Essex continued

Essex is mostly known for it's nautical ties,

old New England charm, shipyards dating back to the Revolutionary War

and it's shops.

Essex was once originally part of the colony of Old Saybrook as well as other towns.

If you'd like to read more about the history of

Essex go HERE

I love the history of our area but I don't want to assume it holds

any interest to anyone else so I'll keep the history lesson to a minimum.

I'll keep it light and breezy!!!!!

The Griswold Inn
or the "Gris" as the locals call it has been in operation since

1776 and is the oldest contiguous running Inn in Connecticut.

As a youngen I worked at the Gris and have fond memories

of the place. It was one of the most fun places I've ever worked.

People I run into, that I worked with all say the same thing.

It just had that kind of atmosphere that just brought out the fun in all of us.

Maybe it's the ghosts of sailors past.

I recall a few people saying they saw ghosts....

more likely it was from a few too many pints of beer

that made their eyes play tricks on them.

I'm not sure I believe in ghosts.

Do you???

( picture from internet)

This is the Covered Bridge room named for the fact that the walls and ceiling are

made from a covered bridge.

The room looks exactly like it did when I worked there

in 1776.

Just seeing if you're paying attention.

Shop across the street that is owned by the Gris

and serves coffee and pastries

The new Griswold Inn Gift Shop that just opened this Spring.

I didn't get a chance to go in since they were closed by the time we got here.

Before that a wonderful clothing shop was there for almost 20yrs.

Paula's favorite shop

The Red Pepper which is now in

Old Saybrook.

From some of your comments about Paula's outfits well

this is the shop she finds them in.

Most of them from Designer Cynthia Ashby which seems to have

been made just for her.

oh right back to Essex!!
we're still across the street from the Gris.

The Christmas Barn tucked away in the back.
It's been there for years.

Fun shop with every kind of Christmas decoration you can think of.

The window display of the Griswold Inn shop

You know me by now I can't go anywhere without photographing

COLEUS

I started buying these glass spheres a few years ago from various

places and they now don't really

go in my house anymore

but I'm still drawn to them. I love watching the light

hit them and bounce onto the walls.

I played with the photo a little to change the color.

I wish I could Photoshop my life??

Tired of the color of my shoes...Photoshop it.

If only it were that easy.

I always look forward to seeing what this house plants in their urn.

I think it's the best I've ever seen it.

It's this clever.

This is the French Hen. It reminds me a little of the kind of window display

you'd see at Anthropology.

Just unexpected and makes you want to see more inside.

This bench was in front of a new antique store.

It was a "fancy" antique store from what I could see from the window.

No chippy paint there I imagine.

The bench was a little chippy though.

The Essex Book store at the top of Main Street

The front of this place was a riot of color and they really did a great job

with the colors they chose. The black potato vine played off the

black and white awnings so well.

Every preppy town has to have a Talbots!!!

It's really not as preppy anymore. I looked at the website and it's more business wear.

There used to be a Lilly Pulitzer in town too.

Yes Renee!

Preppy Central!!!!

I shouldn't judge........... I wore that kind of thing in my 20's.

My boyfriend at the time was an Essex prep and somehow I thought I needed to

play the part....at least with my clothes.

A Pocket Full of Posies

Isn't that a cute name?

The front facade is adorable and so well kept up.

You know me I had to take pictures of the flowers that were

spilling out over the stonewalls.

****

I hope you enjoyed the Essex tour.

Sorry it took me so long to show you this last post.

Time just seems to be escaping me lately.

I always think that after the Spring rush that things will all fall into place

and I'll have all this free time but that never seems to happen.

We have been trying to catch up with friends that we've been neglecting for months.

We have some pretty patient friends that know we have limited time....

well, like most of us I'm sure.

Hope you've all been enjoying the Summer!!!!