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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

April 21, 2011

Inspiration Friday No. 12


You may or may not know that one of the sister’s At the Picket Fence lives in the Northwest. And well, since it IS Earth Day, we thought you should see just how Vanessa decided to celebrate this year.

Everyone thinks that Northwest folks are all “tree huggers” anyway, so she thought she would try and live up to the reputation! She was going to wear a flannel shirt and then she realized she didn’t actually own one.
Guess she hasn’t really adapted to the culture there yet!
Her kids were looking at her like she had lost her mind but hey, the girls at the Fence have no shame!

Now in all seriousness, we really do think this is a pretty incredible world we live in!

And we do our part to be good stewards of our resources.
But to be honest, we really value PEOPLE more than anything else.
Which is why this week, there will be a larger number of Features.
There was just so much great inspiration from last week’s party that we are going to
Reduce
 our words so we can feature more folks who were able to
Reuse
items and transform them into something entirely new.
As well as those who like to
Recycle
and repurpose things that many would just throw away.


So, let’s get to it!

Ladder Laundry Rack from Little Lucy Lu. (Try saying that five times fast!)
 
Vintage Pendant Light from Three Pixie Lane
  Airplane Wall Art made from a fence by Kim at Too Much Time on My Hands.
 
Painted Sign made from a piece of wood found under the washing machine.
Shared with us by  Creative Carmella.

Two pallet headboards
  Too Much Time on my Hands                                               Designed to Dwell                  
                                             
Console Table made out of pipes and an antique door from Designing Emily.
Rolling Toy Box from Camelot Art Creations


 Window frame turned Jewelry Holder from Life.Love.Larson

Sign made from Barn Wood at Forty-Year-Old Ranch.

Now, don’t forget to grab your Featured At Button if you were featured at today’s party or during the week as a Facebook Feature! We have started featuring several links during the week on our Facebook page, so make sure you join us over there to see if you are featured! (did we say the word feature enough?? grin.)

Thanks for joining us at the fence on this very “GOOD” Friday!

When you are done linking up head over and party with the other “Friday Party Friends

The lovely Courtney at French Country Cottage

 Our beautiful friend Alison from
 
Stuff and Nonsense
Stuff and Nonsense

And the gracious Debra from Common Ground

vif187

Now all ya PARTY PEOPLE it’s time to link on up…here’s the rules!

  •  Friend At The Picket Fence in some capacity
  • Link Up any post you’ve written that has Inspired You and will Inspire Others-it can be a home improvement project, craft, recipe, story, devotional…if it inspires link it up!

  • Be sure to link back to your original post and not just your url (main blog address)

  • Please post our button (code in the sidebar) or a text link on your blog so others can join in the fun! (MANDATORY)
  • Visit another guest Please try and visit at least the link directly above and below you!  We are trying so hard between writing posts, homeschooling, and taking care of our families..grin..to visit everyone’s posts. Sometimes we miss one and for that we apologize.  It makes us feed good knowing others are visiting people as well!  Thank you..it truly means a lot to us! 

This week’s Inspiration Friday is sponsored by:

There is still time to enter our $40 Simple Stencil Giveaway! Click on the link to enter!

 

38 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jandjhome says

    April 21, 2011 at 9:25 PM

    Thank you so much for hosting.

    Reply
  2. Desire Empire says

    April 21, 2011 at 9:39 PM

    Can’t hurt to hug a tree every now and then.

    I love your first feature with the ladder in the laundry. I have one of those but it’s not half as pretty.

    I hope you beautiful girls have a blessed Easter and thanks for everything you do for blog land. Party’s, 101’s etc. You say you value people most and it shows. It is very much appreciated
    Best Carolyn

    Reply
  3. Sue says

    April 21, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    Hi girls! I always have such a good time visiting a lot of the party links- there is so much inspiration out there! Thanks for advocating “comment love.” I know you both are busy and can’t always visit everyone, so if we each visit some of the other links and leave comments, it really would go a long way in making them feel welcome! 🙂
    hugs, Sue

    Reply
  4. Little Brick Ranch says

    April 21, 2011 at 10:01 PM

    Thanks for hosting and giving us that nice insight into Vanessa’s day!! 🙂 I used to live in the NW and I definitely did my share of tree huggin’ while I was out there!! 🙂 Check out my link ups for some GREEN living tips!!

    Oh – and I am hosting an Earth Day giveaway tomorrow…don’t forget to pop in!!

    Reply
  5. Andrea at Opulent Cottage says

    April 21, 2011 at 10:16 PM

    Happy Earth Day girlies, love the treehugger pics!! I only have a recipe for y’all today, but at least it’s a good one :)) I hope you and your families have a wonderful Easter!
    xo, Andrea

    Reply
  6. Debra@Common Ground says

    April 21, 2011 at 10:16 PM

    Hi Gals, thanks for the great party, just linked up. Have a wonderful Easter Weekend! hugs, Debra

    Reply
  7. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    April 21, 2011 at 10:34 PM

    Great pics Vanessa…hope you all have a blessed Easter.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  8. Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents says

    April 21, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    Thanks so much for hostessing this fun event! I have just linked up!

    Love all the “green” ideas shared here!

    Happy Easter!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

    Reply
  9. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    April 21, 2011 at 10:43 PM

    Vanessa, You are so adorable I am surprised the tree didn’t hug you back! Thank you ladies for hosting and Happy Easter.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  10. Amanda says

    April 21, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    Thanks for hosting another party! I think we should all go and hug a tree!

    Reply
  11. michelle says

    April 21, 2011 at 11:58 PM

    Vanessa you are the cutest tree hugger EVER!!! 🙂 I love it!! The features you have are amazing! I love that console table! All of them are a clever way to reuse and recycle!
    I hope you both have a wonderful weekend and Happy Easter!!!

    Reply
  12. Carmella says

    April 22, 2011 at 12:05 AM

    Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for featuring my wall art project! It is one of my favorite projects…I knew saving that old board from the trash was a great thing to do 🙂 now I know why! You ladies are the BEST! I hope you and your families have a very happy Easter! XOXOXO!

    Reply
  13. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    April 22, 2011 at 12:17 AM

    Great features from last week. The talent out there amazes me. Thanks for hosting and have a Happy Easter.

    Reply
  14. Vivienne @ the V Spot says

    April 22, 2011 at 12:34 AM

    Those features are fabulous, and I LOVE the tree-hugging photos!

    Reply
  15. Modern Country Lady says

    April 22, 2011 at 12:42 AM

    That picture is priceless, Vanessa- hahahaha !! With or without checked shirt!
    Thanks for hosting- have a great Easter.
    XX
    Bea

    Reply
  16. Ashley says

    April 22, 2011 at 1:09 AM

    Thank you for the feature! Those were some great projects to be featured among. I love the tree hugging pics, too. Thank you for hosting!

    Reply
  17. Desiree Guy says

    April 22, 2011 at 1:09 AM

    Thanks for the feature!!! Love all the wonderful ideas :))

    Hope you have a wonderful Easter!

    Desiree
    CamelotArtCreations.blogspot.com

    Reply
  18. Katie says

    April 22, 2011 at 1:23 AM

    Great picture Vanessa! LOL!! Thanks for hosting ladies!

    Reply
  19. Kristin says

    April 22, 2011 at 2:15 AM

    Love the tree huggin’ going on in the P.N.W!
    Thanks Vanessa for all of your sweet comments this week!
    Hope you can stand one more post about faith and Casting “seeds”…
    Love, Kristin

    Reply
  20. Michell @ Girl In Air says

    April 22, 2011 at 2:48 AM

    OMG! What wonderful features!! I’m gonna be here all night! Thank you!!

    Oh and thanks for hosting:-)

    Reply
  21. Kim @ Too Much Time says

    April 22, 2011 at 3:23 AM

    You girls are so sweet! Two of my projects featured?!?! Thank you…bunches and bunches! Have a “good” friday!
    xo

    Reply
  22. alison says

    April 22, 2011 at 3:27 AM

    well…you must admit…that basket lamp really was divine…tee hee…have a blessed weekend and happy tree huggin’!

    alison

    Reply
  23. The "Boutique" Girls says

    April 22, 2011 at 5:44 AM

    We LOVE our tree huggers:) Thanks for hosting another link party. We love linking up!

    Reply
  24. Anna says

    April 22, 2011 at 6:27 AM

    New to your party and your blog. Thanks for hosting!

    Anna
    http://www.askannamoseley.com

    Reply
  25. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    April 22, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    Hi there girls! Vanessa- we just might be a couple of tree huggers over here too… 🙂 love it! Thanks for hosting! 🙂

    Reply
  26. Kim @ Cheap Chic Home says

    April 22, 2011 at 11:39 AM

    You don’t look all the comfortable hugging that tree, Vanessa! I hope your kids had lots of giggles. You have lots of great features this week. Happy Easter to you and your family. Hugs, Kim. Oh, and buy yourself a flannel shirt ;)!

    Reply
  27. Becca says

    April 22, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    Well, hey there, Miss beautiful tree hugger! (Did you get a haircut?)

    Love the features … the ladder in the mudroom is too cute!

    Thanks for hosting … I hope both of you and your families have a wonderful and HAPPY EASTER !! xo, Becca

    Reply
  28. Wendy says

    April 22, 2011 at 1:01 PM

    Thanks for the feature! It made my Good Friday even better!

    Reply
  29. CAS says

    April 22, 2011 at 1:16 PM

    You girls crack me up! Vanessa, you are too funny– absolutely adorable– but too funny! I was once a “tree-hugger” in Oregon, & I would be again, IF we lived in a place with trees. LOL!!! Yeah, I know we have lots of trees here in AZ, but they all have thorns of some kind. Ouch! AZ isn’t too big into “recycling” either. Bad state, bad, bad state!

    Anyway, you two keep up the good work. I hope you are having fun with this blog, because it is so much fun for all of us. Have a Happy Easter!
    CAS

    Reply
  30. Bec@littlelucylu says

    April 22, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for the feature!!!
    Oh … and I live in the Northwest, too – so there you go! :)~
    Thanks so much for hosting the party!
    ~Bec

    Reply
  31. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    April 22, 2011 at 3:08 PM

    Just look at all those talented people! You featured some amazing ideas. Thank you!
    Wishing you both a very Blessed Easter!

    Reply
  32. Gracie's Cottage says

    April 22, 2011 at 4:17 PM

    What a fun party…thanks for hosting! Off to get inspired!

    Jan

    Reply
  33. kara@elements-interiors.net says

    April 22, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Hey sweet friends! Thank you for all your support and prayers this past week!
    I have linked up my “Floating Easter Egg Tree” #122

    Have a BLESSED Easter!
    I am BLESSED to have you girls as my Friends:)

    xoxokara

    Reply
  34. Rachel says

    April 22, 2011 at 6:36 PM

    Vanessa, you make me laugh! Have a blessed Easter! 🙂

    Rach

    Reply
  35. Kathy says

    April 23, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    Hello, thanks so much for stopping by – this has been a fun and interesting party – I am not a ‘tree hugger’ either – I just think it is common sense to be responsible for reusing – great for crafts – reducing – and recycling – I think we’ve seen a lot of very interesting ways to do just that – thanks for hosting this fun party,
    Kathy

    Reply
  36. Eleni says

    April 24, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    Those are such great features!!! So much inspiration:)
    It’s the first time I’m linking here, new follower, Thank You for hosting this great party:)
    Happy Easter
    Eleni

    Reply
  37. Pamela says

    April 26, 2011 at 10:04 PM

    LOVE the tree hugging!

    Reply

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✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this ✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this year I created a super simple centerpiece for my dining room that incorporates the candles we will use each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas. While we will only light one candle each week, I used more than four so that the centerpiece would look a bit more filled in. In keeping with my goal to embrace a softer approach to my decorating, this arrangement works perfectly and helps to keep our focus on the beauty and the meaning  of the Advent season. For more ideas like this, check out my previous Advent post! ✨

#advent #adventcandles #simplechristmas #wearethehomemakers
In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a bit more tender. When Christmas rolls around and I no longer have wish lists that include Lego sets or dollhouses, I find that I want my home to reflect this craving for all things gentle.

So our hot cocoa station this year is much more simple and done in a neutral color palette that just subtly blends in with the rest of the decor. It still feels festive and is definitely still “user friendly” but it’s just a bit less…well…less.

And, that’s ok. It’s not that this area won’t ever again have bright colors (maybe even pops of red!) but, right now I’m happy to have things this way.

With all that is going on in the world right outside our door, my desire is for our home to truly feel like a respite. I want it to be where we come and let our guard down, our heart rates slow and to be flooded with a sense of peace in knowing that here is where we can just simply be. I want it to be a place of rest. Rest from the constant onslaught of news and information. Rest from the seemingly small struggles of school and jobs that can so often feel like big struggles.

And, most importantly, we rest in the comfort of knowing the One who is Sovereign over all and is the reason this month is so very special and sacred.

Many blessings to you dear friends as we kick off this wonderful season! ✨
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But Advent, from the latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘arrival’ or ‘appearance’ keeps the focus completely on celebrating the arrival of the King who came in the form of an infant.

This is one of our favorite family traditions and over the years I’ve figured out how to incorporate the Advent candles into my decor without using the traditional wreath. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration as we head into this sacred season. 🌲

#advent #adventdecoration #wearethehomemakers
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Starting early is a gift I give to myself and I’m always grateful for it! 🌲

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Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
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*pillow covers are from @jshhomeessentials
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And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
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How do you want people to feel when they come into your home? 

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#hotcocoa #hotcocoabar
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