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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 13, 2019

Christmas Home Tour

One of my most prized possessions is a Perry Como Christmas album. Yes, an actual vinyl album.

It belonged to my mom when she was a girl and, in my humble opinion, Christmas doesn’t officially begin until I hear the first strands of ‘No Place Like Home for the Holidays’. In fact, I literally can’t sing that song any other way than how Perry Como sings it and have found all other interpretations to be severely lacking.

When records gave way to CD’s, I made it my mission to find a copy of the Perry Como Christmas album for myself and for my mom too. That CD is now about as worn out as the vinyl album.

But, since time and technology continue to march on, I’ve recently discovered the joy of customizing playlists on Amazon Prime music and I decided that this year I would compile all of my favorite Christmas songs into one place.

Of course, the very first album I wanted to add was Perry Como’s and after a quick search I found it and added it to my playlist.

A few days later, we went to cut down our Christmas tree and that evening, as I began opening bins of ornaments, I brought my portable speaker into the living room and started my Christmas playlist.

But, I quickly realized that something was wrong. There were songs I had never heard before. Even Perry Como was singing words that were totally unfamiliar to me.

And if I hadn’t been up my eyeballs in lights and ornaments I probably would have stopped to figure out what Amazon Prime music had done with MY Perry Como Christmas album. Because, this one had some extra songs on it. Songs that didn’t even sound very Christmas-y!

But, instead, I kept it playing. And as I carefully unwrapped decades worth of ornaments, each one bringing back a different memory, I heard these words crooned to me and…well…they took my breath away.

And I wanted to share them with you today as I give you a little Christmas tour.

 

“You can tell when you open the door. You can tell if there’s love in a home.”

 

 

“Every table and chair seems to smile, do come in, come and stay for a while.”

 

 

“You almost feel you’ve been there once before.”

 

 

“By the shine and glow of the room!”

 

 

“And the clock seems to chime…”

 

 

“…Come again, anytime.”

 

 

“You’ll be welcome, wherever you roam.” 

 

 

“You can tell when there’s love in a home.”

 

My eyes welled with tears as I let the words wash over me. There I sat surrounded by all of the trimmings for my tree and I was just stunned that such a simple, little song could so perfectly capture everything that I want my home to embody.

I don’t want people just to see the furniture or the decorations or the art on the walls.

I want all who walk through our door to see past all of that. I want people to be able to tell that there is love in this home.

It’s not perfect. Most definitely not! But, there is so much love here.

Love for those who sleep under this roof. Love for our neighbors and our community.

And, most of all, love for our Savior, Jesus Christ, who we celebrate and honor at Christmas.

Because it was out of God’s deep love for us that He sent His Son to this earth so that you and I could be reconciled to Him and know the most perfect love in existence.

My hope and prayer for you this Christmas is that your hearts will be overflowing with love and that it would pour out into your homes and then spill out your door into your neighborhoods and among friends and even strangers.

Let’s be people who live up to the words of that song that wasn’t supposed to be on my playlist but that I needed to hear so very much.

Merry Christmas dear friends!

P.S. ‘Love in a Home’ was originally featured in the Broadway play ‘Lil’ Abner’.

15 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, Decorating, Family, Good Ideas, Good Thoughts, Holidays, Home Tour Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas decorating, Christmas home tour

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Comments

  1. Carol says

    December 13, 2019 at 11:17 AM

    Beautiful home, and beautiful words. Have a blessed Christmas season.

    Reply
  2. Peg says

    December 13, 2019 at 11:40 AM

    This was lovely!! Merry Christmas!!! xo

    Reply
  3. Carol Reddin says

    December 13, 2019 at 12:05 PM

    Your home and messages are beautiful. And I listen to Perry Como all through December. I’m happy that album still means so much to you too. Love you so much. Mom

    Reply
    • Michelle Brannan says

      December 14, 2019 at 8:33 AM

      I pray you and yours have a blessed Christmas!

      Reply
  4. Robyn Gouge says

    December 13, 2019 at 1:40 PM

    I am totally with you on Perry Como! That version is my favorite as well. What a sweet song! And what better love than that of Jesus Christ, who came to this earth to die for us. That is the truest love of all. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  5. Marilyn says

    December 13, 2019 at 3:27 PM

    Your home is lovely. We have a Perry Como album[yes it is a record] that we always play at Christmas. When he sings Ave Maria it is breath taking. Did you see the special on Perry Como a while back? It was on PBS. It will probably be repeated eventually. It was not a Christmas show. FYI Debby Boone is Perry Como’s God Daughter. Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas and a Happy,healthy 2020.
    MERRY CHRISTMAS
    Marilyn

    Reply
  6. JoAnn says

    December 13, 2019 at 4:45 PM

    Beautiful home and a beautiful post. You brought back memories of my Mom playing her Bing Crosby Christmas albumn. I think we had Perry Como too. Thank you for helping me remember. Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  7. Michele M. says

    December 13, 2019 at 4:53 PM

    What a truly fabulous post.

    You got it, girl friend.

    God bless you and your entire family this holy Christmas, and in the coming new year!

    Reply
  8. valarie sanford says

    December 13, 2019 at 9:32 PM

    so very, very pretty!!!

    Reply
  9. Lisa says

    December 14, 2019 at 5:25 AM

    Vanessa, everything you touch sparkles and glows. 🎄🎄🎄

    Thank you for sharing your words and your beautiful home.

    PS… My parents had one of those albums that featured all the greats of the day, Perry Como included. I used to listen to it over and over on my record player. ♥️♥️♥️

    Reply
  10. Yvonne says

    December 14, 2019 at 11:35 AM

    Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home and the sweet Christmas message
    It’s wonderful that music can bring back so many cherished memories and create new ones too
    Wishing you a blessed Christmas

    Reply
  11. Shelly says

    December 14, 2019 at 11:52 AM

    Your home is definitely warm and inviting. I listened to this song on Utube.
    Loved it! Thank you, and I loved your post!
    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  12. MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says

    December 14, 2019 at 9:10 PM

    AMEN! AND AMEN! VANESSA! This was such a beautiful post! I love how your love for Jesus just shines through each of your posts! How people need the Lord!

    May you and your dear family be blessed with a wonderful Christmas!

    Thanks for all your work you put into your posts. I always enjoy reading them. Bless you!

    Reply
  13. Sandy says

    December 22, 2019 at 1:03 PM

    A Perry Como Christmas is my #1 CD that begins decorating and baking for Christmas. Michael Buble’s Christmas CD is a close second. Merry Christmas. Your home is lovely.

    Reply
  14. Fran says

    October 26, 2020 at 9:56 AM

    Love everything about this post!

    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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