A visit to Lili’s place in Sorrento

I’ve returned home from my trip to Maine and still have several photos to share with you. I went to visit my friend, Lili, while I was there.

I met Lili Vansluys in 2011 after talking with her for over a year online. At the time, she was writing about her life in Sorrento, Maine via her blog, Fearless Nesting, and I loved seeing her part of the world year-round. A couple of years ago, she and her husband, Henri, bought a piece of property that was for sale across the street from their home and Lili is now the proud owner of Frenchmans Bay Tea Co. which sits on the property.

She sells antiques, unique treasures and gifts, works of art, shabby chic accessories, and several lovely blends of tea. She also has a reading room in the back where people come to do research on the area. My sisters and I visited her twice while we were in Maine and I could have spent the entire day there reading, perusing the eclectic collection she offers for sale, and especially walking through the cemetery she and her husband are restoring on the property. Yes – a cemetery! (More on this later because I don’t have all the facts surrounding it). Lili, if you’re reading this, you should really do a post on it!

Here are a few photos taken during both of our visits. Some are with the Nikon but most were taken with my cell phone.

 

 

 

 

We were offered tea, which was delicious, along with little licorice candies that went surprisingly well with the hot beverage.

 

Outside were many garden accouterments . . .

 

. . . as well as hand-made pottery fired by Lili and Henri.

 

My friend, Lili, with two of her grandchildren – delightful little ones who were completely at ease talking with adults and being helpful around the shop. They were both very keen to meet George the dog but I think I’ve mentioned before that George has a fear of children. This is sad because he’s so beautiful and friendly-looking that all children want to pet him. But he is completely spooked by them.

We did spend quite a bit of time at the shop, however, and he eventually warmed to Lili’s grandchildren. They were so good and gentle with him and my sisters and I were very impressed with these two young ladies.

 

Lili snapped this photo of me with my ankle up the day after I injured it.

 

I could have stayed there for the entire day . . .

 

She snapped this one of my sisters and I on the day we returned.

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Thanks, Lili, for being such a gracious host.

For anyone planning on visiting the Sorrento area, a stop at Frenchmans Bay Tea Co. is so worth a visit. Take Rte. 185 S off of Rte. 1 and travel about 3/4 mile to the little shop on the right hand side of the road. And please tell Lili I sent you!