Tiny Towns in Back Seat Windows

A week or so ago my Mom texted out this photo to the fam, showing a tiny town displayed with boldness in a car's back window.  It's so cute!! Wish I could have seen it in person.  What a cool idea this is.

Then today, while heading to Target, a vintage red car drove by, also a little town in their back window.  It happened so fast as they sped through the turn lane, but the small glance I could glean showed a feat for the eyes and imagination.  Another little city I wish to explore.

Is this a thing with some vintage cars to build these little towns? Or maybe it's a local car club that's doing this.  Well, it's awesome.  A dash of joy in an otherwise samey day.

 

If this is a trend I hope it picks up and spreads. 

Talking about vintage cars, I don't know how they do it in other states, but in Utah a vintage car can get a special license plate with a silhouette of a vintage car.  Well, a couple months ago, while waiting in the drive through at the local Dairy Queen, there was this elderly couple ahead of us in a vintage 70's car getting ice-cream. Seriously the cutest thing ever!! Really, it was just romantic. But their 70's car had that vintage license plate... and it's just the weirdest thing to realize the 70's is now vintage. Random thought. :P 

Vintage cars are cool.... mainly cars pre-70's. :P

Sarah

1911 Vintage Postcards from Utah, Boston, New York, and Iowa

 A couple years ago I started collecting vintage postcards.  I don't have a lot, but a few special ones that I've picked out while visiting antique stores.

While visiting Arroyo Grande CA last Autumn, I stepped into Something Different, where, hidden away, I found a box of postcards from 1911, a dollar each.  I would have bought so much more, but I paid with cash, and was determined to only spend what I brought with me.  A lot of the postcards were the correspondence between a George to a Miss Emma in New York, each postcard with a little message. 

 The Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.

Of course I bought all the Utah postcards.  I love seeing what Utah used to look like.

 Snow covered Wasatch Mountains; Park City is just over those peaks.

 Utah Hotel, Salt Lake City.

I believe my Grandparents stayed here back in the day.  Now it's the Joseph Smith building which holds a nice cafe, a couple nice restaurants, genealogy center, and the Legacy theater, which is now showing Meet the Mormons for free.

 I picked up some Boston postcards, because that's where my Grandpa R. grew up.  I've been meaning to show them to him and ask if any of these buildings were familiar, or if they triggered any memories.  I've sat down with him a couple times to record some stories, but haven't for awhile.  I should do that today.

Two postcards showing Franklin Park in Boston.

 Massachusetts General Hospital.

 Hotel Brunswick, Copley Square, Boston.

 Mechanics Building, Boston.

Even though my Grandpa wasn't alive in 1911, my great-grandma Agatha Mahoney was born in Boston, and I believe my great-great grandfather Joseph Mahoney was an Engineer of sorts--I need to get more information--so I wonder if members of my family went into this Mechanics building.

 Fanueil Hall, Boston.

 My only ties to New York state is from the 17 hundreds, but I couldn't resist this 1911 postcard from 5th Avenue.  Really neat.

My Grandma A was born in Iowa.  I have deep farming roots from that side of the family.  Men and women of high integrity.  I have a couple books printed in Des Moines from when my Granny married my Gramps, one in which is a cook book.  And when I was in Iowa last year going to the Worlds OotM comp., we drove by the Iowa State Capitol.  It's stunning.  I wish I could have visited.

I love these Snap Shots from the past.

Learning about History through Vintage Postcards

 It's no mystery on this blog that I love postcards.  I participate with postcrossing.com, in which I'm really close to receiving 400 postcards total from around the World.

A little while ago I started collecting vintage/antique postcards.  My collection is pretty small, but so far I love what I've been able to find while visiting antique shops.

I visited quite a few antique stores throughout the Utah Valley, but couldn't find any Utah postcards.  I guess it makes sense that I had to travel outside Utah to finally find some, and it was in Cambria CA where I found a nice little stash.

 These postcards I place between 1945 and 1950

It's fun reading what is described on the back.

 Southern Utah postcards circa 1970's.

Did you know Bryce Canyon inspired the look of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland?  It's all thanks to a National Geographic article back in the day.  (I heard this on one of those behind-the-scenes DVD's that you can buy at the Disney park.  I really need to find the article.)

 I've heard my Mom and Grandparents talk about "The Sky Ride" at Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon several times this last decade, but every time I visit the falls I have a hard time imagining it.  There's no trace of this old ride. Apparently there was a restaurant at the top you could visit.  That would have been fun.

I believe I literally let out a squeal of delight when I found the postcard and couldn't wait to show my family.

 Before and after photos of Mount St. Helens.  Amazing.

 More postcards spanning the country.

I just love how these older postcards are drawn/painted.  It adds to the charm.

 Now this is my most favorite find:  A photo book of images found throughout Oregon and California, all drawings.

 I love the classic cars.