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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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March 16, 2013

Easter Brunch Buffet ~ Care to Join Me?

Spring Brunch Buffet At the Picket Fence

In my mind the word Brunch = Fancy. But not too fancy.

Not sparkly dress and pointy-toed stilettos kind of fancy.

More like a cute sundress and espadrilles.

It’s taking the everyday routine of cereal for breakfast and peanut butter and jelly for lunch up a notch…or two…or three.

Toss in the word ‘buffet’ and you definitely don’t have to worry about anyone thinking it’s too fancy!

Spring Centerpiece At the Picket Fence

We’re not talking the “all you can eat” kind of buffet. Although I promise I always have enough food to go around!

No, I’m talking about a Spring Brunch Buffet that blends casual and elegance and maybe makes you feel a bit fancy too. But not too fancy. You don’t even have to wear espadrilles. Maybe you just want to wear flip-flops. That’s OK too. You might consider the ones with the little sparkles on top though. We’ll call them your “fancy” flip-flops.

And then we’ll make you say that five times fast.

Vintage silverware At the Picket Fence

Hosting a Spring Brunch Buffet means you can get away with things you wouldn’t normally attempt. Like putting a birds nest on a plate on the table alongside the food. Because, well, it just felt right…and fancy.

bird eggs in nest At the Picket Fence

I might even feel like stenciling some Spring-y scenes onto flour sack towels which have been cut in half to make napkins. They could be a fancy party favor. Unless you spill something on them. In which case the fancy factor goes way down.

Stenciled spring napkins At the Picket Fence

The reality is that when you set a table with beautiful heirloom silverware and salt and pepper shakers that have graced countless tables, you could be serving pb&j and it would look beautiful.

Especially if you cut the crusts off and sliced them into little triangles. See…it doesn’t take much to up that fancy factor!

vintage salt and pepper shakers At the Picket Fence

But, why would you have pb&j when you could have blueberry muffins as big as your head?

blueberry muffins At the Picket Fence

You see, I don’t think you have to make a choice between simple and special.

I think that sometimes what makes something so special is, in fact,  just how simple it is.

vintage bubble glass At the Picket Fence

So, do you care to join me for my simply sweet Spring Brunch Buffet?

You might even decide to wear those fancy flip-flops after all!

Easter Tablescape At the Picket Fence

I’m so thrilled to be joining in this fun week of beautiful Easter Tablescapes hosted by the wonderful ladies of Uncommon Designs!

Easter Tablescapes Series

 They kicked things off with their gorgeous Bunnies and Burlap table and were followed by Thistlewood Farm where we got some fabulous Spring Table Decorating Tips. Next we saw a Beautiful in Blue Easter Tablescape from On Sutton Place followed by a stunning Vintage Brass and Lavender Tablescape from Finding Home. A Natural Easter Tablescape was shared by A Night Owl and a darling Children’s Easter Tablescape was created by Dukes and Duchesses.

What an honor to be included in this lineup!

I hope you will pay them all a visit and I look forward to meeting you back here at the Fence soon,

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22 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Easter, Holidays, Parties Tagged With: Botanicals, Easter, spring, spring decorating, tablescapes

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Previous Post: « Spring Centerpiece and Mantel Decor
Next Post: Fourteen Fabulous Spring Projects and a Linky Party! »

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Comments

  1. laura @top this top that says

    March 16, 2013 at 4:22 AM

    Such a prett table. I will wear my fancy fllip fllops
    After I get my pedi.

    Reply
  2. Sue says

    March 16, 2013 at 4:44 AM

    Fun, fancy, fabulous frou-frou…… I could so enjoy the simplest of brunches here. Lovely, Vanessa. 🙂 Sue

    Reply
  3. Chrisitina says

    March 16, 2013 at 5:37 AM

    Oh How delightful- love love love the napkin idea- and did you whitewash those cute flower pots or find them somewhere? – I’ve been looking for some like that!
    Happy Spring!
    Christina

    Reply
  4. Michael Reddin says

    March 16, 2013 at 6:53 AM

    I would love to come to your beautiful brunch. May I sit next to you? Mom

    Reply
  5. Bonnie says

    March 16, 2013 at 9:55 AM

    This sounds like fun…I’ll be there…with bells on my flip-flops.

    Reply
  6. Cynthia says

    March 16, 2013 at 10:04 AM

    I love, love the napkins they are adorable. My stepmom has a relaxing Easter brunch every year. It is so much better then the fancy ones.

    Cynthia

    Reply
  7. Angelina says

    March 16, 2013 at 10:12 AM

    Oh it looks and sounds absolutely divine… So be sure to put my name down. 🙂 Your table setting is so perfectly Sweet and Simple which makes for a very relaxing and joyous occasion. Thanks for sharing it with us!
    xo
    Angelina

    Reply
  8. LuAnn says

    March 16, 2013 at 10:28 AM

    Thank you for inviting me to your brunch! Lovely table – so fresh! Your bird’s nest filled with eggs is a sweet touch.

    Reply
  9. Sandy says

    March 16, 2013 at 1:59 PM

    I have the same stemware that was my maternal grandmother’s. I love them dearly. Your table looks like a breath of spring. First time doing an Easter dinner buffet with a baker’s dozen guests.

    Reply
  10. Jeanette @ Creating a Life says

    March 16, 2013 at 6:28 PM

    So lovely, Vanessa!

    Jeanette

    Reply
  11. Shenita says

    March 16, 2013 at 6:54 PM

    Vanessa, this is such a pretty table! I love all of the different elements that you used. They work together beautifully!

    Reply
  12. Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says

    March 16, 2013 at 7:13 PM

    Just had a pedi so that I could wear some fancy flip flops to a classy brunch like yours! Such beautiful photos of beautiful elements on your table. Love those stenciled napkins! (I’d have to have a mimosa in those glasses, though!)

    Reply
  13. Julie says

    March 16, 2013 at 7:34 PM

    I’m w/ Jane…Mimosa, and flip flops, with the big head muffins 🙂 While I’m eating the big head muffin I need you to inform me what an espadrille is!??? The S&P shakers are pure treasures! Happy Easter you lovely sisters, don’t tell anyone I don’t know what espadrille is!!! …XO

    Reply
  14. Julie says

    March 16, 2013 at 7:35 PM

    Wedges!!! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    March 17, 2013 at 5:29 AM

    Very pretty and a great idea, Vanessa! I’m hosting Easter this year and I’m not sure what I’m doing. I guess I better get on that, since it will be here soon!

    Reply
  16. Martina says

    March 17, 2013 at 6:23 AM

    I would love to join you for brunch Vanessa!!
    Your table looks so pretty! Love the potted daffodils!

    Reply
  17. Becca says

    March 17, 2013 at 6:26 AM

    I’m throwing my “fancy flip flops” on … please tell me that there is some left! Your Spring Brunch Buffet looks delish! Love your sweet napkins and sentimental and beautiful heirloom pieces!

    Reply
  18. Cindy says

    March 17, 2013 at 8:30 AM

    Sweet and I LOVE your stenciled napkins…
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply
  19. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    March 17, 2013 at 7:21 PM

    Great table Vanessa…I have those flip flops that you can change the straps on…so in a moment I can change them from casual to dressy and sparkly…Last year I set a “summer beach table” and put flip flops ON the table..did not get the memo when they said “flip flops” accepted, i thought it would have to be part of the decor on the table…glad you are setting the record straight…they shall stay on my feet!…I love, love the stencils on the flour sack towels…so pretty!…

    Reply
  20. Kimberly @ A Night Owl says

    March 17, 2013 at 8:06 PM

    just LOVE this Vanessa! especially the sweet white-washed terracotta pots. lovely. thanks for the mention too! xo, Kimberly

    Reply
  21. Atta Girl Amy says

    March 18, 2013 at 6:19 AM

    I definitely would join you for brunch. Off to buy some new fancy flip flops and get a pedi.

    I love those napkins. Was going to ask where you bought them, but now I know they’re homemade. Beautiful.

    Reply
  22. Ann says

    March 18, 2013 at 7:13 AM

    Wish I could join you for this lovely brunch…would you share where you got the flour sack towels? I think I need some. Thankis!

    Reply

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Yesterday on the way home from school I had the ra Yesterday on the way home from school I had the radio tuned to my daughter's favorite station and a song that was playing had a line in it that really stood out to me. It made reference to a 'season of the sticks' which I think its safe to say must mean winter. I thought that was such an accurate, albeiet kind of depressing, picture of this time of the year.

While we definitely have more than our fair share of evergreen trees here in Oregon, we also have plenty of trees and bushes that are reduced to sticks during the cold months. But, this morning as I looked out my kitchen window, greedily sipping from my mug of coffee, I marveled at the beauty of the winter sunrise. The sky was all pinks and oranges with frost on the rooftops and a little bit of fog. And, I realized that part of why it was so amazing is because I could see it more clearly through the sticks. The bare branches allowed me a view that I wouldn't be able to see if those same branches were covered in leaves. Being stripped down to almost nothing revealed something magnificent.

We have seasons of the sticks in our lives too, don't we? Times when we feel as though we've been stripped bare and left exposed. It's easy to think that this is a place where all is ugly and dark. And yet, just like the winter sunrise was more visible because of the bare branches, the vulnerability we feel in the winter season of our souls allows us to get a glimpse of beauty that we wouldn't see otherwise. In the lush, warm seasons it's so easy to become comfortable. But in the bare, cold seasons we recognize just how much we need to rely on the One who placed the stars in the heavens and is sovereign over all.

If you feel like your soul has been stripped bare and you've been left exposed and vulnerable, may I encourage you today to ask the Lord to help you to see the beauty in this 'season of the sticks'.

“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:7
I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake a I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake and grabbed a banana out of the freezer and was about to put it into my shake before I realized it was a frozen egg roll. Sooooo that's how my day is going so far! 🤪How about you?

It's honestly fairly representative of my state of mind these days as I can't seem to make the date on the calendar match the date in my spirit because it feels like it should be January 45th. Every year this month drags on and every year it seems to surprise me for some reason. In addition, my heart just feels heavy as I witness a lot of darkness and sadness around me. So, I'm choosing to control what I can control by making my house feel as cozy as possible, relishing the sunshine whenever it dares to peek through the clouds, gathering inspiration for warmer weather projects and, most importantly, resting in the comfort of the sovereignty of my Father.

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work..." Job 37:5-7
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And I’m choosing gratefulness. 

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Here’s to beginnings. Happy new year friends! May you experience the majesty and sovereignty of the Lord in 2023 like never before! ✨
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