let's go to bakersfield

I have never stayed at this motel in Bakersfield and in fact I have only been to Bakersfield a couple times. However, this postcard makes me nostalgic and it makes me want to go there. It so sparkly and welcoming with the 1970's cars and the palm trees. Check out the blurb on the back......I don't recall any scenic delights....I remember hot. And more hot.

birthday bird

From Papa 1908
on the back:
addressed to Wilbur Westervelt, 646 Monroe Ave, City

It kills me when they just put City in for the town's name. I am guessing this would be like someone sending a postcard to Portland from a farm town 60 miles away.

This postcard was made in Germany and is really pretty. The bird is raised and sort of a fuzzy fabric. It must have been so beautiful new. It is in good shape. Someone took care of it for a long time.

I am posting a birthday postcard for The Best Hearts are Crunchy. She hosts the Postcard Friendship Friday and is having a birthday this Monday. Happy Birthday!!

You might want to make a little visit to her blog and see all the other blogs who have posted today for PFF.

follow me down to the rose parade

The Rose Festival is going on right now in Portland. Although I really don't take part in it, I have a fondness for it. I like things that are unique to cities. Especially my adopted city, of course.

I thought this would be a good time to post a couple Rose Festival related items I have collected. These photos are from the mid-Fifities and they came in a full album. I bought the album at an Antique store on the Oregon Coast about 8 years ago.

You can see the banner on the hat of the man, it says Rosarian. I love the Rosarians. They were marching in the Starlight Parade last night. Below is the text from their website.

The Royal Rosarians are the official greeters and ambassadors of goodwill for the City of Portland, Oregon. Royal Rosarians welcome visiting dignitaries from around the world, host hundreds of out-of-town visitors, march in parades throughout the region, and perform ceremonial rose plantings in honor of worthy individuals both in Portland and during Rosarian ambassadorial trips to distant cities throughout the world. Organized in 1912, the Royal Rosarians are a non-profit, civic organization. All services rendered by its members are gratuitous.

I don't know for sure that these pictures were taken during The Rose Festival, but let's just say they were. They are planting rose bushes. I love that the boy is dressed like a Rosarian.

And here is a postcard I got only a few months ago at a Postcard Club meeting.

It was sent to Vincennes, Indiana and is written in pencil. Some is hard to read.

June 14 1923

Dear Clarence and Darvell (not sure about last name),

We came to Portland with Em and Will in car...to see the Rose Festival Parade at 2:30 pm. It is now 1pm. You've never seen such a crowd, the city is packed. 5th grade kids selling boxes for seats on side walk to the highest bidder. Such fun. We leave tonight 11:30pm for Seattle, stay 2 days, then Spokane. I should love to hear from you, but will see you soon.

Bye bye Love,
Mother

cats go camping

I hope you all are enjoying your long weekend. I have a few of these postcards with the cats dressed up and doing things. They're super cute. Click to see it bigger.

summer dreaming

Although it is currently raining here in the Pacific Northwest and is supposed to all weekend, and although, truthfully, I am less enchanted with summer than most people I know - these postcards make me long to be on summer holiday, lying in the sun and listening to the sound of the canoe paddles in the water.

I adore this place, seen above. The postcard is not written on the back. Torre Del Lago is a town in Lucca, Tuscany in Italy.



This other image is closer to home. Lake Odell, Oregon. This postcard also has no message on the back. It looks lovely.

I actually got this posted in time for Postcard Friendship Friday. Take a look over at The Best Hearts are Crunchy blog and you can see all the other blogs that are participating and posting postcards today.

Kids in Golden Gate Park

I got this 8x10 glossy at the postcard show last month. On the back is the name and address of Jim Marshall. Jim was a very famous photographer in San Francisco. He documented all the bands and musicians during the 60's and 70's, mostly in the Bay Area.. He died recently, in March of this year. I have no idea how this picture ended up with that seller. I think this was the only one. I didn't know he was so famous when I bought it, but I am not surprised.

I really like this image because I always love seeing the crowds in the shots from those 60's concerts. The title on the back is "Kids in Golden Gate Park".

gathering

I love this small collection of photos I have come across recently. I have always admired the idea of gathering flowers, seashells, fronds, pine cones, rocks and other natural things that you find in nature, usually on the ground. I sometimes forget to do it. My mother and sister are gatherer's. I think that is why I admire it. As a kid I would watch them picking up pine cones and twigs and think, wow, what a great idea.