Time Travel Thursday #44 - After the Rain

Welcome to the 44th Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage!

Are you ready to do some traveling? Great; 'cause time never stands still!

Have you ever taken the time to contemplate the miracle of rain—

its many wondrous functions?

It cleanses and refreshes the earth.

It encourages and nourishes new growth.

Without it, it would be impossible to create all the extraordinary beauty we experience in nature.

I love wandering the grounds around Brambleberry Cottage after a rain—in quiet contemplation.

It refreshes and encourages me and nourishes my soul.  ; )

Linking to Susan's for Outdoor Wednesday, Mary's for Share the Love Wednesday, Tracie's for Cottage Flora Thursdays, Cindy's for Show and Tell Friday, Deborah Jean's/Amy's for Farmgirl and Farm Friend Friday, Tricia's for Photo Feature Friday, Beverly's for Pink Saturday and Amy for Homestead Revival.

IF YOU LINK TO THE PARTY, PLEASE BE SURE TO LINK BACK TO THE BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE ON YOUR BLOG.

Time Travel Thursday #43 - The Brambles of Brambleberry Cottage

Welcome to the 43rd Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage!

Are you ready to do some traveling?  Great; 'cause time never stands still!

It's that time of year, when the Brambleberry Cottage becomes enveloped by the beautiful blossoms of the blackberry brambles.

Their pretty shades of pink and white present a lovely contrast to the other natural elements in the fields surrounding the cottage—

like the spiky green needles...

of the young pine trees...

and the muted tan blades of the field grasses.

Each unique location offers its own interesting study in contrasts.

But of the numerous spots where the brambles grow—all around our tiny farmstead—my favorite places to observe this simple beauty...

happen to be around the rustic barns and outbuildings.

Their showy blooms—set against a massive sea of flashy green leaves—seem even more delicate...

splashed upon the timeworn grays of the old barnwood.

Yet, the one location where I most enjoy their lovely display...

is the one location where their existence will be short-lived.

For while their beauty is undeniable...

and their "seemingly delicate" appearance believable...

there is really quite a thorny issue at their very core! 

So rather than risk an encounter of the most unpleasant kind, the beautiful brambles around the barns will have to be banished.

But there are plenty to spare—hence the name...

the Brambleberry Cottage!    ; )

Linking to Susan's for Outdoor Wednesday, Mary's for Share the Love Wednesday, Kathleen's for White Wednesday, Tracie's for Cottage Flora Thursdays, and Cindy's for Show and Tell Friday.

IF YOU LINK TO THE PARTY, PLEASE BE SURE TO LINK BACK TO THE BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE ON YOUR BLOG.

Time Travel Thursday # 38 - A Bounty of Blooms at the Cottage

CHECK OUT ALL THE DETAILS FOR THE PARTY HERE!

And be sure to join me for the finale of Funny Faux Pas Follies this Friday.

Welcome to the 38th Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage.

Are you ready for our next trip back in time and into the future?

Then let's get started!

The warmer temperatures have brought with them a bounty of blooms to the cottage.

And while the sunny daffodils and the sweetly scented hyacinths raised their lovely little heads weeks ago—while there was still yet quite a nip in the air—most of the cottage blossoms...

dared not emerge from their winter's nap, until they were assured of consistent warmth from the sun's cozy rays. 

But, they've since decided, it's time to shine!

What an unparalleled delight it is to watch the spritely spring parade of kaleidoscope color popping up all around me each year.

As the fragrant flowers of the plum trees begin to fade, the pretty peach blossoms arrive on the scene—ready to steal the show.

Their resplendent colors are a beaconing invitation to the bees and butterflies to come and taste of their sweet nectar.

And their delicate pink blooms are even more breathtaking set against the brilliant blue Carolina sky.

The Asian pear—while devoid of the flashy color exhibited by many of the other cottage blooms— 

puts on a showstopping performance...

of its very own.

The glorious details of the ever-changing landscape are just one more reason why I LOVE living in the country.  ; )

Joining Susan for Outdoor Wednesday, Tracie for Cottage Flora Thursday, Cindy for Show and Tell Friday, Bev for Pink Saturday, and Mary for Mosaic Monday.

Time Travel Thursday #30 - Longing For Days Gone By

Welcome to the 30th Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage.

Are you ready for our next trip back in time and into the future?

Great!  Climb aboard.

Of the four seasons of the year, winter is my least favorite.

Besides the fact that I thoroughly dislike the cold temperatures, I find the bleak, barren landscape somewhat gloomy.

Everything just seems so...lifeless.

Perhaps that's one of the reasons I love to see it snow around here.

I know the surroundings will come alive with a thorough dusting of the powdery white stuff.

By this time each year, I find myself longing for the days—yet to come—when the pines...

and the daffodils begin to herald the call that brighter, warmer days are just ahead.

Though in reality it was only months ago, it seems an eternity since the vibrant colors of my summer blooms filled this place with energy and life.

I miss the proud display of the vivid pinks on my crape mrytles...

the sweet bubblegum pinks of the impatiens...

and the soft wispy pinks of the ornamental pom-poms on the mimosa trees.

How I long to sit in my front porch rocker and take in the heavenly scent of the gardenias...

and admire—once again—the abundance of Queen Anne's lace growing freely in the fields around the barns.

Their lacy heads remind me of the delicate snowflakes that make winter somewhat tolerable for me.

But, by far, the real showstoppers around my cottage and barns in the summertime are the gorgeous daylilies...

and the richly colored clematis.

So until I catch a glimpse of those first signs of life returning to these parts, I guess I'll have to be content with looking at these pretty remembrances of days gone by.

Sharing my pretty "past" summer blooms at Susan's for Outdoor Wednesday, for Cottage Flora Thursday's @ Fistail Cottage, Tootsie's for Flaunt Your Flowers, Fertilizer Friday, Cindy's for Show and Tell Friday, Ann Marie's for Foto Friday, Beverly's for Pink Saturday, and The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.