It's a Porch Thing

By Holly Cellini | Photography by Michele Mabie

Welcome to my favorite time of year! The smell of mulling spices and pumpkin spice in the air. College football season is in full swing. You can actually have people over for bonfires and S’mores! Does it get any better? It does—you can start putting your pumpkins out!

I have a love affair with pumpkins. The more unusual they are, the better. Gladiator, Warty Goblin, Polar Bear, Cinderella, Crystal Star, I could keep going. They start being added to my home in the first part of September. I thought it was just me. Nope, I am not alone. September is by far my busiest month. Hay, corn stalks, gourds, and pumpkin adorn all of my outside space.

If you are tackling your porch yourself, I have a few suggestions for you. First, remember texture is your friend. Look for different types of pumpkins. Even if you would like to use all of the same color, find ones with different textures and shapes. Second, use something to raise your pumpkins up. You can use a hay bale, an interesting chair, stool, or bird bath to name a few. Pick something that reflects your space. Lastly, don’t limit your display to just pumpkins. Add in mums, corn stalks, and gourds. Trust me, this will make a difference!

Enjoy this magical season, and decorate your space to inspire conversation and relaxation. Cheers!

itsaporchthing.com

Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest: @itsaporchthing

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter

½ cup sugar

⅓ cup light brown sugar tightly packed

¼ cup pumpkin puree

1 large egg yolk

¾ tsp. vanilla extract

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

1 ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 ½ tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. baking soda

¼ tsp. cream of tartar

½ tsp. salt

Topping

1 ½ tsp. cinnamon

½ cup sugar

Instructions Combine butter, sugar, and brown sugar, and stir until well combined. Add pumpkin and stir well.

Stir in egg yolk and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt until well combined.

Gradually add dry ingredients to wet until ingredients are well combined. Cover cookie dough with clear wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 45 minutes.

Once the dough is nearly finished chilling, preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Prepare your cinnamon-sugar by whisking together 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tsp. ground cinnamon in a small bowl.

Remove dough from the refrigerator and scoop into 1 1/2 tablespoon-sized balls. Roll briefly between your palms until smooth, and then roll through cinnamon-sugar and transfer to the prepared cookie sheet, spacing at least 2" apart.

Bake cookies for 10–12 minutes. Keep your remaining dough refrigerated while cookies are baking, and do not place cookie dough on a hot baking sheet. Allow baked cookies to cool completely on the cookie sheet before enjoying.

Hot Apple Cider

Pour a large bottle of apple juice in a large saucepan. Pour one cup of mulling spices (I prefer Williams Sonoma’s) into a piece of cheese cloth or mulling spice ball. Set on low heat and simmer for a couple of hours. Ladle out into your favorite mug. If you are in the mood, add your favorite adult beverage. You won’t regret putting in the time to make this yourself. Your house will smell like fall... enjoy!

Pumpkin Crates

This is a fun and simple craft for fall that my thirteen-year-old daughter helped me with. I got all of the supplies from Walmart and a stick from my yard. Pick three of the wood crates from your local Walmart. Choose whichever Waverly Inspirations Chalk Paint colors (usually on the same aisle) that fit your space. Apply the paint. When it is dry, apply a coat of the Waverly Inspirations Matte Varnish. This will protect your cute project from the outside elements. When each one is totally dry, use wood glue to attach your stem to the top of each crate. Have fun using these on your porch for the fall season.