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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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October 11, 2012

Fall Front Porch

Before I jump into sharing my Fall Front Porch with you, I just wanted to give you a heads up!

The sisters At the Picket Fence are hitting the road this weekend. 
Heather will be a speaker at the Southern Bloggers Conference and Vanessa is on her way to New York City to attend the Food and Wine Festival and participate in some fun promotional events with LG.
You will definitely want to make sure you are following us on Facebook and Twitter as we will have lots of fun updates throughout the weekend!
Because we are frantically getting ready to leave, we are doing something we’ve never done before.
We are postponing our regularly scheduled 
Inspiration Friday party this week.

Our party is something that we put a lot of time and effort into and we don’t want to skimp on it just because things are crazy around here. We know you will understand!
But, be sure to come back next week for lots of fun inspiration and ideas as well as the Features from last week’s party! 
Now, how about we take a looksie at my
Fall Front Porch?

Earlier this week I shared with you my Thrift Store Door Decor for Fall which hangs on my front door. You all were so kind about my bad penmanship…could you write a letter to my mom?
I kept the thrift store theme going when I scored this fabulous wooden box for $2 from the Goodwill.
We are serious about our Salmon in the Pacific NW so this was a particularly fun find!
I filled it up with some of fall’s bounty.
OK.
So, technically only some of that is real.
Should I say that it is filled with fall’s bounty and craft store bounty?
I love the word bounty. 
When I say it, I feel like I’m on board the Mayflower.

This lantern (found on Clearance) may be missing the glass in the front but that just makes it easier to see the goodies tucked inside, right?

Thanks to an idea from BHG, I gave my front porch pillows a little touch of “spooky”. 
This is about all we can handle around here!
Spiderweb Pillows
I made a quick slipcover for the pillows out of leftover drop cloth.
Then, using a hot glue gun, I attached a doily to each one.
Start by looping white string to a hole in the doily and knotting it.
Then go back and forth across (and around) the pillow creating the “spiderweb” effect. 

Finish by tying off the end of the string after looping it back through the doily.
And, of course, you can’t have a spiderweb without a spider. 
I just used some plastic spider rings.
My kids got such a kick out of this!
Some twiggy pumpkins resting on top of urns got a little “umph” in the form of berry garland…

…and a strand of white lights.

I also tucked in some berries and more “faux” bounty around the base of my boxwood topiaries.
Simple.
Once again, it seems to be the theme for our Autumn Decorating this year.

Now, speaking of Autumn.
Not only do Heather and I have voices that sound exactly alike.
Drive the same kind of car.
Say the same things at the same time.
Have the same memory of scratchy matching dresses (you know the ones Heather!).
We also have something else in common and we celebrate it every Autumn.
We share the same wedding anniversary date!
On this day, 20 years ago (woot!),  Heather and her wonderful husband were married.
And, on this day, 14 years ago, I married my incredible hubby.
Yep.
10/10 is special date here at the Fence!
And we owe our guys a huge thank you for putting up with the craziness of being married to sisters who blog together! 
And for letting us pursue our passions. We love you guys!
But, just so you know boys, the odds of La-Z-Boy contacting us wanting us to review an oversized recliner with a beer fridge on the side are pretty slim.
Hope you are having a very wonderful Autumn, and enjoying it’s bounty, (still love that word) so far!
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Comments

  1. Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR says

    October 10, 2012 at 11:27 PM

    Vanessa, I love all of your fall decor! Your front porch is so welcoming! Happy Anniversary to both of you!!!

    Reply
  2. 20 North Ora says

    October 10, 2012 at 11:33 PM

    Congratulations to you both on your wedding anniversaries!! Have a good and safe trip.

    Judy

    Reply
  3. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    October 10, 2012 at 11:43 PM

    Happy Anniversary to you both!! Vanessa your porch looks fabulous, love those chairs and love the twig pumpkins in the urns! Have a blast this weekend girls!!

    Reply
  4. Dewdrop Gardens says

    October 10, 2012 at 11:49 PM

    Happy Anniversary to all of you! Enjoy your special day. And enjoy your special trips this weekend!
    Love the decor at your front door.
    Debbie 🙂

    Reply
  5. Cindy Ritchie says

    October 11, 2012 at 12:34 AM

    Beautiful front porch! Gorgeous brides! Have fun you two! Cindy

    Reply
  6. Holly says

    October 11, 2012 at 12:36 AM

    Gorgeous and welcoming. Not too creepy. Love the wicker pumpkins in the urns.

    Reply
  7. Pam - @diy Design Fanatic says

    October 11, 2012 at 1:08 AM

    Happy Anniversary to you both!Love your Fall front porch!

    Reply
  8. Two Succulent Sisters says

    October 11, 2012 at 1:09 AM

    I have that exact lantern and I put an old globe light in it filled with Christmas lights for outside. It’s like a moon out there. 🙂 I like yours for decorative purposes. Beautiful. Linda

    Reply
  9. Suzy says

    October 11, 2012 at 1:27 AM

    Happy Anniversary to the two of you! Today is my daughter’s birthday too. what a special day it is! Love your porch and I’m coveting your twiggy pumpkin bounty.

    Reply
  10. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    October 11, 2012 at 1:42 AM

    Happy Anniversary to both of you! Your porch looks great, Vanessa. I love simple and am very much into that this year myself. Have a good time on each of your trips and safe travels!

    Reply
  11. Laura from Top This Top That says

    October 11, 2012 at 1:43 AM

    how cool is that- was that planned ( the same day)? Vanessa have fun in NYC and Heather I will see you in Raleigh!

    Reply
  12. It's All Connected says

    October 11, 2012 at 2:36 AM

    Happy anniversaries and have a blast on your trips! ~ Maureen

    Reply
  13. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    October 11, 2012 at 4:30 AM

    Vanessa…your front porch is gorgeous!!…Have a great time in NYC…I will see Heather this weekend at the Southern Bloggers Conference….you two are quite busy!!…Happy Anniversary to you both….!!!…

    Reply
  14. Debbiedoo's says

    October 11, 2012 at 11:34 AM

    How pretty Vanessa! Love your porch. Cute pillow too. Enjoy your time away girls. Both very exciting trips indeed.

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    October 11, 2012 at 1:33 PM

    Beautiful porch, Vanessa. And, you both were such beautiful brides. October 10, your anniversaries, is a day we remember with great pleasure. We’re proud of Heather and you and your families. Mom and Dad

    Reply
  16. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    October 11, 2012 at 1:34 PM

    Happy Anniversary!!!!! YOur front porch is gorgeous and have a great time on your trips. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  17. Patty (Patty's Pretty Things) says

    October 11, 2012 at 4:25 PM

    Thank you for the front porch tips. I have the same planter with a pumpkin on it but want to go out and get the berry garland now. Also love the doilies for spider webs. So cute. Enjoy your trips and Happy Anniversary to both of you!

    Reply
  18. Fishtail Cottage says

    October 11, 2012 at 5:15 PM

    loved reading about your tips! we are in the middle of remodeling our family/great room….too much clutter laying around the house, thinking the fall decor isn’t coming out of hiding this year – i may however, have to decorate the front door!xoxo, tracie

    Reply
  19. Barbara Hiatt says

    October 11, 2012 at 7:11 PM

    Gorgeous front porch! Congrats to you both on your anniversaries!
    Barbara at Chase the Star
    chasethestar dot net

    Reply
  20. Erika@BeBookBound says

    October 11, 2012 at 8:18 PM

    Happy anniversary! The front porch looks lovely—almost as lovely as your wedding pictures. You two look gorgeous. (Maybe if I had gotten married on October 11th, my wedding pictures would have looked better than they do. Bummer.)

    Reply
    • Erika@BeBookBound says

      October 11, 2012 at 8:21 PM

      Ha ha ha. I just rechecked my dates and I guess getting married on the 11th would have made any difference for my wedding pictures since you two got married on the 10th! Hope you enjoy your trips!

      Reply
  21. Athena at Minerva's Garden says

    October 11, 2012 at 8:22 PM

    Have fun while you are on your fabulous trips! I love your front porch, and those pretty twiggy pumpkins.

    Reply
  22. Judy says

    October 11, 2012 at 8:33 PM

    Vanessa-I love your fall decor! It’s just beautiful. Super cute idea with the spider-web pillow. Happy anniversary to all of you. Heather – I was also married 20 years (sept 20).

    Reply
  23. Marty Walden says

    October 12, 2012 at 1:06 AM

    Happy anniversary to both of you! I’ll be in Raleigh as well. Visiting from blogtalk.

    Reply
  24. Kerry Rossow says

    October 12, 2012 at 4:29 AM

    Happy Anniversary, ladies! My husband and I were married on his parent’s 44th Anniversary- Oct 1st!
    Enjoy your week!
    Kerry at HouseTalkN

    Reply
  25. Ramblings of a Southern Girl ~ Rhonda G says

    October 12, 2012 at 1:29 PM

    The the outdoor fall decor! …simply beautiful! And Congrats to you both on your Anniversaries!

    Looking forward to meeting Heather this weekend! 🙂

    Reply
  26. Debbie says

    October 12, 2012 at 1:52 PM

    Happy belated anniversary to both of you! It’s amazing how the wedding styles changed in just six years, isn’t it?

    Heather, I did so want to be able to attend that conference, and it would have been wonderful to meet you! Unfortunately, the job situation has sort of dictated our fall. Maybe next time. Have fun!

    Reply
  27. Lisa @ Shine Your Light says

    October 12, 2012 at 8:00 PM

    Awww…happy anniversary to you both! How special that you share the same day!

    Reply
  28. Shelia says

    October 13, 2012 at 1:50 AM

    Happy Anniversary, sweet ones! How wonderful to have the same dates! Your wedding snaps are just beautiful! I think I’m a tad late in my wishes but they are sincere! 🙂
    Blessings and you two are sweeties,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  29. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    October 13, 2012 at 1:47 PM

    Happy anniversary to all of you, The wedding pictures are beautiful and I love your Fall decor.

    Reply
  30. Carol says

    October 13, 2012 at 5:23 PM

    Happy Be-lated Anniversary to you both! That is so wonderful!

    Your front porch looks awesome, Vanessa, with all of your “bounty” of different things. I really like the chalkboard, too!

    Reply
  31. Vivienne @ the V Spot says

    October 15, 2012 at 6:29 PM

    Awesome! I love that you’re all married on 10/10 and I love that the boys are hoping for a recliner review! Everything looks phenomenal!

    Reply
  32. Lisa says

    October 16, 2012 at 5:47 AM

    Can you tell me where you got the twig pumpkins? Love the porch! Happy anniversary!

    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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