One of Stevie's posts this week showed a lovely vintage photo of three girls in their bathing suits. It reminded me of this one from my family
collection of my grandmother, Alice, taken in about 1933, leaning
against a bathhouse. I am not one hundred percent sure of the exact
location, but if I had to guess, I would say that it was taken at Shafer
Lake, near Monticello, Indiana, on a date with my grandfather, the
summer before they were married.
The weeping willow twig to rave,
And kiss, with whispering sound and slow,
The beach of pebbles bright as snow.
The boat had touched this silver strand
Just as the Hunter left his stand,
And stood concealed amid the brake,
To view this Lady of the Lake.
And kiss, with whispering sound and slow,
The beach of pebbles bright as snow.
The boat had touched this silver strand
Just as the Hunter left his stand,
And stood concealed amid the brake,
To view this Lady of the Lake.
from The Lady of the Lake,
Walter Scott, 1810
Lovely photo of your grandmother. Can you believe swimsuits used to come with belts??
ReplyDeleteAnd no lycra or spandex, either!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love to raid through my grandparents old photo's when I am home!!
~Em~
I'm a huge fan of old photos. This one is wonderful--I love the light on her. I'll bet that was probably a pretty daring bathing suit back then!
ReplyDeleteDid that suit have a hole in the knee, or was I just seeing things? Pappy
ReplyDeleteAnother great family photo...your grandmother was a pretty woman and a "looker" in her swim suit..
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love the way everyone posed like a movie star back then? Her pose and light colored hair reminds me of Jean Harlow.
ReplyDeleteI can't help but notice that both the Lady of Water Willow and your grandmother are posed, looking in the same direction. It is so nice that they are positioned beside one another on your blog. A wonderful photo of your grandmother.
ReplyDeleteMy grandpa was a photographer and I would bet that he posed her for the shot!
ReplyDeleteI'll be you don't remember grandma looking like that! Isn't it weird, we never think our grandparents or parents ever had a life of their own and did fun stuff! Nice post.
ReplyDeleteI have quite a few photos of both my Grannie and my mum in those kind of bathing suits. My sister had a woolen one. How hideous when it got wet!!
ReplyDeleteOld family photos, I love them. I just discovered a photo of my great grandparents. They look to be in their 70's (they both lived to be 90) and in good health, She's smiling and he's still got a twinkle in his eyes. They were both born in 1844 (she in Scotland) and he fought in the civil war.
ReplyDeleteOh, this is wonderful! I've never seen it...just beautiful! I bet Grandpa liked it, too! :)
ReplyDeleteYour family photos never cease to enchant me. This one is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteNeither of my grandmothers even owned a bathing suit! Nice picture and beautiful poem!
ReplyDeleteCynthia
Cool! Hahhahah......compared to the "bathing suits" these days, they had more material then =) I guess its worth more the money....
ReplyDeleteGreat photo!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen either of my grandmothers or mother in a bathing suit.The men in the family would always do the robust beach things and frolick in the surf with the children. All of the older women in the family were embarrassed about their bodies and would knit or read on the shore. My maternal grandmother in particular was self-conscious about large varicose veins.I've never swum with my mother or aunts!Just realized! Lovely photo of your grandmother.
ReplyDeleteI love the bathing suit and am glad the retro style is coming back !
ReplyDeleteI noticed this book about the Loire valley on your right bar...Great selection Willow !
(I lived in Orléans for a few years. the beauty of the Loire and its châteaux is so special)
Oh, Lala, I am totally green with envy! That book is full of wonderful watercolor paintings from that area. I must go there one day!
ReplyDeleteWonderful .. I have one of The Aunt when she was 17 ... I should post it sometime ... and it was taken in Fallsburg, NY which is not far from Monticello, NY!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the new banner!
:-Daryl
BT, David and Daryl, I would LOVE to see your vintge famiy photos! Post them, please!! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful lady, have you noticed that style of swim wear is making a come back???
ReplyDeleteSeveral have mentioned that this style is coming back. The style is great...just as long as they don't make them out of 100% cotton or wool like they did back then. Spandex is our friend!
ReplyDelete