• 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

October 3, 2012

It’s Simply Fall….At The Picket Fence


Simple: not elaborate or artificial, unaffected; unassuming; modest; not grand or sophisticated; unpretentious; not complicated…. a simple design.  

SIMPLE

Seems to be the word of the day around here At The Picket Fence
These days the fence has gotten a little chaotic.  Now, in no way are we complaining.  The busyness is a result wonderful opportunities and we feel so BLESSED! 
An opportunity to speak at a Blogging Conference
A chance to work with LG and fly to New York City for the Food Network Wine and Food Festival
A feature in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine coming out in a few weeks
upcoming projects and posts for some major brands and products
children leaving the nest….and in the midst of it all selling a house and moving.

So when your life feels a little crazy AND you are selling your house, like I am, how do you decorate for the Fall and still maintain that “staged” and somewhat sterile look that Realtors want you to have? 

How do you indulge your creative side and still maintain order?

You simplify


You use what you have.  

A sheath of wheat tied with a simple brown ribbon.
A vintage silver tray holds a neutral pumpkin tinged with a touch of blue.
A pedestal cloche holds a bumpy gourd.

A re-purposed picture turned framed chalkboard provides a canvas for creativity….

and one more pumpkin of chalk..it’s a 

HARVEST of SIMPLE THINGS!
It’s just Simply Fall here At The Picket Fence!

We invite you to join us and these other fabulous ladies for a fun month of 
North, South, East and West Thanksgiving Traditions! 
Heather from Setting for Four will be kicking off the party tomorrow so be sure to join her there! 


Email Updates
Facebook Page
Pinterest

I’m sharing this post at:
DIY by Design
Savvy Southern Style

23 Comments Filed Under: Autumn, Decorating, Dining Room, Good Ideas, Good Thoughts

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Fall Mantel
Next Post: Decorating with Photos & a $350 Shutterfly Giveaway! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. CK Mangold says

    October 2, 2012 at 5:14 PM

    Looks great! Congrats on all the things you girls have got going on! 🙂 Shared — FB, G+ & Stumbled. Woot, Woot!

    Reply
  2. Gypsea says

    October 2, 2012 at 5:23 PM

    Your decorating is beautiful! I am sure your house will sell in an instant!

    Reply
  3. Savvy Seasons says

    October 2, 2012 at 5:56 PM

    So pretty, I am loving that display…. everything is gorgeous! xo ~Liz

    Reply
  4. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    October 2, 2012 at 5:58 PM

    Sooooo pretty Heather!!

    Reply
  5. Heather SettingforFour says

    October 2, 2012 at 7:33 PM

    Love your Harvest of Simple Things post! Great message to keep it simple with creativity and what you have on hand! The framed chalkboard is the bomb!! Can’t wait for our linky party to start tomorrow – will be loads of fun! Sharing your post on Twitter, Google + and facebook!

    Reply
  6. Cindy Ritchie says

    October 2, 2012 at 8:13 PM

    Simply beautiful Heather!

    Reply
  7. Judy says

    October 2, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    It looks just beautiful. I think I am liking simple more and more each day.

    Reply
  8. Pam - @diy Design Fanatic says

    October 2, 2012 at 8:47 PM

    Your vignette is beautiful! Fun parties coming up.

    Reply
  9. Tanya Anurag says

    October 2, 2012 at 9:31 PM

    And you showed us all that simple can be just as beautiful as anything.
    All the best with the packing, parting, selling and moving! It takes a toll on you, so keep a watch on your health as well.

    -Tanya
    https://tanyaanurag.blogspot.in/

    Reply
  10. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    October 2, 2012 at 9:48 PM

    Your “fallscape” is perfect….simply beautiful!…Love the chalkboard art!!
    Congrats on all the things that are happening At The Picket Fence….

    Reply
  11. Debbie says

    October 2, 2012 at 11:46 PM

    I love it all, and simple is the name of my game this year. I’m even planning to whittle down my usual Christmas. I just like the feeling that I can breathe.

    And any Realtor would be thrilled to show your home!

    Reply
  12. Cynthia says

    October 3, 2012 at 1:08 AM

    Simple elegance. Love it.

    Cynthia

    Reply
  13. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    October 3, 2012 at 1:35 AM

    And it’s perfection, Heather! Can’t imagine finding the creative and mental “space” to decorate with all you have going on… here’s to keeping your sanity! 🙂
    xo Heidi

    Reply
  14. Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique says

    October 3, 2012 at 2:03 AM

    You can never go wrong with simple… remember that old saying ‘less is more’.
    I’m so pleased to hear about your successes. Well done and don’t forget to enjoy the journey.

    Reply
  15. Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR says

    October 3, 2012 at 2:36 AM

    Heather, your decor is so pretty! Simply beautiful!

    Reply
  16. Debra @ Common Ground says

    October 3, 2012 at 3:56 AM

    Just beautiful!!

    Reply
  17. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    October 3, 2012 at 10:55 AM

    Beautiful and simple and exquisite fall decor… your life… not so simple, but exciting!!!!

    Reply
  18. Leslie Harris says

    October 4, 2012 at 2:13 AM

    Heather I’m so happy for you, wow you’ve got a lot of great things happening right now. And moving too? Whew. I need some of your vitamins. But back to your post—love the vignette. Simple and elegant too. You’ve got a great eye!
    Leslie (aka Gwen Moss blog)

    Reply
  19. Athena at Minerva's Garden says

    October 4, 2012 at 7:10 PM

    Simplify is a great buzzword, Heather, even for those of us who are not moving 🙂 I love your chalkboard and the lovely detailing on your dresser–very pretty! I hope that your move goes very smoothly.

    Reply
  20. Kathy Shea Mormino says

    October 5, 2012 at 2:22 AM

    Hello, new follower here! I would love to have you link up with my Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week!
    https://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/09/clever-chicks-blog-hop-2-featured-post.html

    I hope to see you there!
    Cheers!
    Kathy
    The Chicken Chick

    Reply
  21. kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says

    November 5, 2012 at 6:25 PM

    Oh, Heather…you ALWAYS inspire me. I just HAD to mimic your chalkboard and I LOVE it: https://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2012/11/simple-thanksgiving-decor-thanksgiving.html
    Can’t imagine how hectic things are for you right now! I hope it slows down soon and you can put your feet up a bit!
    {HUGS},
    kristi

    Reply
    • kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says

      November 5, 2012 at 6:25 PM

      P.S.– And I DEFINITELY linked back to you!! 🙂

      Reply
    • Heather & Vanessa says

      November 8, 2012 at 6:46 AM

      Thank you Kristi! Off to check it out. 🙂

      Heather

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Savvy Seasons 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

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.
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?
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2022 At The Picket Fence