LIFE AT THE COTTAGE

Friday, September 16, 2011

Signs of the Season



This year, I'm anticipating the arrival of fall more anxiously than in
years past.

Perhaps the many months spent laboring in the 
sweltering heat—restoring the gardens and clearing the barns—has
 intensified my desire for cooler temperatures.


As a matter of fact, I've been so engrossed in these tasks
that I've almost let the first signs—ones that signal fall is on its way—slip
right past me.


The purple, white, pink, and blue wildflowers that graced our fields, just
a short while ago, have given way to a more autumnal array.

Their bright cheery faces are but one of the many
things that make fall my favorite season.


I'm actually quite nostalgic about this particular time of year.  Some of
 my most cherished childhood memories revolve around
autumns past.

And...
we celebrate my Yankee sweetheart's birthday each fall...
in addition to our anniversary.



But it's also the colors of the season that make it so appealing to me.  The warmth
 of the saturated hues wrap around you like a well-worn,
 cozy quilt on a crisp, cool evening.


And...
around The Brambleberry Cottage, fall also means
it's apple picking time.   ; )


Those juicy, wholesome orbs find their way into pies,
cobblers, and a wide assortment of taste-tempting treats...


and, hopefully, this year, even fresh apple cider.


I'm so looking forward to gathering the benches, chairs, and tables
from the barn, and...


rounding up the extra quilts and pillows for our fall festivities.


It's a time when our family and friends assemble to enjoy
blazing bonfires beneath star-studded skies.


Happily, the signs of the season are upon us...
a season for celebrating a few of life's
 simple country pleasures.




Joining
LaurieAnna's Farmhouse Friday, Cindy's Show and Tell Friday,

39 comments:

  1. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh your phtos are amazing! Thank you for sharing them with us! After this HORRIBLE Texas summer we have NO FLOWERS! No fruit! Our trees & grass BROWN/DEAD/BURNED! I love North Carolina. Our niece lives out there & it is so pretty. What a paradise your little cottage looks. You made me smile. THANK YOU!
    Charlene

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  2. What a fabulous post!!! This was as wonderful as ANY magazine layout! Your photos are amazing, love the table, quilts, linens, and oh my that huge carrier and the demijohn are "the Best"!! thanks for sharing the inspiration!
    xoxo Debra

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  3. Beautiful photos, setting and ideas! Makes me want to go apple pickin'.

    Blessings,
    Tami

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  4. Your table looks just lovely, Liz! I can just imagine sitting there enjoying some apple cider and the cool air. Your sedum looks great! Mine kind of fell over after the hurricane that turned into a tropical storm for us. I don't think the stems broke, but some are laying down.

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  5. This is the most perfect vignette! So romantic and beautiful. I just feel the crisp air in this post.
    I am collecting quilts right now to use outdoors when our weather gets nippy!
    Beautiful, beautiful post! SIGH!
    Yvonne

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  6. Oh my gosh your pictures are
    absolutely beautiful!!! I want
    to go there :)

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  7. Cider and apple the wonderful items of fall. Going to get apples today and make a pie. We need no reminder of fall here the heat kicked on this morning it was 40 degrees this morning! Beautiful pictures, Laura Cottage and Broome

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  8. What a lovely post. It is such a departure from the norm and I enjoyed it. Your wicker jug makes my heart go pitter patter! Thanks for the inspiration and gorgeous photos--as always.

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  9. isn't it wonderful that there's something to look forward to in every season?

    Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures.

    xox

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  10. Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday to your yankee sweetheart.

    Wonderful pictures. Fall is here, way too early.

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  11. Wonderful photos...makes me want to hurry on over...my fav the second to the last photo. Delicious!

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  12. Oh my! This is such a wonderful post...so pretty, I keep hoping that it wouldn't end.(-: I especially like the sepia photo; you managed without color to capture the complete feeling of the season.

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  13. Your photos are just beautiful...I really enjoyed looking at the pretty flowers and outdoor vignettes! I'm looking forward to fall, too...but I can handle a bit more of summer since it started so late here in the Midwest!

    Happy Weekend!

    XO,
    Janie

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  14. Just came across your blog.OOOOhhhh I do agree with you about fall.So many wonderful memories of growing up and raising my four daughters.Only big difference is I'm a southern CA. girl.Oh this might not work!I'm having a few posting comment problems on some of my friends last couple of months-it's so upsetting.I sure enjoyed my visit with you.I don't like signing in as anonymous.My name is Denise Adorian.My blog is: Denise's Delights in her Coffeeberry Cottage.

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  15. Hi Liz,
    Your photos are just gorgeous!!! It really represents the beauty of Fall.
    Hope you have a lovely weekend.
    Sincerely,
    Melinda

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  16. I discovered your beautiful post through Cindy's Show and Tell Friday and I really am glad I did. Hope you don't mind me following you.

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  17. Oh, yum, I want some apple cider! What lovely pics! They made me want to go grab great grandma's quilt and head over to the fire pit. Liz, it makes me so happy to see you each week, linking up. I've been in a link up funk and have avoided everyone's fun parties. Hopefully, this will pass and I'll join the blogging community once more. Have a great night!

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  18. Your photos are so romantic. Autumn is a wonderful season; I'll have to an orchard soon to get some fresh fruit and cider!
    -Karen

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  19. Your photos are to die for! I just found you through Laurie Anna's, and I'm not officially hooked on your blog. Taking it home to the Cozy Little House blog roll!
    Brenda

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  20. My friend....everything about your photos are incredible. I love that outdoor table setting...oh my!!

    My daughters and I went and picked apples this week. Can I just tell you that we picked over 90lbs of apples? Are we crazy or what? We are in the process now of making apple butter to can, homemade apple sauce, apple bread to put in the freezer, and eventually apple sauce roll ups will be made in the dehyrdrator. Can you tell that we like apples? Oh, and we had baked apples with homemade soup on Thursday night. If you need some apples, come on my way and I will share.

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  21. Hi Liz!

    Loving the autumn inspirations!!! Your photos are all lovely! Thanks for sharing!


    Hugs,
    Jessie

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  22. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous! I love that black and white one! Lovely!

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  23. FABULOUS flowers and really tasty looking apples!

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  24. Wow!!! What a BEAUTIFUL POST!!!! LOVE IT!!
    xoxoxoxox Pam

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  25. Your pictures are stunning! You captured the beauty and excitement of fall so well. I just love this time of year.

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  26. Hi sweet friend! I loved your blog. So, I invite you to visit my blog and know a little bit of my art.
    I hope you like it.
    http://segreatelie.blogspot.com/

    Kisses from Brazil!

    Cecilia

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  27. Hi Liz, I love all of your autumn objects and your photos. You last shot of of the entire display is so beautiful. We share something in common. My birthday is coming very soon and we have our 40th anniversary in November, our youngest daughter was born in the autumn as well as 3 of our grandchildren. Fall is a special time for us too. Thanks for sharing. Linda

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  28. Oh my goodness, this is a absolutely a gorgeous post (I have a post for Autumn scheduled too). Your lovely vignette makes me want to grab a quilt and sit in your beautiful yard. Hugs

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  29. Such fabulous pictures Liz! Thanks for linking up to Share the Love Wednesday!
    Mary

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  30. Your blog and posts are always great eye candy! I am a new follower and am also from North Carolina! It would be great if you could view my blog and follow me. Thanks :)

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  31. I love your photos!! North Carolina is one of my all time favorite places to visit!!
    Rebecca

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  32. Your photos are amazing, Liz!! Wishing you a Happy Anniversary--and Happy Birthday to your husband!
    XO
    Cindy

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  33. What gorgeous pictures!!!! North Carolina I hear is thee MOST BEAUTIFUL place evvvver......we have a son serving a mission in N.C. and he was in Weaverville close to Ashville and he said it was gorgeous...now he is in High Point.....but I hear how wonderfully awesome it is...people included.....I love your blog!!!!!! I haven't blogged for a while...so roaming around trying to get in the mood again.....life sometimes has a way of kicking ya in the tummy....but giving it my best shot at getting my act back together hahaha.....thanks again....

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  34. Your photos are always terrific!
    Brenda

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  35. What gorgeous photos in this lovely autumn post from last year! I love the apples and all the pretty ways you've displayed them, Liz.

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Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to comment.