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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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May 27, 2014

And Then There Was the ‘Fail’

I had big plans for Memorial Day weekend. I was going to get sooooo much done!

I was going to clean out closets and pull out my summer decor and plant flowers. I was going to bake cookies and clean the kitchen floor and sort through the mountain of papers sitting on the counter in the laundry room. I was going to create the most FABULOUS craft to share with you today and it was going to totally represent all that I love about summer and you were going to love it. I promise!

The spray paint came out, the sticker letters were purchased and everything was going according to plan.

And then, it didn’t.

stuffed animals

I sat down on the couch to put the finishing touches on this fabulous summer craft which I KNOW you would have loved and while I promised myself that I would only have the movie ’27 Dresses’ on as background noise for my craft-making, I found myself getting distracted by Katherine Heigl’s super cute clothes and how funny she is and thinking about how I could totally see us being friends if she ever moved to Oregon or I moved to California (but really she would have to move to Oregon because I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere anytime soon).

And somewhere between her trying on all 27 of those hideous bridesmaids dresses and realizing that she really is in love Kevin, well, I messed up. The sticker letters I was so carefully placing on my AMAZING summer craft weren’t lining up correctly. And there was no way I could fix that crooked ‘S’ other than to lift it up and try to adjust it. But then when I lifted it up, it lifted up the paint underneath and I quickly realized there was no way to salvage the project short of starting over completely.

It was a craft fail. I stared at my fail for a little bit.

And then…well then I stopped caring.

I didn’t want to start over. In fact, I’m not sure that I really wanted to be doing the craft in the first place. Or clean closets or sort through a mountain of papers or bake cookies or plant flowers.

I wanted to just sit on the couch and watch a movie.

I wanted to not have anything I had to do.

 I wanted to look out the window completely mesmerized by the site of my daughter sitting in the grass dressing up her stuffed animals and talking to them all the while.

And I wanted to watch her without thinking about all of the other things I needed to get done.

dressing up stuffed animals

And when she asked me if I wanted to come to the stuffed animal fashion show in her room, I wanted to say ‘Yes’. Trust me, if you are ever invited to a stuffed animal fashion show you should ALWAYS say yes.

I wanted to cheer and clap for each stuffed animal as they modeled the latest styles and I wanted to be the judge deciding who won the prize for the most fashionable stuffed animal even though later my decision was overturned because apparently I didn’t select the ‘right’ winner. 😉

stuffed animal fashion show

I wanted to watch my son concentrating on the perfect placement for ramming into the back of his dad’s bumper car and the hysterical laughter that followed.

bumper cars

And I wanted to sit in the back of giant log wearing a lovely blue poncho while we plunged down rapids screaming and laughing as the water came up over the sides and drenched us.

I wanted to just ‘be’.

Be present.

Be in the moment.

Just Be.

Last night we sat and watched videos of the kids when they were little (er). I never know if I really enjoy doing this family activity. Because while I love seeing them as babies and taking their first steps and eating their first solid foods and taking those first steps and sitting on the potty for the first time and waving good-bye as they walk through the doors of the school on the first day of kindergarten, it also makes my heart just ache. Like, really, really ache.

It’s going too fast. WAY too fast. On Wednesday my oldest will turn 11 and I’m fairly certain I just held him in my arms for the first time yesterday.

So, I’m relishing these moments. I’m savoring them, cherishing them, guarding them.

Because there will be plenty of time for crafts, after all.

And craft ‘fails’ too of course! 😉

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18 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas

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Comments

  1. Melody says

    May 27, 2014 at 3:50 AM

    Too funny! I did about the same thing when 27 dresses came on! Glad we we’re able to enjoy it “together.” 😉

    Reply
  2. Ashey @ 3 Little Greenwoods says

    May 27, 2014 at 4:37 AM

    I totally get this! Our littles grow way to fast not to go sit on their bedroom floor for fashion shows. 😉

    ~ Ashley

    Reply
  3. Lisa says

    May 27, 2014 at 4:46 AM

    I find it difficult to watch old videos too. I know how you feel. Glad you just enjoyed the day, doing whatever you wanted to do.

    Reply
  4. Lauren says

    May 27, 2014 at 5:19 AM

    Beautiful post. You definitely chose the better things. Yesterday hubby and I spent our first Memorial Day with none of our kids home. While it was fun working together to assemble our new gazebo and going out for ice cream and I actually DID get lots of projects completed, I found myself thinking of years past throughout the day. Like when the neighbor girls were screaming and running through a sprinkler. And the boys behind us were shooting baskets. And couples walked by our house pushing strollers. If I’d always done projects and never played, I’d not have those memories to make me smile now that they ARE all grown up.

    Reply
  5. Nancy Sharp says

    May 27, 2014 at 5:31 AM

    You did exactly the right things for your weekend. Enjoy every moment with your kids creating lasting memories. These memories will be such a blessing in the future when you’ll have plenty of time for crafting. This Granny knows. Now my grandchildren are leaving their nests too, but I have wonderful memories to enjoy from them as well as their parents.

    Reply
  6. Cheryl at Snaps of Ginger says

    May 27, 2014 at 6:11 AM

    That sounds like the perfect weekend. Neither you, nor your kids will remember that “absolutely amazing” project years from now. But you’ll remember the special times together!

    ~Cheryl
    https://snaps-of-ginger.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  7. Suzi says

    May 27, 2014 at 7:04 AM

    Wonderful choices! Especially your daughter’s recreation of 27 dresses 😉

    Reply
  8. Karen says

    May 27, 2014 at 7:23 AM

    Just BE with your family-excellent choice. Trust me, those papers, dirty floors, crafts will still be there when your children have left home. And, yes, your heart will ache then,too.

    Reply
  9. Laura @ Finding Home says

    May 27, 2014 at 7:59 AM

    So sweet – better than any craft!

    Reply
  10. Julia G. says

    May 27, 2014 at 8:33 AM

    There will always be time for crafts but never enough time for stuffed animal fashion shows. [I love the pink and white cow with the green dress]. They do grow up too fast. Mine are all gone now and the house was way too quiet this weekend.

    Reply
  11. Marty Walden says

    May 27, 2014 at 8:46 AM

    Love this, my friend. God often has the most creative ways to get our attention and redirect our priorities. And sometimes they’re not so pleasant!

    Reply
  12. Claire @ A Little Claireification says

    May 27, 2014 at 11:23 AM

    Ahh, yes. I have been there. This is so sweet Vanessa and, honestly… what craft could be better than a stuffed animal fashion show anyway?? 🙂 xoxo

    Reply
  13. Tauni says

    May 27, 2014 at 8:21 PM

    Thank you. I needed to read this…Plus you just gave me another reminder of what a great storyteller you are! The world needs more posts like this one. xoxo

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 27, 2014 at 9:45 PM

      Awww…thanks sweet friend! Appreciate you coming by! 🙂

      Reply
  14. KarenJ says

    May 27, 2014 at 8:39 PM

    Good, Good, GOOD for you !!! Sometimes it takes alot of fortitude to just put all things down and walk away when you feel so pushed and pulled to “get things done”. So glad you have realized the importance of just walking away from the “chores”. they sure can wait. The growing up years….they wait for no one. It is now or never and the kids know when they are being put first. All kids need that feeling and so many don’t ever get to experience that. So happy your kids have that feeling. You will never regret those times.

    Reply
  15. Maria Trunzo says

    May 28, 2014 at 6:31 AM

    Memories r always wonderful. Ours are adults & they are still making memories with us. No grandchildren & I cherish the time we spend with our adult children. Each moment is special for me.

    Reply
  16. Marianne says

    June 10, 2014 at 6:46 PM

    I love that you just let the craft go and spent time with your girl. I would hate messing up a craft too, but I guess sometimes a ‘fail’ opens up a door for us to give time to something else that might be better. And I’m so with you on our kids growing up too fast!!! I long for those simpler days often. My kids are young adults now, and I cherish the memory of those days when they were small enough rock to sleep. Sweet post!!

    Reply
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    June 19, 2014 at 10:01 PM

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I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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