• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

September 20, 2016

A Simple Fall Dining Tablescape

A couple of weeks ago the doorbell rang at our house and as I walked towards the door my heart started beating faster.

You see, every day for what feels like forever I’ve been watching for our book to get here. THE book. The one that I worked on for a whole year and that I had yet to hold in my hands.

Fall dining table with plaid throw tablecloth atthepicketfence.com

I knew it was coming and the anticipation was driving me crazy! (Side note…I’ve decided that when you are waiting for something as important to you as your very first book, there should be no other deliveries made to your house until it is in your hands because it was like a cruel joke each time I saw a box waiting on the doorstep only to realize that it wasn’t the RIGHT box! Sheesh!)

But then, one evening as I was preparing dinner, I heard the doorbell ring. Now, this presented a little bit of a dilemma.

Only minutes before I had gone to shake up a plastic container of marinating chicken only to realize that I hadn’t secured the lid properly which thereby allowed marinade mixed with raw chicken juice to splatter all over me.

Fall place setting atthepicketfence.com

So, there I was hearing the doorbell ringing and thinking, “this can’t be the moment.” I mean, it wouldn’t come when I’m wearing grubby clothes covered in raw chicken marinade and scrambling to get dinner ready for my family.

To be honest, I don’t really know how I thought the stage should be set for THE moment (was I supposed to be wearing a ball gown and a tiara???) but I was pretty sure that this wasn’t it.

Fall dining room table setting atthepicketfence.com

I walked to the door and as I glanced through the window I could see the delivery man standing there waiting for a signature. And I knew…I knew that this was it. This was going to be the moment I would remember forever. The moment I held my book in my hands for the first time….and I was going to be covered in dried up marinade.

But after I jumped up and down with excitement and scared the UPS guy with my shrieking and shakily opened the box and slid the stack of books out and held them in my hands and squealed and cried tears of joy and my family came running to see what was happening, I realized that this really was the absolute perfect moment.

Because it was reality.

Fall centerpiece with white pumpkins and dried hydrangeas atthepicketfence.com

And reality is always, always better. Because, let’s face it, my reality filled moment provided me with a much better memory than if I had been wearing a ball gown and tiara. And it gave me a much better story to share with you here.

Reality keeps us humble, it gives us perspective.

And speaking of perspective…

As my son flipped through the pages of the book my heart leaped with joy because I was quite sure that he was feeling overcome with pride in what his mom had accomplished.

He looked at me and said, “This is really cool Mom!”

Simple and lovely fall centerpiece atthepicketfence.com

And just as I found myself beaming at him he followed that up with, “So, what’s for dinner?”

Perspective. 😉

I’m so glad you could meet me at the fence today and I hope you will enjoy paying these other bloggers a visit to see more fall tablescape ideas and inspiration!

fall ideas tour tablescapes

fall ideas tour

2016 Fall Ideas Tour

Monday – Mantels

Postcards from the Ridge  |  Petticoat Junktion  |  Shabbyfufu
Girl in the Garage  |  Virginia Sweet Pea  | 2 Bees in a Pod

Tuesday -Tablescapes

At the Picket Fence  |  Our Southern Home  |  Restoration Redoux
The Chelsea Project  |  Hunt and Host  |  Confessions of a Serial DIY-er
 

Wednesday – Wreaths

Interior Frugalista  |  Hymns and Verses  |  The Everyday Home
Sadie Seasongoods  |  Housepitality Designs

Thursday – Printables

Domestically Speaking  |  House of Hawthornes  |  Mom 4 Real
The Graphics Fairy  |  Artsy Chicks Rule  |  Dukes and Duchesses

Friday – Porches

Refresh Restyle  |  Cottage at the Crossroads  |  At Home with the Barkers
Town and Country Living  |  My Creative Days

26 Comments Filed Under: Autumn, Decorating, Good Ideas, Holiday Parties, Parties, Tablescapes Tagged With: fall, fall decor, fall Decorating, tablescape

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Hot Apple Cider Station
Next Post: Fall Entry Decor and Kirkland’s Giveaway »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says

    September 20, 2016 at 3:35 AM

    I always love how you tell a story! Yes it would have to be at the worst time ever, right? Congratulations on your book! And I love your table centerpiece! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Vicki and Jennifer 2 Bees in a Pod says

    September 20, 2016 at 5:05 AM

    Congrats on the new book – so exciting! It seems in life, timing is never perfect. You now have a memory of a lifetime. Beautiful tablescape! Happy to tour with you!

    Reply
  3. Angie @ Postcards from the Ridge says

    September 20, 2016 at 5:13 AM

    I love that story. That sounds like something that would happen to me since I’m always spilling something. Congrats on the book! That’s awesome. And your table is simply beautiful. So glad you’re touring with us! ~ Angie

    Reply
  4. Kathy Owen says

    September 20, 2016 at 8:29 AM

    What a beautiful tablescape. The centerpiece is so pretty. Can’t wait to get my hands on the book.

    Reply
  5. Doreen @ Hymns and Verses says

    September 20, 2016 at 8:34 AM

    Reality is always better! Your table is stunning! And, I absolutely can’t wait to get that book in my hands!!! So excited for you and Heather!!!

    Reply
  6. Lindsay Eidahl says

    September 20, 2016 at 8:58 AM

    I LOVE this! It is simple and stunning. Great ideas! It is fun touring with you this week!

    Reply
  7. Kim @Hunt & Host says

    September 20, 2016 at 9:12 AM

    Sounds perfect! I am so excited about your book friend! I know it is going to be inspiring. Your table is stunning and I am totally copying the blanket situation! Congratulations!!!

    Reply
  8. Paula@SweetPea says

    September 20, 2016 at 9:26 AM

    Congratulations on your new book! I look forward to reading it!

    Your table looks so pretty set for fall. I love the little buckets that you filled with pumpkins and the dried hydrangea surrounding them look so nice.

    Reply
  9. Bonnie says

    September 20, 2016 at 9:31 AM

    I’m so happy for you and you’re right, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime moment to remember in all it’s glory (and messiness)!!

    Reply
  10. Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says

    September 20, 2016 at 11:54 AM

    Love your gorgeous table!! And that is so me…chicken marinade!! Congrats on your book!!!
    xo
    Nancy

    Reply
  11. Vicki says

    September 20, 2016 at 1:02 PM

    My book should ship around October 4th! I can’t wait. My only regret is that it won’t be a signed copy. I cannot wait to read it.

    Reply
  12. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    September 20, 2016 at 1:07 PM

    Oh congrats!!!!….As I was chuckling at your story, I was swooning over your gorgeous Fall table….Oh kids, they certainly bring us back to Earth don’t they!….How so very exciting for you.

    Reply
  13. Marie from The Interior Frugalista says

    September 20, 2016 at 2:36 PM

    Congratulations on the book – so exciting! Real life timing – gotta love it. Your tablescape is gorgeous and so are your photos. Pinning.

    Reply
  14. MARY-ANN FROM CANADA! says

    September 20, 2016 at 5:12 PM

    How exciting to finally have your book arrive at your door! Congratulations! So happy for you!

    Your fall arrangement on your table is beautiful!

    I will look forward to getting a copy of your book when it arrives at the bookstores.

    Reply
  15. Lori says

    September 20, 2016 at 11:40 PM

    Terrific story about real life…no wonder you have a book coming out! Congrats on the publication! Your “simple” tablescape is gorgeous – I love the throw as a tablecloth (or that’s what I think it is) and the colour is amazing. Fantastic centerpiece idea as well. Enjoyed my visit here…

    Reply
  16. paige.rose says

    September 21, 2016 at 12:31 AM

    Your centerpiece is sooo cute!!! Love the little pots!

    Happy Wednesday!

    Paige.Rose
    from
    http://www.TheQuaintSanctuary.blogspot.com

    Reply
  17. Jane Windham says

    September 21, 2016 at 9:25 AM

    Congrats on the book! Will order one for myself and a few for Christmas gifts!

    Reply
  18. Jennifer @ Town and Country Living says

    September 21, 2016 at 5:11 PM

    Congratulations on the new book! So happy for you! Love your tablescape … the centerpiece and tablecloth. Perfect for fall!

    Reply
  19. Sadie Seasongoods says

    September 22, 2016 at 3:37 AM

    Simply gorgeous…and a huge congrats on the book! Happy tour week to us all (and thank you so very much for the sweet comment on my wreath). 🙂

    Reply
  20. Karen @Graphicsfairy says

    September 22, 2016 at 7:18 AM

    Wow, Congratulations on your book, it looks amazing you guys!! Your Fall Tablescape is so beautiful! I love the touch of plaid on your table, so warm and yummy!

    Reply
  21. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says

    September 22, 2016 at 10:30 AM

    Hilarious! Yep – sounds about right… Congrats on the book and LOVE that centerpiece!

    Reply
  22. Barbara Garrett says

    September 22, 2016 at 12:21 PM

    Heyyyy, you make it sound like being covered in marinade and raw chicken juice is a bad thing. I see it as a sign of being a blogger. LOL Love your story, and love your table even more. Always a pleasure to see your gorgeous home. xxoo, Barb

    Reply
  23. Vanessa says

    September 23, 2016 at 8:32 AM

    Gorgeous tablescape. I just love all the acorns and hydrangeas on the table. It’s lovely design.

    Reply
  24. Leslie says

    September 23, 2016 at 2:18 PM

    Congratulations on that wonderful book, sweet friend!! I think I will have to have a copy…where can they be found?!!! And love that tables ape!

    Reply
  25. Leslie says

    September 23, 2016 at 2:19 PM

    Congratulations on that wonderful book, sweet friend!! I think I will have to have a copy…where can they be found?!!! And love that tablescape!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 24, 2016 at 7:04 AM

      Thank you so much Leslie!!! The books will be available in stores and online on October 4 but for now you can pre-order a copy through Barnes & Noble or Amazon. Here is the info: https://www.atthepicketfence.com/book

      Thank you again! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • Why We’ve Chosen Vacations Over Projects April 26, 2022
  • A New Look for the Family Room March 1, 2022
  • Christmas Kitchen and Family Room December 19, 2021
  • Christmas Home Tour Part One December 10, 2021
  • Easy Hot Cocoa Station November 21, 2021

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

Happy Friday!! I’m working on a blog post to sha Happy Friday!! I’m working on a blog post to share all of the details of our family room shelving makeover but I’m super impatient and just had to give you all a sneak peek!! We are SO happy with how they turned out and it finally looks like I’ve always envisioned. Our quick fix years ago (scroll to see the before photo) never felt quite right but now? Soooo much better!! 🙌🏻 Big shoutout to our amazingly talented friend Matt @redemptive_woodworx for bringing our vision to life and doing such impeccable work.

I hope you all have a great start to the 4th of July weekend and make sure to check my stories later for Friday Funnies!
The month of June is coming to a close and it has The month of June is coming to a close and it has been JAM packed! The highlight by far though was my son's graduation from high school. When I started blogging, he was only 6 years old and some of you have been apart of my community here for that entire time. Now, he's 19 and there is a reason parents are told not to blink because the years truly do go faster than I ever could have imagined. He has become such an incredible young man we are so excited to see how God is going to unfold the next chapter of his life. We celebrated with parties galore (SO many open houses to attend!) and made memories we'll forever cherish. My mama heart was filled to bursting with the joy of it all! Now we're taking some time to just enjoy these warm, summer days making even more memories because, when you’re at this stage of parenting, you know all too well how much you need to grasp every opportunity to spend time together.

I hope your summer is off to a great start too dear friends! 🪴
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts o “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Happy first day of summer dear friends!! I can’t believe it’s been so long since I posted something new here but life has been crazy. I’ll have some new photos of house projects and life events to share with you soon but, got now, I’m just going to enjoy this gorgeous first day of summer after our ridiculously long, wet spring. ☀️
“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. Th “It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” (Maud Hart Lovelace) 

Welcome June!
“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10
This is one of my most favorite projects from my b This is one of my most favorite projects from my book Life in Season! 

Because, if heaven has a fragrance, I’m fairly certain it smells like lilacs.

I think that somewhere along the way the verse in the Bible that said, ‘heaven will smell like lilacs’ just got lost in translation. But it HAD to have been in there at some point, right?

When I bury my head in the blossoms (which I absolutely MUST do every single time I walk past them), I immediately feel a stirring in my soul.

It seems like I wait forever for my lilac tree to bloom. Every year I anxiously watch as the buds begin to form on the branches and then when the blossoms finally burst forth I begin that agonizing process of deciding the absolute perfect moment to snip them and bring them inside.

And then, after all of that waiting and watching it’s just over…done. Because, unlike heaven, lilacs don’t last for an eternity. So, making my own lilac room spray seemed like the perfect way to enjoy their fragrance long after the blossoms have faded.

Here’s how to make it! Ingredients: Water, Vodka, Lilac fragrance oil. Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka. Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

Once you’ve made this lilac scented room spray you will be very tempted to spray it in every room in your house. And someone may want to use it in the bathroom to cover up other less…ummmm….pleasing aromas.

But, do not, I repeat do NOT, let them.

You’ve captured the fragrance of heaven in a bottle and you wouldn’t want to go and tarnish it now would you? 😉
We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most we’ve had in a LONG time) and now we are back to pouring rain. This has officially confirmed what I’ve know to be true for awhile now.

I’m a MUCH better version of myself when the sun is shining! 🤪 So I’ll just be over here today plotting and planning how my husband and I can be snowbirds someday when the kids are out of the house.

If you could spend your winters (and apparently most of spring too!) in any part of the country, where would it be?
Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of rain lately (which is saying something when you live in Oregon) and I’ll admit that it’s affecting my moods a bit. I feel like I’m dragging and struggling to find the energy to get stuff done. So don’t mind me if I’m over here looking at photos of my garden in the summertime and finding that it keeps me hopeful about those days to come. They will come, right?! 🤪. 

What are your favorite plants that you look forward to seeing in the summer?
We’re going to be giving our laundry room a make We’re going to be giving our laundry room a makeover soon. It’s LONG overdue! In fact, the folks from the counter company were just here taking measurements. While we have made some simple, inexpensive updates over the years, it still has many of the original elements from when the house was built in 1992.

Two of our bathrooms are also in need of major makeovers. And we’ve saved up enough money over the years to tackle those projects. But, for the most part, we made the decision to use the bulk of that money in another way. While we knew that it was financially wise to invest in our house, we also knew that the greatest investment we could make was in our children. 

I’ll admit, there are times where I see other people doing massive overhauls of their entire home in a matter of months and I feel a prick of envy. But, we decided that if our choice was between waiting a bit longer to enjoy a renovated bathroom or going on adventures as a family, we would choose adventures every time. And we don’t regret that decision for a single second. It’s not that we haven’t tackled home projects (we’ve done a lot!). It’s just that it’s been a slow and steady process. 

Most recently, we let our son pick where we would travel for spring break since this is his senior year of high school and we are trying to make up for lost time. With so much of life ‘paused’ for two years, we have appreciated these moments more than ever. And, since he’ll be heading to college in the fall, we are very aware of how important it is to spend this time together while we still have a modicum of control over everyone’s schedules.

We have many years left to remodel our home but only so much time left to make memories with our children.

And, while I’m always happy to look around my home and see rooms that are updated and more reflecting of our style, it doesn’t compare to the joy I feel when I look around my home and see the people I love the most who have been shaped by the many adventures we’ve experienced together.
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2022 At The Picket Fence