I come from a family that has a strict regime of window candles, sprigs of holly, white lights and all antique chandelier crystals ornaments for Christmas. Come to think of it, that was the only strict thing about my childhood. No colored lights or ornaments on the tree. That my mom had to look at, at least.
My dad would take a pair of clippers to a low lying branch up against the wall and let us hang colored ornaments inside the tree, out of sight. For some reason we always called the little spot candyland. So naturally, as an adult I find myself preoccupied with colorful and insane candyland displays of the christmas spirit.
The more god-awful, the more bewitched I am, like a moth to a neon flickering window candle flame.
The more god-awful, the more bewitched I am, like a moth to a neon flickering window candle flame.
We stumbled upon Hampden's funny little block of lights my last night in Maryland. I drank hot chocolate from a styrofoam cup and took a ton of photos.
I love going places with my mom. Every time I take a photo of something, she asks me if I'm going to blog about it. I roll my eyes and say momm. This happens a few times a day when we're together so we've got a routine down. It's really cute.
I love going places with my mom. Every time I take a photo of something, she asks me if I'm going to blog about it. I roll my eyes and say momm. This happens a few times a day when we're together so we've got a routine down. It's really cute.
on christmas on our way to our aunt and uncle's house, my sisters and i play "the christmas light game" in which we give a rating to unwitting christmas decorators and their creations. these guys would definitely get the distinction of being "so bad, it's good." awesome shots.
ReplyDeleteAmy, this is amazing. How long are you in MD for? I am headed home on Thursday and was thinking of an Annapolis trip. Let me know!
ReplyDeleteI love Hampden.
ReplyDeleteSo fun!! Great photos. I love all the color, although, wow, now I am kind of feeling like the grinch! I have one little tinsel tree up, with one little strand of lights. Very Charlie Brown. ... guess I better get crackin'.
ReplyDeleteWhen my kids were real little we would ( along w/our neighbors) decorate our homes like the ones u have above... Some people actually over loaded their circuits...Now that they are older, I'm more for the clear lights....less is more as they say.
ReplyDeleteWhy did your mom hate coloured lights?
ReplyDeleteTruth be told- colored lights are pretty damn tacky so i agree with her there.
ReplyDeleteFun to look at on the street, not so fun to live with at home. Colored ornaments, yes. Colored lights, no probably not.
I really appreciate the crazy lit up houses. I feel like it's a really optimistic thing to do...spend a full day setting up life size plastic elves and candy canes.
ReplyDeleteoh fun! this weekend we're going to dyker heights to see their insane light decorations- it is so wild, i can't wait!
ReplyDeleteMy hometown still has a law on the books banning all colored holiday light displays. Ah, Connecticut!
ReplyDeleteYou should take a stroll through Dyker Heights in Brooklyn. The displays there are insane! Like, armies-of-plastic-angels, light-up-candy-canes-bigger-than-you, holy-crap-what-is-your-electric-bill insane.
Ginny, JINX!
ReplyDeleteThese photos are really fun!
ReplyDeletelove the way Dad's will let you get away with things that your Mum doesn't know about. My brother rolls his eyes at me when ever I tell him about something and that he can see it on my blog, but brothers do like to tease, haha. Your family sounds really cute.
ReplyDeleteI was in Hampden on Sunday. Took my parents. I think my dad is a Clark Griswold wannabe so he loved it!
ReplyDeleteI love the Avenue in Hampden!
ReplyDeleteWhenever my mom tells me anything, she says, "Don't post this on facebook!"
when everything is tacky.. it just sparkles! i love it!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are so full of Christmas and I enjoyed each and every one. I like colored lights on other peoples trees but I prefer white lights on ours because I don't want our ornaments to get lost in all the color. Does that make sense? I have 2 outside plastic snowmen that I dearly love. My son thinks they are tacky. Too bad! I put them up anyway. If I can find enough plastic flamingos I may just have them pulling Santa's sleigh next year - the year that my son and his family will be home for Christmas. tee-hee-hee
ReplyDeleteGiggles at your mum's comments about is it going in the blog.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty mesmerized by over the top displays of light. But I must be getting old because I worry about the electric bills too...
I like that place... I can feel the spirit of Christmas..
ReplyDeletehttp://dreamchymecindy.blogspot.com
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My parents probably wouldn't approve of gaudy decorations either, but at least they allowed color. This doesn't exactly explain my fascination with crazy lights, too, though.
ReplyDeleteAh this makes me miss the east coast (and the states for that matter). Thought the bit about your mom was funny. my wife says the same thing.
ReplyDeletehttp://travelthelongwayround.blogspot.com/
i love looking at tacky holiday decorations!
ReplyDeletemy dad often says things like that. despite my one blog post, he constantly asks if he'll be the next character or if i'll include a picture of him soon.
oh, parents.
http://onemorecupofcoffeesir.blogspot.com/
Oh my god I LOVE that neighborhood!! I want to go there!
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ReplyDeletei'm a sucker for tacky holiday shit
ReplyDeleteLove these photos. You've inspired me to get out my house and go out in the cold and take those night time photos I've been dying to take!
ReplyDeleteAw man, john. I'm back in the city, rendezvous-ing in annapolis would be so much fun. Will you be down south the week after christmas?!
ReplyDeleteha! my mom too! last night i was making deviled eggs and she was like "ooooh! take a picture! I wanna see it on your blog."
ReplyDeletei mean, they were deviled eggs.
You can teach an old dog new tricks.
ReplyDeleteSometimes!
I wondered if you and Micha wanted to decorate the tree when you both come home.... with all natural stuff we've found on walks. Sans colored lights however. Gotta keep some traditions alive and well.
Nothing matters more than you coming home.
Let the merriment begin!
You would have died in Natchitoches.
ReplyDeleteI'll get the pictures up soon I hope!
Oh my gosh, my mom asks me that all the time too! I eye roll with the best of them. Giggle.
ReplyDeleteAMMMYYY, (Visualise eye rolls)......
ReplyDeleteHey, where's the pictures of the trees constructed from hub caps and the snow men welded from old bike tires? I thought those were the best part of Hampden's creativity.
Nothing matters more than you coming home.
ReplyDeleteLet the merriment begin!
Work from home India
Oh my god I LOVE that neighborhood!! I want to go there!
ReplyDeleteWagyu Steak
Awesome !! This is amazing ..This place is looking very beautiful. I think there is some celebration is going on. I love lighting very much. And This doesn't exactly explain my fascination with crazy lights.
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