As we went about our activities this season, I was yet again reminded why I like Christmas in New England so much. While there are usual pockets of "highly enthusiastic holiday decorations", there are so many examples of the more low-key "Old Yankee" nods to the holiday.
Here are some images for the season, from various favorite towns and states.
38 comments:
Muffy,
You are so good at conveying meaning using photos. Great post as usual!
Oh, how beautiful! More proof that less is more.
Oh, so very beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos! The holiday season is magical.
Oh, so nice.
Your post reminds me how almost everyone where I live ruins good taste, either with crazy amounts of lights, inflatable snowmen, and piped music on one extreme to the faux-urban-sophisticated mauve bows lined with gold and adorned with silver pine cones on the other (all bought at Walmart, of course). Thanks for being the guiding North Star!
Beautiful!
These are the decorations I remember from my childhood---in Texas of all places. Less IS more.
Muffy, what is the magazine/catalog in the tartan bag?
Gorgeous photos, Muffy! All of those houses are really cool.
So beautiful and classic... reminds me of what I grew up with and makes me want to move up there. Have to agree with what Ben wrote above. Also love your tartan Eliza B bag - am trying to determine what trim you chose at the top.
I have an off-topic question for your readers. Do people have a favorite TDP photograph from 2011? For me it is probably this one: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3aHPsPNVdt8/TjWI3y3DUSI/AAAAAAAAA7o/nIvZoSGmliA/s1600/IMG_1181.JPG. It might be fun to link to them in a year end post. Just a thought!
The "less is more" concept fits with our Quaker traditions. We try keep it simple remembering the real reason to celebrate. I'd rather be Clark Aldrich than Clark Griswald.
Merry Christmas and may "God bless us everyone".
lovely.... "Old Yankee Christmas Decorations" ..an early Christmas present. Thank you.
My vote for picture of the year is http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zaroyRJjrcI/Tqh_2CJ3BoI/AAAAAAAAU1g/_FXhtlUcmsc/s1600/IMG_3258.JPG
Clark Aldrich is a wonderful photographer!
I know you don't hear too often "Your Blog makes me teary". A couple of wks ago I showed my 20 yr. old-southern by birth-daughter, your tumbler and with teary eyes told her "THIS is who I am". I grew up in Guilford, CT and had to move to VA when my father died...although always a prep there is a difference in New England Prep and Southern. Your blog reminds me of my heritage and my long rooted "sensibilities" as my mother calls them. Some days I feel like a stranger in my own land but your blog does wonders!!
Beautiful!
Bitsy
I can't say exactly why but I always liked this picture of waiting for the train http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_huf5EtmfjCI/TFHY967SBZI/AAAAAAAAA14/SOOUI3O4pRk/s1600/IMG_8492.JPG.
Of all the things for which I'm grateful to TDP, tops on my list is that you unchecked the blogspot lightbox option. Moreover, that we may not only click to enlarge your marvelous photos, but can click again to further examine details makes me giddy beyond explanation! THANK YOU.
My votes for favorite photos of 2011 will probably be cast for the buildings you select, beginning with this one from your current post. This building/barn/stable makes me weep for its chaste magnificence:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf2hrzsA0p4/TuueggVsWAI/AAAAAAAACLQ/5sf_i-eB_xk/s1600/IMG_4011.JPG
-Flo
There's no greater place to be for the Christmas season than coastal New England! I'll always cherish the many Chritmases I had in Massachusetts!
Love, love the simplicity and elegance of these decorations! Merry Christmas! ~Preppy 101 XOXO
One of my favorite photos (although it's hard to pick just one): http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtQQMgTeV-E/TrqYayqJv1I/AAAAAAAABuw/ReVp3Ig5f5o/s1600/IMG_4290.JPG
I like the dubarry boots, best wintertime investment ever. And I'm still giggling at JDSprouse's comment "I'd rather be Clark Aldrich than Clark Griswald."
I love this one:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ymym-ux959U/TpcrE0GL4kI/AAAAAAAACms/N0pfXUtDtAY/s1600/IMG_8912.JPG
I just enjoy your posts. I miss New England very much. These photos are just what I need on a winters day down here.
Muffy:
Any idea the maker of the paddock jacket on the woman in the fifth photograph down? It looks something like a Hackett (but not, I think, a Barbour Liddesdale). I ask because my wife's been looking for a coat like that for some time but I can't find that particular model online.
Thanks in advance for any clues.
EGF
@Anonymous 8:35 - The Economist.
@Anonymous 11:06 - Chevalier is a Swedish company and here is the link: http://www.chevalier.se/English_Start_page_DXNI-969_.aspx.
Wonderful photos of an America I am yet to discover. They certainly inspire me with wanderlust! I would love now to figure out a way of linking your site into my google reader (sorry I am not at all techie).
Unfortunately, I was not in town for the tree lighting this year. Thank you for posting these - It's nice to see what I missed -
I spy GFC! Beautiful photos!
Heart warming post of my husband's hometown! We are traveling across the world from where we posted, as we have never missed a Christmas in one of the most beautiful coastal New England towns. His family home is part of the Christmas house tour you posted, though not pictured. Highly enjoyed the shots of the FC, and the Congregational Church, and many other familiar haunts. Thank you!
M.A. Fist and foremost I have have not expressed my fondness for everything you represent allow me to proceed. I feel if everyone homme ou femme had a pocket version of you to consult from dressings to holiday traditions they would be more than well equipped; they would be poised, composed, and clothed most superbly. You never cease to amaze your readers with continually outdoing yourself time after time. Wishing you, C., and younger Aldrich the most joyous of holidays.
My favorite picture of the year is your chart showing all of the different preppy companies, from new to shell. I still think about it often. Here it is: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_huf5EtmfjCI/TUGK7slnXtI/AAAAAAAABxI/5mIUcwLxxdk/s1600/Muffy%2BVendor%2BChart.jpg. It is also just a very tasteful ** of course ** chart.
@Annon 7:44 - You took mine! But two others are tied from the KJP trip. This one http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EAV-nPuUBkw/ThY3vFgmMrI/AAAAAAAAAsY/-rJ09vU-QNE/s1600/IMG_8961.JPG or this one: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sn_8eF774bM/ThY4f8H-KzI/AAAAAAAAAwY/XCv1PAdlBHw/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG. I also like how there are two mystery people on that boat!
I think it is cool that TDP put out the first pictures of Eliza B. on the whole web (I think, or at least the first that I saw)! That must qualify you for something!!!! I like the first picture the most: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yyuR8hRfJU/TrRBnolixAI/AAAAAAAABiM/x6uuhzP4h7o/s1600/IMG_5983.JPG
Muffy, Thank you very much for your link to HTJ. That was very gracious of you. Happy Holidays!
Gorgeous photos. I love the candles in the mason jars.
I am thankful that in my area of New Hampshire, almost everyone's decorations consist of candle lights in the windows. Understated is much better, and lights in the windows highlight the New England architecture. I have to admit, though, that the occasional conifer with colored lights does evoke Christmases of yesteryear ("yesteryear" being '60s, '70s, and '80s, before white lights became popular.) Colorful is fun and cheery when kept very contained. (I never like the "over-enthusiastic" look.)
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