Tuesday, January 27, 2015

2014 TOP TEN GOLD COUNTRY COTTAGE BLOG POSTS...










"Serenity is a solitary cup of tea; pleasure is sharing it with another."
Author Unknown


So grab a cup and enjoy!!


Here we are, almost at the finish of the first month of the new year.
  It's really hard to believe that it is going by so quickly. 
 I have been enjoying the fact that a lot of you are sharing your most popular posts of 2014
 and since the best form of flattery is being a copy-cat,
 or words to that effect,
 I thought I would join in.


Here are my most viewed posts of 2014...







Spring Awakening








The coming of Autumn







Touches of Easter









Following an old tradition







More than a guest








A beautiful birthday







Painting with a Smart phone

#3...Eureka






A makeover






A very sad day


And the number one pick
 with the most views of
 845...







Precious memories


I hope you enjoyed looking over these posts again or,
 if seeing them for the first time,
 you found them interesting 
and will return.
  I love to invite new friends
 to stop by
 in hopes that they will
 become part of the 
Gold Country Cottage family..


...Judy...





I just happened by Lucy
 while she was enjoying a little shut-eye
 (or at least one)
 on the porch.

Sharing today with:




Tuesday, January 20, 2015

INTERPRETATIONS...









I'm sure a lot of you have noticed that it is winter time, 
and to some that must seem like an understatement. 
 I hear news stories about large amounts of snow and rain 
happening around the world,
 as I sit in my own quiet corner 
while surrounded by sunshine, 
and I find it hard to believe.





Oh, sure, we have had some foggy mornings 
and we do light up our stoves
 as the late afternoon shadows settle in,
 but through it all, 
the sun perseveres with tenacity.




We are in a severe drought here 
and while we did have some rain a few weeks back,
 it certainly wasn't enough to satisfy.






The calender says it is winter
 but our eyes tell us differently. 
 Things are not as they seem. 
 Our gardens know it is time to take a well earned rest,
 and shut down the beauty they are known for.
  But, much like the reason a lady applies make-up
 before leaving her house,
 the gardens are unable to hide their drabness
 with a blanket of pristine snow.




This is winter,
 but not in it's true sense.
  Not as it should be.





Two of the dearest friends, 
and Barbara of 21 Rosemary Lane
 showed us some amazing photographs this past week. 
 June held back some beautiful and colorful flowers
 from her summer garden
 so that she might share and brighten these winter days now, 
and Barbara showed the amazing effects 
of her black and white photography.





Thanks to these two wonderful and talented ladies,
 my inspiration for this post 
is to take a small bit from each of them 
and turn it into something a little different
 that I hope you will enjoy.




A seed pod from a bright orange Chinese Lantern


These are a few shots of some of my summer photography
 that I have taken a small step beyond 
black and white. 
 I have changed each photograph
 to the point where they resemble an oil painting,
 in some instances,
 or pen and ink sketches 
in others, 
with the help of Picasa. 
 These are strictly my interpretations
 and I am making no claims 
that I'm a photographer
 with skills!




Tulips in a spring shower



A seed pod from milk weed.
"Some see this as a weed,
some see it as a wish."
Author Unknown



  
Our sweet Maggie



Sampling the last of summer's goodness



I learned the name 'pincushion' flower from my grandmother




A rose



 by any other



name



would smell as sweet




A white heron walking on tippy toes



An unfurling fern frond..say that three times fast




No rain, just sun




A plate sized hibiscus



On golden pond




A beautiful lily from a special birthday bouquet



A sign of a past springtime




Sister and Brother
Tami's twin cats




Could be Sister, could be Brother
Your guess is as good as mine



A fallen leaf with long ago rain drops




A sunny California poppy



A summer visitor, resting awhile



One of my summer favorites




And another 




Vinca, but I have always called it myrtle




A very clever ballerina




Bleeding Heart





June Bug, above

Our two adopted kitties

Lucy, below



Is she a movie star or what?



And last but not least,
 our beloved Buddy 
with something
 you never saw him without...


  

Floppy jowls
 and a dripping nose!



Turning your photographs into black and white images will amaze you.
  You will see bits and pieces of the subjects 
that you will never notice in its colorful state,
 a true meaning of
 things not being as they seem.




Thank you June and Barbara.
  These two women have the most beautiful blogs
 and their great talents show through in everything they do.
 I can only hope that a small amount
 could rub off 
on me.


...Judy...



Jake and his sidekick, Cooper
Gone fishin'

   

Sharing today at: