Pumpkins and pine cones aplenty, Maggie’s shower
proved to be a celebration of the season and most especially, a celebratory
time to shower my nephew William Napp Yelton with love. Though a New Year’s baby he will be, Maggie wished for a fun time with dearest
families and friends in we Farmer three’s favorite season –
fall.
There are aspects to each season that are lovely but autumn to me is simply extra-special – a relief from the
drudgingly long summer heat, a solace for wonder to fill our hearts, memories of childhood, the farm, family, and only even more wonderful
to be topped off with Christmas. I’ve said it before and I’ll say
it again – fall is a Southerner’s reward for surviving summer.
My sisters and I love the elements of this season
from the scents to the sights and shades each day brings. Maggie
truly wanted a time to “shower” Napp with gifts and love when
she herself looked like a pumpkin! She’s as thin as she ever was ya’ll
but with a perfect pumpkin as a belly! Maggie also wanted a shower that
wasn’t themed specifically for a baby – she, like her brother, loves
to take what is in season and use that as a nod to said season. I, though,
run with an element and thus flood the steps with pumpkins! A
party is just our excuse to fluff and have fun with our homes, so why
not line the steps with pumpkins of every shape, shade and size you
can find?!
For the last couple of Octobers, this Farmer has been
more than humbled that
Southern Living used my pumpkin pairings for the cover. I thought I should practice what I preach and do the same
at home. Taking a cue from the way the white pumpkins just popped from
the palette, I used some good old fashioned white mums for a floral
element on the steps. Fluffy asparagus fern gave some feathery green
to the mix too along with little pots of parsley – I am a sucker
for herbs in terra cotta pots!
The front steps were not the first spot I got into
the season – the annual beds at the beginning of the walkway
had some pretty tired begonias clinging on still from summertime. Fall
is A TIME TO PLANT, ya’ll, so parsley, violas and snapdragons came
on into the beds for bursts of color not only for now but into wintertime.
The snaps will die back but will rocket into stems of outrageous blooms
come springtime. Always remember –
for a truly splendid spring, plant in the fall and for a fabulous fall, plant in the spring. When fall
has passed and winter’s grayness has set in, I’ll be ever so thankful
for my plot of parsley et al – a speck of green for the wintertime
before the true riot of spring.
As for the door proper, pine cone and magnolia pod
wreaths were interlaced with bittersweet. I think brown and orange is
so handsome in many forms for fall – leaves and bark on the trees,
pecans and other nuts with citrus or pumpkins and berries with pinecones.
With a lively entryway leading one into the home, a more subdued pairing
of browns and oranges was completely apropos.
I always tell folks if they are overwhelmed with gussying
up the house for a party,
just concentrate your time and talents to the door, mantel and table. As for the mantel, I filled some antique
jardinerres with nearly pink pumpkins in the softest shades of apricot,
umber and salmon. Twines of bittersweet create movement and a touch
of drama while nests of hydrangeas dried from the summer fill in the
gaps and create a soft palette of blues, lilacs and greens to complement
the pastel pumpkins.
As is our custom for big parties, we love a big ol’
arrangement on the dining room table. This takes the need away from
having to have bouquets on everything that stands still and sets a fun
tone for the gathering. Dried hydrangeas, okra and lotus pods, nandina
and bittersweet berries, wheat, Mexican salvia and agarista billowed
forth from one of my favorite containers – a San Miguel blue and white
vessel. I did use some oasis for the fresh cut salvia and agarista,
but once those stems are through soaking, the whole arrangement will
dry beautifully and last well into the season – maybe just a fluff
is all it may need and this same centerpiece will be right at home for
Thanksgiving. I love having an event where the décor can be enjoyed
not just for a short time, but for a season.
A couple other little arrangements did dot key places
that should be fluffed when entertaining – the coffee table and
powder room. Apricot hued chrysanthemums (gifts from one of my favorite
growers) are daisy shaped blooms sporting their elegant, softly tinted
blossoms this time of year. A few sprigs from a favorite begonia, some
‘Little Lamb’ hydrangea blossoms, magnolia and plumes of pink
muhly grass round out the bowl set on the coffee table. A similar composition
was tucked perfectly into a silver julep cup in the powder room. Remember
– your guests are all going to eat and powder their noses sometime
during the party, so make sure both locales are decked!
Other little touches abounded from photos of “the
belly” strung together on the kitchen mantel to cups labeled
with little Napp’s name to a cake ever so whimsical and adorable.
The cake, made by the fantastic Lisa Mae not only was a feast for the
eyes, but also a delight for the taste buds – it was delicious! We
did hate to slice it but only until we had the first bite! The fern
fronds, acorns and forest friends were absolutely astounding and the
cake could not have been more apropos for the party.
Our cousin-in-law made a phenomenal “diaper cake”
that took an amazing amount of time and talent and sweet friends hosted,
cooked and greeted everyone – doing as exactly as these hostesses
always do by making each and everyone feel right at home. Since we were
all together, Mama snagged us for a photo shoot – whether the
five of us (counting Napp) amidst the pumpkins goes out as this year’s
Christmas card or the six of us (Napp
AND Mama) makes it in the mail is her call but regardless,
each and every moment together was special, heartwarming and simply
joyous. Big Napp (aka Granddaddy) made a cameo too and the whole day
could not have been better.
So whether your siblings are expecting or you just
want to have fun with the season, I wish the happiest of fall for ya’ll!
