More RIVER

Let me start by saying I really love the entrance of

RIVER.
...and if I had thought of it I would have taken a more current picture.

This one is from last year and only of the door.

You can see some autumn clematis starting to grow up to the birdhouse

and this year it had really made a big jump in size.

I really need to get back there before the whole place is picked over.

Work always gets in the way of my fun:)

but without work I wouldn't be

able to have fun.

What can ya do?

Yummy urns and old pots all clustered together

just asking to be taken home and filled.

It was really nice of Bobbie to let me in so I was really quick at taking these pictures.

So no real beauty shots or seeing what the light was doing.

Just snap and dash.

As a matter of fact I told her not to bother turning on the lights.

I love sheep ANYTHING!!!!

except eating them....

The great thing about these succulents is they need so little water or attention.

My kind of plant.

I've been meaning to show you more succulents this year.

My latest love!

I just planted a big pot of them tonight for a customer.

Forgot I had to have it done for tomorrow

and was finishing it up in the dark with a headlight clipped to my hat.

Will I ever learn to time manage better?:))

We'll see what it looks like in the morning.

Urns look so much better with a little rust on them.

These glass balls are so cool but the wooden carved bowl

 is even cooler.

I was running around so fast I never looked at the prices.

DIDO

I have one of these guys

That wasn't the time btw.

The color of this chair which you can't really tell from here

was the prettiest blue green.

I did manage to check the price of this little drawer underneath a table.

I would have liked it painted but it would be great for my craft room.

I still call it a craft room.......I always hear everyone else call theirs studios

....mines not at that level believe me.

George calls it my "junk room".

I still have more of Essex to show you unless

you're bored.

I can make 10 posts from one little 2 hour excursion

if given half a chance...

so it'll only be one more, I promise.

Now if you are in the area stop down to River before

they close their doors for good.

I know from some of your comments on my last post

you know how much small retail shops are stuggling to keep their

doors open so remember that when you're shopping in your area.

They need your support

more then ever!!!

Essex Shops

Last week my friend Paula called me to remind me about the free concert on the green in Essex, Ct.
It sounded like the perfect way to break up the week.

Hubby unfortunately didn't want to go ......but that was ok we got enough people together to make a good fun loving group. Essex is only one town away from Old Saybrook where we live/work.

I have to tell you George still tells people we live in Old Saybrook. I've given up correcting him a long time ago. If you tell people we live in Westbrook they sometimes think you mean Westport which is known for being a very affluent town made famous by the one and only Martha Stewart. She sold her home a few years ago. Can't remember what she sold it for.? big$$$$ I'm sure.

Anyways here I was in Essex in the Summer!!!! I'd forgotten how pretty it is here. I'd worked in this town in my 20's. It's better known as a tourist location then some of the towns around. It has quaint shops and the main street is lined with beautiful historic homes. One complaint you hear is that the town has too many real estate offices but with housing down you never know if that'll change. There have been a few shops that have been there for years but there are always old ones going out and new ones eager to replace them. Thank goodness. There so many store vacancies in Old Saybrook that it's getting kind of scary. Many of our gift shops have gone in the last year but then our town has more box stores (Yuck) then others. On my sidebar you'll see a button on the 3/50 project which is all about helping to keep your small businesses in your community from going OUT of business. It's a great concept so please take a look at it. I'd explain it all to you but they do a better job. Communication is not my strong suit....neither are a lot of things but I won't bore you with that now.

I'm more of a visual girl!!!

So on with the pics please!!!!

This is the window of the Seaflower Florist........

Aren't these rusty metal flowers fabulous.... and the best part... they don't need watering!

I could see them in the garden even just to hold up droopy blossoms.

Perfect thing to put in a hot window......succulents. They can take the heat of being in the sun all day. Not a good look to have a wilted plant in your display window so these do well here.

This is "Weekend Kitchen" owned by Nancy Smith. That's not exactly her whole last name .....it has a hyphen in there somewhere with another name but no matter! her shop is lovely and that's all you really care about right?

Just some lovely doorways.....

This is the office of a well known architect and his wife who is a landscape architect. I just love their planters....very sculptural. I had a customer tell me they had her come for a consultation just to give them ideas on their garden and it was $150 an hour. Wow.... but she is a licensed Landscape Architect.....there is big difference.

This is "The French Hen" owned by Laurie.....very cute shop full of pretty girl things and of course french inspired.

Can someone tell me how to eliminate the reflection of the buildings on the opposite side of the street in the window???

please!!!!

"RIVER" owned by Joe and JohnThey moved here last year from their location down the street. It's a much bigger shop

and in the back they have a beautiful display garden to show off their antique planters and accessories. This was just the view from the street. They have a wonderful website that shows off all their talents. The last 3 photos are off their website....so worth taking a look at. They've been featured in many magazines and Joe's done work for Martha Stewart ( boy her name comes up a lot) .

Johns a photographer and hence why his photos are so much better then mine.

( photos from River website )

These were planters that belong to the homeowners who live right along the street. Nice home but I don't think I'd like living that close to the walkway.....plus it's right next to a tavern. Must get pretty noisy at night. They must be very patient people or hard of hearing.

Not sure why they did them differently but their both magificent. They look so good in black wrought iron urns. I took the picture after it had gotten dark out so they came out a bit blurry.

One of the antique shops on the side road with furniture that was not really my style but I really liked the chandelier. I just realized in the 1st pic the lights were on and on the second they're off. You might not have noticed but I couldn't figure out what seemed off about it. I thought it was that awful flash in the window....sorry

I took the 2nd pic on our walk back to the car. The price for the chandelier was $1100. It seemed reasonable by Essex standards.

..........Now I just have to convince my husband!!!

Oh by the way the concert was a blast.....lots of people showed up with their families and friends. We drank wine and eat brownies and watched Paula and Bill dance. I'd shown them dancing before so I thought I'd better not push it and save it for another time but I will show you the children that were running around and dancing to the music.

It was fun watching them have such a good time just running and laughing.

............Don't we wish we all had that much energy!!!!! lol

Hope you all have a fanastic weekend!!!

keep smiling!

Carole