Subscribe to Pleasure in Simple Things via RSS ReaderFollow Pleasure in Simple Things on InstagramFollow @InSimpleThings on TwitterLike Pleasure In Simple Things on FacebookFollow Pleasure In Simple Things on PinterestEmail Jackie

october book giveaway!

September 28, 2018

breast cancer awareness pumpkins (2)

This is one of those months when the book giveaway is not a book!  For October, the giveaway is handmade pink velvet pumpkins.  Pumpkins; because it is October and pink; because October is breast cancer awareness month.

I encourage everyone to display at least one pink pumpkin during the month, preferably in a really visible location – like a front porch.  A great way to show support for breast cancer awareness month!

Inside the home, a clear container, a terrarium, or a cloche is great for pink pumpkin display! The container I used here is from Terrain and I am constantly changing up its contents to suit the season!

breast cancer awareness pumpkins (2)

To win your very own velvet pink pumpkins, made by me, just leave me a comment saying you’d like to win!  The winner will be chosen at random at the end of October from the comments received during the month.  Win and you will be able to display some pink velvet pumpkins each October!

Congrats to Mary Beth (a self-proclaimed pencil geek) , the winner of the September giveaway of the journal and the set of pencils with my custom imprints.  Click here to see more on the giveaway.

pink pumpkins in a terrarium

Instagram users, please read on.  For the month of October, let’s share our pink pumpkins!  Use hashtag #pleasuregram to share any photos of pink pumpkins on display – by you or by someone else!

pink pumpkin

Thanks for stopping by!  Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

1 comment

it’s all about the stem

September 25, 2018

its all about the stem

It’s official.  It is fall!  I always start the season by making some velvet pumpkins.  Every year I make a few more, using new shades of velvet and pumpkin stems I have collected from the year before.  Each year, I like to make some pumpkins that are a little different than the year before…either in color or fabric.  But, before I start my own pumpkins, I have a few pumpkins to make as gifts.

yellow ochre velvet pumpkin

If you make velvet pumpkins, you know the personality of the pumpkin is created with the stem.  And, the hardest part about making pumpkins to give as gifts is to part with the stems!  It is all about the stem!

Here are a few great stems from some gifts I made this year – my first pumpkins of the season.

At a request, I created my very first red pumpkin.  Look at that marvelous stem!

red velvet pumpkin

Thanks for stopping by!  If you haven’t yet tried making a velvet pumpkin, you can look back into my archives for directions by clicking here and give it a try!  You can start by collecting some fabulous stems!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

more autumn 2018 at terrain

September 21, 2018

unpacking the pumpkins

As promised, I am sharing a little more of the season change at Terrain, here in Connecticut.  It is the best place to get inspired for a new season.

pumpkin tower in the grasses

water feature at Terrain Westport

shades of burgandy

Enjoy the photos here for Friday field trip!

box of white pumpkins

burgandy grasses

If you live within visiting range of a Terrain, you will want to be sure and stop in for the Annual Autumn Bounty Festival on September 29th!

double pumpkin tower

box full of squash

squash with character

fall yellows

Thank you for stopping by!

Terrain pumpkin tower

stem envy

small pumpkin tower

Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

autumn 2018 at terrain

September 18, 2018

ringing in fall at Terrain Westport

I was kicking and screaming over the whole season change.  Summer wasn’t going away easy for me…and then, I took a trip to Terrain.  I should have known better.  I should have saw it coming.  One trip and I was sucked in – dreaming of all things pumpkin towers and fall colors!

terrain autumn time

white pumpkins Terrain Westport

basket of mums at Terrain

I am sharing some of my favorite glimpses here…you will see what I am talking about!

different shades of pumpkin stack

fall color at Terrain Westport

serious stem envy

Serious stem envy! I had to buy this little fella…I needed the stem for making velvet pumpkins!

I always feel sorry for those who don’t have a Terrain nearby to visit!  There is no better way to kick off any of the seasons than a visit to Terrain!

fall can be purple

Trellis at Terrain

Stop back on Friday and I will share some more…even a small glimpse is hard to contain to one post!

baskets of gourds

5 pumpkin tower

bumpy pumpkins at Terrain

Thank you for stopping by!

outside wall terrain

dueling towers

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

new life for my fern container

September 14, 2018

finished succulent rocks

I had a lovely little potted fern.  It always put a smile on my face.  I received it as a favor at a wedding shower and I always loved it.  I even tucked a little bird inside of it!

fern casualtySo, I was really disappointed when my fern died – I had enjoyed it for years!

I decided not to put another living plant inside the cute little container the fern lived in, but I did want to reuse it.  Since I’d been painting rocks recently, a rock painting came to mind right away!

For today’s Friday field trip, look at the quick and easy rock painting I made for my fern container!  (I was inspired by the succulent Easter eggs I made last year!  Click here to see them.)

painting the rocks

A very simplistic design can bring satisfying results!  I hope I have inspired you to paint some!  If you want to keep your rocks outside, be sure to spray them with clear coat to protect against the elements!

succulent rocks

Of course, if I was embracing the season, I would have painted some pumpkin rocks ;) !

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

beat it fall!

September 11, 2018

doormat

I am not accepting fall gracefully this year!  I didn’t have enough time to enjoy the summer and I am kind of bitter about the change of season!

I haven’t even begun to think about changing up my décor, though I did need to add a blanket to my bed last night.  And, I must confess, we had a fire lit in the fireplace last night.

Still!  I want to keep summer alive!

In an attempt to let summer go gracefully, I started combining the seasons…one way I’m accomplishing this is in the garden.  Instead of pulling up the summer annuals and planting fall blooms, I have started combining the two!

parsley and mums

Here is one example.  In my cosmos/parsley container, I removed the wilted cosmos and let the parsley hang on for dear life while I added some mums. If we don’t get an early frost that kills the parsley, it will look great combined with the mums when they are in full bloom!

mixing seasons

I am looking around for some additional ways to combine seasonal plants around my yard.  How about you?  Have you combined fall and summer plants in your garden?  I would love to hear about your combinations!

close up of parsley and mums

Thanks for stopping by!

Fall quote

Have a great week and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

change of season

September 7, 2018

a sign of fall

It’s funny how much I love the change of season when it is becoming summer…but, when summer is leaving – not so much!

grasses outdoors

enjoying labor day 2018

Nature is starting to send some subtle signs of the approaching season and it makes me feel sad…

queen anne's lace

Today on Friday field trip, the photos I am sharing are from my Labor Day weekend in New York state.

how to relax in the trees

I hope yours was as good as mine!

rise and shine labor day 2018

Have a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

grilled cherry tomato skewers

September 4, 2018

making cherry tomato skewers

As a kid, I would never even consider eating a tomato!  Not sure why, because, as an adult, I look forward to this time of year when local tomatoes are beautifully ripe and ready to enjoy!

There are so many wonderful ways to eat tomatoes.  You can’t beat a tomato tart when made with fresh, ripe produce!  (Click here for a great recipe.)

tomato skewers on the grill

Another fabulous, but very simple way to eat a tomato is grilled.  And, skewers of cherry tomatoes, hot off the grill, are so very flavorful!  I love eating grilled cherry tomatoes on toast spread with goat cheese.  Or, just all on their own, sprinkled with salt!

cherry tomatoes cooked and ready from the grill

Grilling skewers of cherry tomatoes is simple enough.  If I am using them on toast, I just grill them, as is, on skewers.  I season them once they are on the bread.  If I am eating them plain, I first toss them in a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper before skewering and grilling.  Either way, they grill up fast and taste fabulous!  Heating them up makes their flavor explode!

tomatoes and basil skewer recipe

So, if you have a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes…or, have just picked some up at your local farmers market, be sure to try some skewered and heated on the grill!  Tasty!

skewers for grill

Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like seasonally delicious tomatoes!

skewers on the grill

Thanks for stopping by, Jackie

no comments