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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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September 21, 2015

Happy Fall! Have a Ball!

Hi, it’s Julie, from redheadcandecorate.com! You know, as a little girl growing up in New York State, Fall was all about Halloween. I remember tons of curled leaves on the sidewalks as I scooted through the neighborhood in my cat costume collecting candy in my pillowcase. I’m not even sure if I noticed the colorful foliage before the leaves shed, but I do remember having a plan to rake the entire yard by myself. I remember raking so long that blisters developed on my little hands, and my dreams of mile high piles to jump in quickly turned to thoughts of, “Maybe I should go watch the Brady Bunch and try again later” thoughts.

Ah well…at least I went after my dream and had fun even when it didn’t turn out the way I expected.
That’s my hope for all of us this Fall. To have some good ole fashioned fun. Before you know it, the snow will be flying so there is no time to waste.
Here is my list of favorite fun things to do this Autumn season that don’t require a lot of money, or a lot of effort.

Go Apple Picking

Apple Picking 2014

Every year, right around the end of September we head out to our local apple orchards. Last year was a hoot because it was quite chili. We acted like crazy apple thieves running in there for our “pecks” of apples. We did it in record time because of the temps. Hopefully, this year it will be warmer and slower. We enjoy Empire apples the best…they are crisp, sour, and sweet all at once. Granny Smith make the best pies though. What are your favorite apples?

Make a Homemade Apple Pie

Dutch Apple Pie

I think my husband wanted to marry me all over again when I began to bake my own apple pies about 10 years ago. There is nothing like the smell of fresh sweet tangy apples baking with the sugar and spices. I think I may have to make one this weekend after seeing this photo. The young folks like to bake too, so this would be a great time to encourage them to help.

Take a Fall Foliage Scenic Drive

Michigan Fall

I remember when we moved down South I wondered if the leaves would change. I asked our realtor and he laughed at me. UH! So rude, I thought. Well…maybe it was kind of a funny question, but when you’re from the North you don’t know these things. We lived in NE Florida and the leaves did change color, however it just wasn’t as colorful. The air still becomes clearer though, so that would make for a great time to go for a drive. Better yet…

Have A Soup Picnic

Smoky Mountain Kale & Sausage Soup-yum!

Heat up your favorite soup and pack the pot up in a few towels and a cooler. Coolers can keep things hot too! Or light a grill at a park with coals and put the pot there to heat it up. All you would need is some large coffee mugs to serve it in, a loaf of crusty Italian bread to break apart, and something cold to drink. Don’t forget the blanket and pillow.
Did someone say blanket?

Visit Your Local Thrift Store

pretty blanket

Wait, if you do this before the Soup Picnic, you would have a blanket to sit on. Can you believe I found this beautiful crochet blanket at Goodwill? Such gorgeous colors and perfect for those Fall naps. If you find one, just wash it in hot water a couple times because you never know.

Decorate With Scarves

Use a scarf in your Fall decorating!

With what? Yes…I am obsessed with scarves, flannels, and boots. So much so, that I am beginning to incorporate them into my home decor. I can’t keep buying things at stores because the house is getting too full. Time to use what I have, and hey…it looks and feels great. Just wrap your favorite scarf down your bannister, and secure with thumb tacks. The remaining supplies are mostly dollar store buys. The candles are thrift store glasses with t-lights.

Try Indoor Gardening

impatients

There is no doubt that gardening is relaxing and good for the soul. Did you know that Impatiens can survive indoors, too? You just need an indirect sun window like I have at my kitchen sink. They need to be kept moist, too. I just grab my dish sprayer and spray them once a day when I’m doing the dishes.

Build A Campfire

DIY Fire Pit Kit

We have campfires all Summer long, but it might be too hot for some of you. We also have to be careful of the dry regions. Be sure to call your local fire company to check if conditions are appropriate to enjoy a fire with the kiddos, or your neighbors. If you don’t have a fire pit, light some candles and relax. Don’t forget the S’mores Dip.

Happy Fall…have a ball!

Full recipes and tutorials can be found on redheadcandecorate.com.

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11 Comments Filed Under: Autumn, Good Ideas Tagged With: Autumn, fall

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Previous Post: « Fall Home Tour 2015
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Comments

  1. Debi D says

    September 21, 2015 at 6:43 AM

    Where in NE Florida did you live. I live on Amelia Island and do miss the Fall color you get – just have to make a trip to the N. Georgia or NC.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      September 21, 2015 at 1:16 PM

      We lived in Jacksonville, Debi. Small world!! Fall was my favorite season down there. It lasted for months where here it is very fleeting.

      Reply
  2. heather says

    September 21, 2015 at 8:14 AM

    When can I come over, Julie?! This post SO puts me in the mood for fall!!! Just beautiful! Great blog to feature At The Picket Fence!!!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      September 21, 2015 at 1:17 PM

      Thank you, Heather! You are welcome any time sister. Wouldn’t that be FUN!!

      Reply
  3. Rose L. says

    September 21, 2015 at 10:01 AM

    I thought it was funny how you spelled “chilly” as chili! Not sure you meant to do that, but I associate heat with chili. Homemade apple pie is a sure fire path to a mans heart!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      September 21, 2015 at 1:18 PM

      Did I really? LOL. I must have been craving chili! If not, now I am. Thanks for the heads up, Rose!

      Reply
  4. Devra says

    September 21, 2015 at 4:36 PM

    The picture of your apple pie just made my mouth water!!!! Would you consider sharing the receipe? Thanks for such a fun blog………

    Reply
    • Julie says

      September 22, 2015 at 6:30 PM

      Here you go, Devra! https://redheadcandecorate.com/2012/09/julies-easy-dutch-apple-pie/

      Reply
  5. Pink Camellias says

    September 22, 2015 at 3:06 PM

    We are getting just a touch of fall here in Atlanta. I’m still wearing sandals – not quite ready to trade them in for boots! We are lucky here, because it is just over 2 hours to the mountains of Western North Carolina, where you can see spectacular leaves in the fall. We love to go to the N. Ga mountains to apple pick. I was just talking with my youngest son today about going apple picking this weekend!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      September 22, 2015 at 6:31 PM

      Get those apples, girl!! We may go twice this year. They keep forever in the crisper. I had some stay fresh until Christmas last year 😉

      Reply
  6. LilySmith says

    October 1, 2015 at 4:09 AM

    Fall is my favorite season! Great pictures! The one with scarves decoration is something I simply have to do in my house immediately!

    Reply

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“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?
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What are your favorite plants that you look forward to seeing in the summer?
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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.
Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and h Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and hail and snow) we are finally getting some sunshine and warmer temperatures. I’ll be honest, it’s really affected my spirits having one gloomy day after the next. So this is a much needed reprieve. Our cherry trees are showing off outside my kitchen window and we plan to get outside and make the most of these days while we have them.

What’s the weather like where you are?
“The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and “The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and boast, the pangs of life will sting for a while longer, but don’t worry; the forces of evil are breathing their last. Not to worry…HE’S RISEN!” (Charles R. Swindoll).

Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; he has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to him.

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, he was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried; yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. (Isaiah 53)
I try to always remember to put a water bottle in I try to always remember to put a water bottle in my car before I go to pick up my daughter from school. She didn't ask me to do this, but a few months ago I began to notice that she was often thirsty when she would get in the car. Her water bottle filled up at the beginning of the day was empty by the time school got out and she would ask if she could have some water from my hydroflask. So I make sure to have one waiting for her. It's just a simple thing, really. But, I want her to know that I'm paying attention, that I see her.

Isn't it amazing how small gestures can make us feel less invisible? Knowing that someone is thinking of us and takes the time to meet a need that we might not have even realized we had? These little acts can have big impacts. What is something that someone has done for you recently that made you feel valued and seen?

What have you done for someone else to remind them that you are paying attention to their needs?

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
― Charles Dickens
“The next day the large crowd that had come to t “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ – John 12:9-19
#palmsunday
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