LIFE AT THE COTTAGE

Thursday, February 18, 2010

In the Eye of the Beholder



Have you ever found beauty in something that someone else thought of
as less than beautiful?

To many—including the Yankee—this modest, nondescript, little well-house, situated
 in a remote corner of our front yard, is anything but beautiful.  Yet, from the
moment I laid eyes on it, I thought it to be quite charming.


 It was midsummer, the year we located our small farm with its tiny, quaint
cottage—affectionately called the Brambleberry Cottage

I instantly fell in love with this simple, bucolic structure—its bright white architecture
 contrasting sharply with the deep greens of the lush environment surrounding it.


It was fall of that same year, when we purchased the property, and, by that time,
the landscape had begun to cloak itself in the various hues of the season.


Perhaps it was because it was my favorite time of year that when I spied the well-house,
 enveloped by a kaleidoscope of fall color, I became even more
enamored with it.



Even as the last of the gorgeous, multihued leaves cascaded from the trees, and
the scenery filled more with gray fog than fall-fanfare, my enthusiasm for this charming,
little structure did not wane.


Although I had witnessed its beauty in a wide array of conditions, all paled
in comparison to the dramatic display of its snowy winter covering.


As I have observed the little well-house through every distinct season, year after year,
it has become apparent that its surroundings have only served to enhance
the simple beauty I find inherent to the structure itself.

The Scottish philosopher, David Hume, expressed the sentiment this way,
"Beauty in things exists merely in the mind which contemplates them."

Indeed, it is true. 
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!


16 comments:

  1. I have been following your blog for a couple of weeks now, and I just love it. Great job--look forward to more. As for your wellhouse, I see why you fell in love with it, and I'm reminded of the paintings that Monet used to do of scenes in different scenes of the year. Thanks for showing us the progression--I love the snowy one, but that's a girl from South Texas who never has to live in snow talking!

    Debi

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  2. I think that little well house fits in "well" with every season on your property!

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  3. The picture of the structure in the fog is my favorite. It reminds me of a morning in Wales many years ago. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. I like the way you showed the wellhouse in all seasons. And it is lovely in the snow! It makes a very nice mosaic. Thanks for visiting Porch Days! I hope you will visit again.

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  5. The well house is so charming and a beautiful focal point whatever the time of year. I love it, and I'd be delighted to have something like that on our land.

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  6. "Beauty in the eye of the beholder"... Funny, I used that same quote in MY post today! (Yikes!) LOVE your beautiful well house, and I can easily see why YOU do! LOVE all the views throughout the seasons too! Very pretty, Liz! ~tina

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  7. I would have fallen in love with the little well house too. It is so charming, and beautiful in all the seasons. It's especially striking in it's autumn garments. What a lovely post. Kathy

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  8. O, I love the little well house, too, and it is uncommonly pretty for a well house. The ones out here in West Texas aren't nearly as pretty! :)
    O, and ya gotta come grab my button, please and thank you!
    hugs, bj

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  9. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! And how blessed is the eye who beholds beauty! What a blessing to see beauty where others walk on by unaware!
    Thank you for sharing these pictures.
    WendyBee

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  10. What stunning captures... thanks so much for sharing them and joining in with us on FFB -- sorry its taken me so long to get around to everyone :)

    Have the BEST week!

    Claudia

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  11. Oh I loved all the photo's seperate and then together how fun. I love the little well house.
    Thanks for sharing it.
    Have a Blessed week,
    Sherry

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  12. So nice to see one area of the property throughout the seasons. The mosaic turned out nice.

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  13. A tale of the season through the *eyes* of the well house! Wonderful and beautiful post.

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  14. I love how the photos come together in your mosaic!

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  15. Hi Liz,

    This little well house is so charming!! Thank you for sharing it in all of the seasons. I really like the winter one covered in snow. And the fall one too! Soon all of those vibrant colours will be a joy to see again.
    All the Best,
    Christine

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