IT'S BEGINNING TO FEEL A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS IN OXFORD, MD

This has got to be my absolute favorite Christmas House I have seen so far.  Oxford is the most beautiful small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and we have been there so many times, to walk the streets, pick up a delicious Crab Cake Sandwich at the little market on the main street, or relax on the tiniest strip of beach along the Strand, on the Tred Avon River.  It is small with one main street dotted with some of the prettiest houses - quiet, peaceful and just lovely on a sunny day, or when the wind is howling and the usual pond of water turns choppy and deep purple.  I stopped by yesterday "to work", and couldn't resist taking photos of this soft pink house bedecked in festive finery.  Don't you love the grand old evergreen Southern Magnolia growing in the front yard on the right, (perfect for Christmas decorating) and then on the left is a huge pink flowering Magnolia that drops it's leaves in winter and bursts into a pink fantasy of flowers in the spring.  

Had you tried to describe it to me, I would never have imagined a pale pink house, with a red door and black shutters was so stunning, but it works.  

Little white fairy lights twinkle on the conifers at the front door, this house must be lovely at night too.  The wreath on the red front door is made from fresh boxwood and holly.

I love the fall leaves still all over the front lawn.

The front doorway has simple ropes of pine hanging either side, and the door is topped with a swag of fresh boxwood, magnolia leaves, a pineapple centerpiece and rosy red apples - all fresh and beautiful - a colonial form of an edible arrangement??  I've seen so many of these door swags down in Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia.  Exquisite.

Welcome!!  Simple and sweet.

Such a lovely walkway to the front door.

Outside on the sidewalk, a lovely fresh arrangement of boxwood, magnolia, holly with all its red berries, and bits of conifer.  I love the pine ropes, fresh and scented.  

BEAUTIFUL SLEEPY, PEACEFUL, OXFORD, MD

Oxford is one of my favorite day trips from Annapolis - an hour away on the Eastern Shore, across the Bay Bridge.  A picture-postcard waterbound village with 700 residents, it has a leafy main street with a small convenience store, delicious sandwiches they make to order, ice creams, and not much else other than boatbuilding, yachting, many gorgeous historic colonial homes and colorful, inspiring gardens.

A lovely little beach on the Tred Avon River, at the end of the main street, most times I visit there is not another soul in sight.

This is about all there is to the beach looking towards the town side.  

A place where I pick up oyster shells (I'm making a mirror), sea glass and other treasure

If I was a lone duck, this is where I would hang out.

The Robert Morris Inn, built prior to 1710 sits brightly at the end of the main street of Oxford, across the street from the water and the Ferry which takes cars and passengers across the water to Bellevue, MD - short cut to St. Michaels, and a quick and fun ride over.

Back patio of the Robert Morris Inn

Looking back up the main street of Oxford

In all her buttercup glory, standing proudly since the early 1700's and once a private residence the Robert Morris Inn 

One of many lovely private colonial homes

A peaceful spot at the end of one of the side streets

A place to sit and reflect on the beauty of the area

Tavern entrance alongside the Robert Morris Inn

Oxford seems to pride itself on beautiful gardens - a white Crape Myrtle (Pride of India) gives a little privacy to the front porch

I'm sure they don't mind me snooping around admiring the summer blooms and blossoms - Crape Myrtle trees (Pride of India), in white and pink were stunning this year as always

Another lovely area on the main street with herbs and perennials and the crushed oyster shell pathway you see a lot of on the Chesapeake Bay

Love the wall murals that decorate otherwise blank expanses of buildings.

GARDENS OF OXFORD, MD