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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 5, 2013

Decorating for Christmas …Heather’s Home Tour

 At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

It’s time for another Deck the Halls Holiday Housewalk! I am so honored to be here for a second year in a row among such amazingly talented bloggers.  I love getting to see everyone’s homes decked out for the holidays…real homes!

To see all 30 houses from the beginning be sure to start at our lovely hostesses house, Jennifer Rizzo, and take a stroll through these amazing homes!

Jennifer Rizzo holiday 150 housewalk button

Today is Day Four of the housewalk, if you head over to Jen’s you can see all of today’s homes….

Paoge Knudsen

and if you are coming over from the super talented Page Knudsen welcome to At The Picket Fence!

If you are a regular reader of ours than you’ll know that normally you get two homes in one post when it comes to our home tours but this year Vanessa and I each have our own special day!  Be sure to visit Vanessa’s Holiday Housewalk Tour from yesterday!

I’m so excited to have you in my home today! We’ve been in our new Georgia home five months and we are love being back down South, where we greet you with a “Hey Y’all!” when you stop by for a visit!

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk

Come on in and take a stroll with me…I might even have a new room to reveal to you before the tour is over!  Now normally I’m pretty chatty and would follow you around talking your ear off, but today I’m going to just let you take  a walk through my home with my lips sealed shut.  Okay so almost sealed shut…grin.

//FOYER//

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

//BREAKFAST ROOM//

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

I inherited this beautiful brass deer this year from my Mother.  It was in our childhood home for years and I was so excited for it to have a place of honor in my holiday home.

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

//FAMILY ROOM//

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

Here’s a full shot of my flocked Christmas tree, in it’s Mirrored Tree Stand.  It was such an easy DIY project and I’m in love with it!

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

//GUEST BATH//

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

//LIVING ROOM//

I’m so excited to show you my living room! Would you believe it was empty just a few short weeks ago!? I just love this room and find myself sitting here relaxing, reading and working.  It’s so peaceful.

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013 11

I’ll be sharing more about that gorgeous tree from Balsam Hill on Saturday, it’s amazing and a dream come true tree for me!

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

//DINING ROOM/

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

//BEDROOM//

We’ll wrap up the tour in my favorite spot in the house.  My reading chair in my master bedroom where I’m reading one of my favorite author’s…there’s something fun about a good Christmas book…it’s pure bliss! 😉

At The Picket Fence Holiday Housewalk 2013

Thank you for stopping by to see me! I hope you gathered up some fresh new ideas for decorating for Christmas.

 From our home to yours we wish you a very Merry Christmas and may your holidays be filled with love and joy!

Patterson family

signature

Up next on the housewalk is a special treat… Shhhh….it’s a surprise house!! Any guesses who it might be?!

Surprise house 25

66 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, Decorating, Holidays, Home Tour

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Comments

  1. paige says

    December 5, 2013 at 3:50 AM

    merry christmas!
    love all your southern touches…hey ya’ll & the mirrored table are my absolute favorites.
    beautiful home!

    Reply
  2. Martina says

    December 5, 2013 at 4:33 AM

    Absolutely Beautiful Heather!!

    Reply
  3. Ashley @ 3littlegreenwoods says

    December 5, 2013 at 5:10 AM

    I love all the pops of royal blue in your Christmas decor! It’s a unique twist on the tradition green and red. Beautifully done!

    Merry Christmas!
    Ashley

    Reply
  4. Kelly @ View Along the Way says

    December 5, 2013 at 5:31 AM

    Oh girrrrl! You’re right — how funny that we have so many of the same things. I always knew I loved your taste. 🙂 haha. Everything is AMAZING! I can’t believe you’ve only been in your home such a short time and already it looks so finished and beautiful! Love love love!

    Reply
  5. angela says

    December 5, 2013 at 5:33 AM

    I love your use of color! Your home looks so fun and inviting!!!

    Angela @ Number Fifty-Three

    Reply
  6. tara says

    December 5, 2013 at 5:35 AM

    Welcome back to the South! And to Georgia!!!
    {We live in Athens!}

    I’m digging that “Hey Y’all” gold print!!! Where’d you get yours?

    Merriest Christmas!

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 5, 2013 at 5:52 AM

      Hi Tara! How fun, I didn’t realize you lived in Athens! I ADORE my print. I got it from Stephanie of Southern Sayings Wall Art. One of her prints was even featured in this year’s December Souther Living! Here’s the link:
      https://www.etsy.com/shop/StephanieCreekmur

      Reply
  7. Cheryl at Snaps of Ginger says

    December 5, 2013 at 5:44 AM

    I am LOVING all the blue and green! Such a great mix and done so, so beautifully.

    ~Cheryl
    https://snaps-of-ginger.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  8. Pamela says

    December 5, 2013 at 5:48 AM

    Looks wonderful Heather! Love the pops of blue.

    Reply
  9. LUCY says

    December 5, 2013 at 5:55 AM

    ummm? So why were you stressing out? Your home is gorgeous Heather. I love how quickly you’ve been able to make your new house your new home! Love the bright blue and gold…You are amazing! xo

    Reply
  10. Becca says

    December 5, 2013 at 5:56 AM

    Beautiful, Heather … the blue looks gorgeous mixed with the gold and other pops of color! Love your dining room centerpiece, too! Happy Holidays!

    Reply
  11. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    December 5, 2013 at 6:13 AM

    Your home looks beautiful, Heather! I love how colorful it is; the blues especially are very jewel tone. Five months there? I’m glad you were able to find your Christmas stuff! I remember when we moved I had to organize boxes as I searched, and I’m sure I didn’t find everything that first year in our new place.

    Reply
  12. Shelli Johnson says

    December 5, 2013 at 6:15 AM

    I’m with Paige! The Hey Ya’ll and the mirrored table are my absolute favorites!!!!

    Reply
  13. Laura @ Finding Home says

    December 5, 2013 at 6:50 AM

    Heather – you knocked it out of the park! The blue and gold is gorgeous! Well done my friend, love it all!

    Reply
  14. jessica @fourgenerationsoneroof says

    December 5, 2013 at 6:54 AM

    Seriously awesome!!!! Your pics came out gorgeous and I’m loving all the bright pops of color 🙂

    Reply
  15. Vicki Shead says

    December 5, 2013 at 7:00 AM

    LOVE LOVE LOVE all the blue and gold! And your family… gorgeous! But I gotta know where you got your living room chairs, I’m looking for something like that for my family room. Just need a little conversation area in front of the fireplace. Something like that would be awesome. I’ve seen some, but they aren’t big enough. Those look big and comfy… like you’d be comfy sitting, sipping and talking. Merry Christmas Sweetie!! God Bless!

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 6, 2013 at 7:03 PM

      Hey Vicki! I got them off over Overstock.com of all places! I think they still have them and they were very reasonably priced. I like that they are low but not too low, if that makes sense and they are very comfortable! Thank you for your sweet words about my family and home. blessings to you! Heather

      Reply
  16. Jennifer Rizzo says

    December 5, 2013 at 7:14 AM

    Your home looks AMAZING! I love all of the colors and the gold and blue! Thank you so much for being a part of the home tour! I am so blessed!

    Reply
  17. Marty Walden says

    December 5, 2013 at 7:54 AM

    Heather, I just love the pops of blue all around your home! I would love trying something like that but my family would have a fit! They’re very stuck on traditional and the way we’ve always done it. Sounds like church, doesn’t it? Anyway, beautiful home tour!

    Reply
  18. Lori says

    December 5, 2013 at 8:21 AM

    I love all the blue and gold, it is gorgeous.

    Reply
  19. Kristin @ bliss-athome.com says

    December 5, 2013 at 8:41 AM

    WOW! This is a winter wonderland! Such gorgeous images!!! xo Kristin

    Reply
  20. kristin says

    December 5, 2013 at 8:55 AM

    It is just gorgeous, I’m loving the pops of blue simply beautiful my friend!
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  21. Richella Parham says

    December 5, 2013 at 9:06 AM

    Heather, it’s all just beautiful. Thank you so much for the tour! My favorite thing? The Red Cross poster! 🙂

    Reply
  22. Judy says

    December 5, 2013 at 9:10 AM

    Heather your home is just beautiful. I love all of the blue in your holiday decor this year. Your flocked tree is gorgeous. Merry Christmas to you and your family. You all look amazing.

    Reply
  23. Thistle says

    December 5, 2013 at 11:31 AM

    Heather……

    Seriously!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You and Vanessa are BRINGING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Love every little detail and it is truly amazing! Thank you so much for inspiring me today!

    Happy day to you!
    karianne

    Reply
  24. Stormie says

    December 5, 2013 at 12:57 PM

    Heather your house is beautiful and you look AMAZING!! Beautiful family as well! Just wanted you to know that I was inspired by one of your past posts about your journey and am using it for inspiration! You should be so proud! Oh and I love the blue you used too, it’s inspiring for someone like me who uses creams, tans, and browns! Merry Christmas!
    Thank you again to you and your sister, such an inspirational blog!

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 6, 2013 at 7:01 PM

      Knowing I’ve inspired someone else to get healthy means more to me than anything else! I’m so glad to hear you are on your own journey Stormie! Keep me updated on how you are doing and let me know if you ever need a little extra encouragement! Heather

      Reply
  25. RHoda @ Southern Hospitality says

    December 5, 2013 at 2:23 PM

    Oh, Heather, girl! I don’t know what you were talking about on Facebook, but your house looks amazing and stunning for Christmas!! Wowza, gorgeous pics, you did a super job with it all. I’m telling you, all the talent in blogland this year is seriously getting to me. I cannot compete! This is the first year of blogging that I’ve felt like that and I’m going to have to mention that in a blog post. If we feel like that, imagine how our readers must feel?

    Gorgeous, girl!! REally, truly gorgeous, I love all the blues and greens!

    Reply
  26. Suzi says

    December 5, 2013 at 4:22 PM

    DANG, Girl! You nailed it!! And the foyer…incredible

    Reply
  27. laura@Top This Top That says

    December 5, 2013 at 4:31 PM

    Hi Heather! What a fun festive home.Love how you introduced all the blue and gold. You have done a great job settling in , it all looks perfect! Happy Holidays to you and your family.

    Reply
  28. Kelly @ thelilypadcottage says

    December 5, 2013 at 4:42 PM

    SO gorgeous Heather!! I love all the blue and gold and every photo is more gorgeous than the next! Your new home is just beautiful and so is your family – Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  29. cassie says

    December 5, 2013 at 5:10 PM

    SOOO fun! i love your colors and love all the modern touches! beautiful!

    Reply
  30. Carol Reddin says

    December 5, 2013 at 6:06 PM

    Beautiful pictures of a beautiful home! Lovin’ you and yours! Mom

    Reply
  31. Melissa @ The Inspired Room says

    December 5, 2013 at 6:24 PM

    Oh how I love all that gorgeous blue!!! Beautiful home, Heather! Thank you for sharing you tour and talent for creating beautiful rooms!

    Reply
  32. Betsy(@coastal-colors) says

    December 5, 2013 at 6:30 PM

    Heather, your home is stunning! I love your bright colors and choice of gold accents! I’m such a gold girl! Your blue just pops! You have turned this house into a home! It’s so festive! Thank you for sharing your holiday home!

    Reply
  33. Karen @ Dogs Don't Eat Pizza says

    December 5, 2013 at 6:37 PM

    Heather, I love the blue and metallics. So beautiful. The blue is so striking against the gold and white. Merry Christmas, friend! Glad you are doing well.

    Reply
  34. Tardevil says

    December 5, 2013 at 7:14 PM

    This tour just keeps getting better and better! And before I forget, you are rocking that outfit! Love the necklaces. Your daughter should be a model. Anyway, I love all of the royal blue touches, along w/ the turquoise. The ornament’s hanging from the chandelier are gorgeous. Your furniture choices are awesome, too…one of my favorite tours, so far.

    Reply
  35. Lesley says

    December 5, 2013 at 7:33 PM

    Love Love and more Love. I adore the color palette! I can possibly pick what I love the most! I love the Christmas picture is beautiful. Happy Holidays ! Lesley

    Reply
  36. Sharon - Bringing Creativity to Life says

    December 5, 2013 at 7:53 PM

    Oh, Heather — this is beyond Gorgeous!

    Reply
  37. Karen Watson says

    December 5, 2013 at 8:54 PM

    It’s Gorgeous Heather!!! I love all the pops of blue and gold, they are stunning!! And that flocked tree is amazing! Loved the photo of you and your family too, what a great pic and you look so beautiful!

    Reply
  38. JannYvette says

    December 5, 2013 at 9:17 PM

    WOW, Heather you’ve got decorating skills! Love the blue thought out the house and that tree stand is dreamy. Your living room is cozy with all the chairs facing each other, I heart that.

    Your home is lovely and I’m glad you shared it with us.

    Merry Christmas
    JannYvette

    Reply
  39. Beth@HomeStoriesAtoZ says

    December 6, 2013 at 7:45 AM

    I love the blue and green! It’s fresh and fun and looks amazing with the gold accents. Great job styling and as always gorgeous photography :). Thanks for opening up your home and sharing!

    Reply
  40. Sherry says

    December 6, 2013 at 8:43 AM

    Your home looks so bright and cheery, I love the vibrant colors… Your tree is absolutely gorgeous! Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  41. Helen says

    December 6, 2013 at 8:54 AM

    Oh Heather, you have me thinking blue and I’ve never considered blue for Christmas! The gold and blue is gorgeous! The stars are perfect and the Red Cross poster framed really caught my eye! Love the unique and unexpected items! Hope y’all have a marvelous Christmas in your new home!

    Reply
  42. Maureen says

    December 6, 2013 at 2:07 PM

    Love your fresh, new Christmas style in your fresh, new home!

    Reply
  43. Jennifer - Dear Lillie says

    December 6, 2013 at 3:50 PM

    Your home is so beautiful so bright and so fun! Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  44. Melanie says

    December 6, 2013 at 6:57 PM

    All so beautiful, Heather! I love your family photo at the end, too.

    Reply
  45. Susan @ My Place to Yours says

    December 7, 2013 at 8:45 AM

    Heather, I’m late getting to your open house, too, but what a fun and festive mood you’ve set! I have some vintage cobalt ornaments I love to decorate with, and now I’m wishing I’d pulled them out this year… It’s wonderful seeing you enjoy your first Christmas in your new house — and seeing your personality shine through in your decor. Welcome back to the South!

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 11, 2013 at 5:19 AM

      Thank you so much Susan! I so appreciate that you came by to take the tour with me! So glad to be back down south. All the best this Christmas to you and yours! Heather

      Reply
  46. Melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle says

    December 7, 2013 at 9:10 AM

    LOVE that cobalt blue! But, my favorite is the gold “Hey Y’all” sign! PERFECT! Merry Christmas! Melissa

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 11, 2013 at 5:17 AM

      Thank you Melissa! I LOVE my sign! Let me know if you need the link to the etsy shop where I purchased it. Merry Christmas to you! ~Heather

      Reply
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  48. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    December 18, 2013 at 4:25 PM

    Just Gorgeous, Heather! I love the blue color scheme. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
    xx,
    Sherry

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 18, 2013 at 6:11 PM

      Thank you so much Sherry! Merry Christmas to you! Heather

      Reply
  49. jonstechinfo3.tumblr.com says

    December 23, 2013 at 3:00 AM

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    In truth, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my very own site now 😉

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  50. Blanche says

    December 23, 2013 at 3:24 AM

    It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button!
    I’d certainly donate to this fantastic blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
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    Reply
  51. Deborah says

    December 29, 2013 at 4:26 AM

    This past month as been a crazy world wind of passing days and I’m late to the Christmas tour. I’m new to your blog and I absolutely love the colors you used this year. Especially the Hey Y’all sign, the gold guilded dear head and the red cross poster. Reading through your comments I see where you got the “Hey Y’all” sign. Would you mind sharing the other resources. I look forward to going to Vanessa’s tour and visiting your blog in the future. Happy New Year.

    Reply

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I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
.
…It was just the beginning!
Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house that’s become the landing zone for ALL THE THINGS! 🙋🏻‍♀️🤪 I’ve never been more thankful for our rarely used dining room table as it’s become command central for school books and laptops and games.

Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

What do you need to bring to Him today? I’ll share mine in the comments and I’d love to hear from you too!
I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole lockdown thing began, I’ve come to appreciate this time of day even more.

It feels the most...normal. Daytime is strange and foreign right now. My husband has taken over our home office, I’m suddenly taking over the responsibility of managing my kids’ distance learning and let me just say that teaching 7th grade algebra to my daughter is hugely ironic since I struggled with math all the way through school. I’m trying to do my own work but it feels utterly futile with the constant interruptions which take precedence right now. In the daytime, I’m constantly reminded of how upside down life feels.

But, in the evening, I cook dinner like I’ve always done and we gather around the table like we’ve always done and we laugh and tell stories and then clean up and play games or go on a walk or watch a show. And that feels SO gloriously normal.

So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

What feels ‘normal’ to you right now? Whatever it is, keep doing it. 🌿
When I was in college I would frequently call home When I was in college I would frequently call home and pour my heart out to my mom, sharing with her all that was happening in my life in that completely unfiltered way that you can talk with the person who potty trained you. These phone calls usually took place at night and my mom would patiently listen as I vented frustrations about professors, roommates, boyfriends and the food in the cafeteria. And, inevitably, they would end with my mom saying, “Everything seems worse when you’re tired. Try not to overthink things or make any major decisions tonight, especially when you are feeling emotional.” Dear friends, may I pass along this advice to you today?

If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

If you are tempted to quit a job, start a business, start homeschooling permanently, stop homeschooling permanently, move to a new city, buy a farm, quit pursuing your dream, join a commune or make any other major life decision just…wait. Because, if it is in fact the right decision, it will be made even clearer once our lives return to their ‘regularly scheduled programming’. Instead, in this strange season, let’s all just take a deep, collective breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anxiety that threatens to overtake us. Let’s help each other maintain some perspective and not slip into a posture of over-thinking every little thing in our lives. Let’s remember that the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to use this time when things feel dark to manipulate us into thinking that aspects of our lives are worse than they actually are.

My prayer for you in these days is that you will have the clarity to know what is true and that you will be filled with peace even while we live in this season of so many unknowns.
Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking thes Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking these days! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m trying to avoid gaining the #corona15 but my daughter and I LOVE baking together and it does help to pass the time plus it counts as a science lesson right?

If you’re able to find flour in the stores (for the love people please stop overbuying!) and you’re doing more baking at your house too you need to add this apricot bread to your list of new recipes to try!

Normally I’d point you to my blog for the directions but I’m going to do you a solid and leave the full recipe in the comments.

What have you baked so far during this time of social distancing? I’d love some new ideas!
There are a LOT of people out walking in our neigh There are a LOT of people out walking in our neighborhood right now (but still social distancing!) and she decided that she wanted to bring them some joy and put a smile on their face when they pass by our house. Also, the square with ‘say no to coronavirus’ is priceless. 😂 I just love her so much!
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