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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 8, 2016

Easter Mantel

If you’ve spent any time over here you know that I love words. I’ve tried to do one of those blog posts where it’s just pictures but it ends up being about the same as when I’m having a conversation with someone and there are big, long pauses. I can’t do it. I simply MUST fill in the gaps! It’s a sickness, I tell ya.

Easter mantel with chalkboard art and shutters

But although I have a very obvious love affair with words, there is one particular word that I struggle with, especially when it comes to decorating.

And as I was putting a little Easter twist on my living room mantel the other day, I was thinking about this word and about how it might perhaps be the reason I’ve always decorated more for Spring than specifically for Easter.

You see, I have a problem with the word ‘cute’. In and of itself, it’s a lovely word. I, myself, actually use it quite a bit in my day to day conversations. But most of the time those particular conversations are with my young daughter.

I have found that using the word ‘cute’ to describe something can go either one of two ways. If used to tell a little girl that her hair is looking especially darling that day, the word ‘cute’ is the perfect choice.

Stone cross and birds nest on Easter mantel

If, however, it’s used to describe my home decor, I guess I just bristle a bit.

Because, I think sometimes people can take this sweet little word and twist it into something that can sound almost patronizing. Like how you feel when someone pats you on the head. Or when a sales clerk who is 20 years younger than you calls you ‘sweetie’.

I will never forget showing my home to an extended family member for the first time. We were so excited about moving into a house we never dreamed we’d be able to live in and as I shared all of my plans with her she was just absolutely silent. We walked from room to room with me babbling on like an idiot while she barely made a sound. And after one of those long, dreaded pauses that I so desperately wanted to fill with words, she uttered only one single word of her own. Her gaze swept around the kitchen and breakfast room and into the family room and she said,  “Cute.” Just.Like.That. Her nose may have even been turned up when she said it but I could also just have created that in my imagination as I’ve relived that moment over and over again. 😉

Birds nest Easter mantel decor atthepicketfence.com

I think that maybe these slightly traumatizing encounters I’ve had with the word ‘cute’ have made me nervous about decor in my home that would even remotely smack of it.

So, I’ve just avoided it all together.

Chalkboard Easter verse on mantel

I’m happy to put out Spring branches and a few little nests but I haven’t dared to try and create anything specifically Easter-y for fear of going over the edge of cuteness and never returning.

Topiary in galvanized bucket as mantel decor

But this year was different somehow. Maybe it’s because I just turned 40. Maybe it’s my newfound sense of security in who I am. Maybe I know my style better now and feel confident in it.

Or maybe it’s just I really wanted to declare my feelings about what Easter means to me on a chalkboard.

Simple layered spring mantel with chalkboard art

As I placed the topiary in the bucket on top of the mantel I stood back and thought to myself, “That’s so cute!”

And, surprisingly, I was ok with it.

Maybe I’ve made my peace with cute.

In moderation, of course! 😉

Thanks so much for meeting me at the fence today,

Vanessa signature

24 Comments Filed Under: Easter, Holidays, Spring Tagged With: Easter, spring, spring decorating

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Comments

  1. Pat Matheny says

    March 8, 2016 at 5:27 AM

    Actually, I was thinking it looks lovely.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 8, 2016 at 10:36 AM

      Thank you so much Pat! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Lisa Mothersead says

    March 8, 2016 at 5:38 AM

    Your home/mantle is lovely. Happy Easter!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 8, 2016 at 10:36 AM

      Thank you so much Lisa! I always appreciate you stopping by. Happy Easter to you too!

      Reply
  3. Cindy says

    March 8, 2016 at 7:02 AM

    So very peaceful and full of grace…

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 8, 2016 at 10:35 AM

      Thank you Cindy!

      Reply
  4. Jeanie says

    March 8, 2016 at 9:15 AM

    I love it!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 8, 2016 at 10:35 AM

      Thank you Jeanie!

      Reply
  5. Suzanne says

    March 8, 2016 at 9:34 AM

    Cute was not the word that came into my mind as I looked at your post. It was Peaceful and Meaningful. Looks lovely.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 8, 2016 at 10:35 AM

      Thank you so much Suzanne!!

      Reply
  6. Dorothy Bruner says

    March 8, 2016 at 11:32 AM

    I tried and tried to ignore your misspelled “mantel” but as a former teacher I can’t. It’s mantle not mantel. I do love your site thoughl

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 8, 2016 at 12:10 PM

      Hi Dorothy! Thanks for your kind words about our site! I just did a quick search to confirm the spelling and my understanding is that a ‘mantel’ is in fact a shelf above the fireplace while ‘mantle’ is a sleeveless cloak. 🙂 I’m a stickler for spelling too (even though I’ve been known to need some editing here and there and definitely welcome the help!) so I just wanted to make sure that I didn’t need to go back through and change all of my references. Thanks again!

      Reply
    • Lisa Mothersead says

      March 8, 2016 at 12:41 PM

      Actually, both are fine. Mantle is not as common. (former teacher/reading specialist)

      Reply
  7. Jerry Stocks says

    March 8, 2016 at 1:07 PM

    Love your mantel and dislike the word cute. I once showed my oldest daughter a primitive painting that I had done for a poster, and she said, “That’s cute.” I was crushed and vowed to myself that I would never use the word again.

    Reply
  8. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    March 8, 2016 at 1:38 PM

    I love your Easter “mantel” … it is perfection…. simply “graceful” ….. and mantel is the correct spelling….I always remember by “Mantle” is “Mickey … not a surface above a fireplace….

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 8, 2016 at 7:21 PM

      Thank you so much sweet friend! 🙂

      Reply
    • Lisa Mothersead says

      March 8, 2016 at 8:43 PM

      Again, mantle is correct, also. I checked before commenting.

      Reply
  9. Leslie says

    March 9, 2016 at 7:11 AM

    I so understand your dilemma…and I love the mantel…not cute… It’s wonderful. 🙂

    Reply
  10. Rebecca Turner says

    March 9, 2016 at 8:14 AM

    Some people have a limited vocabulary use, and apply the word “cute” when they actually mean lovely or beautiful…but sometimes, people are deliberately condescending. Insecure people. Still, it can smart, I know. When I met my new sister-in-law for the first time, she informed me that she knows right where I live, because she’s driven past. She went on to explain that she still owns a house nearby, which she uses as rental property. “I used to live there myself,” she said, “back when it was still a NICE neighborhood.” OUCH! I try not to worry about what others think of my home, because it is our HOME, and it’s paid for. I’m aware though, that it’s never going to measure up to some people’s standards. I decorate to please myself, and my husband, who has a similar sense of style. If anything, his choices are more formal, and that’s saying something, because I lean in that direction. I fight it a bit in order to make our home feel warm and welcoming, and not stuffy. For each holiday I decorate with a few “Kitschy” items (cute things) that I put out for our grandchildren to enjoy. Truth be told though, I probably enjoy them more. They make me smile, and there’s nothing wrong with that!

    Reply
  11. Rebecca Turner says

    March 9, 2016 at 8:17 AM

    I meant to add, “He is risen, indeed!”

    Reply
  12. Susan says

    March 9, 2016 at 6:48 PM

    I really like your spring decorating! Love the fireplace mantel!

    Reply
  13. Jo @ Let's Face the Music says

    March 10, 2016 at 9:47 AM

    I find it charming. Hope mine turns out half as nice. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music

    Reply
  14. Kim @ Hunt & Host says

    March 10, 2016 at 7:30 PM

    “Busy” is my “cute”…you sure are “busy” aka I don’t now what the hey you do all day! lol. Your mantel is wonderful, especially the chalkboard 😉

    Reply
  15. Lynn says

    March 17, 2016 at 9:57 AM

    I follow you on twitter and facebook – love your blog and content- always a fresh straightforward approach. this display is classy and fun. I love the Chalkboard frame.

    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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