Hello and welcome friends! I’m so happy to have you here. My door is open and I’d love for you to come inside and take a look around because fall has definitely arrived at our home.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the word ‘home’. You see, things are a bit crazy right now and I feel like we are all going every which way.
I see our calendar getting more and more filled up with work trips and fun trips and deadlines and school activities and…and….and…
And no matter how grateful I am for the many wonderful things happening in our lives right now and no matter how much fun it is to experience new things and have grand adventures, the greatest adventure to me is the one experienced right here within the walls of this place I call home.
Marriage and motherhood and writing and running a business and so much more all happens right here. There are definitely big moments but there are many, many more small moments and frankly those are my most favorite of all.
C.S. Lewis said that “the homemaker has the ultimate career.”
For me, the making of our home is definitely one of the greatest joys in my life. It’s not so much about the decorating, even though I do love that part. It’s about creating a haven, a respite for my family from the craziness of the world.
And that is why I have to agree with Laura Ingalls Wilder that, “Home is the nicest word there is.” And I thought that perhaps if I wrote these words on a giant chalkboard in a prominent place it would serve as a reminder for us as we enter this new season in our lives.
Because when home is a place you long to be in and when it is where you get to be with the people you love the most, it’s simply the best.
Now, don’t get me wrong, this home of ours and this life of ours isn’t perfect.
It’s often messy and hard and all sorts of imperfect.
But, perfection isn’t what makes home such a wonderful word.
I believe that what makes home the nicest word there is, is that you can have all of the imperfect and the messy and the hard stuff and still have all of the love.
That you can fail and succeed, get it wrong and get it right, feel like talking or feel like being silent and always, always know that you are safe to be just who you are.
As I type these words to you I can hear the sounds of ‘home’ happening all around me.
My husband and son working in the yard, chatting about this and that. Lessons being learned and relationship being built as they work side-by-side.
I hear my daughter riding her scooter in the driveway. If I listen closely I can actually hear her talking and singing to herself. It’s the sweet, precious sounds of imagination that I know in the not so distant future will only be a memory.
The sliding door is open behind me and I can hear the wind blowing through the leaves of my maple tree whose color reminds me that despite the warm temperatures fall is definitely on it’s way.
And I’m reminded once again that home has very little to do with a house and everything to do with our hearts.
So even as the world tugs and pulls at us and one season of life slips into another, home is never really more than a heartbeat away.
And I think that is really what makes it the nicest word there is.
Now, speaking of homes, there are so many more all decorated for fall for you to tour as part of the 2016 Finding Fall Home Tour hosted by Laura of Finding Home Farms!
Jeanne Oliver
And as always, thank you so much for meeting me at the fence today,
your house is beautiful. Is the picture of farm fresh a kitchen towel? Love that. Very simple but beautiful.
As always, your home and your words are so lovely and welcoming! Thank you so much for joining us!
Love the reminders of home…. lovely tour! Thank you! laura
Oh, I’m so enjoying this tour! Finding new friends and seeing so much beauty! I love your thoughts about home…those words echo deep into my heart. Your home looks like a wonderful place to be too. Love your beautiful Fall decor!
Happy fall touring to you!
I love all the details in your home. The straw, the hydrangea, the chalkboard, the EVERYTHING!
You are a rock star!
Happy day!
karianne
oh friend – every little touch is just beautiful. So wish I could sit on that comfy couch with you and have some coffee . 🙂 xoxox
Love all the fall touches in your beautiful home. Gives me ideas and inspiration to decorate. Thank you for the reminder of what “home” really is all about.
Beautiful sentiments and beautifully decorated! Home is definitely the nicest word there is. 🙂
What beautiful fall touches here and reminder about what home truly is. I very much enjoyed all of it!!
Loved your fall home tour! So many beautiful touches throughout. You’ve given me lots of decorating ideas too. 🙂
I always love seeing your home and your fall is beautiful.
Beautifully expressed sentiment of what makes a home, and I enjoyed seeing your seasonal decor!
So beautiful Vanessa!! Love your home and style! xo
Thanks so much Vanessa for sharing the tour of your home and your thoughts on what Home means. You are so right.
I just adore the cotton and wheat you’ve integrated!
So warm and cozy!!! Love how festive everything looks and I need some cotton! I have been seeing it everywhere and I want some too 🙂
Hi Vanessa,
I so agree with you. Being home and being able to work at home is the very best! Your images show how much you love and care for your home and I would love to visit and chat! Your home wears fall beautifully!
As always, your home is beautiful. And, hearing the “sounds of home” resonates with me. Brings back lots of good memories.
Oh, I love your words and pictures!
I feel many of the same sentiments about home. I am a homebody. I like to go and do things, but I often tell my husband that it always feels so good to come home!
Happy September!
Beautiful tour, beautiful sentiments!
Thx for the inspiration. Your home is beautiful. I am wondering where your pillows came from that are in the chairs near the fireplace? I have been looking for something similar for a while now and can’t seem to find what I want! Enjoy your day!
Hi Michelle! I purchased the pillow covers at a shop on Etsy called Porter Lane Home. She does beautiful work! 🙂
I love your outlook on what home is! I would love to find out where you got the white framed chalkboard or if you made that. Everything is warm and beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing your home!
Beautiful fall decor, and beautiful words.
Such a beautiful home filled with so much inspiration! Thanks for the lovely tour!
Shelley
Loved this! Such a lovely home! Question though – do you drink hot drinks out of your copper mugs? I wasn’t sure if that was possible! I’d love to know if it gets really hot or if it works like any other mug! 🙂
Thank you for your spiritual take and reminding us of the specialness of Home!
Ohhhh, I just love your Fall Home Tour! and the words are so beautifully written. I’m not sure if you remember me, but we were in the same mentor group at Haven. It was a pleasure meeting you, thanks for inspiring me with this post!
In the Cottage White Magazine on page 117 in the Fall Simplicity article the chandelier on page 117, did you paint it white or is persain white? How many lights is on chandelier? I’m trying to find it in Wayfair.
Thank you
Hi Monette! Here is the link the chandelier from Wayfair. I ordered it in Persian White. 🙂 https://www.wayfair.com/Quorum-Salento-9-Light-Transitional-Chandelier-6006-9-70-QUF4890.html