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October – officially pumpkin washing time! :) Ā Kole and I carried out our annual tradition of spraying off the pumpkins and cleaning the front porch and decorating it for Fall last week. Ā It’s so funny to me that this even became a tradition! Ā For anyone new here this all started when Kole was little. Ā We bought some pumpkins at the grocery store one October years ago and they were dusty. Ā I set them outside when we got home and told him to spray them off in an effort to keep him busy while I unloaded the car. Ā He had so much fun cleaning the pumpkins (he has always loved spraying the hose and anything to do with water!) and asked if he could do it again the next year.
And so it began. :) Ā We always look forward to this and have now added on a fun mom/son activity together after the pumpkin/porch washing. Ā This year we played tennis and had lunch. Ā Traditions that just naturally form are always the best traditions.. aren’t they!? Ā I love letting my kids take the lead. Ā It’s so fun seeing what things they want to repeat every year during the holidays. Ā We went to Starbucks and all got pink drinks and hot chocolate one year before our Christmas Eve drive to look at lights in pjs and now of course we can’t have a Christmas Eve without a Starbucks run! Ā I love the holidays. :)
I had Kole move the pumpkins out into the sun to dry and this straight line me smile. Ā He is just like his mom with a touch of that OCD/perfectionist side. Ā He is hands down my tidiest child. Ā I like the pumpkins in that perfectly straight line too buddy. Ā Peace and calm in order. Ā I get it. :)
You might notice that my pumpkins are all green! Ā I didn’t really plan on a green pumpkin porch but when I went to the store the green pumpkins were just sort of calling my name. Ā Before I knew it I had a cart full of green pumpkins and thought.. hmm. wonder what direction I think I’m going with these? Ā Ha.
So here she is! Ā My unintentional green and white Fall porch! Ā I kind of love it. Ā But I love everything green so no surprise there. :)
{faux weeping eucalyptus trees/metal black lanterns/hand woven jute rug/scattered tan rug/black planters}
The real stars are my beautiful faux weeping eucalyptus trees. Ā Gah! Ā Could not love them more. They fill in the sides of my porch so nicely, I love the pots they come in and I mentioned before they are so realistic! Ā Very nice quality. Ā I’m beyond thrilled that I don’t have to maintain them!
I added two smaller real plants (they are white azaleas and just haven’t quite bloomed yet!) and then I bought these black pots for them. (The pots aren’t pictured.. I bought them the day after I took these pics but thought I’d share in case you need good, basic black pots.) Ā I love using small stools to add a little height to my pumpkins. :)
I added my long time favorite black metal lanterns andĀ am going to add some candles with a timer inside so that they light up at night. I need to find some that are larger than this set I already have (on the to-do list!).
For my porch rug I layered this beautiful hand woven jute rugĀ (in a 4×6)Ā with this funĀ scattered tan rug. Ā Love them both! Ā Such a cozy look for Fall. Ā My plan is to keep the jute rug out for Spring and Summer too. Ā I can use it along with my faux trees all year long and just switch out the mat and a few things on the sides for each new season. Ā Brilliant! Ā Why didn’t I think of that years ago!? Ā I guess I had to live through the dying (and bird nesting) of multiple real trees to finally see the light. Ha.
I love the different shades of green and the various texture in these pumpkins!
Kind of fun to mix things up this year! Ā I hope you like it too! Ā I know green pumpkins aren’t for everyone but they definitely make my day when I pull into the house. Ā I’m thinking I’ll add some fun bats going across the door when it gets closer to Halloween. Ā Kole is a fan of the bats in October. :)
I’m lucky to have such a good helper this time of year.
Growing so fast but he’ll always be my littlest pumpkin in the patch. :)
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I love the green pumpkins on your porch. It’s one of my favorite colors, too. They look beautiful with the black accessories. Your trees are lovely. Let’s hope a artificial bird doesn’t nest in there. ;) Could happen. I’m always saving plastic trees at the store when I decide against a plastic bag to save one. :) I love how you have built your tradtions. You showed something recently about cleaning your cushions and I was slightly bummed that Kole must have been in school when you did that. LOL I got my fix seeing him wash the pumpkins! He is getting so big. But not so big that he doesn’t help his momma. Yay! I hope you have a fantastic week, Erin. :)
Thank you so much Jeanne! I know.. Kole is at that age where he is getting bigger/older but still a sweetheart who likes to help with certain things. I’m sort of dreading the upcoming middle school years when he will no doubt get too cool for me. Ha. I hope you’re having some fun Fall weather in your neck of the woods. No doubt it is absolutely gorgeous right now! xo
I love that your little boy has this tradition.
It looks beautiful as always!
Thank you so much Kathy! Happy Fall! :)
Cute photos. Several years ago after washing my pumpkins I tried this. I had some old floor wax that I purchased at Dollar General and I rubbed it all over my pumpkins with my hands and after it dried the pumpkinsdried they had a pretty gloss to them. So now, that is also part of my yearly pumpkin washing routine. And they look so pretty.
Oh wow! What a smart idea Jean! LOVE that. I can just picture your glossy pumpkins.. so pretty!
Erin,
The porch! One of the BEST things you have done-MY opinion, of course ; D
ONE of the BEST things, EXCEPT, of course, some CHRISTMAS decorating!
SOMETIMES the “traditional” decorating and colors seem trite. Is “trite” the word I want??
Hmmmmmmm……..
Anyway, I think I told you this already, but one year and again another, I used PINK at christmas!
A wreath on every window and on the door and lamp post with large pink bows with streamers.
House before this. It was a “colonial” w/a victorian flair. WHAT builders will come up with!
It was when expecting my 3rd child and my FIRST set of nesting birds struck, early spring, after a v. bad winter and they(wreaths) had to stay up on windows into the Easter season due to mama bird and babies w/nest in a wreath. I was so glad the bows were pink! I mean you cant get away w/red bows at Easter! ;-D
I had many comments on the PINK rather than red and did it again the next year! Now I have gone back to the traditional colors, at least for NOW!
I LOVE that you skipped the orange THIS year. I have the reg. orange pumpkins this year already……
There is always next year………….
Also, just have always loved your covered entry porch. This house is a N.E. traditional, Federal style. NO covered door. Flat front.
MAYBE I could go more eclectic and add coverage over the brick porch-MAYBE! Then I could decorate it more, items out of the elements and GET YOUR TREES!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, may the “pumpkin washing” tradition continue! Its the best! THESE moments are the MOST special! We moms KNOW!
Sharon/New England
Sharon! I love reading your comments.. feels like we’re just sitting together and chatting and laughing! :) You did tell me about those pink bows and it totally makes me want to do PINK for Christmas! I did that in my bedroom last year and loved it. I agree.. sometimes it’s just more fun using non traditional colors and mixing it up! Thank goodness you did a pink theme having to leave them up through Easter. I’m sure it looked like you totally planned it that way.. ha! I’m so happy you like my green porch.. you are always the sweetest! BRING ON Christmas decor! Oh my word.. I’m so excited for it! Happy Fall! Wishing you all the best during this fun time of year! xo
Awww So Cute!
Love this! Looks Great!
Thank you so much Dina! :)
I love that you have this tradition with your son! My husband and daughter have a yearly tradition of baking Christmas sugar cookies together (10 years now). Which has also turned into baking them for Easter and Halloween : -) Do your lanterns collect bugs inside them? I had some on my front covered porch that I placed candles (with a timer) in and boy they were always filled with bugs! So I got rid of them. lol And I love your green/white themed front porch!
Shari that is such a fun tradition! Love that. And I love sugar cookies! I’ve tried making them a few times and they never turn out great but I bet Addison could make some (she is so into cooking!). We need to try again this year! I’ve never had an issue with bugs in my lanterns! We get a few flying around the top porch lights but that’s it. I would be just like you though.. DONE with lanterns if bugs were flocking! Ha. :) Thank you so much.. I’m so happy you like my porch! xo
Very Nice Erin!
I got the candle set that you linked the last time you featured it. I am using the candles in my fireplace right now to add some warm visual fall glow to the family room. I might have to get some more of them!
Oh what a fun way to use those candles! Love that. Thank you and happy Fall! :)
Love, love , love this look!!! I love the addition of those pretty black lanterns. I love white pumpkins, and after seeing this I will be mixing in a few green this fall. I love that Cole is always ready with his water hose. š This tradition will be a forever memory for you both. Very sweet!
So sweet of you Kelly! A forever memory for sure. :) Thank you! xo
Your porch is adorable – Iām a green pumpkin girl myself!
Cole is a handsome young man!
So sweet of you Amy.. thank you! :)
Love the idea of mother and son making memories together year after year. You will look back on those memories in years to come. I also love the green pumpkin porch, it’s beautiful! What size black lanterns did you use on either side of your door? They look amazing!
Thank you so much Katie! My lanterns are the two middle sizes! 36 and 21 inches. :)
I really love your green pumpkins!! I am so into the green this season myself! Your new porch mats are adorable too. I’m glad you and Cole have this fun tradition together :)
I’m so happy you like it Lisa! Thank you! :)
What is the height of the blank lanterns you’ve used on your front porch? Another beautiful door scape!
Thank you so much Laura! My lanterns are the two middle sizes! 36 and 21 inches. :)