LIFE AT THE COTTAGE

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Another Award!



Wow!  I've just been presented The Versatile Blogger award...again!  Thank you so much, Michelle, for the honor. 

Since I received this recognition just recently from Melody @ Brown Gingham Creations, I won't repeat the steps of the award.  But, you can see the seven things I shared about myself and the fifteen other bloggers I paid tribute to here

Be sure to check out Michelle, and the bloggers she highlighted, at her blog The Desert Quilter.

Friday, August 6, 2010

A Bit of Barn Envy


I thought I would show you some of the incredible barns
I've discovered while visiting New England. 

If you're a barn chick—like me—you'll love what I've found! 
Just take a look for yourself.


The rustic, time-weathered wood, simple lines, and contrasting red
doors of this beauty—in historic Deerfield, MA—made this barn
one of my absolute all-time favorites.


After weeks of observing the numerous barns dotting the landscape
 throughout New England, I've discovered red 
to be the most popular color.


Though only portions of this oldie were visible above the corn stalks,
I really liked what I could see.


The morning I happened upon this snow-white beauty,
it was rather foggy.  But the fog-covered mountains simply served to produce a 
wonderful, ethereal backdrop for it.


I was astounded at how incredibly large many of the barns were that I found!

What on earth was all that space used for?


I'm unsure whether this fire station—again, in historic Deerfield, MA—was
newly constructed to look old or whether it was truly an old barn
that had been repurposed.

Either way, I liked the colors and the cupolas on the roof.


Though smaller than the majority of the barns I found around New England,
these two tiny tots were quite charming
in their quaint, bucolic settings.



The stacked-stone foundation on this one—located in New Hampshire—
was one of the features I liked best about it!


And this picturesque view—of an old tobacco barn, in a valley
behind the 1771 Town Hall of Whately, MA—was the highlight of one of the days spent
touring around New England, scouting out noteworthy old barns.


The cupola on this massive madame reminded me of one you would
see on a church.  No doubt, it could hold a rather large congregation.   ; )


It was totally worth the climb—up a steep hill, in flimsy sandals—
to get a peek at this old gal, hidden behind the lush greenery.


There's actually a quaint little eatery attached to this barn.
The Yankee and I had breakfast there one morning—accompanied by my in-laws.


This weathered warrior—looking even more rustic amid all 
that floral glory—was located behind a creamery
where we stopped for ice cream.


I have never seen a barn with this
particular design before.  Have you?


Here you see two of my favorite things playing nicely together...
an old barn and antiques.


We were very excited to find this rustic cutie on an old country road
where the Yankee grew up.  He actually played in this structure as a child.


This country charmer belonged to a school dedicated to training "new" farmers.


But, of all the barns I've been able to photograph so far during this trip,
 this last one is my very, very favorite.

I truly love my quaint little farm back in NC, with its wonderful
old barns and outbuildings, but I must admit...

I'm dealing with a bit of barn envy
after spending several weeks in New England.   ; )


Linking all this vintage barn charm to Maryt's Ruby Tuesday,
 and Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday.