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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 19, 2021

Christmas Kitchen and Family Room

*Welcome to part two of my Christmas home tour! Part one can be seen here.*

~~~~~~

“Mom, will I inherit this wooden spoon when you die?”

My daughter and I were in the kitchen baking Christmas goodies last weekend and when it was time to stir the ingredients, she immediately reached for our favorite wooden spoon.

Anyone overhearing us would, most likely, have been startled by this question. Why would a 14 year old ask her mom if she can have an old spoon as part of her inheritance?

But, other than the fact that she was already planning ahead for my demise, I just chuckled because I knew exactly why she would ask that question.

We’ve had that wooden spoon for well over fifteen years. It’s seen a lot of batter and dough!

A few years ago, Lauren and I were in the kitchen baking together (obviously this is something we do regularly) when she grabbed the spoon and said, “Mom, I don’t know what it is about this one but it’s my favorite to use for stirring the ingredients. It’s just the perfect shape and size and it seems kind of old fashioned.”

I had never actually put it into words before but I too had always felt that way about that wooden spoon. I told her it reminded me of something that would have been used in the “Little House on the Prairie” series and she completely agreed.

From the time that she first stood on a stool, barely able to see over the countertop, to help me bake banana bread until now when I take the ‘sous baker’ position while she confidently takes the lead, that wooden spoon has been an integral part of so many of our favorite memories in the kitchen together.

And the fact that she would want me to pass it along to her ‘someday’ reminded me of just how significant those moments have really been.

What is it about those simple things that end up being among our most cherished memories?

I suspect it may have something to do with the fact that, while the big moments always stand out, it’s the little, everyday things which actually make up the bulk of our lives. And something as simple as a wooden spoon can trigger the feelings associated with those times in our lives that seem so simple and yet are so very significant in making us who we are. The smell of Ponds cold cream will always trigger memories of my mom’s face leaning towards mine as she hugged me goodnight at bedtime and the comfort I felt in that moment.

Now that my children are teenagers, it’s interesting to hear them share memories of their younger years. It’s rarely the big vacation we took or the most expensive gift under the Christmas tree that stand out to them.

Instead, it’s the moments that, at the time, seemed to pass by in a flash of insignificance but were actually making an imprint on their hearts and minds.

So, in these last few days before Christmas, may I encourage you to remember that some of the sweetest memories you will make this season will be in the little, everyday moments.

And that means you can lower your expectations, remove things from your to-do list and release the pressure you may feel to try to make Christmas one non-stop, magical experience.

Because even a simple wooden spoon may be all you need to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Merry Christmas to you dear friends! May you hearts be filled with the wonder of His love!

 

P.S. Many of you requested the playlists that I mentioned in part one of my Christmas home tour and I am so happy to provide you with the links! I use Amazon music so you may or may not be able to access them depending on your favored app but hopefully you’ll at least be able to see the songs listed. If not, I’m working on getting them on Spotify as well!

Classic Christmas Favorites

Instrumental Christmas Favorites

4 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, Decorating, Good Ideas, Holidays, Home Tour Tagged With: Christmas decorating, Christmas home tour, Christmas kitchen

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Previous Post: « Christmas Home Tour Part One
Next Post: A New Look for the Family Room »

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Comments

  1. Terry says

    December 20, 2021 at 1:35 PM

    That is so beautiful! Thank you, Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  2. Helen says

    December 20, 2021 at 5:39 PM

    Beautiful memories are precious especially when they come from spending time with our children. Thank you for sharing your special time. Did I miss seeing the spoon.

    Reply
  3. Marti says

    December 20, 2021 at 7:23 PM

    You always bring such comfort y me when I read your posts….thank you so much. God bless your time with those precious children. Time passes by so quickly and then they are gone….but memories do last forever. Merry Christmas and may you always continue to seek Him.

    Reply
  4. Carol Reddin says

    December 21, 2021 at 11:30 AM

    Memories make me happy and sad – bittersweet. Bitter because we can’t relive days gone by – but oh so sweet because we DO have our memories and I’m deeply grateful to God for that miracle.

    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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