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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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July 4, 2011

4th of July Recap and Remembering Why

It’s been fun spending this last week getting the Picket Fence ready for the Fourth of July! We had to admit getting to share all of our holiday décor with you all is definitely incentive to go all out!

We have made it easier to eat outside by creating a Dining Caddy out of a Goodwill find
DSC_0224_edited-1
We made super simple No-Sew Patriotic Pillows of Bandanas!
[no-sew-pillow-9%255B10%255D.jpg]
Then tried our hand at an even easier No-Sew Bandana Pillow using rubber bands and ribbons! You could make these the morning of the 4th for easy, instant holiday color!
Up next we took the Bandana idea one step further and created a No-Sew 4th of July Pennant

4th of July Pendant Banner
Of course it wouldn’t be summer without flowers! We tried our hand at this fabulous Flower Tower which couldn’t be easier to make!
We welcomed you into our home at the Fence with a fabulous and easy addition to a wreath for that perfect patriotic touch!
And, last but not least invited you to join us at The Blooming Hydrangea where we are guest posting and serving up this easy and fantastic festive dessert: Layered Berry and Lime Glazed Cake!

We hope you enjoyed visiting us at the At The Picket Fence where Vanessa

2011-06-272
and Heather are celebrating the Fourth in full force…say that three times fast! grin!

2011 06 01
We want to wish Americans everywhere a Happy Fourth of July and remind you to take a moment to remember the WHY behind this holiday!
We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls.  ~Robert J. McCracken
illustration_rockwell_freedom_of_religion

We have enjoyed so much freedom for so long that we are perhaps in danger of forgetting how much blood it cost to establish the Bill of Rights.  ~Felix Frankfurter
Graves at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery San Diego, California, USA

One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All! ~United States of America Pledge of Allegiance
MP900305844

Happy Fourth of July
from the picket fence…
dual signature
This post is partying at:

Between Naps on the Porch: Metamorphosis Monday 
Itsy Bitsy Paper: Red, White & Blue Party

24 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Good Ideas, Good Thoughts, Holidays

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Previous Post: « Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 21
Next Post: For when you are neither “Shabby Chic”… »

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Comments

  1. Val says

    July 3, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    What a great post!! Made me feel very proud!! Ladies, I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July weekend.

    Reply
  2. Crystal @ Ordinary Days says

    July 3, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    Happy 4th to you as well!! Love those features and photos. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Anita says

    July 3, 2011 at 1:44 PM

    Lovely post, with lovely ideas! Thanks for remembering!

    Reply
  4. poppilinnstudios says

    July 3, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    What a nice post, and some great decorating ideas. Have a great 4th of July weekend!

    Reply
  5. Pattie says

    July 3, 2011 at 2:40 PM

    Great features guys hope you and your families have a great 4TH weekend…

    Pattie

    Reply
  6. Sweet Young Journey says

    July 3, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    Thanks for sharing all your wonderful tutorials! Happy Fourth from our family to yours!
    xo Cheryl

    Reply
  7. The DIY Show Off says

    July 3, 2011 at 4:54 PM

    Beautiful post, you two. And your DIY – so festive! Happy 4th!

    Roeshel

    Reply
  8. Rene' says

    July 3, 2011 at 8:03 PM

    Thank you for sharing all your wonderful ideas! Happy 4th of July and God Bless America!!

    Reply
  9. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    July 3, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    Loved the post! Happy 4th of July!

    Reply
  10. NanaDiana says

    July 4, 2011 at 1:30 AM

    Wonderful post! You girls are doing a great job…and I am really tickled to see all the interaction you are getting! Love it! xo Diana

    Reply
  11. KAT says

    July 4, 2011 at 1:55 AM

    happy Independence Day and I hope you have a great weekend!
    KAT

    Reply
  12. Cottage Rose says

    July 4, 2011 at 1:57 AM

    Happy 4th of July,,,, I love the photos,, and the pillows are really fun…. will have to give it try…

    Hugs;
    Alaura

    Reply
  13. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    July 4, 2011 at 2:14 AM

    Hi girls have a wonderful 4th of July!! I love all your summer projects. I can’t believe I missed your flower tower I LOVE it!! Martina

    Reply
  14. Deborah says

    July 4, 2011 at 2:41 AM

    What a wonderful post! Love the pictures and projects. You make it seem so simple! Thanks for reminding us of the true meaning of the 4th! Best to you and yours!

    Reply
  15. Karena says

    July 4, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    So many great projects featured.

    We must all remember those who died for our freedom and cherish our independence!!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

    Come and join a very Fashionable Giveaway from the Shabby Apple!!

    Reply
  16. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    July 4, 2011 at 5:30 AM

    Happy 4th girls~ What a great patriotic post! Hugs, Courtney

    Reply
  17. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    July 4, 2011 at 5:30 AM

    Happy 4th girls~ What a great patriotic post! Hugs, Courtney

    Reply
  18. Lindy@Itsy Bitsy Paper says

    July 4, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    What a great post with all those wonderful ideas

    I’m having a Red, White and Blue Linky Party and would love for you to join in on the fun by linking up.
    https://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com/2011/07/red-white-and-blue-linky-party.html

    Reply
  19. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    July 4, 2011 at 2:07 PM

    Happy 4th to you girls, and family!~

    Reply
  20. LDH says

    July 4, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    A lovely post! It warms my patriotic heart 🙂 Hope you are enjoying your 4th!

    Reply
  21. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    July 4, 2011 at 8:16 PM

    Hi Ladies, I hope you and your families are having a fabulous
    4th. Thanks for all the inspiration.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  22. Debbie@refreshrestyle says

    July 5, 2011 at 3:51 AM

    Hope you two and your families had a great 4th!
    Debbie

    Reply
  23. Simply Bungalow says

    July 5, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Beautiful Post. I love all the patriotic decor.
    ~Heidi

    Reply
  24. Lindy@Itsy Bitsy Paper says

    July 7, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    Thank you so much for linking up to my Red, White and Blue Linky Party!

    http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com

    Reply

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“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard ar The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard are at their peak and I’m here for it!
It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the gr It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the greatest joys of this stage in my parenting journey is getting to see the results of the years spent pouring into my children. The worry, the sleepless nights, praying, questioning our decisions and learning to trust in the Lord Who loves them even more than we do. We definitely didn’t do everything right, but what an an amazing experience it is to watch them become these incredible teens/young adults. My tip this week might seem simple, but I believe it can make a major difference in the lives of our children, in our homes and maybe, just maybe, in the culture too. 🌸
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