Time Travel Thursday #17 - Worlds Apart

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Welcome to the seventeenth 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 take a little trip.  Shall we?

I thought I would share a bit more of my tour of New England from this past summer.

Remember the setting above, from an earlier post I did on old Northern barns?

Though seeing that barn–and the beautiful flowers surrounding it–was a special treat, it was not the reason for the visit there.

The quaint little roadside stand, where I took these photos, was an introduction to yet another cultural difference between the Yankee's heritage and that of this Southerner.

On one of the days we were taking in the beautiful scenery of the countryside,

like that of the Mill River,

one of my in-laws asked if I would like a "creamee."

To which I responded, "I don't know.  What is a creamee?"

You would have thought I had two heads from the looks I got. 

Needless to say, the game planned changed instantly from sightseeing to educating the Southerner.

When we arrived at the little stand–with the barn and the flowers and the homegrown goodness–the sign was a dead giveaway to the mystery.

"Oh, now I know what you mean!" I stated matter-of-factly. 

"Well, what do you call it down South?" I was asked.

""Why soft serve, of course!"  ; )

Soft serve, has been around since the late 1930s, and I've been around since the late 1950s, but I had never heard it called by that name.

It never ceases to amaze me how, at times, the Yankee's Northern heritage and my Southern seem worlds apart!

I think my in-laws feared–after five weeks in New England–I was going through culture shock.

So, the day before I was scheduled to return home to North Carolina, they took me to a local hangout, where they thought I might feel more at home.

Bub's Bar-B-Q has been a favorite of the locals for many years–since 1979 to be exact.

And, yes, it was a familiar "taste of home."

Though I dare say, you won't find a barbecue restaurant, anywhere in my neck of the woods, that serves it alongside kielbasa and New England clam chowder!

Like I said...

worlds apart!  ; )

Sharing at Suzanne's for Vintage Thingie Thursday.

Time Travel Thursday # 15 - The Yankee Candle Experience

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

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

Then climb aboard!

One of the most delightful places I visited–while in New England this past summer–was the Yankee Candle flagship store in South Deerfield, MA.

The complex was so much larger than I had anticipated.  Thankfully, the site map, given to me at the entrance, was most helpful in my navigation.

Even prior to stepping one foot in the door of the place, I knew it was going to be a wonderful experience.

You know what they say about first impressions!

Just take a look at the grounds!  Seeing all that beauty outside, what would your expectations be?

I like beginning any new adventure at the beginning.  So, I thought brushing up on the history in the Yankee Candlemaking Museum was the perfect place to start.

I was fascinated to learn that this whole business was built from a humble Christmas gift, created by a young man for his mother in 1969.

The venture quickly became a family-and-friend operation.

These three plaques, that hang in the museum, give an overview of the business history.

Just click on the images above to enlarge them, and read the interesting facts for yourself.

Being a bit of a history buff, I found myself lingering in the museum...

taking in all the wonderful antique and vintage candle-making items, as well as, the incredible old case good pieces.

Even if I had not had the time to go any further, this one section of the complex...

–with all its amazing treasures of antiquity–would have been a very special treat to behold.

But, I found that with every area I visited, it just kept getting better.

Whether ones tastes are decidedly country...

cottage farmhouse...

or an eclectic mix, with a European flair...

there is something for everyone there!

I was so excited to discover this particular light fixture.

I happen to have the perfect components–in one of my barns–to make its twin...

or at least its brother!

And these adorable can-dleholders will be a future project for sure!

To say that this store is a virtual Disneyland, within a candle shop, is not an exaggeration.

There's fun to be had by all–regardless of age or gender.

Whether you create your own jar candle...

or simply enjoy the various holiday sights and sounds,

you are sure to enjoy every moment you spend at the Yankee Candle flagship store.

Sharing the history and all the fun vintage finds at Suzanne's for Vintage Thingie Thursday.

Time Travel Thursday #14 - Revisiting the Past One Stone at a Time

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

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

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

OK, here we go.

I'm someone who finds cemeteries absolutely fascinating. 

Perhaps I should qualify that statement.  I actually find the history behind–and the surroundings of–very old cemeteries fascinating.

During my extended stay in New England this past summer, I was able to visit just such a place.

Can you read the headstone pictured above?  It dates back to 1776. 

Sadly, it marks the site of a daughter who died at a very young age.

This grave marker tells of a young wife–only 28–who died in 1781.

As I read the stone, I wondered how long she had been married...

if she had had time to have children, and, if so, how many?

This stone, from 1793, represents the death of yet another young wife. 

As I walked around and read the various tombstones there, I was struck by the brief lives that so many of them had lived. 

Something else I noted, as I walked around that day, was how many of the stones had fallen down–or were in the process.

Did that mean there were no longer living relatives to care for some of these sites?

And many were covered in moss that had most likely been growing for decades.

Although, I must say, the timeworn appearance it created on these old stones was really beautiful.

And the setting for this particular cemetery was quite serene and peaceful.

It was atop a hill that was surrounded by trees and shrubs and enclosed by a lovely old stone wall.

I discovered through the Yankee's aunt and uncle–who were our tour guides for most of this visit–that the markers on these rows, shown from this part of the stone wall...

 to the tree line, were all distant relatives of the Yankee's family.

I was amazed at how many members of one family were all buried together–albeit over the course of decades.

It was a sharp contrast to this lone marker that stood almost in the center of the grounds, all by itself.

Were the remaining plots surrounding it for those still living?

  There was no one there to answer that question.  So, perhaps, I will have to investigate that during my next visit.

I'm joining Suzanne for Vintage Thingie Thursday.

Be it Ever so Humble...

Well, the Yankee and I have finally found our way back to our humble little home! 

When we left around the middle of July–for the Brimfield Antiques and Collectibles Show–we estimated we'd be gone about two weeks–tops.  It's five weeks later, and we're just getting back. 

Did you miss me?  ; )

There are lots of fun things I want to share with you from my trip up north.  And you've actually already gotten a glimpse of some of the wonders of New England from the terrific old barns I showed you–during the Barn Chicks party.

Since I've received several e-mails, and a few comments, requesting a peek at the Brimfield show, I decided to make that the next thing on the agenda.

By now, you should know that when you see an image of festival tents in one of my posts, you're about to be shown some of the fabulous finds from the show I've done.

The area you see above was across the street from where I was set up.  There was something over there that really grabbed my attention. 

Can you guess what it might have been?

It was this amazing vintage pediment.  It kept calling to me until I finally paid it a visit.

And take a gander at these terrific architectural pieces that were right behind it!

As I walked a bit further down the street, I spotted this booth overflowing with the most incredible garden elements.

I was really quit smitten with this gorgeous fountain. 

But, I'm afraid it was a tad to grand for my little farmstead.

Without a doubt, this vendor had some of the most beautiful garden adornments I'd ever seen.

Walking around the various fields of vendors, I saw much of the same types of antiques and collectibles I see at every show I participate in.

But, I must say, this particular show also offered some rather unique–albeit quirky–items, as well.

For instance, this vendor had a tent full of oddities...

including these wax figures.

I truly like one-of-a-kind items, but these guys gave me the heebie-jeebies!

This is Erica...a real flesh and blood figure.  She was one of my friendly neighbors at the show.

I spent a lot of time ogling the sweet shabby pretties available in her tent.

She offered everything necessary to create an utterly romantic home décor.

This is Christina and Gallo...

two more of my wonderful neighbors from the show.

Their tent was totally packed with lovely, sophisticated pieces like those above and below.

Not only was I impressed with the beautiful, quality pieces they had for sale, but also with the fact that Gallo paints each of them himself.

Meet Tricia of the Red Door Antiques. 

She was set up in a different field than I was, but her tempting treasures lured me right to her tent, nonetheless.

The old chicken feeder-turned-dish rack she was selling was a little more befitting of a cottage farmhouse, wouldn't you agree?

And the cards in the back of Tricia's tent summed up one of the things I enjoy most about doing these shows–making "new" friends.

Indeed, we have made friends at each show we've participated in...including Brimfield.

But...

we also experienced another very special treat while there.

Numerous vendors had told us that Brimfield is a show known for bringing out many among the "who's who" crowd.

We didn't really expect to see anyone famous at the summer show, however.  Traditionally, that's the slowest of the three shows presented there during the year.

But...

See that little sticker?  Stickers, like that one, are placed on all the pieces purchased by...

 none other than...

Rachel Ashwell–the queen of Shabby Chic herself!

Yep.  That's right.  She visited our tent, and bought one of our pieces!

We were thrilled–considering the unbelievably large number of vendors she had to choose from.

We would have been excited just having her come into our tent.  But she actually liked our offerings enough to come inside...

and buy something!

Though I had created a lodge vignette (definitely not shabby chic) in a section of our space–using that table as the centerpiece–her keen decorator's eye homed right in on it. 

I'm not one to be starstruck.  But I must admit...

it sure was fun having someone famous buy one of our pieces!

I'll be sharing the pinks in these pics at Beverly's Pink Saturday.