When I started blogging, I had no idea it would take me all over the place, to areas of the state I’ve never been to, nor would probably not have a reason to go to, except for an invitation. One of my readers, Melinda, lives north of Birmingham, on Chandler Mountain and her hubby raises tomatoes and she has a little business of growing pumpkins. And for several years, she’s had a Pumpkin Party, inviting friends and relatives, and friends of friends to stop by her house for a Fall pumpkin party the first weekend of October, with lots of good food and of course, pumpkins galore.
So, me and my hubby drove up to Chandler Mountain on Friday and really enjoyed seeing everything that Melinda and her sisters had put together. On the way, we stopped by Williams Market in Trussville, to see if they had some fresh peach pies ready.  And they did. If you want to get in a Fall mood, stop by one of the local markets for an eyeful of autumn color.
Scare crows, pumpkins and lots of mums.
The colors are a riot of explosion this time of year.
They have the biggest pots of mums I’ve ever seen and grow them locally.
A quick snack of a peach pie and we are on our way up the mountain to the Pumpkin Party.
We followed Melinda’s instructions and went directly to her house,where she greeted us with a smile and a warm welcome. She had really outdone herself and everything looked SO welcoming and Fall-ish. Melinda was dressed in the color of the day herself. Either that, or she’s an Auburn fan. 🙂 
There were so many photo ops, I went crazy taking pics.
Just beautiful!
They live up on a mountain and out in the country, in a beautiful setting by a pond. The tomato fields are on the other side. 
And under a huge Wisteria-covered pergola, the food was set up. This candolier had tiny pumpkins perched on top and hung in the middle of the food table. So lovely!
The dessert table was spectacularly furnished too. She said that her sisters had helped her with all the food and it was all just scrumptious. 
A beautiful place for an outdoor Fall party.
I loved this table! They had everything looking so pretty. Check out this old tool box piece that was repurposed as a plate and napkin holder. Genius! And the tables were covered in burlap. Melinda, have you been reading my blog!? 🙂
Check out the thick vines of that wisteria. And then feast your eyes on the gorgeous display of fresh veggies and dips, cleverly served in clay pots and pumpkins which were marked with a Sharpie to identify each one. I love this.
We sat at this adorable rustic table and chairs and feasted on the bounty. If food is involved, we will be there! 
This little sweetie was so cute and really hoped that we would drop some morsels her way.
On the front porch, Melinda’s door wreath was beautiful.
And pumpkins for sale were abundantly scattered all over the porch.
Welcome to the party-goers.
Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere.
All sizes and colors.
So cute.
Melinda wanted me to come inside and take a peek and she had so many cute things to see.
I have to say, I’m glad I don’t have to decorate around these guys. 🙂 My hubby is not a hunter, but down South, many women have them around the house (I’m SO sorry!). 
Melinda did some really cute things with these pumpkins. Simply adding tacks gave them a whole different look.
She closed in one side of her porch for a long and narrow sunroom and really has used it to it’s full potential. 
This white farmhouse table was so cute with the black chairs.
An old telephone table sits by the backdoor.
And a clever way to divide a space like this is visually with a piece of furniture. See what’s hiding behind it? An extra bed. How genius is that?!
This was the window treatment above the bed, burlap and branches. Too cute!
She said this was an old barn door from some relative, I think, that she used to hold old family pictures. I love this idea!
Outside by the pond is a rustic birdhouse that Melinda made. I love this too.
Welcome Fall with a pair of old outdoor chairs.
This is beautyberry growing abundantly and it has the most intense pink berries.
I hope you enjoyed going with me to Melinda’s Pumpkin Party on the Porch. Thank you, Melinda, for inviting me, it was a delight to meet you and your family and to share in the Fall festivities at your beautiful home in the country.
So, if someone in the area wants to invite me to a special party or gathering, I’d be glad to hear about it. You never know, I just might show up, camera in hand. That was so much fun!
I was lucky enough to get in on a Before and After contest this year at One Project Closer for my dining room redo. Now, they are voting for Favorite project out of all the ones featured, so PLEASE, my dear readers, go over and vote for me! I’ll win a $150 gift certificate and you know what I can do with that.
Just love what Melinda did, using pumpkins for her dips…I will be using this great idea next week at our AUBURN tailgate…and lucky me…ORANGE is the color of the day! That sunroom is soooooo pretty…I would spend most of my days in that room. Thanks Rhoda for sharing this…it has made my day!
Blessings,
Linda
What a cute pumpkin party! Everything looked so festive and fun! Loved all of the pictures… they really captured the spirit of Fall! 🙂
Everything is so beautiful! So neat that you got to join in the fun. Thanks for sharing the experience with us!
It looks like a fun place!
You received my vote. I hope you win!
That was beautiful! I really love the porch. Now I’ve got all kinds of ideas for mine. Thanks for sharing.
What a great place to visit. That is my dream porch!
Oh what a delightful outing you had! How fun was that?All that fall goodness was so much fun – as was the peek inside her home! I have met some of the nicest people as well through blogging. It’s the best!
How funny! Virginia and I went to Williams Orchard on Thursday!
I got a beautiful orange mum for the yard and apples for my
apple carmel tart. I loved Melissa’s house and how cute everything
was decorated. Think I’ll pull out my upholestry tacks and try
the pumpkin idea.
What a gorgeous setting/day/home… ! 🙂 I’m so glad you both got to head out and experience this pumpkin party. Your photos are fantastic!
I love Williams and their mums! What a fun Pumpkin Party. I love how Melinda put dips into pumpkins and wrote on the top what tip of dip was inside – it is a great idea I will be sure to use soon.
Melinda’s house and tables are just adorable, Rhoda! What a fun party, and she had some wonderful ideas there. Thanks for sharing this.
XO,
Sheila 🙂
Oh you Southern Girls sure can throw a nice party !!! What fun..
Kathy 🙂
That looks like my kind of party! Melinda’s home and the setting there is just gorgeous. I’m so glad you got to go and meet her.
What a fun post, Rhoda! Melinda has a lovely, lovely home. 🙂 I loved seeing her creative uses of pumpkins (dip, tacks, etc.) Very cool. 🙂
How nice … a pumpkin party and a tour. Don’t you just love Autumn!
I love how Melinda made use of the porch … tons of space, the hutch hiding the bed, the pictures on the old door, and even the tacks on the gourds. I with you though on the deer heads … glad I don’t have to decorate around them.
I got an error message, hope this doesn’t post duplicate. I love the little trips you take us on. The food and decorations were so festive.
The more sunrooms & enclosed porches I see, the more I am determined to enlarge/enclose ours (any view will have to be manufactured, tho, since we live on a postage stamp-sized lot). Great pics, as usual, Rhoda. Thanks for sharing.
Now, just HOW do you stay so tiny & eat all that good food? Details, please. 🙂
Christy
Hey Rhonda. Thank you for sharing those pictures with us. You gave me a little taste of Autumn. I’m sure not feeling it here in Florida. I can almost feel the cool breeze and smell the fresh air. What a beautiful place and she really has made everything picture perfect.
Have a lovely evening…Tracy 🙂
Completely gorgeous! I grew up with the antlers, skins & heads on the wall… dont have any now though.
Rhoda, I live maybe 10 minutes from Chandler Mtn. We were up there a couple of weeks ago. I need to know how to reach Melinda and purchase some pumpkins! I live between Attalla and Steele near the mountain.
And for the deer heads on the wall – I have had them on my walls too! But no MORE!! They are now in my hubby’s new “hunting” room just for the deer heads and I am SO GLAD!
I really would love to know how to reach Melinda!
Thanks!