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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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August 28, 2014

Off the Grid

Sometimes you just need to go off the grid.

Sometimes you find yourself longing for the chance to kind of run away…drop out of sight.

Sometimes you don’t even realize how much you were longing for wide open spaces until you suddenly find yourself surrounded by 14,000 acres of them.

homestead cabin

Sometimes you need to feel connected to the past and be reminded that everything doesn’t begin and end with you.

old lantern

And that quiet, true quiet is like no other kind of therapy.

Sometimes you need to not even have the option of checking emails or texts or facebook because there’s no cell service or WiFi.

log cabin with horse ropes

Sometimes you need to see your kids so excited to collect eggs that you would have thought they were going on a ride at Disneyland.

collecting eggs

And marvel at them like they are the very first eggs ever hatched.

fresh eggs

Sometimes it’s worth getting up very early (way earlier than one should be getting up while on vacation!) just so your kids can have the opportunity to bottle-feed calves and you can catch a glimpse of the sheer joy on their faces.

kids feeding calves

Sometimes you need to make new friends and hear their stories. You need to marvel at the determination of a young woman who started out washing dishes in the kitchen and wound up being the ranch manager.

And while you’re at it marvel at her patience as she tried to teach your children about horses.

kids with Larissa

Sometimes you need to see your daughter take to those horses like she’d been around them her entire life and then start coming up with ways to convince your husband that he really doesn’t want to be a Pharmaceutical rep after all but would rather be a rancher instead.

our little cowgirl

And sometimes you watch in awe as your son waits sooooooo patiently for that first nibble on his fishing line.

fishing

Sometimes you need to document the gutting of a fish because you can’t believe that the same child who’s been known to get skittish watching his sister blow her nose is happily cutting the head off the fish he just caught and examining it’s eyeballs.

And you feel so thankful that your dad is the one teaching him how to do this and not you.

cleaning fish

Sometimes just the sight of your husband lying on the dock with his legs dangling off the edge into the cool water means more to you than your own relaxation because you know just how badly he needs this moment of peace.

lying on the dock

Sometimes the peels of laughter coming from the wrestling match happening in the next room will remind you once again how very grateful you are to have parents who will come ‘off the grid’ with you just so they can get this time with their grandchildren and make memories to last a lifetime.

wrestling with nonna and poppa

The thing is, sometimes you just need to…’be’.

With no deadlines, nowhere we have to go.

log cabin

No appointments we have to keep…except for the one with a fishing pole.

fishing poles

Going ‘off the grid’ gives you a chance to reconnect with your surroundings, with the ones you love and well…yourself.

fence

And sometimes you don’t even realize just how badly you needed those moments until you are actually in them.

cowgirl

 

Sometimes you go ‘off the grid’ and find yourself awfully close to paradise right here on earth!

Thank you to Steve and Karen (and Larissa!) of Aspen Ridge Ranch Resort  for providing the backdrop for this unforgettable adventure.

 

 

15 Comments Filed Under: Family, Good Thoughts

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Comments

  1. Vanessa says

    August 28, 2014 at 4:15 AM

    What a great vacation and I totally get what you mean. Just getting away helps you relax and just enjoy the small things. Seem like a great place.

    Reply
  2. Lori Alexander says

    August 28, 2014 at 4:46 AM

    We just got back from my mom’s cabin in Wisconsin that doesn’t have Internet access. It is amazing how much more time we would spend on the back porch, looking at the lake and simply talking and being quiet. We would have long dinners together. I just love going there for the concentrated family time of just being together. Modern technology is great in many ways, but just as harmful in many ways also.

    Reply
  3. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    August 28, 2014 at 4:54 AM

    You said it so beautifully….I try and go “off the grid” from time to time…keeps life in the right perspective….So glad you and your family had a magical experience.

    Reply
  4. Claire @ A Little Claireification says

    August 28, 2014 at 4:57 AM

    Sounds like an amazing vacation!! Looking forward to (mostly) being off the grid week after next. Can’t wait!
    xo

    Reply
  5. Nancy Sharp says

    August 28, 2014 at 5:02 AM

    Ooooo what a wonderful vacation. You write so beautifully. So happy for your family to have this time together. I bet the grandparents had more fun than the kids. Being with Grandkids is pure joy!

    Reply
  6. Vicki Shead says

    August 28, 2014 at 6:21 AM

    Oh Wow! I’m so thrilled you made time with your family. It’s a very busy week here. I enjoyed and seeing every moment of your adventure. It’s been a really crazy week for me. I think I might unplug a little this weekend too. AHHHH!

    Reply
  7. laura@top this top that says

    August 28, 2014 at 7:15 AM

    oh i love it! my kind of family vacation. what beautiful images on print and in your heart forever.

    Reply
  8. Carol Reddin says

    August 28, 2014 at 7:38 AM

    It was a wonderful time with y’all! Thank you for sharing the pictures and words. Memories to last all of our lives!! Mom

    Reply
  9. Linda says

    August 28, 2014 at 10:16 AM

    What a beautifully written post. Perspective is a wonderful thing. Nice to have those moments in time to treasure forever. Hold onto them in your heart.

    Reply
  10. Julia G. says

    August 28, 2014 at 11:28 AM

    What a great way to spend your vacation. We are heading “off the grid” on Monday!

    Reply
  11. Marty Walden says

    August 28, 2014 at 11:54 AM

    I am totally there! We go on vacation in a few weeks and I desperately need to unplug, unhook, relax and read a good book! Except I might have to watch HGTV because we don’t have cable and that would be a guilty pleasure! Your pics are amazing!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      August 28, 2014 at 5:05 PM

      Thanks so much sweet friend! I hope you have a truly relaxing time getting away from it all and enjoying that HGTV. 🙂

      Reply
  12. Karli says

    August 28, 2014 at 1:06 PM

    Reading this made me tear up. I realize how badly I need to get away and really get off the grid. Thank you for the reminder. Amazing post—something I really needed to hear today.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      August 28, 2014 at 5:05 PM

      Oh I’m so glad it resonated with you Karli and I really hope you can get some time away and be refreshed! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Maria (Magia Mia) says

    August 30, 2014 at 10:21 AM

    I’d know Central Oregon anywhere. Don’t we live in a beautiful state? 🙂

    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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