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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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October 6, 2020

Autumn Home Tour

I consider myself to be a bit of a geographical ‘mutt’. I was born in Ohio then we moved to Missouri and then to Southern California where we lived in Culver City and then moved to Escondido. Then back to Missouri for my middle school years then back to Southern California for high school and college. FINALLY, I ended up in Oregon after marrying my husband and returning to his hometown where we’ve now lived for over twenty years.

Being a geographical mutt means that many of my earliest memories run together and can be a bit muddled.

But, I have a few very clear memories of the years we spent in Springfield, Missouri…the first time around.

Our backyard was perfect for two little girls who spent their days filled with imagination and adventures.

There was a wooden teeter-totter, swing set and a fort all available to keep us occupied for hours on end.

But, the best part were the trees. Huge oak trees that provided us wonderful shade on the hot, humid midwestern summer days and turned into a canopy of yellow, orange and brown when Autumn finally made its appearance.

But, as a little girl, I didn’t care too much about watching the leaves turn colors while they were on the trees.

I was waiting for the best part.

I was waiting for them to fall.

Waiting until they covered the ground and my dad would begin the process of raking them into giant piles. All over the front and back yards, the piles of leaves rose up out of the ground like massive leaf-covered mole hills.

And then it was time. Time for my sister and I to do what kids have been doing for generations.

We would run and leap into those giant piles, burying ourselves down into them until only our eyes were visible and then burst out, tossing the leaves into the air and at each other.

As I decorated my house this year for fall, I found myself thinking back to what it felt like to be in the middle of that leaf pile.

How it felt like I was inside my own little cocoon that smelled like wet leaves and grass.

This year, more than any other, I’ve wanted our home to feel like that cocoon. To feel cozy and safe and enveloped.

Every morning I open up the windows and invite that wet leaf smell into our home. I’ve yet to find a scented candle that can properly capture that aroma. I think that’s a good thing.

And as I set out pumpkins and fill urns with bundles of wheat, I keep thinking about being in the middle of that pile of leaves as a little girl and about the piles of leaves I watched my own children jump into when they were little. How we would rake them up and put a giant mound at the bottom of their slide and watch them go flying right into the center, giggling and screeching at the thrill of it and then begging their daddy to rake up the leaves again and again. He always happily obliged.

The memories of those sweet, simple moments are what I tried to capture as I decorated for this season.

Right now, the peacefulness and sense of security we can bring to our homes is more important than ever and it’s one of the few things in our world that we can have a measure of control over.

So I want my house to feel like a giant leaf pile. Minus the bugs of course!

I want it to be a place where you can’t wait to jump in and experience the joy of being cocooned followed by a bursting back into the world with fresh energy and the reminder of what a truly beautiful world it really is.

And how about you? How are you being intentional in your home right now?

We can get so caught up in the chaos and confusion happening all around us that it makes us feel powerless to know how to make sense of it all, especially when so much is just plain senseless.

But, one thing I know for sure is that a great place to start is at home.

Happy Autumn to you dear friends,

16 Comments Filed Under: Autumn, Decorating, Home Tour, Mantels Tagged With: Autumn, fall, fall Decorating

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Comments

  1. Kathy Menold says

    October 6, 2020 at 1:50 PM

    Beautiful writing expressing those wondrous days of being a child in the fall. I grew up in a small town in New England and can still remember those glorious times of jumping in the leaves and later the smell of those leaves as they were burning in neat piles along the road. Politically incorrect now a days but I guess we didn’t know any better. Now I compost my leaves and use them to mulch the gardens but the smell of burning leaves instantly brings me back to being a excited little girl awaiting Halloween. Still find fall is my favorite season.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 6, 2020 at 4:39 PM

      Ahhhh…yes the smell of burning leaves is amazing!! That brings back memories for me too. We need more of these carefree moments in our lives these days don’t we? Happy Autumn to you Kathy!

      Reply
  2. Marian says

    October 6, 2020 at 2:02 PM

    Thank you for the beautiful pictures for our eyes and the endearing words for our souls. I felt as though I was there. Being raised in Calif. with only avocado and fruit trees in our yard, I missed that fun experience. Those were the Wonder Years.

    Marian

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 6, 2020 at 4:38 PM

      I have so many fond memories of my years in CA! We had a grove of avocado trees behind our house in Escondido and all kinds of other fruit trees as well. The neighborhood kids would all run around picking fruit from each other’s yards as our snacks while we played. Even though it wasn’t quite the same as Fall in the midwest or here in Oregon those were still special times and definitely the wonder years. xoxo

      Reply
  3. Marilyn says

    October 6, 2020 at 4:02 PM

    Your home looks lovely. We have decorated our house and some on the outside,too.
    HAPPY AUTUMN
    Marilyn

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 6, 2020 at 4:36 PM

      Thank you so much Marilyn!

      Reply
  4. Doris says

    October 6, 2020 at 6:04 PM

    Your home is beautiful, Vanessa. It always looks so peaceful. I enjoyed your story about the piles of leaves; it brought back a lot of my own childhood memories. You write so well, I can picture every story. Keep it up! I definitely think it’s what you are meant to do.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 7, 2020 at 10:09 AM

      Thank you so much Doris! When someone tells me my home looks peaceful I always consider that high praise because that is my goal for sure. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your kind words and encouragement. Happy Autumn to you!

      Reply
  5. Michele Morabito says

    October 6, 2020 at 7:34 PM

    Beautiful happy memories and gorgeous autumn decorating/ pics.

    Your home appears to be the haven and cozy “hug” you intend for it to be.

    BTW- I live in Ohio – where were you born?

    Stay well.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 7, 2020 at 10:08 AM

      Thank you so much friend!! I was born in Elyria. 😉 I have snippets of memories from there but we went back and visited years ago and it was so fun to have my parents show me around. Happy Autumn to you!

      Reply
  6. Peg says

    October 7, 2020 at 3:04 AM

    Oh how lovely! I felt so at peace touring your home!! Thank you!!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 7, 2020 at 10:07 AM

      Thank you so much Peg! That is such a wonderful compliment. Happy Autumn to you and yours! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Carol Reddin says

    October 7, 2020 at 3:40 PM

    Your Dad and I have fond memories of your sister and you playing in the leaves in Missouri. I have a sweet picture of just your eyes peaking through a mound of leaves. The wonderful smells of fall are forever implanted in our minds.

    Reply
  8. Shelly says

    October 7, 2020 at 10:23 PM

    Lovely home/pictures. A good read as well! Thank you for this wonderful post! Memories are so sweet! I love fall, and all the scents too!

    Reply
  9. Shannon Fox says

    October 8, 2020 at 9:50 AM

    Our homes have always offered a measure of security, and they are a haven now more than ever. I agree with trying to make them feel as warm and inviting as possible, and “cocoon” like, as you mentioned. Your home offers that feeling and I’m sure all who enter feel it!
    Happy Autumn 🙂 xo Shan

    Reply
  10. Dawn Marie Pinnataro says

    October 9, 2020 at 9:23 AM

    OH YES – autumn is my #1 favorite time of year (I am an Oct baby so maybe that is why I love it so much). I love the crisp fresh days of autumn, the joyous display of colors and my favorite colors are the autumnal colors, with jewel tones thrown in the mix. And I too feel I am a geographical mutt; born in northern Ohio, just outside of Cleveland. Lived there till end of 8th grade. Dad worked for Cleveland newspapers (pressman) and got opportunity to work in Boston papers. We lived at our cabin in Gilmanton NH a year then moved to Derry NH (closer commute for Dad) for 2 years (my sophomore and junior years) and sadly, one of the Boston papers folded so Dad moved us back to Ohio 2 months into my senior year 🙁 . I stayed in Ohio for several more years until I moved to Hawaii for 5 years, then to Georgia, then to central Florida for 12 years and now back in Georgia for the past 20 years (wow – longest I have ever been anywhere actually). Whew. I came back to GA because they have 4 seasons and I missed the autumn and winter cooler weather (without snow shoveling, lol). BTW, love those ironstone pieces! I love ironstone and have many pieces myself.

    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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