stroll with me.

down memory lane.

i know most of you have never been and probably never heard of cullen gardens and miniature village, but for me just the name brings up such great childhood memories. i can close my eyes and remember exactly how it was and how it made me feel. cullen gardens was a magical place full of miniatures and sculpted trees that looked like dinosaurs and christmas lights and santa claus. a place we went every year and walked around in huge, slow-moving lines with our frozen toes and our runny noses, just waiting to see the next display. it was a place where the air always smelled of hot cinnamon cider and warm sugar cookies. cullen gardens officially shut down in 2006, and i have to say i was pretty sad to hear it was closing it's doors after 25 years, but nothing makes me sadder than the blogTO post i ran across this morning. the post describes the state the gardens are in today. gone are the 180 miniature displays, the meticulous pathways and playhouse. now there's nothing but empty wireframes and overgrown walks.

so, today i'll close my eyes and remember it exactly as it was. so long cullen gardens. and thank you for everything.