fall-pumpkins

thistlewood-farms

Hello friend.

I’m so happy you are here.

Truly.

You’ve made my entire week.

My friend Laura from Finding Home Farms put together a little fall tour today.

I’m throwing open the door to the farmhouse and showing off the kitchen and the family room and fluffing the pillows and picking the Captain Crunch up off the floor and filling the sweet tea glasses.

Let’s get this party started.

kitchen-fall-tour

cotton-fall

I had the most incredible weekend.

I traveled to North Carolina for a local show and had a once in a lifetime hair day and waved to the mountains and drove through a tunnel and my heart is full.

So I wanted to share a little joy with you today.

I wanted to do something a little different.

Of course. 🙂

fall-kitchen-table

apple-fall-cutting-board

I mean, a tour with pumpkins and cotton and reclaimed wood and galvanized metal and vintage wood floors is amazing.

But a tour with a story?

It’s so much better.

Here’s a fun story to read while you’re touring. 🙂

fall-kitchen-cotton-and-galvanized-metal

calendar-fall

I was singing a little School House Rock in the car the other day.

I totally was going all old school.

I sang School House Rock before I ever looked for fall decorating ideas on Pinterest.

Before I ever tweeted.  Or facebooked or periscoped or instagrammed.

Before I ever used social and media in the same sentence.

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orange-tiny-pumpkins-fall

The chatter in the car was at full volume all around me with heated discussions about why 3-D movies were so much better and how school lunches didn’t have any salt on them anymore and that fall break was almost here and that the first amendment to the constitution guaranteed the right to free speech.

And quietly to myself….

…I started to sing the preamble with choreography.

We the people (hand twist)….

….in order to form a more perfect union (head bob)….

….establish justice (lobster claw) ensure domestic tranquil…..

My voice trailed off as I suddenly realized there was complete silence in the car.

No one was talking.

galvanized-metal-shelf

tiny-pumpkin-fall

Three sets of eyes stared at me in complete and utter astonishment.

“Mom,” my son said in a whisper.  “How do you know that song?”

“School House Rock?” I laughed.  “Everyone knows School House Rock.  We used to watch it all the time on television when I was your age.”

“You did?” he said.  “Really?  I didn’t even know they had television back then.”

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orange-pumpkins

I think he was actually serious.

I think he meant it.

He actually thought we didn’t have television.

Really?

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Did he think I came over on the Mayflower?

We might have not had Twitter or Facebook or Pinterest or Instagram or cell phones.

But we knew our way around a good set of rabbit ears.

family room new windows

sweater-pumpkin

And just as I was about to prove that I had a television.

A television with programs.  And channels.  And remote controls.  And School House Rock.

Just as I was about to sing an entire verse of “Conjunction Junction what’s your function?”

I heard something from the back of the car.

family room fall

fall-mantel

A voice piped up that said, “Of course they had television when Mom was little.  Right mom?”

Ahhh…at last…someone had my back.

Someone who knows how young I am.

Someone who recognizes that I know all about cell phones and DVR’s and computers and looking for fall inspiration on Pinterest.

Someone who doesn’t think I was there for the signing of the Constitution.

family-room-fall

toile pumpkins

And then the little voice from the peanut gallery located in the back of the car added, “I mean…they had televisions.  It’s just the screens didn’t have any color….

….that happened way later.

*sigh*

I guess it’s just you and me, George Washington.

We Constitution signers have to stick together. 🙂

thistlewood-farms

I hoped you enjoyed the tour and the story.

And now here’s some amazing fall inspiration from these incredible and creative bloggers.

You can click on each of the buttons to take you on their tour.

Happy Fall!

finding-home-farms

inspired-by-charm

julieblanner

french-country-cottage-1

at-the-picket-fence

stonegable

four-generations-one-roof

home-stories-a-to-zjeanne-oliver

zevyjoy

ella-claire

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Comments

  1. Image for Jaime Jaime

    Stunning tour from a rock star mom. Loved your story. My oldest boy was nearly scarred for life when I told him we didn't have home computers growing up, and that I was excited when my family got a Brother word processor in my later high school years ;) And he loves to hear about my huge cell-phone-in-a-bag that plugged into my first car's cigarette lighter for power and had a nifty velcro closure :) Ah, kids. I love 'em. Have a wonderful week, Karianne!

    1. Image for Michelle Michelle

      Love this story! I laughed out loud about you coming over on the Mayflower! I hope you have been doing well. This time of year is fun for me I love Fall and Fall decorating-my very,very favorite! Your home looks beautiful as always! Thank you for always welcoming us in!

  2. Image for Preppy Mountain Farmer Preppy Mountain Farmer

    LOL! Love it...both the story and the tour. I especially like the sweater-covered pumpkin. I would have never thought of that. Have a great week!

  3. Image for laura {not a trophy wife} laura {not a trophy wife}

    Hi KariAnne- It's Laura from Not a Trophy Wife! We chatted a few weeks ago and you got my head spinning for days... I even wrote a post about it.. and sandwiches and new plates. What did we do before texting and 2nd phone lines. I remember the canary yellow phone attached to the wall and I would stretch the cord like a bungee to get outside away from my mom who was most likely ironing in the kitchen. How did we survive? Have a great week! We are still waiting for pumpkins in Colorado!

  4. Image for Babette Thurston Babette Thurston

    Hahaha! I had the same reaction from my twins (boy/girl, very interesting dynamic these two) last year! I homeschool my twins and they were taking a Bill of Rights class at their enrichment program. I started proudly belting out my School House Rock and they were dumbfounded!!! Then of course my girl said, "Wow, I wish we had that cool stuff on now!" I loved it! They had to memorize it so we had lots of fun singing it together. Loved the tour! Especially the textured pumpkins! One of them even looked shaggy! Ok, I have to ask and I know you're busy but, how do you manage to cook and get around your kitchen with the table so close to everything? I think that would drive me crazy. I saw that on HGTV the other day in someone else's home and really wondered how they maneuvered? Thanks KariAnne!

    1. Image for KariAnne Wood KariAnne Wood

      Babette, The table is actually MUCH farther away than it looks like in the picture! I have tons of space to move around in....not that it inspires me to cook! LOL! Happy day friend! karianne

  5. Image for Cecilia Cecilia

    Sigh. Funny thing is, I remember when my dad brought home our first color tv. All 13" of it. We were in heaven. Lol, too funny. My kids are still shocked to hear we didn't have computers. :-) Oh yes, I love your tour. I keep looking through your photos. So beautiful! You know, you could do a class on how to style a photoshoot in a house. I'd come. Or better yet, do a online class. Seriously! Have a great week, rock star!

  6. Image for Cheryl Cheryl

    Please don't ever stop blogging! Every time I read your blog I end up with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart!

  7. Image for Nancy Maland Nancy Maland

    Karianne-- Love your stories!!! You home is wonderful but your stories are the BEST! Please tell me again your grey and your 'beige' wall paint colors. Even the fall pumpkins accents work with the quiet but warm backdrop. Happy Fall! Nancy Tennessee

  8. Image for Lanita Anderson Lanita Anderson

    Hey Karianne......loved your fall home tour, as always, and loved your story even more!! I could do a duet with you on School House Rock....loved to sing that on Saturday mornings growing up! HaHa! Thanks for sharing all of the great photos and fall inspiration for your home.....happy fall, friend!

  9. Image for Becky Becky

    When my son was young he seriously ask me if we had electricity when I grew up! My favorite Schoolhouse Rock song, When your ten gallon hat gets five gallons flat a hanker for a hunk a cheese.... My daughter was in a school production of School House Rock. It was so fun. Love all your fall touches. Everything is so pretty.

  10. Image for Claudia A. Claudia A.

    Ooo ooo ooo, I'm Just a Bill, but my favorites were Conjunction Junction, Lolly Lolly Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here and Figure Eight. Yep, I remember the Dark Ages. Four channels, yelling out to my Dad as he moved the outside antennae and rotary phones with party lines. Oops, I may have said too much...my age is showing. Your house is lovely as always. :-)

  11. Image for Nan, Odessa, DE Nan, Odessa, DE

    Love, love your stories~ Now show us and tell us about the hair day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is your hair naturally curly? I know about the red lipstick, now the hair. HAh, Hah! Come on girlfriend. Waiting for the tutorial on the blinds at the new windows. Is there an easy way to do lettering on wooden signs? I want one, but don't want to purchase one that appears to be made on a lathe. HELP!!!!

    1. Image for KariAnne Wood KariAnne Wood

      My hair is naturally do whatever it pleases. :) And the easiest way to do lettering on wood signs is to use vinyl cut-outs! Posting the roman shade tutorial this week. Happy fall! karianne

  12. Image for Loryl Loryl

    I just about spit out my coffee laughing this morning! And I had to go back and look at the pictures because I was too interested in your story! Those School house Rock tunes will be in my head all afternoon. My sister and I sing them and my nieces look at us like we have lost our minds! HA And that cute little gray sweater pumpkin really caught my eye. Thanks for another great start to the day?

  13. Image for Meta Meta

    I stopped at Embassy Suites in Franklin, TN on Saturday for a Matilda Jane consignment sale. The football team from my alma mater was staying there before their game with Vanderbilt. I just had to stop and talk to them and tell them I was an alumni and never missed a game when I was in college. When I told them I graduated in 1973 the look on their faces told it all! 1973? Sometimes I forget that I'm that old!

  14. Image for Rebecca Turner Rebecca Turner

    Giggles! You are too funny. And so are your kids! Btw: I love the pops of orange! On a curious note, I was wondering if you have a TV in your family room? Where is it hiding? Does it pop up out of the window seat, or one of those fabulous old boxes underneath the chaulkboard? Hydraulics! Wouldn't that be handy! (My daughter's mother-in-law has such a fabulous thing. It must've been invented by a woman, lol!)

  15. Image for Jeanne Jeanne

    I chuckled at your story...And was reminded that I have been asked to teach the Constitution to 2 Fifth Grade classes this week...my youngest is in one of the classes...I asked her, off the cuff, if she knew about the Constitution...Oh Sure, Of Course, It's About the World...Right? Oh dear, this could make for a LONG Week. :)

  16. Image for jenni jenni

    um...yeah. my son, bless his little tyke-ish heart, once asked, "did you play with the dinosaurs, mom?" i was an ancient 27-year-old when he was born and nearly pushing 30 when he thought to ask that question. so literally, according to him...i'm way older that you.

  17. Image for Donnamae Donnamae

    Unfortunately...now I'm going to be singing those songs all day long! Not because I remember them from my childhood....but my kids' childhood! Sad...so sad! Your home looks so pretty...all decked out! My fav is the sweater pumpkin! ;)

  18. Image for Ellen Ellen

    I am more than old enough to remember when we got the first TV with the little round screen that had such limited channels and air time. How we watched the tiny dot fade away when it got turned off. Then I also remember when my parents got the first color TV in the neighborhood and everyone came to see that treasure. We've come along way since those days. Love your story- don't your children sometimes make you feel like an antique? Of course your tour is awesome too. The photos are lovely, Fall is all over your beautiful home. Thank-you for this delightful post.

  19. Image for Annie Annie

    KariAnne reading your posts always puts a big smile on my face! I love Schoolhouse Rock and loved your story... Your home is so very beautiful and inspiring all dressed up for fall!

  20. Image for Linda Linda

    Loved that story! Kids! I'm so old they'd die if they knew we only had party lines with our phones! WHERE did you get that toile white and gold pumpkin! WOW... I just love it! Everything is so beautiful, thanks for sharing all these ideas.

  21. Image for mary mary

    Always love your stories! I actually am old enough that for part of my childhood television was only black and white. Fast forward years later when one of my children said to me "If I had to watch tv in black and white, I wouldn't watch it." She couldn't understand that was our only choice!! Amazing how far technology has come!!!

  22. Image for Michelle Michelle

    I've missed you! Good to see you again and so glad you all had such a great time. I hear North Carolina is beautiful and chock full of sweet tea daydreams. And then coming home to the farmhouse, which, as always, looks stunning, yet comfortable and inviting...just the kind of place you want to sit back and relax. I love all the fall decor, especially the little orange pumpkins! Your television conversation in the car with your kids reminded me of one of the smartest things I've ever done. I took a cassette tape recorder to my grandmother (I don't think MY grandkids have ever seen one, let alone know what one is) and asked her to record her memories about her life (she as born in 1900). One of the best memories, and something I didn't know before, was of her driving a horse and buggy to the schoolhouse to teach, then later buying one of the first cars in town to drive there -- a Model A Ford! It was fascinating and enlightening even to me, a grown woman at the time. A few years later, I had the tape transferred to discs for my sisters and their kids to enjoy.

  23. Image for Susan Susan

    I could just picture you driving all the way to North Carolina with your ultra-fabulous hair, greeting the trees, mountains, and tunnels and I'll bet North Carolina was sooooo happy to have *YOU*...they probably didn't want to give you back and who could blame 'em? :) Your home is as gorgeous as always, KariAnne...I'm always up for a tour of Thistlewood Farms! I am crushing on all of the different pumpkins you've used to decorate with...in particular, I love the little grey sweater pumpkin as well as the gold toile patterned pumpkin...I've actually never seen anything like that before! Leave it to you, to set the trends! Now I have "Conjunction Junction" stuck in my head...not that I'm complaining...a catchier song never existed! Wasn't watching "School House Rock" projected on the walls of our caves a very special experience? I always liked to watch it right before I saddled up my raptor for our daily ride to gather nuts and berries. Little do our kids know, The Flintstones isn't a cartoon, it's a documentary of our times growing up...hehe! Have a wonderful day, Rock Star...keep singing! :)

  24. Image for Julie Julie

    SO GORGEOUS Kari Anne! Take your breath away gorgeous! Your stories always get me too. I can relate to this one big time. I've been hearing that a. lot. lately. There's a really run-down Diary Queen we pass on the way home from school. My kids were awestruck to hear that DQ was around when I was a kid. And guys, you're not going to believe this - ice cream. We even had ice cream. Way. Back. Then. We are not THAT old, are we?! :)

  25. Image for Laurie Laurie

    Karianne, Where did you get the cotton stems? (Sprays? Not sure what to call them!) I love them and sure could use some in my fall décor. (Lolly's lolly's lolly's get your adverbs here!).

  26. Image for Celeste Celeste

    Went to an art fair on Saturday and a jewelry artist had used an electric typewriter font ball as a pendant for a necklace. I looked at it and laughed and said "Most young people won't even know what that is." Another lady from my generation caught my eye and we had a good laugh over seeing something that used to be the bane of my college years now a fashion statement.

  27. Image for Teddee Grace Teddee Grace

    When I was quite young I asked my mother if she remembered the Civil War. I kind of recall she didn't think it was amusing! Where did you get that really interesting pumpkin...the one that looks like it's covered in flokati...or maybe shredded coconut!

  28. Image for Carmen Carmen

    So appropriate as this is Constitution week and we are watching the old School House Rocks videos in my 4th grade classroom that you mention! Loved them in the 70's and still love them now!

  29. Image for Barbara Woods Barbara Woods

    Loved your fall tour! Your home is lovely. The bright orange pumpkins against the white ironstone just pops! And I am in love with that galvanized cart with compartments where you have cups and saucers! Where did you find it? And who knew pumpkins could wear sweaters! Loved the story too. When my boys were young, they laughed about how I grew up in a tiny west Texas town where it was always dusty and we didn't have TV until I was in the 8th grade and reception was not very good!

  30. Image for Vanessa Hunt Vanessa Hunt

    Oh how grateful I am to know that my kids aren't the only ones who think we are all ancient!! LOL! Every time my son sees a commercial for something related to the 'elderly' he shouts through the house "Hey mom I think this is something you need!" Good times. ;-) I love, love, love all of your fall-ish-ness my friend!!! xoxo

  31. Image for Loveit B Loveit B

    Just stumbled across your blog a few days ago....absolutely love reading it while drinking my morning coffee. I wish you were my neighbor..

  32. Image for Sara Sara

    Oh my gosh!!! That is so funny! Just last week I started singing the same song in my car? And I only had one of my kiddos with me but we had the same tv discussion! so crazy! You just made my day?

  33. Image for Maria Maria

    Hahaha...."We constitution signers...." Oh goodness, the things kids will never grasp. I remember what a big deal getting our first ever computer was!! I wonder what the equivalent of that moment will be for kids today! Also, the tour is lovely as always. I love those bar stools and the fuzzy looking pumpkin;)

  34. Image for Michele Antonio Michele Antonio

    Your house looks beautiful, Karianne!!! n And you take the most stunning pictures!!! I have been out of the blogisphere for a while but it is so good to be back to see what you are up to!!! Have a great day!!! Oh, and I sing School House Rock songs all the time myself. They did not name it "ROCK" for nothing-it still ROCKS!!!!!

    1. Image for Michele @ The Vintage Vixen Michele @ The Vintage Vixen

      Your house looks beautiful, Karianne!!! n And you take the most stunning pictures!!! I have been out of the blogisphere for a while but it is so good to be back to see what you are up to!!! Have a great day!!! Oh, and I sing School House Rock songs all the time myself. They did not name it “ROCK” for nothing-it still ROCKS!!!!!

  35. Image for Laura Laura

    Love all of your fall decorating! Fall is my favorite season to decorate for, I think. About five years ago, my then 16 year old daughter asked me if I had electricity when I was growing up. Seriously, did she think Abe Lincoln and I grew up together? I will admit, we did not have computers and I remember having a black and white tv when I was really little. We only had 3 tv stations to watch frowing up. But I am not so old that I had to do homework by candlelight. Lol

  36. Image for Laurie Laurie

    Love the fluffy white pumpkin what is it made of ...the tour was fantastic thank you so much .....now I am ready to decorate !!!

  37. Image for Joella Joella

    This cracked me up! Your home tour was beautiful and your story made it feel like a visit over pumpkin pie and hot coffee. :)

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