And yeah, NOT so good...

This is the outside of the big French door--they were never meant for outdoor use, and although I varnished them with spar varnish (several coats) and J. used some kind of sealer stuff, obviously it hasn't worked that well. 

This was a design flaw on my part...there's not enough of an overhang on the roof there, and when it rains or snows, too much moisture on the wood.  NOW what?!

Well, we have got to get those gutters in place, or something.  (Yes, locking the barn door LONG after the horse is halfway across the next state.) We've known that for some time, but trying to settle on what has obviously not been a great idea. 

I'm hoping it will last a few more years, because we'd have to have a custom door made...ouch!  We cut these down to fit...definitely not a standard size.

Suggestions anyone?

Wouldn't I just love this...

A silent retreat center with tiny hermitage houses, deer, and elk, in Arizona.  Now THAT is my idea of a vacation.  Check out more photos and information on the Tiny House Blog, here:

http://tinyhouseblog.com/yourstory/arizonas-tiny-house-hermitage/

...and take a peek at the Awakening Spirits retreat center's website, here: http://www.awakeningspiritretreat.com/

Oooooh yes.  I used to go on silent retreats when there was a retreat center in the next town...it was glorious.

Tiny changes...

There's a new gravel path to the shed...I love it, the cats don't!  (I don't think the squirrels do, either, we've covered up their buried nuts!)  You may have seen the whole of it in the previous post...no more muddy feet!  This was shot right after a  hard rain, you can see the pebbles are still wet.

I have a lovely new ball crystal throwing prisms all around the shed in the mornings...it joins the rest of the family.

Attempting to convince succulents that they CAN grow for me...though the most delicate one of the three seems to be wilting, one stem at a time.

And still it is a lovely place to work and read, eat breakfast, journal, heal, exercise, watch birds, sketch, shoot videos, listen to music...and sometimes even make it.  The shed works just as I'd hoped, 4 years ago.

And I am very, very grateful.

And here are the rest of the new changes...

At last, a river pebble path that doesn't need to be raked back in place every time it rains, like the bark path...I love it, the kitties don't.  (Gives pussyfooting a whole new meaning...)  It feels delightfully Zen-garden, to me...

And yes, at long last...

...you guessed it...

Window screens!  I can have the windows open in mosquito and fly season!  Notice the clever swiveling wooden prop...it's attached at the bottom... 

My knight did a fantastic job...

I used one of my terra cotta triskeles to hold the big screen in place, like a toggle...the small one is so tight friction alone holds it!

This one has a brass hinge to hold the window open...

And a delightful new addition to the shed's art gallery, a lamb by the oh-so-talented Wil Freeborn--thanks, Wil!  Check out his Etsy store, here: https://www.etsy.com/people/wilfreeborn and don't miss his wonderful new book!

The screens are absolutely perfect timing, this gloriously cool, delightful summer!  Loving the fresh air...

A few wee changes

A light by the door, which I should have thought of when we BUILT the place...thanks to our friend Ron Davenport!

And a new little outdoor Hotei to greet us as we arrive...

There have actually been a few more changes, but so far I can't find the photos!  I'll just re-shoot soon...funny how we keep tweaking...