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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 11, 2014

A Coast By Any Other Name

vacation memory jar atthepicketfence.com

“You know we call it the ‘coast’ and not the ‘beach’, right?

It was 1996 and my boyfriend was attempting to give me a brief linguistics lesson while we visited his family in Oregon over winter break. He was eager to show me around his hometown and take me for a drive along the ‘coast’. I was a Southern California girl and frankly, this slight nuance in terminology was lost on me. Besides, I was in love and not really paying much attention. He could have told me they called it the ‘watering hole’ and I would have simply nodded and gone along with it!

seashell in clay

But, as we wound our way west, I realized that this was nothing like the Pacific Coast Highway I was used to. Not only were we passing farms and forests but the landscape gave no indication that we were near anything even remotely coastal. Nowhere in California did I have to pass a lumber mill to see the ocean! Then, as we came up over a hill, suddenly there it was. It was so wonderfully familiar and yet totally foreign at the same time.

making a seashell imprint in clay

This version was like nothing I had seen before and I realized why my boyfriend tried to prepare me. The waves crashed against jagged rocks and the only patches of sand I saw looked anything but warm and welcoming. Wind whipped around us as we stood at the edge of a cliff to try and capture the moment on film. I felt less like a Valley Girl and more like a character out of a Brontë novel! Then and there I decided that this ‘coast’ was not for me.

How could anyone find this appealing?

making a clay seashell tag

Three years later, I found myself leaving behind my beloved beaches of Southern California and following that former boyfriend, now husband, to Oregon. Our new residence was only an hour from the ‘coast’. But, moving in the middle of a cold and rainy winter did not make me inclined to give it another chance. Needless to say I was suffering from a bit of culture shock. Eventually, winter gave way to spring and with it the most glorious shades of green I had ever seen. That rain has to be good for something, right?

beach terrarium memory jar atthepicketfence.com

As the days grew longer and I began to thaw out, my husband asked me if I would like to take a drive along the coast. Perhaps I was feeling homesick for the ocean. Or perhaps in my heart I knew I needed to fully embrace my new surroundings. We hopped in the car and headed west, past those same farms, forest and lumber mill. While we drove, we reminisced about that day, years before, when as boyfriend and girlfriend we had set out along that same route. And, before I knew it, I felt a stirring in my heart. This road and I had history. It had seen that boyfriend and girlfriend filled with love, hopes and dreams for the future. And, now it was seeing that same young couple turned husband and wife making those dreams a reality.

Beach memory jar with clay seashell tag from atthepicketfence.com

We came up over the hill and, once again, I was startled. Only this time it was by the beauty that stretched out before me. The sun peeking through the clouds created a glistening effect on the water as the tide rolled in and out. On one side of the winding road, dense evergreens rose up like giants. And on the other side the infinite expanse of the ocean reminded me of just how small and finite I really am.

This was the coast.

And I was home!

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11 Comments Filed Under: Crafts, Five Minute Crafts, Good Ideas, Summer Tagged With: 5 minute crafts, cheap crafts, crafts

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Comments

  1. chelsea says

    July 11, 2014 at 4:54 AM

    What a sweet and nostalgic craft! I love it!

    Reply
  2. Karen says

    July 11, 2014 at 7:20 AM

    I totally get your description of our coast and the forested highway that leads to it. My husband and I, 2 kids from SoCal, have called the NW our home for 27 years. We do not miss that rat race even when it’s raining here! Blessings on your day, Vanessa.

    Reply
  3. Julia G. says

    July 11, 2014 at 8:46 AM

    Beautiful memories! I live in Florida so the beach is all I know. I would love to visit the coast one day.

    Reply
  4. Marty Walden says

    July 11, 2014 at 10:35 AM

    Beautiful pictures and story! I can feel the breeze from here!

    Reply
  5. Carol Reddin says

    July 11, 2014 at 12:00 PM

    Beautifully written – beautiful pictures! And now WE’RE getting to see the coast with you! Love, Mom

    Reply
  6. Angela says

    July 11, 2014 at 2:27 PM

    Oh how I love this story! I grew up in Salem and can remember heading over to the coast!! We always played a game of “who could see the ocean first” because you would come over a hill and there it was!! Oh gosh how I miss it! You live in absolutely the most beautiful place in the world to me!! The Willamette Valley!!!~~Angela

    Reply
  7. Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says

    July 12, 2014 at 1:31 PM

    Great story and nice memories. I have always lived within an hour of the coast (New Jersey) and I couldn’t imagine being far from the ocean. Something I never get tired of seeing!
    -Shelley

    Reply
  8. Tracy S. says

    July 12, 2014 at 1:52 PM

    Love the coast! I am a born and raised Oregon girl and the coast is where my soul lives! My body,however, lives in the dry desert part in eastern Oregon! Miss the coast greatly and can’t wait to go back!!

    Reply
  9. Julie says

    July 12, 2014 at 8:45 PM

    Beautifully written, Vanessa, & from the heart, which I always love. I am so happy the beau was your hubby!!! FhEW!!!! lol You have a way w/ words, and a way into so many hearts! XO

    Reply
  10. Cindy says

    July 13, 2014 at 2:09 PM

    Sweet story and memory jar…
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply
  11. Pam @diy Design Fanatic says

    July 14, 2014 at 5:13 PM

    Lovely story Vanessa! When I was 12 our family rented a 36 foot motorhome and we drove up the coast through Oregon and Washington from SoCal. The coast is definitely different from the beach!

    Reply

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This is such a busy time of year and I’m always This is such a busy time of year and I’m always on the lookout for easy recipes that use minimal pots and pans therefore requiring minimal cleanup. 🙌🏻

This one sheet roasted veggies, sausage and gnocchi definitely fit the bill! And I don’t know how I’ll go back to boiled gnocchi after tasting it roasted. 😋

Here’s how easy it is to make: 

Preheat oven to 425

Use any combo of veggies you like. I used sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and red onion. 

Dice into small pieces and spread on a sheet pan. 

Slice up the sausage and add to vegetables. Then add the uncooked gnocchi. Drizzle with a tablespoon of olive oil and add a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. You can also add any herbs you like! 

Roast in over for 25 minutes stirring once halfway through. 

While it’s in the oven, melt a stick of butter in a saucepan and add in two teaspoons of garlic. 

When you remove the pan from the oven, drizzle the butter/garlic mixture over the top and stir well to coat everything. Top with Parmesan cheese! 

Easy peasy and SO yummy! ✨

#sheetpandinner #sheetpanrecipes
The first weekend in December seems like a good ti The first weekend in December seems like a good time for my annual gentle reminder about this month. I don’t know about you but, for me, December is a month of mixed emotions, ranging from joy-filled moments to ones that have me wanting to pull my hair out.

There are so many expectations and we put so much pressure on ourselves to create magical memories. And for years I have felt the added weight of wanting to make sure my family had opportunities throughout the month to grow in their relationship with Christ.

We celebrate advent and read all of the appropriate Baby Jesus books and encourage a spirit of generosity and heavily emphasize the real reason for the season.

But sweet friends, I want to remind you today that one month out of the year does not a strong relationship with the Lord make. December doesn’t define our faith in Christ.

For our families or for us.

There are 11 other months in the year. 11 other months to live out our faith in front of our children. 11 other months to pray with them. 11 other months to help them wrestle through their questions and add depth to their walk with the Lord. 11 other months to encourage them to have generous spirits.

Let’s stop putting so much pressure on this one month out of the year. Let’s be surprised at the ways we might be able to celebrate the baby in the manger without a dozen countdown calendars. Let’s give our kids some grace when they are focused more on gifts because…well…they’re kids after all.

And while we’re at it, let’s give ourselves some grace too.

Grace when we think we should feel all the warm fuzzy feelings about Christmas but we really just want to take a nap. Or have a good cry. 

Grace that reminds us that this month will soon be over and we will have a brand new year ahead of us.

A new year filled with big moments and little moments and everything in between.

A new year to draw even closer to our Savior.

My hope for you is that, as you head into this season, you will be given fresh perspective and that you will give yourself (and your family) permission to just ‘be’. ✨
✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this ✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this year I created a super simple centerpiece for my dining room that incorporates the candles we will use each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas. While we will only light one candle each week, I used more than four so that the centerpiece would look a bit more filled in. In keeping with my goal to embrace a softer approach to my decorating, this arrangement works perfectly and helps to keep our focus on the beauty and the meaning  of the Advent season. For more ideas like this, check out my previous Advent post! ✨

#advent #adventcandles #simplechristmas #wearethehomemakers
In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a bit more tender. When Christmas rolls around and I no longer have wish lists that include Lego sets or dollhouses, I find that I want my home to reflect this craving for all things gentle.

So our hot cocoa station this year is much more simple and done in a neutral color palette that just subtly blends in with the rest of the decor. It still feels festive and is definitely still “user friendly” but it’s just a bit less…well…less.

And, that’s ok. It’s not that this area won’t ever again have bright colors (maybe even pops of red!) but, right now I’m happy to have things this way.

With all that is going on in the world right outside our door, my desire is for our home to truly feel like a respite. I want it to be where we come and let our guard down, our heart rates slow and to be flooded with a sense of peace in knowing that here is where we can just simply be. I want it to be a place of rest. Rest from the constant onslaught of news and information. Rest from the seemingly small struggles of school and jobs that can so often feel like big struggles.

And, most importantly, we rest in the comfort of knowing the One who is Sovereign over all and is the reason this month is so very special and sacred.

Many blessings to you dear friends as we kick off this wonderful season! ✨
Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary to popular belief, the celebration of Advent is VERY different from just simply doing a ‘countdown to Christmas’. It’s not about having little drawers filled with candy or doors to open with prizes inside. Those things are so much fun and definitely help to build anticipation as you head closer and closer to the big day.

But Advent, from the latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘arrival’ or ‘appearance’ keeps the focus completely on celebrating the arrival of the King who came in the form of an infant.

This is one of our favorite family traditions and over the years I’ve figured out how to incorporate the Advent candles into my decor without using the traditional wreath. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration as we head into this sacred season. 🌲

#advent #adventdecoration #wearethehomemakers
Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Bec Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Because it’s the Saturday after and my house is almost completely ready to start the season! So I’m sitting with my coffee and just soaking it all up knowing that now I can focus on shopping, hosting and preparing our hearts for the start of Advent. The only thing left to do is get our fresh tree for the front room and then the decorating is done. 

Starting early is a gift I give to myself and I’m always grateful for it! 🌲

#simplechristmas #traditionalchristmas
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest fo “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
Christmas has arrived in the family room where I k Christmas has arrived in the family room where I keep things simple but festive! We’ll get a fresh tree after Thanksgiving which will go in our front room bay window but this slim faux tree with its colorful ornaments tides us over for now. Which room in your home gets the Christmas treatment first? Or do you just start doing a little at a time in each room? 🎄

*pillow covers are from @jshhomeessentials
I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
How do I want people to feel when they walk throug How do I want people to feel when they walk through my front door? That’s always at the top of my mind when I’m decorating my entry for each season, particularly at Christmastime. 

✨I want them to feel like my home is greeting them with a smile.

✨I want them to feel like this is a place where care has been given to details (but not to the point of being too stuffy or too busy or too overwhelming). 

✨I want them to feel like there is peace here.

✨I want them to feel like they are welcome…because they are. 

My home is a reflection of my heart and my heart is a reflection of the ONE for whom I live and try to honor and praise all of my days, but especially at Christmas.

How do you want people to feel when they come into your home? 

#christmasentry #simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
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