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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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August 16, 2012

At the Picket Fence is “In the Bloglight”!

Welcome, welcome Hometalk readers!
 We are so thrilled to be sharing with you a little bit about ourselves and our blog, At the Picket Fence.

  It is such an honor to be kicking off this fabulous new series, “In the Bloglight“, and we hope you enjoy learning more about what happens behind the scenes around these parts!

At The Picket Fence
While we each entered the world of blogging separately, it didn’t take long for us to realize that two heads would be better than one. Although, let’s face it, we each only run on about “half-brain” capacity most of the time so joining forces was definitely a no-brainer!Winking smile

As sisters, blogging together has only served to strengthen our relationship and we feel so blessed to be able to be on this roller-coaster of a ride with each other. We are both moms and wives first, but blogging has provided us with opportunities we never could have imagined, like Heather’s upcoming feature of her kitchen in Better Homes and Gardens.

DSC_0549
What started out as a fun “hobby” has now become a way to earn a little bit of income, mostly to help offset the cost of our endless DIY projects! We would consider it to be more like a part-time job at this point but even using the word “job” to describe blogging reminds us of just what a privilege it is to get to come to work in our pj’s  and ponytails….with full cups of coffee too, of course.
Why did we choose At the Picket Fence for our blog name? Well, we really wanted something that would capture the essence of our passion for community and connecting. Our vision was that our blog would be a place where people would gather to inspire and be inspired and perhaps feel encouraged along the way. We pictured folks coming out of their homes, coffee cups in hand, and meeting us there…At the Picket Fence!

You’ll find a little bit of everything at our place…

DIY

“Kitchen Island Modification”

island square
 
Decorating

“When You Don’t Have a White Kitchen”

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Recipes

“Homemade Pepper Vinegar”

pepper, vinegar, southern, homemade, recipe

Crafts

Ballard Designs Coral Topiary Knock-off

DSC_1122-001
 

Adoption

“Talking to Your Kids about Adoption” and “A Labor of the Heart Series”

  A Labor of the Heart graphic
 
and everything in between.

We are also home to the weekly Linky party, Inspiration Friday, where we invite you to come by and link up your own projects, recipes, crafts and the stuff of everyday life.
It’s a great place to inspire and be inspired!
Inspiration Friday Graphic_thumb[3]
One of the questions we are asked most often is “how do we blog together?” We recently did a post where we delve into this answer more in depth but here is a little snippet of what we shared there..

“One fear we have had in this joint venture is a lack of personalization.  We are one blog…but we are two sisters.  We will often “sign” our Facebook updates, comments or tweets with our individual names so that others will know who they are talking to. We each have “blog friends” that we feel especially close to and have developed friendships with.  We never want to lose who we uniquely are. We also each have special gifts, talents and subjects we feel strongly about and want our blog to reflect our individualism as well.”

We hope you will hop over to read the rest of Our Number One Question Answered.

heather and vanessa
This photo was taken on our recent trip to the Haven Blogging Conference (we said we were like Thelma and Louise except we didn’t drive off of a cliff…not that there were any cliffs on the way to Atlanta!) and the opportunity we had there to meet some of our blog friends in person just solidified for us what a special and unique community this really is!
It’s also where we met the lovely Miriam, Miss Hometalk herself, which turned into the wonderful role we now have as hometalk Ambassadors. We have been having way too much fun seeing all of the incredible projects everyone shares and we are always amazed at how much talent and creativity there is out there!

Vanessa recently hosted her first Hometalk House Party and we would encourage all of you to host one too. They are super fun and you can find everything you need to know about how to host one here.

Group Shot
Aside from the fact that we have been blessed to turn our passion for our homes and families into a business, our greatest joy has been the connections we have made with other people from around the world. Everyday we marvel at the fact that we have formed true friendships that we know will last a lifetime and that the desire we had, from the very beginning, to help build a community has come to fruition.
Our hope is that anyone who shares from their hearts and their homes will find “blogland” to be a welcoming place. Being your true, authentic self is vital to your success as a blogger. Carve out your own little corner, find your “voice” and be as encouraging to others as you want them to be towards you!
Heather recently wrote a wonderful post entitled, “10 Commandments for Every Blogger“, and we truly believe that these will help you go far in being the best blogger you can possibly be.
blogging, commandments, how to blog, bloggers, 10 commandments
As our blog has grown and changed over the last year and a half, we are ever mindful of our “roots”. While our photography has definitely improved, one thing that hasn’t changed is our passion for connecting with others and we trust that this will remain the one constant in the ever-changing, wacky world of blogging!

Well, that and the fact that we are still just two half-brain gals coming together to form what we hope is one semi-lucid mind…most of the time!

 Thanks so much to hometalk for putting us “In the Bloglight” today and we hope you will come back to visit us again At the Picket Fence!
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16 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas

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Comments

  1. Beth @Unskinny Boppy says

    August 16, 2012 at 2:09 PM

    Great article ladies! Y’all keep up the excellent work. Congrats on being in the Bloglight! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Eclectically Vintage says

    August 16, 2012 at 2:16 PM

    You girls are rock stars – not only do you share such a fabulous blog (without killing each other!), but each of your personalities manages to shine through.

    Here’s to the Thelma & Louise of bloggers (if only there was a Brad Pitt involved, it would be perfect)!
    Kelly

    Reply
  3. Anne says

    August 16, 2012 at 2:18 PM

    Awesome! Great write-up, I love it!!! and your photos are so gorgeous, clear and bright. I need a new camera!!! lol

    Keep on sharing those fabulous ideas.

    xox

    Reply
  4. Shelia says

    August 16, 2012 at 3:08 PM

    I love this and I saw y’all on the Blogtalk spotlight this morning! You two are the best and I remember when you combined your selves, well, when you joined. You know! 😉 Keep it coming and I just love you two little gals and would die for all of that gorgeous hair you both have. Well, I’d faint for it anyway!
    You are a couple of sweeties,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  5. Four Marrs and One Venus says

    August 16, 2012 at 3:19 PM

    Keep Rocking ladies! Fantastic Blog here, love all your posts- every single one has such an amazing meaning! Thanks for being you and doing your do!
    Jen

    Reply
  6. Debbiedoo's says

    August 16, 2012 at 3:23 PM

    You know, you two sisters really make the best team ever! I bet this entire endeavor has brought you even closer. I would love to blog with my sister. However, she works full time and could never do it with me:)

    Reply
  7. Suzy says

    August 16, 2012 at 3:40 PM

    Congrats on your feature at HomeTalk! You both are such special ladies.

    Reply
  8. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    August 16, 2012 at 3:47 PM

    Congrats on your feature! I’ve been a bit behind and need to check HomeTalk out. See ya later today at the partay.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  9. Anna says

    August 16, 2012 at 4:11 PM

    Great post! I think you girls to a fantastic job at being one blog and yet 2 people. I’m starting to “hear” your individual voices in the posts and it’s great. I really wish we had a white picket fence we could all gather at every day, I would love that! I think I should have been born in the 50’s. 🙂

    Anna

    Reply
  10. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    August 16, 2012 at 6:01 PM

    I truly love reading your posts…your blog is not only informative but so inspirational…Hometalk is blessed to have such great Ambassadors as you two…you compliment each other so well. Your blog is like a breath of fresh air!

    Reply
  11. Ruby Jean says

    August 16, 2012 at 7:09 PM

    This was a Great read!!! Congratulations again on your success.
    Blessings
    Angelina

    Reply
  12. Mary Richmond says

    August 16, 2012 at 7:42 PM

    Great post! I really enjoy your blog and I am off to check out your “What to do if you don’t have a white kitchen” post. Congratulations!

    Reply
  13. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    August 16, 2012 at 8:03 PM

    Yay, I just love this round-up of what makes you girls uniquely YOU! I always find inspiration, encouragement and a smile here… thank you for being a bright spot in the big ‘ole blogosphere!
    xo Heidi

    Reply
  14. Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality says

    August 17, 2012 at 3:37 AM

    Hi, girls! I’m so glad I got to meet you both at Haven, even if I didn’t have enough time to spread around and really get to know you both. Now, I’m getting that opportunity through HOmetalk! Love this post, ya’ll are such fun girls and I can’t wait til Heather moves to ATL and we can hang out in person. xoxo

    Reply
  15. Mobil Bredbånd says

    August 22, 2012 at 9:55 AM

    Extremely in getting children excited about their veggies. There is nothing quite like pulling up a carrot and then finding that same carrot, all nicely peeled, on your plate that night at dinner.

    Reply
  16. Funky Junk Interiors says

    August 24, 2012 at 4:17 PM

    Wonderful writeup! It’s been fun getting to know you two through HomeTalk!

    Reply

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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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