likely relate to, a 1940s woman (in a cute dress, I should point out - note the scalloped hem and sleeves) tackles the task of scrubbing the family bathtub yet again.}



{I can't paint a picture from scratch to save my life, much as I wish I could, but this 1950s woman in her wonderfully adorable dog print smock obviously could, and luckily someone thought that was - as indeed it is - worth capturing on film.}




{Three teenage gals lean in together for a fun slice-of-life snapshot captured on someone's yard. I wonder what they'd been up to, as there are pillows and blankets around them, plus what looks like a rolled up rug on the stairs in the background (backyard sleepover?).}




{It's not hard to find vintage wedding photographs, but yesteryear images depicting couples on their anniversary are much trickier to track down. It was with no small amount of happiness then that I recently discovered this elegant photo of a (likely 1930s) couple - and their beautiful cake - celebrating their silver anniversary.}



{Sweetness and heartwarming cuteness swirl though this precious photo - which time has has eaten away at a a bit - of two 1950s sisters (identified as Barb and Deb) holding hands in what I suspect was their Easter and/or Sunday best.}

{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.}

♥ ♥ ♥

From Labour Day onwards, it often feels as though someone has begun a stopwatch that is defying the laws of the universe and speeding faster and faster with each passing moment. Fall and early winter are busy times for many, but on top of the usual string of beloved holidays (Canadian Thanksgiving was this past Monday, and now Halloween, Christmas and New Year's loom on the snow covered horizon), these months serve up a myriad of family birthdays, as well as our wedding anniversary (tomorrow marks eight resplendent years as husband and wife).

Ever since we moved to British Columbia earlier this year, I've been trying to figure out how to find a good balance for the many elements of my life. I'm exceedingly happy that we moved, especially since it's improved certain elements of our world (e.g., we have a car now for the first time!), but returning to an area peppers with friends and (moreover) family, means a social life and commitments that do not exist when one lives on the other side of the country.

Ultimately I'm very happy about this and feel blessed to be able to spend time with the people who mean the most to me in the world. However, that newfound family element of my life (well, at least new for the first time in many years), partnered with work changes, the unpredictability of my health (and substantial amount of time that I'm not feeling well enough to do anything ), Tony's ultra busy schedule, blogging, and personal commitments, interests and hobbies, means that I'm still trying to rearrange the puzzle pieces of my life in way that makes it feel like each one gets its fair share of the pie.

I'm by no means alone in this regard, and know that very well. Nor am I complaining, I'm just hoping that by actively thinking about, and discussing, my desire to strive towards better harmony in my life, it will be more likely to happen.

I know that for me part of the issue in this regard is that (for better or worse), I've always been the kind of person who likes to give whatever I do a 110% of myself, and I often feel very guilty and/or like a failure (even if such feelings are completely unwarranted and untrue) if I'm not able to do that.

This is the point I'm consciously working on, as I know that sometimes doing so (devoting large chunks of undivided attention to a certain activity) is just not possible, but that doesn't mean that said pursuit/activity can't be a part of my life on a less frequent and/or intense basis. It seems so simple on paper, yet is trickier in real life for sure.

Balance, it's all about balance, I keep reminding myself, as I dump out the proverbial puzzle pieces again (hey, is there a corner missing? ) and try to see how they're fit together as we continue on through this hectic (but entirely wonderful) tail end of the year and all the activities it brings with it.

A spirit level will never sit perfectly flat on anyone's life, but if I could just work out the obvious bends and right angles, I think I'd be off to a very good start. For the moment though, I'll brush all that aside and set my thoughts on just how phenomenally blessed I am to be celebrating eight years of wedded joy with my soul mate - and constant source of serenity, reason and balance in my life - this gorgeous October weekend.