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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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June 22, 2015

A Lazy Summer Tour

Hello! It’s me, the redhead and I would like to invite you over to our house today for a Lazy Summer Tour…
The crazy lazy days of Summer are upon us, and all I plan to do is bask in the sun and sip fresh brewed iced tea,with little lemon wedges on the side of the glass.

The-Last-Peonies-of-2015

Well…actually, I gave up sunbathing years ago, but I will share that lemon iced tea with you 🙂
I hope you don’t mind if I take you on a little tour of the best parts about the exterior of our home…

Front Yard 2015

The peonies, oh the peonies. They remind me of the Fourth of July fireworks the way they reach into the air and fall.
They explode with layers and layers of sheer beauty.
Open up peony…let us in!!

Pink Peony

Out back you’ll see we live on a lake called Pung’s Lake.
It’s more like a pond…so who ever declared it a lake was fibbing!!

budding tree

We have a family of swans that swim by daily. The baby cygnets are a lot bigger now.
The swans are so peaceful.

Swans Baby 2015

We also have magnificent mature Michigan pine trees in our neighborhood. We don’t have ones like this on our property, but when I go for walk I am fascinated by them. Bunnies love to scurry under them, especially in the morning as I drive my girls to school.

Big Tree

We have to keep it real around here, so unfortunately we needed to “fire” our lawn guy. We decided to bite the bullet and buy a rider. My husband, Rick, is seen here taking our daughter for her first ride.
I think they like it.

20150609_194351_resized-2

We love to sit on our front porch at night because the sun sets on this side of the house. That means warmth and less bugs.
Can you spot the Robin’s nest?

Summer Front Porch

I collect bird houses, but purely by accident.
If you look really close you can see a 4th bird house on the ground (center of photo). That birdhouse was made by the previous owner who passed away. He had it perched on top of a tree that was dead. The tree had to come down, but we saved the bird house. If you look extra, extra close, you may even see the iron bird that’s on the tree above it.

bird houses

I think I could possibly write a book called “Tree Tales”…
Our big Oak in the back yard came down during a storm and demolished our homemade fire pit my husband made out of extra bricks. We finally built a new one last Summer. (If you need details, let me know!)

DIY Fire Pit Kit
I hope you enjoyed the tour…
Petunias

Happy Fourth of July!Turn a grill grate into an American flag with t-shirt & jean scraps!Follow Redhead Can Decorate on:

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15 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Gardening, General

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Previous Post: « Ballard Designs Monogrammed Wall Plaque Knock-Off
Next Post: Summer Tablescape and Mikasa Giveaway »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim says

    June 22, 2015 at 3:58 AM

    Lovely yard….enjoy! I am jealous!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      June 22, 2015 at 6:31 PM

      Thank you, Kim! The bad part is the leaves. You should see them in a few months!!! YIKES

      Reply
  2. Stacey says

    June 22, 2015 at 4:47 AM

    Beautiful!! I can’t even imagine peeking out to see swans in the pond. Your trees are huge too and so different from what we have in Texas. Loved seeing this.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      June 22, 2015 at 6:32 PM

      So kind, Stacy. I would LOVE to visit Texas. Never been…yet!

      Reply
  3. martina says

    June 22, 2015 at 5:30 AM

    Beautiful yard and gardens!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      June 22, 2015 at 6:32 PM

      Thank you, Martina!

      Reply
  4. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    June 22, 2015 at 5:56 AM

    So loved touring your gorgeous property today….from that marvelous pond to the very enchanting gardens and those magnificent peonies!…..So nice that you still have that birdhouse made by the former owner….I am sure he is looking down with great approval. Must be so very relaxing overlooking the beauty of the pond and the graceful swans…Happy Summer Julie!!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      June 22, 2015 at 6:33 PM

      I love ya, Shirley!! Thank you!!!

      Reply
  5. Nikki says

    June 22, 2015 at 8:50 AM

    wow wow wow! Love those peonies! and the baby swans…….

    Reply
    • Julie says

      June 22, 2015 at 6:33 PM

      Thank you, Nikki!

      Reply
  6. Pamela says

    June 22, 2015 at 9:25 AM

    Great looking yard. The pond was really cool and to see the family of swans everyday that would be so great to watch them grow..
    Have a great day.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      June 22, 2015 at 6:34 PM

      Pamela, the swans sold the house!!!!! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Pamela says

    June 22, 2015 at 6:50 PM

    Awwww….is that what is called bitter sweet……maybe you can get visitions….lol

    Reply
  8. Georgia @ Silver Spiral Studio says

    June 24, 2015 at 10:49 AM

    BEAUTIFUL. You must absolutely love living there. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  9. Lorrie says

    August 3, 2015 at 7:38 AM

    Looking for details on your firepit. Specifically where you got the hindged grate.

    Reply

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I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake a I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake and grabbed a banana out of the freezer and was about to put it into my shake before I realized it was a frozen egg roll. Sooooo that's how my day is going so far! 🤪How about you?

It's honestly fairly representative of my state of mind these days as I can't seem to make the date on the calendar match the date in my spirit because it feels like it should be January 45th. Every year this month drags on and every year it seems to surprise me for some reason. In addition, my heart just feels heavy as I witness a lot of darkness and sadness around me. So, I'm choosing to control what I can control by making my house feel as cozy as possible, relishing the sunshine whenever it dares to peek through the clouds, gathering inspiration for warmer weather projects and, most importantly, resting in the comfort of the sovereignty of my Father.

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work..." Job 37:5-7
What if you could do something at the beginning of What if you could do something at the beginning of your day that would be a gift to yourself later on? That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s Tip Tuesday! #tiptuesday
The sun decided to make another appearance today! The sun decided to make another appearance today! It’s been such a lovely Sunday. Chocolate croissants for breakfast followed by church then naps/football/reading/etc and soon we’ll be heading out to dinner with friends. These are my favorite kind of weekends. Hope yours has been lovely too! 🌿
Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshi Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshine is breaking through the fog and my house just seems happier. We definitely needed to see that light streaming in through the windows and it’s a gift I don’t take for granted.

And yes, there are still twinkle lights on my mantle because those help when the sunshine goes away again. ✨
Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here i Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here in the Willamette Valley has me feeling less frustrated about my migraine forcing me to just snuggle up indoors and these flowers in my kitchen are lifting my spirits. What are you up to on this holiday weekend?
It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offe It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offering a gentle reminder from my own parenting experience after feeling my heart pricked with conviction about what was waiting for my daughter every day after school. I hope it will encourage you! 🌿#tiptuesday
The day after Christmas I found myself laundering The day after Christmas I found myself laundering and folding all of the linens we used the previous night as we hosted my husband's side of the family for dinner and other festivities. As I laid out each cloth napkin and folded them one by one, I couldn't help but be struck by what a simple, yet meaningful, task it was. It's such an honor and privilege to be the hostess and, at this stage of my life, I realize that this has almost one hundred percent become my role now. Our parents are in their 70's and have either downsized significantly or simply don't have the energy to take on hosting duties for a large group. I could resent this. I could feel overwhelmed by it. But, instead, I'm choosing to embrace it knowing that, someday, I too will pass the hosting torch and I hope that I will be welcomed with love and attentiveness. So, I fold the linen napkins, taking pleasure in the way all of the creases line up and how neat and tidy they look in the drawer of my dining room buffet. These seemingly simple chores are part of the lifeblood of homemaking and my attitude towards them can either be one of gratefulness or grumbly-ness (yes, I'm making up words now). 

And I’m choosing gratefulness. 

“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot⁣)
Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kic Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kicking off the year with a brand new series! Each weekly installment will feature a tip for everything from your home to faith to parenting to family life and so much more. My goal for 2023 is to have far more personal interaction with this community while continuing on with the mission of weaving together all things heart and home. I hope you enjoy this first tip and I’d love to hear from you about whether or not you decorate for winter! 
#tiptuesday #organizing #winterdecorating
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. H “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 

Here’s to beginnings. Happy new year friends! May you experience the majesty and sovereignty of the Lord in 2023 like never before! ✨
Oh how I love this week each year! It’s my favor Oh how I love this week each year! It’s my favorite for sure. Everything is still festive and decorated but there’s none of the stress of the cooking and wrapping and making preparations. It’s the week where we get to take everything slowly and simply enjoy being together while the house still has twinkling lights and we can just be cozy.

What about you? How will you be spending this week? ✨
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