Thursday, December 9, 2010

I Wish I Had a River I Could Skate Away On

One of my favourite winter activities is definitely ice skating.  One of the benefits of growing up in the cold snowy north was the fact that I actually learned to skate on outdoor frozen ice!  Nothing beats that feeling of graceful freedom I get from gliding across a glistening frozen rink.  Since moving from a more temperate part of Canada, where outdoor ice skating was a scarce luxury, I am looking forward to the idea of skating on the local river when it gets a bit colder here.  In the mean-time, I thought I'd post these adorable images of "Ice Skating Fashions" from LIFE, circa 1939.






9 comments:

Debi said...

Lovely!! I think it would be fun to sew up an ice skating pattern from this time period! But brrrrrr....it does look a bit cold!

Tickety Boo Tupney - A Dash OF Worcester Sauce. said...

oh, the outfits! Only been skating once, but I would love to go more often if I had those clothes....Very fun and nifty, tups x

Evie said...

I have to say, I'm generally not a huge Joni Mitchell fan, but I absolutely love that song! It's beautiful!

Sarsaparilla said...

Love these photos! I need to dig out my ice skates. It's been years. I also have fond memories of learning to skate on an outdoor rink. Did you play "Crack the Whip"?

Thanks for introducing me to this beautiful song - I think I like Joni Mitchell's version best.

Hey, also wanted let you know that I have 100-follower Giveaway going on until Dec. 21. Two winners!

Stephanie Lynn said...

I love ice skating too! :)

BaronessVonVintage said...

I agree that this is Joni's best song (otherwise, I'm not an avid fan or anything). Debi: I agree it would be so fun to make one of these ensembles...but I also agree that they seem a bit skimpy! I'd opt for a longer one, likely made of a warm knitted material!!

Sarsaparilla: YES, I have fond memories of the fun of "Crack the Whip," among other fun games! SO much fun!

Nancy said...

I can't believe the skated with bare legs like that! But of course I grew up hiking through fields out to a farm pond in the snow...skating was *not* a genteel sport in my childhood! It was more like Jane Siberry's "Hockey" song!

Oh, and Emily Saliers does a version of Joni's song that's pretty sweet, too.

lauren said...

i am planning much ice skating this winter, and well, it *might* just be so i can wear piles of skirts and a pretty 1940s princess coat...

LandGirl1980 said...

What a fab selection of pics! Bet those bare legs were cold!