LIFE AT THE COTTAGE

Friday, July 2, 2010

Fresh Picks - Part 2



Would you like to pick some delicious fresh fruit?  Great!  Then grab a basket, and come along with me.   

Together we'll continue our tour of the Brambleberry Cottage's organic orchard.  Feel free to take some wholesome goodness home with you.


In addition to the delectable plum, peach, pear, and cherry trees here at the cottage, we also have six varieties of apples...

 and more brambles of blackberries than you can begin to imagine.


The blossoms, in the images above, represent three different varieties of apple.


The abundance of rain, we've been blessed with this year, has the trees weighted heavily with their bounty.


A combination of Granny Smith and


Golden Delicious will make the best apple pies you've ever tasted.  But I'm afraid it will be a while longer before they're ripe enough to harvest.


Although, I do help myself to their tasty tartness, even now–especially after they've been cleansed by a gentle wash from heaven.


But, there's no need to wait for the blackberries to ripen.  Please fill your basket; there's plenty for everyone!


The brambles were loaded with pretty pink blossoms this spring.


I watched in wonderment as they faded and a bounty of berries began to appear.


Their rosy pinks...


quickly gave way to deep, vibrant reds.


Now there are more black than red.


Not only will they provide a yummy treat for you and me, but the woodland creatures delight in their presence, as well.

And that's OK.  I don't mind sharing.


Perhaps this little slice of heaven would have been better named Eden instead.

Showing my pretty pink blossoms and fruit at Tootsie's for Flaunt Your Flowers - Fertilizer Friday, Cindy's for Show and Tell, and Beverly's for Pink Saturday.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Talented Time Travelers in Focus #4


BE SURE TO CHECK OUT ALL THREE NEW LINKY PARTIES HERE AT THE COTTAGE!

Let's take a trip through the time machine and visit some of the wonderful projects from last week's participants.


Jo @ That's My Story...and I'm Sticking To It shared a terrific transformation update of her vintage chair.


Ann Marie @ Twice Lovely brought a tired old desk through the time machine with some fun apple-green paint. You know what they say about an apple a day. It keeps the "ugly oldies" away!


Want to know how to update a mirror with etching?  Go visit Ashlee @ I'm Topsy Turvy for the details.


Joy @ Thrifty Paronsage Living took her new IKEA mirrors back in time with a little crackle finish. Now they're aged to perfection!


Molly @ Molly Susan Strong travels through time regularly to produce terrific vintage looking signs from her salvage finds.


Want to see a great kitchen with nods to the past? Then travel on over to Melanie's @ Southern Comfort in a Northern Life.


There were two terrific trash-to-treasure transformations awaiting at Mary Ellen's The Working Home Keeper.


What a sweet, kid-friendly-project redo we found at Donene's EasyPeasy Grandma.  Way too cute for words!


Ann @ Make the Best of Things created a unique gift for her grandson. And the accompanying note involved a trip back in time that made this gift even more special.


Sandy @ The Wonders of Doing worked wonders on a group of old frames. Now they're better than new with the beautiful art images she added!


Lorianne @ Dancing In The Rain created some fun signs that were as good as "old".


Turned to Treasure did just that with an old frame and some chalkboard paint. By the way, go check out her models. They're the cutest!


And VintageSouthernLife found a treasure awaiting her at her local thrift store. Now it happily resides in her home.

As always, great job time travelers!