Sepia Saturday: Tea time in the garden

The delightful theme photo for Sepia Saturday this week is of two sisters playing with blocks on a wicker table in the garden. It dates to about 1884.

My photos don't date from 1884, and neither are they sisters. My husband's aunt, Joy Phelan, and her friend, Norma Stewart, lived in the little town of Mitiamo in northern Victoria. It looks like they were enjoying a teaparty in the garden on a summery day. Or probably not, because that looks like real crockery to me, so maybe their mothers were having a cuppa and a chat. I hope they remembered to give the cute girls a treat. They both look so neat and clean, their hair neatly tied back in a bow and their socks folded down tidily. Could they have just been to church?

Joy Phelan and Norma Stewart, c1936

Joy Phelan and Norma Stewart

Sepia Saturday: Soldiers and Sailors

The theme photo for Sepia Saturday #199 - dressing up for playacting.

I have the impression that the congregation of the Mitiamo Methodist Church enjoyed any opportunity to dress up in costume and entertain each other. (Or, if it's not the church it was the school.) The two photos were taken in about 1940 on the same spot but I'm not sure that they were taken on the same day - Bill Kendall appears in both photos.

Soldiers. From left, Bill Kendall, Barry Twigg and Des Taylor

Sailors. From left, Bill Kendall, Joy Phelan and John Forbes

PS I'm also curious about why the children aren't looking at the camera. Maybe there was another photographer at stage right.

It's showtime over at Sepia Saturday. Take a seat and enjoy the show.

Sepia Saturday: Joy at Hepburn

Joy Phelan on a swing footbridge at Hepburn, Victoria c1938.

You can find more blogs on the Sepia Saturday's theme of 'bridges' here.