My Garden Shed and Fresh Inspiration

About 10 or 12 years ago, hubs built me the most delightful garden shed.  I've LOVED it and spent hours there potting, reading, writing and enjoying my garden.  You can see some pics from this post in 2009 ( http://wildwomanjewelry.blogspot.ca/2009/06/garden-shed.html ).

 

 

In the last couple of years, I've kind of let it go, using it mostly to store garden furniture, tools and empty pots for the winter. Hubs says it looks rustic.  I say it looks like one flower box fell off the window. It's been such a mess and needed such a thorough clean up (read LOTS of time!) that I've just given it a lick and a polish in the spring and kept the door closed.

But I've missed it.

 

Fast forward to this past weekend...we took our annual jaunt to Bar Harbor (which was lovely and full of its notable quaint seaside charm!).  Saturday morning we walked down to the pier after breakfast to enjoy the water, boats and watch some local lobster fishermen setting out for the day. At one point I noticed a shingled building I hadn't seen before (we've visited for 24 years in a row and I notice these things :)... anyway, it was lovely and we wandered down to have a closer look. 

 

 

 It was a new section of one of the hotels that included several charming little shingled 'sheds' that were colorfully painted and gorgeous with overflowing window boxes.  Housed within were unique shops selling beautiful art, home décor and linens, and every manner of beautiful seaside decorative items.

I was giddy...

so giddy I forgot to take pictures.

 

And I was excited! Flooded with inspiration and enthusiasm, I thought of my own little neglected shed! I've already been to the paint store for a stack of color samples... and if I wasn't raining today and I didn't have orders I have to fill, I'd be out there right NOW!!!

 

      

                                                        

 

 My head is full of ideas for cleaning, updating, tossing, furniture, decorating, painting...and I'll post all the before and afters if you want to follow along!

Stay tuned!

Bar Harbor, Maine

 We made our annual trek Downeast this past weekend, a little adventure I look forward to every summer.  It's become a July tradition to celebrate our anniversary (23 years this year!) as we visited this way on our honeymoon and have only missed two years since! And, it's such a perfectly charming and beautiful drive. Because of the July 4th holiday weekend, the streets, restaurants and shops were PACKED! I love the bustle and seeing everyone so thoroughly enjoying themselves - plus, I think it was the HOTTEST day we've ever experienced in Bar Harbor! These are some views of Frenchman's Bay - many fishing and lobster boats (you can see some of the buoys marking live traps right in the bay).  This gorgeous 4 mast sailboat ventures out for sunset cruises and whale watching excursions. One morning we strolled along the seawall path which, of course, offers spectacular ocean views and is strewn with unbelievably fragrant wild roses on each side. We came upon a local farmer's market full of fresh, locally grown vegetables, blueberries and flowers, artisan cheeses and breads and gorgeous handcrafted creations! The lobster truck was even parked with its doors open and coolers full of ice and freshly caught lobster - YUM! 

 ...and such a sweet bright red lobster boat moored along side...

  Our favorite place to stay is the charming Bar Harbor Inn overlooking the bay.

 There were two cruise ships moored in the harbor with tenders transporting guests to and from the port - as I mentioned, the street were packed!

It was a wonderful visit!