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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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December 29, 2014

Our Best of 2014

Let’s all say it together shall we? FASTEST YEAR EVER! Seriously, folks, is it just us or did this year literally fly by?

I'll Have A Blue Christmas 1

Anyone else find themselves on Christmas Eve having that panicky moment where you look around and think to yourself, “wait, is it actually Christmas Eve right now? Wasn’t it just Easter?” šŸ˜‰ You’ve been shopping and decorating and baking and wrapping all season long and yet somehow you feel totally perplexed as to how you actually got to this point in the year.

Please tell us we aren’t the only ones! šŸ˜‰

So, we thought maybe we would take a look back through a year’s worth of blog posts in an effort to help us feel like this year really DID happen and we really DID get things done because right now we feel as though we have been turned into a big ball of post-Christmas mush and we can’t recall what actually occurred over the past 365 days.

Apparently there were some crafts and home decor projects…

Valentine’s Day Party Poppers

5 minute valentine's day poppers

Ā Tween Boy Bedroom Makeover

wall light mounted on headboard over bed

Blue and White Home Decor Ideas

How to decorate with blue

Ā DIY Iron Grate Mirror

DIY iron grate mirror from atthepicketfence.com

 

Homemade Lilac Room Spray

homemade lilac room spray

DIY Wall Plate Rack

plate rack on wall in kitchen atthepicketfence.com

And supposedly there were some yummy recipes…

Nutella Hand Pies for Valentine’s Day

Nutella and Blackberry Valentine's Day Hand Pies

Key Lime Pie Dessert ShotsĀ 

Key Lime Pie Shots

Lemon Crème Brûlée

Lemon-creme-brulee atthepicketfence.com

We know for a fact which was our most important makeover this year…

Weight Loss JourneyĀ 

Heather weight loss 10 months

Ā We also know that we shared with you from our hearts…

The Holy Spirit Made Me Do It

cherry blossoms

Ā We have no doubt that this next year will go just as quickly. There will be successes and failures, good days and bad ones. There will be all of the highs and lows that make each year a crazy roller coaster in which we find ourselves strapped in and holding on for dear life.

new year

This fresh new year is filled with possibilities…with opportunities and endless choices.

Some will be small and simple and others will be life changing.

Over this fresh new year hangs a giant question mark. It can be so overwhelming to stare down the barrel at the next 365 days and know that while there are things we know are coming, there are so many other things that we aren’t prepared for.

But, the one thing we do know is that we have a God who knows what is coming in the next 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,765 hours and 525,949 minutes.

And we trust Him with every last one of the 31, 536,000 seconds in that year.

We hope you know how very much you all mean to us. Our lives change and shift and we don’t know exactly what you will see each week here At the Picket Fence in 2015. There will always be plenty of ideas for your home, but our deepest desire is to provide inspiration for your hearts. You see, when we look back at this past year, we count YOU among greatest blessings. And we want to get to know you better. We want you to share your lives with us as we share ours with you.

So, buckle up friends. We’re all on this roller coaster ride together and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Happy New Year!

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7 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas

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Comments

  1. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    December 29, 2014 at 6:19 AM

    Loved all of your projects of home decor, recipes, and posts from the heart in 2014….looking forward to another great year of enjoying your inspiration of home and heart!…

    Reply
  2. martina says

    December 29, 2014 at 7:10 AM

    You girls had an awesome year filled with fabulous projects and inspiring posts…looking forward to seeing what you have planned for 2015!! Wishing you both all the best in 2015!!

    Reply
  3. dee says

    December 29, 2014 at 8:45 AM

    I’ve so enjoyed your blog and I only found it a couple of months ago . . . so I can’t wait to see what you share with us in 2015 šŸ˜‰

    Reply
  4. Sami says

    December 29, 2014 at 9:09 AM

    It has been a time warp for me. One day I was having my tree put up and now…well…I feel like Christmas was two weeks ago. I will maintain for the twelve days though. Probably longer if I’m truthful since one of my biggest fans hasn’t seen my tree yet.

    Reply
  5. Julia G. says

    December 29, 2014 at 10:38 AM

    The year has gone very quickly for me. Thank you both for posting and sharing your lives with us readers. You have encouraged and inspired me this past year. God’s blessings to you both in the coming 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,765 hours and 525,949 minutes and 31,536,000 seconds!

    Reply
  6. laura@top this top that says

    December 30, 2014 at 4:16 AM

    Happy New Year guys!

    Reply
  7. Pamela says

    December 30, 2014 at 7:53 AM

    Happy New Year gals!

    Reply

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Front door wreath….āœ”ļø The very last Christmas dec Front door wreath….āœ”ļø

The very last Christmas decorating to be completed and one of the most important since there’s nothing I love more than welcoming people into our home this season.

I bought the wreath for $15 from a wonderful local vendor, reused my favorite bells and added a velvet bow in the color I’m carrying throughout the house this year.

Do you buy a fresh wreath each year or do you use a faux wreath on your front door? 

#frontdoorwreath #christmaswreath #christmasporch
The first day of December and the first Sunday of The first day of December and the first Sunday of advent. As we enter into a month that can be filled with stress, anxiety, worry and even sadness, let us turn our hearts towards the ONE who came as the ultimate, undeserved gift. Because it’s all about Him. 

ā€œWho can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.ā€ (Corrie Ten Boom)
ā€œI would maintain that thanks are the highest form ā€œI would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.ā€ ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! šŸ‚
Its that time of year again. I share this recipe e Its that time of year again. I share this recipe every November 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!! 🦃
It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be ma It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be made on repeat for the next month and I’ve figured out the secret to getting the BEST flavor.

Want to know what it is? It’s all about being EXTRA! 

Take the base recipe up a notch by using a full stick of butter, extra tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and an extra 1/2 tablespoon of Lawry’s seasoning salt.

I guarantee you’ll never go back!

You’re welcome. šŸ˜‰šŸŽ„

#chexmix #chexmixupgrade
Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the w Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the week and I’m feeling especially grateful for the twinkling lights around my home which give me so much joy.

The great debate on social media over whether or not Christmas decorations should appear before Thanksgiving is one I just let roll on past me. Because I am so unbelievably thankful for this life, my family, my friends, this country, this home and most of all my Savior. 

Having my home all ready to welcome the next sacred season doesn’t take away one iota from my ability to express gratitude on the official day set aside each year where we do that collectively.

And when the last slice of turkey has been eaten and all of the leftovers put away, I’ll be over here ready to be fully present in the month of December and soak up every bit of it! šŸ¦ƒšŸŽ„
IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures ā€œ IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures

ā€œMy children have grown up seeing antique books on a coffee table, vintage toys in their bedrooms and even pieces of furniture that were all passed down from one generation to the next. But as my nest gets closer and closer to being empty, I’m keenly aware of the fact that many of these cherished items might not be as welcome in the homes of future generations.ā€

*Read the rest over at @cleartruthmedia*
All of my CTM articles are saved in my highlights
Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked it better when I just talked about decorating and didn’t mention anything else. This person preferred me to keep any opinions or convictions to myself and just focus only on content about home decor, crafts and recipes. Aside from the fact that I’m always astonished that people feel so free to say things like that, I do agree that it would be a lot easier and more palatable if I didn’t talk about things like a Biblical Worldview, apologetics and the nature of reality itself. For one thing, Instagram wouldn’t throttle my account with its algorithms that are skewed to diminish voices like mine. It would be much easier to be so tethered to this app that I change everything I post to fit into its preferred framework. I would be asked to be part of influencer groups and activities like I was years ago. But I’m not that person anymore. Yes, the core of this community will always be an emphasis on homemaking which will include decorating and recipes but I can’t separate that from the core of who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ.

It would be so much easier for me to just show you the latest Amazon products I’ve bought and tell you to ā€œcommentā€ to get the links. But I’m not called to take the easy path. Matthew 7:13-14 says, ā€œEnter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.ā€

I truly believe that so many have been lulled into thinking that the narrow gate wasn’t really all that narrow. But, it’s never been more obvious that it really is. And every day I seek to stay on that very narrow way.  More than ever before, I believe that our world needs to know that there is objective truth and a solid foundation to stand upon as we navigate our lives. My role as a homemaker is predicated on that foundation and everything else flows out of it. Talking about these things isn’t going to get me lots of views here. 

But I live for an audience of ONE.
The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was in 1998. I was a new bride and eager to impress them. It did not go well. Let’s just say there was a bit of a garbage disposal mishap. 

It’s been over 25 years since then and I’ve learned so much about what really matters when it comes to hosting and caring for my family well during the holiday season. 

The peace we long for in our home begins with our hearts. If you want your home to feel more peaceful during the upcoming holiday season, I have five things to consider that will make that not only possible but predictable.

✨ Read the full article over at @club31women ✨

#club31women #wearethehomemakers
Here, in my little corner of social media, you won Here, in my little corner of social media, you won’t find a lot of unboxing of brand new items for Christmas. 

What I’m unboxing are the decorations in the attic that  I’ve had for years and figuring out how to give them a fresh look. I added new lights to an old pre-lit tree that no longer worked because I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. I’m putting out a different set of mugs at the hot cocoa station and the advent candles are arranged with greenery from outside.

As our feeds are filled with so.much.stuff, I want to offer you a reprieve. A place where you will find less emphasis on what’s happening in our homes and more on what’s happening in our hearts.

More than ever before, I can see just how much people are needing the hope found in Christ and that will always be the focus here. 

So, while you may not see me unpacking a massive, new tree or telling you to ā€œcomment for the linkā€, what you will see is encouragement to turn our hearts to what matters the most and let that reflect in every corner of our homes this season and all year long. 🌲

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #homemakerschristmas #club31women
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