House plan… Periwinkle Cottage!

Periwinkle Cottage, Port Clyde, Maine
Periwinkle Cottage, Port Clyde, Maine

There is a beautiful cottage that we have rented several times in Port Clyde, Maine. It’s called the “Periwinkle” cottage and it’s situated right on the ocean. I would call it rustic (no heat), but there is a fabulous fireplace and the view is earth shattering! Truly!

Today’s house plan… is the periwinkle. We always thought it would be so cool if we could build a house similar to the Periwinkle, but a little less rustic, and a little less space. Maybe 1 guest room upstairs, a 3/4 bath and a storage room/room for treadmill… something that would still give it this overall appearance from the outside. There were a few areas inside that weren’t useful spaces… those I would love to redesign to make useful. This plan is amazing. Fred and I are no architects (trust me, ha), but we kind of drew out the plan on our last visit, here it is…

Periwinkle floor plan - first floor
Periwinkle floor plan – first floor

The ocean is located on the side of the house with the living, dining and bedrooms… big windows, wide doors all make sure you don’t miss the gorgeous view!

You come in the house between the mud room and bathroom on the other side of the house. The mud room used to have a washer and dryer, and could be used for that again. I would also add a wash tub that could accommodate a dog bath easily. From that room you can walk into either the kitchen or the living area.

This is the door you come in… door to the right is a bathroom. Then there is built in storage for pretty much everything which is handy… if you go to the left you head towards the kitchen…

Entry door… mudroom...
Entry door… mudroom…

There is a large wasted space that has an old furnace in this area, I would use it maybe as a pantry and eating area off the kitchen…

Kitchen
Kitchen

I would keep wonderful large windows in the kitchen, have drawers instead of cupboards and possibly try to do away with some of the upper cabinets (replace with windows?). I wonder, wonder, wonder if you could lose that wall on the left and have it open to the existing dining room, meaning… OCEAN. VIEW.!!!

Dining Room
Dining Room

You then walk down a short hallway to the dining room. Beautiful expansive windows on two sides. I would probably make this into a reading room, with my desk, some great chairs, lamps. There are built in’s along the wall to the right. I would be willing to part with that if I could have the wall gone and open to the kitchen… Could be quite nice!

Cabinets below, shelves above, useful for displaying and storing. This view of the dining room is taken from the living room…

Living room with fabulous fireplace!
Living room with fabulous fireplace!

Great fireplace in this house… totally makes this living room, well that and the windows that look out upon the ocean…

Wide door that goes out onto oceanside porch
Wide door that goes out onto oceanside porch

Big, wide door so fabulous! When you open it you get such a fabulous breeze! Large windows throughout. One large center pane that is stationary and then two smaller windows on either side that open.

View standing near dining, looking through living towards bedroom...
View standing near dining, looking through living towards bedroom… See stairs that go to 2nd floor…

Great floor plan, I’m telling ya!

Bedroom - Excuse the bad shot!
Bedroom – Excuse the bad shot!

Bad shot… when we checked in they had not made this bed… and I didn’t take a photo after we made it, ugh. Note the 9′ wall behind the bed. This is one of the most unique features. You are in bed facing the huge window with the ocean view. That little doorway on the right side of the bed… goes to a closet/storage area if you were to walk straight ahead. If you turned after you passed the wall, you would see hooks on your left and built in dressers on your right. Brilliant!

Storage area if you go straight
Storage area if you go straight

Two closets with great storage…

If you were to follow the short hallway on the other side of the bed, it led to the master bathroom, but if you turned right after the wall behind the bed, you would see this:

Built in storage in wall behind bed
Built in storage in wall behind bed

It was so nice. We could put our suitcases on top of the ‘dressers’ and hang stuff on hooks on opposing wall. Such useful space!

I love windows like this!
I love windows like this!

This is my mom in one of the upstairs bedrooms… Such great light comes through those windows! AND they have such character!

These windows open out (and they have screens)… fabulous!
These windows open out (and they have screens)… fabulous!
Ocean Side View
Ocean Side View

This is the ocean side view… that sometimes looked like this…

Enough said!
Enough said!

F L A S H B A C K

O n e  Y e a r  A g o:               Featured Artist… Randy Sexton!

T w o  Y e a r s  A g o:          Artist… Colin Page!

T h r e e  Y e a r s  A g o:    A walk to remember!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

The Laura B – Monhegan Boat Line – Port Clyde, ME

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This is a photo I took of the Laura B. back in 2008… Isn’t she one classy boat? She underwent a transformation this past winter. If you like Monhegan Boat Line on Facebook you can then see images of the Laura B Project. Tough work! The Laura B. is owned by Monhegan Boat Line in Port Clyde, ME. Here is a blip about Monhegan Boat Line from their website:

. . . transporting you through the waters of beautiful Muscongus Bay to enchanting Monhegan Island. You’ll embark in the charming village of Port Clyde, at the tip of the St. George peninsula. Once passengers and freight are loaded on board, we steam out of the harbor past Marshall Point lighthouse. As we follow our protected route among pine-clad islands, we see birds of many varieties. Sometimes, porpoises and small whales rise from the water just beyond our bow. Our course usually takes us by lobstermen hauling their traps, schooners gliding before the wind, and pleasure craft of every description. On the return trip, we pass close to Seal Rock, where we often spot entire families of seals frolicking in the water and basking in the sun.

Sounds like Heaven, doesn’t it? It. Is.  And also from their website, about the Laura B.

The world-famous Laura B makes the early-morning trip to Monhegan every day during the summer season, and delivers all the freight to the island year ’round. She has both indoor and outdoor seating. She is also available for private charters and for hauling freight to any of the islands.

Built in 1943, the 65-foot Laura B is rigged as a heavy-duty work boat. Originally designated a U.S. Army T-57, she spent World War II in the Pacific, where she served as a patrol boat and carried troops and supplies. She came under fire during those days, and carried two 50-caliber machine guns on deck. This rugged vessel was brought to Maine in 1946, and spent the next few years transporting lobsters from Vinalhaven to Boston and New York City.

For the past half century, the beloved Laura B has been ferrying passengers, freight, and mail between Port Clyde and Monhegan Island. A prominent marine surveyor has described her as the best-maintained wooden vessel on the Eastern Seaboard.

What a great place to visit! If you’re headed to Monhegan, check out Monhegan Boat Line, you’ll be glad you did!  Catch you back here tomorrow!

Ocean House Hotel, Port Clyde, Maine… beautiful light!

Look at that beautiful light! The colors and textures in this photo are reminiscent (to me) of an Andrew Wyeth painting… the light is magnificent. This photo was taken from the top floor of the Ocean House Hotel, the back screen door… on our way to a fabulous breakfast! If you’re ever in Port Clyde and need a place to rest your head, the Ocean House Hotel is a neat place with a wonderful breakfast!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Photo: Monhegan Boat Line – Laura B

Laura B – Monhegan Boat Line

Isn’t she a beauty?! We usually catch this boat when we leave Monhegan. It gets to the wharf and unloads cargo, you name it, mail, wood, furniture, lots of lobster traps. They have such an efficient system down on the wharf. Then we all pile on and head to the mainland, in this case, Port Cldye, Maine. It’s a wonderful ride when the seas aren’t rough. Once in a while you get the route that takes you by Allen Island, where Betsy Wyeth lives (Artist Andrew Wyeth’s wife). It’s a beautiful place… photos coming soon!

Wouldn’t this make a cool painting??

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Weekend Photo: Sometimes it’s the little things…

When I saw this pallet sitting on the wharf in Port Clyde, Maine, I had to snap a photo… the way the sun hit it so nicely. Sometimes its the little things that can make you smile! We’re all so busy and it’s easy to take for granted the little things in life… make an effort to notice at least one thing every day, something small and insignificant, but something that makes you smile! Have a great weekend!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Port Clyde, Maine – truly the way life should be!

Oh, what a wonderful place Port Clyde, Maine is! It’s one of my most favorite places in the world. The people are so genuine. When I’m there I just don’t want to leave! Gorgeous sunrises, sunsets… Fabulous places to eat, drink and be merry. A great ice cream shop, kayak place, cool home and clothing store and one of our favorites the Port Clyde General Store… Here’s a blip about Port Clyde from the Monhegan Boat Line website – if you haven’t been to Monhegan Island it’s a definite treat, Monhegan Boat Line is the way we always go. Here’s their information on Port Clyde:

Home port for the Elizabeth Ann and Laura B is the picturesque fishing village of Port Clyde, at the tip of the St. George Peninsula. To get to here you’ll take Route 131 from Route 1 in Thomaston. Click here for full directions. The road curves with the meandering St. George River, passing saltwater meadows, clapboard farmhouses, a few small art galleries, and the cluster of weathered buildings that is Tenants Harbor. When you arrive in Port Clyde, you will see signs directing you to the Monhegan Boat Line dock.

We hope you’ll plan to spend a little time ashore here before or after your trip. As you stroll around, it’s not hard to imagine how things might have looked back in the early 1800s, when the village was young and most Port Clyde families were involved in shipbuilding. Later, the most important source of income was catching and canning seafood, and you can still buy tinned sardines bearing the Port Clyde label. While the local canning industry is gone, Port Clyde remains primarily a working harbor, filled with the rugged boats of local lobstermen and fishermen.

You might see some of these hardy mariners loading traps or bait onto their boats at the docks behind the Port Clyde General Store. Be sure to stop into this wonderful old purveyor of staples, sundries, and homemade treats. Please also visit the gift shop on our dock, where you’ll find mementos of the coast and Monhegan Island. A number of noted artists — including Greg Mort, Gary Akers, and Barbara Ernst Prey — also live and/or work in the area. Their work captures the essence of Maine, so be sure to ask if studio showings are being offered while you’re here.

If you’re hungry for pizza, crab rolls, or steamed lobster, you can eat your fill at a local restaurant. Ready for a little hike? It’s a nice round-trip walk of about two miles from our dock to the Marshall Point Light, which has stood watch since 1833 on the eastern side of the harbor entrance. You can also drive out to the point. The view of Mosquito Island and smaller nearby isles is beautiful, and the keeper’s house is now a small museum. On the way to the lighthouse you’ll also find Herring Gut Learning Center, a marine science education center which includes oyster and finfish hatcheries, an aquaponic greenhouse, marine touch tanks, and a reference library.

It will be our pleasure to welcome you to Port Clyde as well as to our boats. You’ll discover a little bit of unspoiled Maine here, and take home old-fashioned memories with you.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Maine Photo: Home away from home… a cottage in Port Clyde, Maine!

We have stayed at this cottage in Port Clyde, Maine a few times. Each time has been a delight. There is nothing like it! The great windows with a view to die for, the ocean literally a stones throw away. Chilly nights, no heat, big fireplace, ahhh heaven! We’ve had some great times here! I went to the Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum and found a photo of it from long ago (the lighthouse is just down the street). How interesting! If I had unlimited funds I would build this exact house (if I couldn’t buy it first)…

Is there a special place you visit? Tell me about it! Where is it? Why do you like it so much?! What do you do while you’re there? Enjoy your summer!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A window to my soul… or from the cottage in Maine.

Cottage Window - Port Clyde, Maine

Those of you who are friends of mine on Facebook have seen this photo lately… This is one of my favorites. Taken from inside the neatest cottage on the planet earth. The cottage is in Port Clyde, Maine and looks out to the ocean facing Monhegan Island. This cottage is truly like a movie set. Nothing new or fancy about it, it’s been around for a long time. It’s situated so close to the ocean that during a storm it can be a tad thrilling… oooh how I’d like to be there now!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Stunning photography, is this real?

Port Clyde, Maine

Can you tell I’m missing Maine? I’m just running across photos that are my favorites. This one was a day we walked to Marshall Point Lighthouse, then were walking back to the Periwinkle Cottage. It’s a breathtaking view. It almost doesn’t seem real does it? The loud crashing ocean, the beautiful rocky coast, artists set up everywhere frantically painting before the last light has faded. It’s the most amazing place…  Just wanted to share it with you! Happy weekend, catch you back here tomorrow!

Live Long, Live Strong, Eat Seafood: THE SLIPWAY RESTAURANT (formerly Dip Net)

Image: http://maine-slipway.com

I am pleased as punch to spread the word about the old Dip Net restaurant that used to be in Port Clyde (not the one that Linda Bean bought and kept the name, but the original Dip Net) – It’s baaayaaaack as Jack Nicholson would say and it’s name is THE SLIPWAY – it’s located at 24 Town Landing, in the former Harborview Restaurant in Thomaston, ME. We had many memorable meals at the old restaurant and are looking so forward to visiting THE SLIPWAY for memorable meals in the future!! They also have a Facebook page, so check them out!

Click HERE to see a sample menu.

A blip from their website (you know how I like to include ‘blips’ from everything…)

We are right on the harbor with a 120′ dock, plenty of outdoor seating and a menu pretty similar to the great food we’ve provided for years in Port Clyde and Camden. Chef/Owner is Scott Yakovenko ran the Dip Net Restaurant in Port Clyde for eight years.

If you’re in the area go visit! If not, click to visit their Facebook page !

STONEFISH… a must see!

STONEFISH located in Port Clyde, ME

We happened upon this unique little shop years ago while in Port Clyde, Maine. STONEFISH is located in the village right next door to the ice cream shop, and EVERYBODY knows where that’s at! It’s a small space that is filled with the most wonderful things. Clothes, trinkets, antiques, unique art object, you name it, if it’s unique and classy Anne has it in her shop! If you happen to be in Port Clyde please stop in and say hello! You will find special things you will treasure forever! We have!

Updated 2025: Sadly, Stonefish is no longer open. The owner, Ann, passed away years ago – she will be missed!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

View from Port Clyde, Maine

Port Clyde, ME

Ahhh, Port Clyde, Maine. It’s the most fabulous place in the world. No glitz and glitter, just down to earth kind people. Friendly people that you can sit with at the general store each morning and talk while you have coffee and toast. Or wonderful strangers that become friends that teach you how to knit! Hard working people who don’t complain. It’s somewhere everyone needs to see at least once. When we were there several years ago I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE. I still don’t. I want to go back… and I can’t wait until that happens… Also can’t wait to see our friends on Monhegan… woohoo, they say it’s healthy to have a vacation to look forward to, woohoo…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

**Note: you can always click on the image for larger photo!

Ocean House Gallery open today (7/15/11) in Port Clyde, ME…

Image: OceanHouseHotel.com

Today marks the opening of the Ocean House Gallery (at the Ocean House Hotel, overlooking the harbor in Port Clyde, ME). They start the season off with a reception from 5-7PM featuring watercolors by artist Brad Hendershot.  If you’re in the area pop in and say hello and check out the work! This “Allure of the Sea” exhibit will be shown through July 27. If you can’t make it, check out his website!

Upcoming shows at the Ocean House Gallery are: July 29 through Aug. 10, Alice Boynton; Aug. 12 through 24, Susan Gilbert Lord; Aug. 26 through Aug. 31, Angela Anderson Pomerleau; Sept. 2 through 14, Sylvia Murdock; and Sept. 16 through 29, Jan Lipson. If you’re in the area, check them out! “The gallery is open whenever the door is open”, I love that about Maine…

Catch you back here tomorrow! If you get a chance, check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !