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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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June 17, 2011

Inspiration Friday No. 20

 

At The Picket Fence Inspiration Friday Graphic
Whew! How on earth are we already celebrating 20 weeks of Inspiration Friday??It has been our extreme pleasure to host you all here week after week  and to be so inspired it makes us dizzy sometimes!
Last week we had so many of you link up that we are still making the rounds to thank you and if we forgot someone we want you to know that it was purely for lack of hours in the day. As the party continues to grow (which we love!) we hope you know that you will all continue to be gracious guests and go and mingle with the other party-goers. It sure helps to ease our minds when we worry about folks feeling left out!

And speaking of Parties…

Have you heard about this one? We just haven’t talked about it enough, have we?
We just wanted to remind everyone that this will be happening next week INSTEAD OF our weekly Inspiration Friday Party! We are joining forces with all of these fabulous bloggers to host one big week long summer link party!
We each will have a summer related theme everyday of the week and you are welcome to link up as few or as many projects as you want throughout the week related to any of the themes..and trust us there is a theme for everyone! Because this is a “blog hop” the entire link party will show up on all 12 blogs the entire week so you are free to hop from blog to blog linking up your theme related projects!  We will wrap-up the Block Party on Saturday, here At The Picket Fence with a highlight feature of some of our favorite links! How cool is that?!

So what are the themes you ask?  Well here ya go!

DebbieDoo’s Blogging and Blabbing-Summer Paint Projects
At The Picket Fence (Vanessa)-Summer Activities for Kids
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia-Drop Cloth Projects
Savvy Southern Style-Summer Decks and Porches
DIY by Design-Outdoor Cooking and Dining
Elements Interiors-Summer DIY Projects
Green Door Girl Designs-Summer Fashions
No Minimalist Here-Summer Entertaining
SAS Interiors-Summer Spaces
Common Ground-A Vintage Summer
French Country Cottage-A Shabby Cottage Summer
Stuff and Nonsense-Summer Sales (Thrifting, Flea Markets and Yard Sales)
At The Picket Fence (Heather)-Fresh from the Garden (Garden Recipes and Projects)

Links to all of these blogs can be found in our sidebar!!

WHEW! See we told ya there was something for everyone!  We hope you will visit each of the blogs where they will share what they have been up to this summer and then link up your theme related posts! You will see some blogs share a party date! That makes it even more fun!  Just hop over to the other themes and if you have a post (past or present) related to their theme you can link it up!
And, what would a party be without PRESENTS!?! Except these presents aren’t for us…they’re for you!  Yep! That’s right! There will be 13 GIVEAWAYS..one for each theme! So you will need to visit each blog to see what their giveaway is!  That’s a whole lot of giveaway loving!  All giveaways will be drawn from those who link up projects! The more projects you link the more chances you have to win one of the incredible items we will be giving away!   We’d love it if you’d share the Blogger Block Party with your friends!  Feel free to grab any of the graphics or the code for the Blogger Block Party button located in our sidebar!  Thanks!

Onto the Highlights from Last Week!

This feature has to be one of the most darling 1st Birthday Parties we have ever seen! It comes to us courtesy of Meg from My Cup Runneth Over. You must go over and see more of the details of this Vintage Garden Party!
We also flipped over this Angry Birds “Bird”day Party created by Lindsey of A House on the Rock for her son’s 7th Birthday. They were so creative in how they executed this!
IMG_0216 (2) (533x800)IMG_0195 (2) (536x800)
This incredible Kitchen Transformation from J&J Home completely blew us away!
You absolutely must go over there and see the Before photos as well as hear how they did all of this on a tight budget using mostly Ikea Cabinets and Fixtures.

Kristen from Blessed Beyond Measure shared how they created this beautiful banquette seating in their breakfast nook. Her husband did the building and Kristen did the sewing and decorating.
We think they make a pretty good team, don’t you?

We just loved how Jeri from Annabellea showed how many ways she has been using Drop Cloths in her home. This would be the perfect thing to link up to Kristin’s Drop Cloth Projects Day at our
Blogger Block Party next week!

She has so many beautiful projects going on in her home and her jewelry line is absolutely incredible.

Jeri also wowed us with this gorgeous setting for a Summer Porch Party! Hmmm…
Speaking of Porch Parties…this would be the perfect thing to link up to Kim’s Summer Porchs and Decks party next week. Or even Sherry’s Summer Entertaining party!

We are shameless in our plugs of the Blogger Block Party, aren’t we?

We could see these yummy meals being served on that beautiful porch.
Sweet Little Smoothie shared 2 delicious recipes that have Summertime written all over them!

Are you following At The Picket Fence on Facebook?  Don’t forget we feature many of your links during the week on our Facebook Page! If you’ve been featured there, grab a button as well! Thank you to everyone who shared so many fabulous posts with us last week!  We appreciate you!
Now it’s time to share with us what has inspired you this week!
Thank you so much for joining us for Inspiration Friday at the Fence,
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!

36 Comments Filed Under: Blogger Block Party, Inspiration Friday

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    June 16, 2011 at 8:04 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting…can’t believe it’s No. 20. Congrats on that! I’ll be back over the weekend to visit some links…have a good one. ~Ann

    Reply
  2. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    June 16, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    Thanks for hosting girls. I am all ready for Monday..whoo hoo. Just waiting on my giveaway, however, I can still post it even though I may not have it all together.

    Reply
  3. Debra@Common Ground says

    June 16, 2011 at 8:40 PM

    Just linked up, thanks for hosting girls!! xoxo Debra

    Reply
  4. Debbie says

    June 16, 2011 at 8:45 PM

    So much inspiration. So little time…

    Reply
  5. Carolyn@SweetChaos says

    June 16, 2011 at 8:47 PM

    Thank you for hosting! Happy to be partying with you this week 🙂

    Reply
  6. Coley says

    June 16, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    It’s so much fun to look at everyones projects 🙂
    Thank you for hosting!!

    Reply
  7. Carla @ Hammers and High Heels says

    June 16, 2011 at 9:31 PM

    Yay! I made it to the party! Thanks for hosting 🙂

    Reply
  8. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    June 16, 2011 at 10:25 PM

    Thanks for hosting girls, have a great weekend, Martina

    Reply
  9. Sarah says

    June 16, 2011 at 11:14 PM

    Thanks for hosting. I’m looking forward to the Blog Party next week. Love Annabellea’s patriotic table. I’m taking inspiration for the details. ~ Sarah

    Reply
  10. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    June 16, 2011 at 11:23 PM

    Can’t believe I’ll be traveling next week! Maybe I can still find a way to party a little… Thanks for sharing this week’s inspiring favs!

    Reply
  11. Becca says

    June 16, 2011 at 11:27 PM

    Would you just LOOK at all of that awesome inspiration?! The IKEA kitchen remodel is amazing, and the summer porch is beautiful. I *so* want that chicken wrap! Thanks so much for hosting! I’m really looking forward to next week … trying to get my porch and patio all ready to go. Have a great weekend. xoxo

    Reply
  12. Sue says

    June 16, 2011 at 11:31 PM

    It’s always fun to link up and meet new friends! hugs, Sue

    Reply
  13. classic • casual • home says

    June 16, 2011 at 11:44 PM

    Great highlights…off to check out this week’s fun happenings.

    Reply
  14. Maggie @ Midwestern {Sewing} Girl says

    June 17, 2011 at 12:39 AM

    Thank you so much for hosting, girls! I hope you’ve both had a wonderful week! Lovely features from last week…can’t wait to see everyone’s projects this week!

    Reply
  15. janet says

    June 17, 2011 at 1:01 AM

    Hello Ladies!

    So happy to be here…thanks for hosting!

    Janet xox

    Reply
  16. Diann says

    June 17, 2011 at 1:12 AM

    Wonderful featured inspirations! thank you for hosting and have a great day!

    Reply
  17. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    June 17, 2011 at 4:30 AM

    So many great inspiring ideas as always! Thanks, girls!

    Reply
  18. Cozy Home Scenes says

    June 16, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    Thanks for hosting the party! So sorry about accidently entering the porch post on last week’s party. When scrolling down, I didn’t notice the dates and kept wondering why I didn’t see it until I relized the old one was still open. Duh! Obviously I didn’t get my nap today. LOL

    Reply
  19. saltbox treasures says

    June 17, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    Next week’s parties sound like fun!
    Thanks for hosting.
    ~ Julie

    Reply
  20. Ivy and Elephants says

    June 17, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    The summer blog party sounds like soooooo much fun. I need to get my ducks in a row and get ready to party. I can’t wait to see everyone there.

    ~Paula of Ivy & Elephants

    Reply
  21. jandjhome says

    June 17, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    Wow! Thank you so much for featuring my kitchen. Thanks for taking the time to do this every week.

    Reply
  22. oneshabbychick says

    June 17, 2011 at 1:40 PM

    Thanks for the shindig, ladies, as always! Have a wonderful summery weekend! ~ osc

    Reply
  23. Wendy says

    June 17, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    Loved the Angry Birds party feature!

    Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  24. CAS says

    June 17, 2011 at 3:44 PM

    That would be 20 weeks of so much fun! Congratulations! Ya’ll are doing a wonderful job. It’s my “Must check” every Friday.
    CAS

    Reply
  25. blessedbeyondmeasure says

    June 17, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    Thanks for featuring my banquette seating!! It’s so much fun to see others appreciate our hard work! Thanks again,
    Kristen

    Reply
  26. Jeri & Mark says

    June 17, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  27. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    June 17, 2011 at 1:47 PM

    Love your features girls~ thanks for hosting! Can’t wait until next week! Hugs, Courtney

    Reply
  28. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage.com says

    June 18, 2011 at 12:59 AM

    Thank you for hosting… enjoy your weekend!

    Reply
  29. Lynn Richards says

    June 18, 2011 at 4:59 AM

    Well, it’s 10 p.m. here on Friday, I’m thinking I missed the party!!
    We are in Oceanside, getting ready for the team to leave tomorrow.
    Stop by and see the pictures so far!
    Thanks again for all your support.
    xoxo
    lynn

    Reply
  30. Write My Essay says

    June 18, 2011 at 7:59 AM

    Hey !!!
    thanks a lot for hosting.. have a wonderful weekend…

    Reply
  31. Leslie says

    June 18, 2011 at 2:18 PM

    WOWIE! Does it take you girls a few hours to write a post? So much information!
    I think I can take part in a few of the parties…best get off my fanny and get movin’ 🙂
    I love this linky party this week! What a bunch of fantastic ideas.
    I charged my iPhone, and have an hour and a half ride to Ikea (for my birthday gift) this morning. Guess what I’ll be reading?
    THANK YOU THANK YOU for featuring me this week! I am so totally honored and humbled. You know I love you girls, and to be thought of by you as well, that blesses my heart very much!
    I pray you have a beautiful weekend with much joy and rest.
    Love you!
    ~Leslie

    Reply
  32. Jeri @ Annabellea.com says

    June 18, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Thanks so much for featuring my Drop Cloth Projects AND my Summer Porch Party! You girls Rock! xoxo Jeri

    Reply
  33. Jessica Lauren says

    June 19, 2011 at 2:49 AM

    Thanks for hosting! I love seeing all the great ideas!
    ~*Jessica Lauren

    Reply
  34. Rita May says

    June 19, 2011 at 9:34 PM

    I’m late to the party and also your newest follower.

    Reply
  35. meg says

    June 20, 2011 at 2:20 AM

    thank you so much for featuring our sweet girls birthday party 🙂 that seriously meant the world to me! love your blog! thanks for hosting these fabulous link parties!! thanks again 🙂

    Reply

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Front door wreath….✔️ The very last Christmas dec Front door wreath….✔️

The very last Christmas decorating to be completed and one of the most important since there’s nothing I love more than welcoming people into our home this season.

I bought the wreath for $15 from a wonderful local vendor, reused my favorite bells and added a velvet bow in the color I’m carrying throughout the house this year.

Do you buy a fresh wreath each year or do you use a faux wreath on your front door? 

#frontdoorwreath #christmaswreath #christmasporch
The first day of December and the first Sunday of The first day of December and the first Sunday of advent. As we enter into a month that can be filled with stress, anxiety, worry and even sadness, let us turn our hearts towards the ONE who came as the ultimate, undeserved gift. Because it’s all about Him. 

“Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” (Corrie Ten Boom)
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
Its that time of year again. I share this recipe e Its that time of year again. I share this recipe every November because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

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!! 🦃
It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be ma It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be made on repeat for the next month and I’ve figured out the secret to getting the BEST flavor.

Want to know what it is? It’s all about being EXTRA! 

Take the base recipe up a notch by using a full stick of butter, extra tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and an extra 1/2 tablespoon of Lawry’s seasoning salt.

I guarantee you’ll never go back!

You’re welcome. 😉🎄

#chexmix #chexmixupgrade
Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the w Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the week and I’m feeling especially grateful for the twinkling lights around my home which give me so much joy.

The great debate on social media over whether or not Christmas decorations should appear before Thanksgiving is one I just let roll on past me. Because I am so unbelievably thankful for this life, my family, my friends, this country, this home and most of all my Savior. 

Having my home all ready to welcome the next sacred season doesn’t take away one iota from my ability to express gratitude on the official day set aside each year where we do that collectively.

And when the last slice of turkey has been eaten and all of the leftovers put away, I’ll be over here ready to be fully present in the month of December and soak up every bit of it! 🦃🎄
IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures “ IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures

“My children have grown up seeing antique books on a coffee table, vintage toys in their bedrooms and even pieces of furniture that were all passed down from one generation to the next. But as my nest gets closer and closer to being empty, I’m keenly aware of the fact that many of these cherished items might not be as welcome in the homes of future generations.”

*Read the rest over at @cleartruthmedia*
All of my CTM articles are saved in my highlights
Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked it better when I just talked about decorating and didn’t mention anything else. This person preferred me to keep any opinions or convictions to myself and just focus only on content about home decor, crafts and recipes. Aside from the fact that I’m always astonished that people feel so free to say things like that, I do agree that it would be a lot easier and more palatable if I didn’t talk about things like a Biblical Worldview, apologetics and the nature of reality itself. For one thing, Instagram wouldn’t throttle my account with its algorithms that are skewed to diminish voices like mine. It would be much easier to be so tethered to this app that I change everything I post to fit into its preferred framework. I would be asked to be part of influencer groups and activities like I was years ago. But I’m not that person anymore. Yes, the core of this community will always be an emphasis on homemaking which will include decorating and recipes but I can’t separate that from the core of who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ.

It would be so much easier for me to just show you the latest Amazon products I’ve bought and tell you to “comment” to get the links. But I’m not called to take the easy path. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

I truly believe that so many have been lulled into thinking that the narrow gate wasn’t really all that narrow. But, it’s never been more obvious that it really is. And every day I seek to stay on that very narrow way.  More than ever before, I believe that our world needs to know that there is objective truth and a solid foundation to stand upon as we navigate our lives. My role as a homemaker is predicated on that foundation and everything else flows out of it. Talking about these things isn’t going to get me lots of views here. 

But I live for an audience of ONE.
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✨ Read the full article over at @club31women ✨

#club31women #wearethehomemakers
Here, in my little corner of social media, you won Here, in my little corner of social media, you won’t find a lot of unboxing of brand new items for Christmas. 

What I’m unboxing are the decorations in the attic that  I’ve had for years and figuring out how to give them a fresh look. I added new lights to an old pre-lit tree that no longer worked because I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. I’m putting out a different set of mugs at the hot cocoa station and the advent candles are arranged with greenery from outside.

As our feeds are filled with so.much.stuff, I want to offer you a reprieve. A place where you will find less emphasis on what’s happening in our homes and more on what’s happening in our hearts.

More than ever before, I can see just how much people are needing the hope found in Christ and that will always be the focus here. 

So, while you may not see me unpacking a massive, new tree or telling you to “comment for the link”, what you will see is encouragement to turn our hearts to what matters the most and let that reflect in every corner of our homes this season and all year long. 🌲

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #homemakerschristmas #club31women
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