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Do you have those places that just make you smile? They might not be specifically meaningful for any particular reason. But whenever you encounter them you just find yourself smiling somewhat awkwardly to yourself until you realize people are looking at you strangely.
A quaint little street in Cambridge, Maryland has that effect on me. Cambridge is a small, coastal town on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay where we lived for 5 years before our move to Curacao. (more on why I was back in the area here)
High Street is my smiley spot, it is a cobblestone street that in it’s hay day housed top level executives of the Phillips Packing Company and not only do I find the stately, historic houses amazingly gorgeous, but during the holiday season it’s always fun to see how the current owners do up their festive decor … or don’t do up any decor at all. 🙂
Lucky for me, I found myself smiling to everyone I saw on that street on a sunny December day and here is what I saw.
Double chimneys galore and apple wreaths and arrangements above the door. (If you expect this whole post to rhyme, I will just warn you now that you will be sorely disappointed.) 🙂
And to think I always thought you were supposed to remove vines growing up your home. These look pretty cool.
Now, I know it’s hard to see beyond all of the tree branches, but I think this is my favorite wreath … but it might just be all of the rocking chairs on the porch that make me love it so much.
Aren’t these doors just fabulousness!?!? Mismatched knobs and all.
Matching wooden benches and a perfectly red door on an entry porch. Love!
Do double chimneys and wrap around porches just make you smile, too?!?
And beautiful woodwork and porch decorations with perfect touches of gold?
Here is where we turn to head back up the street … after we admire the sites of the Choptank River for a minute.
A stack from the USS Potomac that housed an elevator for President FDR.
And a recently erected replica lighthouse.
Do you find yourself swooning over stately brick estates?
With first AND second floor bay windows.
I love this beautifully simple pine cone wreath with red berries and ribbon. Red and gold with nature is my thing this year.
Is there anyone out there who doesn’t love the look of two story tall columns?
And by this point we’ve made our way back up the street. And check out what year the house with apple wreaths was built.
1763.
Flanking this end of the quaint little street is the court house …
… and this lovely church.
I’m hoping this little street tour has left you as smiley as it makes me.
And here’s to this year being your Merriest of Christmases yet. Whether you went apple wreaths, gold bows or nothing at all.
Audrey Zumwalt says
Thanks for taking me to Cambridge, Maryland … loved the walk with you and the beautiful homes and buildings. The Church is just beautiful.
Blessings and a Happy new Year.
Audrey Z.
Timeless Treasures
Karah says
I’m so glad you liked it Audrey, I am always in awe of that church!!
Anne says
Karah thank you for sharing this tour! YES it put a smile on my face.What beautiful homes! LOVE the wreaths on the windows and doors too! They all look like Christmas cards!Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Best wishes in the coming year!
xx
Anne
Karah says
Thank you Anne! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. HAPPY New Year!!
DeDe@DesignedDecor says
Karah,
I love these old house and quaint towns! This is one of my favorite things to do, is visit small towns and admire the old houses with the beautiful doors and porches. I will be doing a blog soon of the doorway pictures I took on our trip to New Orleans and Natchez. The entire east coast is on my places to visit before I turn 50. Thanks for sharing!
DeDe@DesignedDecor
Karah says
Wow, the entire coast! That’s quite a goal and would be an awesome trip!!
Thistle says
What a wonderful walk through the historic streets of Cambridge! I love the decorations and how everything looks so festive!
Happy New Year,
karianne
Zoe says
Gorgeous…different from Cambridge UK but very lovely in it’s own right… and I have to say Karah you are getting mighty handy with your new camera! Happy new year, looking forward to more lovely photos in 2013.
paperworx4seniors2 says
Loved the tour and the old houses. Would I ever love to see inside those houses, would be interesting to see how they’re decorated. Great pics of all the places. thanks for sharing.
Got to be on a trip to New England with trucker hubs a few years ago and I loved seeing the old houses and buildings. Didn’t spend any time in back snoozing on that trip as long as we were going thru towns. I’d never been to New England, had always wanted to so tried to get best value out of chance. I sure miss trucking with hubs but he retired in 2004. I still get itch to go. Ah well am grateful for all the trips we did take together from one side of US to other, north and south, etc.
Happy new year gal.
Karah says
Wow, I bet trucking is such a good way to see the country. I am originally from New England so can totally understand what its like to drive through those quaint towns. I, too, would love to see inside these old homes in Cambridge, I bet there are so many neat architectural details!
Debbie says
Simply beautiful…I love all the porches, must be because we don’t have one and I’d love to build one (I keep saying we have the perfect spot for it!!). Gorgeous homes, thanks for the tour!
Best wishes for the New Year!
Debbie 🙂
Karah says
I LOVE the porches. You NEED a porch … I think. 🙂
Heidi @ Decor & More says
How beautiful and festive!! Thanks for sharing! and Happy New Year!
karen@somewhatquirky says
Yes indeed, I love wrap around porches and double chimneys! Thanks for the pics. I’ll be dreaming of two story bay windows . . . which are large enough to be “bay porches”.
Marisela Baraniewicz says
We enjoyed everyday we lived there! 🙂
Karah says
It’s so interesting to be back, it is such a beautiful little town!