"The beauty of the days gone byIt brings a longing to my soul
To contemplate my own true self
And keep me young as I grow old."
~ Van Morrison - from The Beauty of Days Gone By
Outside my window, rolls of hay reminded me of children playing on a hillside, preparing to roll down the grassy slopes. This photo was taking while we were driving by - hence the blur. (please click to enlarge)
Another drive-by shooting of a barn that caught my eye. Its odd mismatched placement of wood and brick only became apparent to me after viewing the photos. Primarily, I just liked the soft warmth from the wood against the harvested field and the cloudy sky. (please click to enlarge)
When I was a child, it seemed that the gas stations all had different names than those of today. I'm sure some have merged or have been bought out, and names were changed but I remember seeing rotating signs which belonged to BP (British Petroleum), Shell, Texaco, Gulf, Esso and Sunoco - all which may still exist somewhere in the world but just not in mine for the past several decades. (please click to enlarge)
BA (British American) was another one which used to operate a few blocks from where I grew up but I haven't seen their pumps in operation since the 60s. This one no longer functions as a gas station though it kept the name, the building and the old pump shown in the previous photo, and does business as a convenience store. I love the rounded edges of the old gas stations. (please click to enlarge)
As with the old pump, they preserved the front of an old coke machine. (please click to enlarge)
Further along, we spotted this vintage appliance restoration shop with its old washers and stoves out back. I played with the colours in this image a bit, reducing the saturation of everything but the appliances. (please click to enlarge)
I'm sure some of us still remember these old wringer-washers. Not YOU, of course. You're way too young for that. (please click to enlarge)
This old rusty stove stood nearby. It appears to be living out its final years as a planter. (please click to enlarge)
Eventually, we became hungry and found a pub where we had a light meal. The chairs nearby caught my eye. Even here, the bar and wooden floor had an old-style appearance. (please click to enlarge)
Their well-stocked bar was lit attractively, but I decided on a coffee. (please click to enlarge)
A short while later, the road home stretched out ahead, carrying us to the end of a perfect, old-fashioned day. (please click to enlarge)
When Frank and I decide we're going out, we hit the road early - at the crack of noon. After Benny was walked, critters fed and various bird feeders tended, we were soon on the highway, with open roads ahead and cameras at hand.
Outside my window, rolls of hay reminded me of children playing on a hillside, preparing to roll down the grassy slopes. This photo was taking while we were driving by - hence the blur. (please click to enlarge)Another drive-by shooting of a barn that caught my eye. Its odd mismatched placement of wood and brick only became apparent to me after viewing the photos. Primarily, I just liked the soft warmth from the wood against the harvested field and the cloudy sky. (please click to enlarge)When I was a child, it seemed that the gas stations all had different names than those of today. I'm sure some have merged or have been bought out, and names were changed but I remember seeing rotating signs which belonged to BP (British Petroleum), Shell, Texaco, Gulf, Esso and Sunoco - all which may still exist somewhere in the world but just not in mine for the past several decades. (please click to enlarge)BA (British American) was another one which used to operate a few blocks from where I grew up but I haven't seen their pumps in operation since the 60s. This one no longer functions as a gas station though it kept the name, the building and the old pump shown in the previous photo, and does business as a convenience store. I love the rounded edges of the old gas stations. (please click to enlarge)As with the old pump, they preserved the front of an old coke machine. (please click to enlarge)Further along, we spotted this vintage appliance restoration shop with its old washers and stoves out back. I played with the colours in this image a bit, reducing the saturation of everything but the appliances. (please click to enlarge)I'm sure some of us still remember these old wringer-washers. Not YOU, of course. You're way too young for that. (please click to enlarge)This old rusty stove stood nearby. It appears to be living out its final years as a planter. (please click to enlarge)Eventually, we became hungry and found a pub where we had a light meal. The chairs nearby caught my eye. Even here, the bar and wooden floor had an old-style appearance. (please click to enlarge)Their well-stocked bar was lit attractively, but I decided on a coffee. (please click to enlarge)A short while later, the road home stretched out ahead, carrying us to the end of a perfect, old-fashioned day. (please click to enlarge)For those of you who made it to the end of this post, it was my 200th. Thanks for joining me!
77 comments:
Congratulations on 200 wonderful, beautiful and inspirational posts. Looking forward to the next 200!
Congratulations for the 200th post. And it's beautiful. I love checking out old stuff and your pictures brought it all alive.
How do I recommend this post and it's beautiful pictures (especially) for POTW..? May I?
I found your posts a bit late in my blogging life, and will undoubtedly enjoy reading the past posts.
I am glad I am not your 200th Commentor or am I?
Cheers!
I can not add anything better than the two previous comments Hilary, and I agree completely. Your blogs are perfection to read and view. I loved the old machines in this blog. Great! - Dave
I remember so much, especially the Coke machine. Beautiful photos!
Rabbit, Rabbit.
Congratulations on your milestone and your trip down memory lane was beautiful.
Sunny Sunday #4 - Sunny Bunnies
Loved it, Hilary, a perfect 200th.
I would have sold my body for that washing machine when I was doing the weekly wash in the bath, treading it, as if it was a barrel of grapes...was fun though.
What a trip down memory lane. I like that you kept with the theme and even that second photo was a little spooky fitting with Halloween. You don't look a day over 50!
200 works of art! brava :)
I love the appliance place
and the pub seems wonderful - all dark and rich and comfy
Congratulations on the 200th post!;)
Lovely pictures, the top "drive by" ones are my favorites.;)
But I also love the rest as they show details that we otherwise would miss.
xo
I love the barn the most; I'm such a sucker for texture.
Since my parents didn't get a washer until I was three (imagine hand washing all the diapers) it was too modern to have a wringer, but I certainly saw plenty of them at other people's houses.
How did you manage to notice your 200th post? (Since I failed to notice my 100th, and my anniversary....)
Mary Anne in Kentucky
Loved this little foray into your world. And yes, I actually remember my mother having a wringer washer. I was very young!
200 posts is quite an achievement. I like the way you sprung it on us at the end, Hilary!
Thanks for the drive down memory lane! Loved seeing some of the old familiar things.
And congratulations on your 200th post! Here's to the next 200!!
Well, that's an Irish pub if ever I saw one! No messing!
What a great trip down the "old memory highway". Yes, I do remember pretty much every single one of those reminders and actually wish we lived in such a slower paced environment. One of the funny things that I found is, how some people hunt high and low to duplicate some of those kitchen pieces. Definitely reminds me of my Grandmother's kitchen. Thanks for the trip Hilary!
Congratulations on 200 posts! I just found your blog recently and really have enjoyed it thus far. I love your beautiful pictures and trip down memory lane. Thanks!
Watched the misery of a vintage washer wringer as time on the address
Congrats on 200, I loved all the treasure you found on your drive and it was photographed beautifully.
much love
Oh boy what a wealth of amazing photos ... the washing machine reminded me of Queen For A Day where the winner always got a mink stole and new washing machine ... good times
200 posts .. WOOT!
Congratulations on your 200th post! May there be many, many more!
Some of those appliances took me back to the days of yore! They look so antiquated now & we thought they were the cat's whiskers when they first came out.
Yes...... you should definitely be recognised for POTW!
Nuts in May
Gosh, memories sprung up at the site of the gas station, coke machine, wringer washer and the cast iron stove. All memories from childhood. That stove, if the rust was taken care of, would service a small cottage in the country should the power ever go out.
Oh, congratulations Hilary on your 200th post. I really enjoyed your post today. I am a huge fan of the old. I'm kind of ecclectic. I like mixing the old with the new.
There is something about the round hay that I really like. I don't see a lot of that where I'm from. Mostly we just have the square hay bales. I love your photo, even if it does have a slight blur. And it really isn't that noticeable.
My grandma on my dad's side washed her clothes with one of those wringers until I was in my twenties. Hers wasn't exactly like that one but it was very similar. I like how you played with the photo and desaturated everything except the appliances. I like the way it came out.
Thank you for taking us on your drive with you. It was very fun.
hilary, congrats on 200 and thank you so much for taking us along on the drive with you. your pics are beautiful as always!
Congrats on 200! As beautiful as ever in here. And, I remember all those contraptions. sigh
These images are so great. Have I ever told you how I adore your blog title? It is so perfect!
So neat - those old fashioned type images! They all tell stories...I'm sure. How fun and how beautiful!
PS: Congratulations on your 200th post!
What a travelogue! I miss those drives with Mike, but sort of live vicariously through your photos in a way...thanks.
It's absolutely uncanny how your photos and commentary transport me! It's almost like I was there! :)
I really like the going home shot. Grey is an underrated colour.
Congrats on #200, dear. May it be a drop in your blogverbial bucket. :)
Lovely 200th. Congratulations! Love old stuff.
Happy 200th! I'm so glad I found you. Your photography brings up so much emotion in me. You are fabulous! Those first two shots take my breath away. And the rest are just as amazing. LOVE. THEM.
Well done! Again! :)
• Thanks very kindly, Dawno. Your warm words are very much appreciated. :)
• Thank you so much for the kind words, Introspection. I appreciate your encouragement and support. I'm going to have to nix my own post for POTW, of course but I sure do appreciate the gesture. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Dave, it's so good to see you in blog action once again and I thank you for your very kind words. Thanks for the visit. :)
• Thanks, Steph. I remember them quite fondly too. :)
• Thank you, Nessa. I'm glad you joined me. :)
• Thanks very much, Moannie. To me, you are such a youthful woman that i have a hard time believing you were even around in my time, much less earlier. Thanks so much for the very kind words and for your visits. :)
* Thanks very much, Tabor. And you're right. I'm not a day over 50. I'm MANY days over 50. ;) Thanks for stopping by with your kind words. :)
• Thanks very kindly, Dianne. I'm glad you've been here for so many of my posts. There'd be far fewer without your kind of support. :)
* Thank you, Protege. I've been having fun with the drive-by shots. I never know what I've actually captured until I see them later. Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. :)
• Welcome, Solarity and thanks for stopping by. I can not imagine doing diapers by hand. I couldn't even picture relying on a wringer washer for that matter but I suppose that was a luxury for most folks back then. If you go to your Blogger dashboard, you will see how many posts you've done to date. That's how I knew. I wasn't keeping track of them but happened to notice that I'd hit 200 with this post. As for the anniversary date, I tend to overlook that too. Thanks so much for stopping by. :)
• Thank you, Kate. I remember ours too. I was also young.. ish. ;) I kind of sprung the 200th on myself too. It rather took me by surprise. Thanks for the visit. :)
• Thanks kindly, Baggie. And I'm glad you took that drive with me. You're always fine company. :)
• It might well have been, Gaelikaa. Thanks for the visit. :)
* Thanks so much, Bogey. I'm glad these photos brought you some nostalgic memories. They were indeed slower-paced times. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Smiles4U, thanks very much for your kind words. Much appreciated. :)
• Thanks very much for that link, Julie. It's pretty much how I remember them too. :)
• Stacey, thanks very much for the very kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. :)
• Thanks kindly, Daryl. I'm not sure I've ever seen Queen for a Day but I do remember hearing about it and probably seeing a few clips here and there. Wasn't its premise to hear out sob stories and designate the most heartbreaking story the winner? Thanks for the kind wishes. Much appreciated. :)
• Maggie May, thanks very much for the kind words. It's difficult to imagine these ever being state of the art appliances but they sure were for many. Thanks for the visit, my friend. I'm sending best thoughts your way. :)
• Barbara, you're right about the stove. It would be a good find.. and an insurance payment-raiser for sure. I'm glad you enjoyed seeing the photos. :)
• Thank you so much, JarieLyn for your always supportive comments. The round bales seem to be semi-newish.. just the last several years. I've not seen any of the standard square bales in quite a while now. I'm pleased that you like the changes that I made to the photograph and that the washer brought back fond memories. Thanks for joining me on this drive. :)
• Brian, thanks so much for the very kind words. That means a lot to me. Thanks always for stopping by. :)
• Thanks so much, MPM. You remember them too, eh? We must both be old. You're just a very young old. ;)
• LWK, thanks so much for the very kind words. I'm glad you're smitten with my blog title. ;) Thanks for stopping by. :)
• SD, thanks very much for the kind words. Very much appreciated. :)
• Teri, thanks so much for the kind words. I'm glad you're enjoying my blog. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Frank, funny how that happens, eh? Sometimes it feels like you're behind the wheel with many of my posts. ;) Thanks for the good wishes, my dear and for making these such fun days, much above and beyond the photo opportunities. :)
• Thanks very much, Lakeviewer. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Kat, thank you so much for such kind and sweet words. They mean a lot to me. I so glad for your visits. :)
What a nice variety of photos. The landscape of color is beautiful. I like the architecture of the gas station. We had cafes and ice cream joints that had the same style. Yes, I helped use the wringer on the old wash machine. Ours was not pink. Great blog.
Congratulations!!! 200 of your always stunning posts is quite an achievement--well done. I so look forward to the next 200 and the next and the next...
Thanks for the stroll down memory lane...
Except now I remember how old I am.
Lovely, just lovely. I'm not sure which is my favorite - either the old barn, or the Ed White photo you played with. Perfection, both of them.
Congratualtions on your 200th...and many more.
As usual, wonderful, wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing your day!
I love old things. The old stove as a planter was lovely. And I remember seeing those Coke machines. It looks like you had a great road trip.
Congrats on your 200th post!
One of my favorite buildings is always the art deco gas stations like the one you photographed. The curved front is classic.
Glad to see someone has preserved this building and kept some of the original items around.
I certainly enjoyed this trip! Thanks for letting me ride along!
Some of these things are like what we used to have or use. Nice post. Lots of memories.
Love the pics. I remember the Coke machine, the wringer-washer, and much of the other stuff. So very good to see it again.
I must say the barn photo reminded me of a painting one might see in a museum featuring the Dutch masters. Well done.
Congrats on 200 posts.
Absolutely gorgeous photos, Hilary! You are photographer extraordinaire! And thank you for your kindly sympathetic and fun comment...I assume that Frank was driving on this particular day? :-) Sounds like a plan to me!! Have a terrific week! ~Janine XO
Happy 200th! LOL...that made me giggle...
I love that you get going at the crack of noon. Hee hee. The photo of that barn is amazing, it almost looks like it was superimposed on the field because of the mismatching! Very cool. And that last photo looks like a painting!!! Lovely!
Oh yes, I had a spooky Halloween for sure. I had to bring the dogs to bed with me, lol...my fault, I set the atmosphere didn't I?
What a treasure trove that place is! Love old stuff like that (mostly because I'm old stuff like that.) Congrats on the milestone, and thanks for the tip over at my place. I've edited the post, with proper attribution for the help.
Congratulations on 200 ;-)
Your photos are all so beautiful, but I have a special attraction to a long road shot. Loved that one.
Wow, some absolutely gorgeous photos. The beauty of everyday objects. I loved the one of the appliance store where you played with the colour saturation.
Lovely trip down memory lane. I love the art deco stations too and the way you desaturated the appliances was very well done.
What astonishing and wonderful photos! Congrats on 200 - looking forward to being here for the next 200.
Congrats on the 200th! Loved the picture where you played with the saturation. Your camera is amazing. Don't you always wonder how many people used that old stove and washing machine? How many hours of cooking for families, or just one old person, etc. I'm fascinated with the stories that go with old objects, for some reason. Wonderful post, as always!
200, congrats. Lovely pics, love the dead tech shots.
Wooden chew... boo... groan!
OK, now I've got that over with I'll go back and read your current post!
Hi again, I've looked at your pictures of your day out.... lovely. Nice to know that old BA gas station still exists even though it doesn't pump gas any more.
Love that Simplicity washing machine, even the style of the brand name signifies the 30s and 40s doesn't it? I think my mother had one something like that, it definitely had a mangle on top and I used to turn the handle.
Congratulations of your 200th post.... that's a lot of typing and a whole lotta pics!
OH! So well put together and beautifully pictured :)
"At the crack of noon" - you crack me up! :-)))
But, boy, what a drive!
Congratulations on your 200th,
"introspection" has it right,
this is a POTW!
That coke machine and the old gas station rock!
You have such an eye for this stuff.
• Thanks kindly, LD. I do remember that style for eateries too and we too had a wringer washer in white. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks so much, DS. Stick around.. I'll do what I can. ;)
• ITTL, I know that feeling well. :) Thanks for the visit. :)
• Thanks very kindly, EthelMae. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. :)
• Thanks very much, Georgie. I'm happy you joined me. :)
• Thanks, Terrie. We did indeed. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thank you, Russell. I like those buildings a lot too. They bring me way back. Thanks for joining me. Always a pleasure to have you along, my friend. :)
• Thanks, Abe. I'm sure they were pretty much everywhere on this continent. Thanks for the visit. :)
• Thank you so much, Leah. I really didn't know just how it would turn out. I just kept snapping shots - kind of like they say about monkeys at a typewriter. Something is bound to make sense. ;) Thanks for your always-kind words. :)
• Thanks very kindly, Janine. You're right... Frank was doing the driving whilst I did the clicking. It works for me. ;) Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks, Rain. We don't get moving too early around here these days. ;) Thanks for the kind words and I'm glad you had your canine sweeties to cuddle up with on Halloween! :)
• Thanks very much, Suldog. I'm with you on the old stuff.. a bit ahead of you, in fact. It was a fun, nostalgic look back for me. I'm glad you came along for the ride. Thanks for the always-kind words. :)
• Thank you, PHST. Your kind words are very much appreciated. :)
• Thanks very much, Maddie. I did have fun with that one. :)
• Thanks, Reb. I'm glad you liked them. I see you have a cool new avatar. Eye like it! :)
• Thanks very much, Deb. I'm kinda looking forward to it myself. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thank you very much, Nancy. Yes, I do think about about the stories these old items have to tell. Where they've been - what they've cooked or cleaned - which cars were serviced by that gas pump and how many people enjoyed their cool, refreshing Coke! I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks always for your kindness. :)
• Thanks very much for the kind words, Elizabeth. Much appreciated. :)
• Shammie, I'm glad you liked my comment on your post. ;) I have to say that I like yours too. The name Simplicity actually makes me think of a sewing pattern but I suppose it works for appliances too. Thank so much for your kind words. Much appreciated. :)
• Thanks very much, Gary. I'm glad you liked it. :)
• Merisi, I'm glad I could evoke a smile. :) Thanks so much for your always kind and supportive words. They mean a lot to me. :)
• Thanks, Clowncar.. it's an old eye! ;)
I like the barstool and the road picture the best.
Hilary,
Your photos are amazing. I loved Ed White's and how you took it. And the BA garage that is not. I love the building. What was modern is still modern. The appliances and machines kicked in memories of my grandparents', too. What fun. You are so talented.
What a wonderful tour down memory lane. I remember Esso before it was Exxon...putting a tiger in your tank. That old stove is exactly like the one my Grandmother had in her kitchen that we dressed in front of for the wonderful heat. The wringer washing machine sat on my Aunt Florence's back porch. I got my hand caught in the wringer once...this was pure bliss!
warm hugs
Sandi
Congratulations on #200. I think I have enjoyed everyone of them.
I really loved your day trip into yesteryear. The wringer washer brought back memories of my Mom working away wringing all our clothes before they went out on the clothes line.
Thanks for the wonderful trip Hilary.
Congratulations on your 200th post! I passed mine not long ago--and wasn't aware of it.
I love your sky at the end of the day. I want a pink wringer washer and an old stove for a planter.
My favorite is the old barn. The light on it just warms me up.
Yes, I made it to the end... and congratulations on your 200th post! It was a pleasure! Your photos are beautiful and pensive, reminiscence of Hopper's paintings, in particular, the one called 'Gas'.
Ah, yes...days gone by. Great pictures. And yea for 200! C
Those are such wonderful photos. I love the old objects. And I got a big kick out of bright and early at noon!
whoo-hoo, 200! Bet you never foresaw that, when you put out your first post, eh?
Hilary, that highroad shot looks like a painting - it is truly remarkable (as is most of your photography).
Glad I stopped by today, Hilary, to celebrate your 200th post - many congratulations.
Loved the old stuff shown - the names of the petrol brought back memories but I remember, being older, another brand, "National Benzole". I wonder if anyone remembers that.
See you soon ~ Eddie
Congratulations on your 200th post! I can't say I've ready every one of them, but I CAN say that I've enjoyed every one of them that I HAVE read.
You have a gift for words AND photography. You are a person that blogging was made for. I'm so glad you use your gifts to entertain, educate and challenge all of us, your faithful readers.
Congratuations on this milestone, my talented friend.
Sandra
(and I forgot to tell you, again, how much I enjoy the way you play on words like some play the piano!) :)
Your pictures are stunning (I think I use that word for you every time I visit) And you're an especially good shot for a drive by shooter :)
Congrats on 200 Posts! That is fine start... :-)
Amazing! Boy it sure we be a hoot to see that old car/truck roadworthy today. Lovely trip, thank for sharing!
perfect day. I love all that old stuff too.
Aloha, Friend!
Comfort Spiral
What a wonderful journey!
\
And only 200 posts? I would have guessed you'd been around the blog world many more times than that! Love what you do here - a pleasure to peruse!
• Thank you, Tom. Your visits and comments are much appreciated. :)
• Thank you so much, Sandy. I'm glad you got a kick out of the old items in the photos. Your kind words always mean a lot to me. Thanks for that. :)
• Sandi, yes.. I do remember the tiger in the tank, too. :) I'm glad you enjoyed the trip down memory lane. I'm so glad you joined me. Thanks for such kind words. :)
• Thanks, Sue. I'm so glad you've been along with me for the ride. Yours was one of the first blogs I remember getting hooked on. Thanks kindly for the sweet words. They're very much appreciated. :)
• Thank you, Louise. I wouldn't mind a pink wringer washer either.. I just don't want to have to use it. ;) I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. Thanks for letting me know. :)
• Thank you so much for those very kind words, Arti. They mean a lot to me. I'm so glad you're enjoying my posts. Thanks for stopping by to say so. :)
• Thanks very much, SHCG. Very much appreciated. :)
• Debbie, thanks very much for the kind words. I'm glad the post gave you a kick. Thanks for letting me know. :)
• Shrinky, you're right. After my first post, I wondered how I was ever going to come up with a second. ;) Thanks so much for the kind words. Totally appreciated. :)
• Eddie, thanks very much, my friend. I'm glad my post evoked some memories. I do know the name "Benzole" but am not so sure it existed as a gas (petrol) station here in Canada. Perhaps someone else might know. Thanks for stopping by with your kind wishes. :)
• Sandra, my friend. thank you SO much for such kind and generous words. Your sweet comments mean the world to me and I'm so grateful for your friendship. Thank you. :)
• Margo, I'm quite thrilled with "stunning!" You may continue to use it every time. ;) Thanks for the kind words. :)
• Thank you, Maggie. A fine start, eh? It sounds like you have high hopes for me. ;) I don't think that truck was running any time recently but it sure would be cool to see if on the road. Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated. :)
• Thanks very much, Cloudia and Aloha right back at you! :)
• Thanks very much, TSannie. Yup, 200. I really don't post very often.. approximately twice a week. Three times now with the POTW. Thanks very much for the kind words. Always so appreciated. :)
Congratulations on your 200th post, Hilary -- each one an inspiration in its own way, each one well worth the time taken to read it.
I may not get here right away (due to busy-ness or holiday) but I *always* know there are treasures awaiting me.
That old barn reminds me of some of the barns around here, with multiple layers of materials.
Thank you so much for your very kind words and good wishes. Very much appreciated from you, my friend. :)
These pictures are great. Thanks for sharing. :)
Thank you, E. Much appreciated. :)
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