Signs of the Season

This year, I'm anticipating the arrival of fall more anxiously than in

years past.

Perhaps the many months spent laboring in the 

sweltering heat—restoring the gardens and clearing the barns—has

 intensified my desire for cooler temperatures.

As a matter of fact, I've been so engrossed in these tasks

that I've almost let the first signs—ones that signal fall is on its way—slip

right past me.

The purple, white, pink, and blue wildflowers that graced our fields, just

a short while ago, have given way to a more autumnal array.

Their bright cheery faces are but one of the many

things that make fall my favorite season.

I'm actually quite nostalgic about this particular time of year.  Some of

 my most cherished childhood memories revolve around

autumns past.

And...

we celebrate my Yankee sweetheart's birthday each fall...

in addition to our anniversary.

But it's also the colors of the season that make it so appealing to me.  The warmth

 of the saturated hues wrap around you like a well-worn,

 cozy quilt on a crisp, cool evening.

And...

around The Brambleberry Cottage, fall also means

it's apple picking time.   ; )

Those juicy, wholesome orbs find their way into pies,

cobblers, and a wide assortment of taste-tempting treats...

and, hopefully, this year, even fresh apple cider.

I'm so looking forward to gathering the benches, chairs, and tables

from the barn, and...

rounding up the extra quilts and pillows for our fall festivities.

It's a time when our family and friends assemble to enjoy

blazing bonfires beneath star-studded skies.

Happily, the signs of the season are upon us...

a season for celebrating a few of life's

 simple country pleasures.

Joining

It's Fall Ya'll: Outdoor Spaces Party with Thrifty Decor Chick

Mary's Share the Love Wednesday,

Tracie's Cottage Flora Thursdays, Susan's Tablescape Thursday,

LaurieAnna's Farmhouse Friday, Cindy's Show and Tell Friday,

Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday, Courtney's Feathered Nest Friday,

Meg's Everything But the Kitchen Sink

Time Travel Thursday #37 - Country Roads

CHECK OUT ALL THE DETAILS FOR THE PARTY HERE!

And remember to join me for Funny Faux Pas Follies this Friday.

Welcome to the 37th Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage.

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

Great; here we go!

Before I will even consider spending any amount of time outdoors, the thermometer on my porch has to read at least 55 degrees.

Now don't act surprised!  I shared my dislike for the cold in my very first post.

But, I'm delighted to announce, the weather is finally warm enough for me to exit my cozy little cottage cocoon.

So, on this gloriously warm spring day, I thought you might enjoy accompanying me on a scenic stroll along the winding country road I live on.

As you exit my drive, you see nothing but thick woods ahead.

However, a mere 250 yards down the road—right across from one end of my little farm—you see the picturesque pond and old timeworn outbuilding, shown in the first image.

Then, as we merrily wind our way further down the road, we encounter the blossom-bedecked farmland you see in the next four shots.

Just behind that glowing hedge of forsythia is an old log barn and a few more outbuildings.

And at the back of that sweet country flower garden—overflowing with daffodils—is an old house, where members of this neighbor's family were born.

This is another lovely scene from the same farm, with the mountain in the backdrop.

As we mosey on a bit further, we come upon the most charming farm, loaded with wonderfully iconic country buildings—like this...

and this.

Of course, this is farm country.

 So just imagine acre upon acre of beautiful fields and forests—each dotted with delightfully bucolic structures...

many of which were, at one time, the quaint little dwellings of the relatives of my neighbors.

I realize that this type of seclusion and rusticity is not for everyone.

But I so love living in this peaceful sanctuary and feel blessed that country roads take me home.  ;)

Joining Susan for Outdoor Wednesday, Tracie for Cottage Flora Thursday, Suzanne for Vintage Thingie Thursday, and Debra for Vintage Inspiration Friday.

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