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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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    • Featured

November 25, 2011

Inspiration Friday No. 42…Thanksgiving Edition!

Inspiration Friday Graphic

We are getting this party started early this week! We didn’t want to miss out on seeing what you all have been up to this week but we sure do hope everyone is planning on taking a day off on Thursday and enjoying time with family and friends. We know we will be!
We will keep the link open all weekend long so feel free to stop by at any point and join in the fun!
While we are on the subject of Thanksgiving, we just want to say how incredibly blessed we feel.
We have so much to be thankful for…too much to list here!
But, we do want to take a minute and just tell you how thankful we are for all of you.
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We never would have thought that we would have people in our lives with whom we have developed such precious friendships and yet have never actually met in person!
You all welcomed us with gracious and open arms.
You cheer us on as we tackle new projects.
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You crack us up like nobody’s business.
And then you bring us to tears when you open up your hearts and share them with us.
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You have prayed for us.
You have given us the privilege of praying for you.
You allow us to share our hearts and our faith with you.
And we are thankful to have you all in our lives!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

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Before we get to the features, we want to remind you again of the upcoming Christmas Blogger Block Party! Get that decorating done, so you can join in on NINE different holiday themed parties hosted by a fabulous group of bloggers! We’d love it if you’d help us spread the word by placing our Blogger Block Party button on your blogs. You can find the button and code in our sidebar and more details at our party announcement post!
Can’t wait to party with you again on the best blogger block in town!!

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We also want to take a moment to welcome THREE new sponsors to At The Picket Fence!! We are so excited to be partnering with these not only lovely, gorgeous shops but lovely women as well!

Up first we have Ruby Jean’s! An amazing shop specializing in vintage farmhouse inspiration and designs, including the most gorgeous aprons you have ever seen!


Next we welcome Ambivalent Relics, specializing in vintage repurposed and steampunk jewelry! She has the most unique, cool and hip jewelry!

Heather was so honored to create these custom graphic designs for Ruby Jean’s and Ambivalent Relics.  It was a pleasure to work with you both!

And last, but certainly not least we welcome Vintage Lancaster specializing in vintage home decor! She has so many fabulous vintage items, there is something for everyone!


You can click on any of the graphics above to visit these wonderful stores. Are you thinking of your holiday shopping list already? We’d love you to visit our amazing sponsors while filling that list! And a big thank you to our amazing sponsors…we gals are blessed to get a front row seat to your amazing talent! 

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Now, let’s take a look at some highlights from last week’s party!

Kelly from Eclectically Vintage shared her absolutely incredible dining room transformation and you must go over and see the “before” to fully appreciate this gorgeous “after”!
We love how the layers of styles and colors work so beautifully and seamlessly together and that plate wall is just stunning!
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          Picture

Speaking of lovely layers and colors, we think that this next room is just beautiful!
The young lady who gets to enjoy it is the daughter of Carrie from The Vintage Wren and we think she is one blessed girl to have her mom create such a fun and fabulous space!
Carrie also shared this incredible bookcase update and now we kinda want to add little chairs to the tops of everything in our houses too! Isn’t that just so lovely?
Ashley from A Blonde’s DIY Life is kicking off the holiday season in glamorous and thrifty style!
She has so many great tips for getting this gorgeous Winter Wonderland without breaking the bank and we are thrilled to see someone all ready to join in the Blogger Block Party…hint, hint Ashley.Winking smile
There is still time before T-Day to make these delicious Pumpkin Cheesecake Tarts shared with us by Gina from Random Thoughts of an Incoherent Mind.
We love this fun twist on the traditional pumpkin pie!
               
For Lynn of Cottage and Creek, Thanksgiving has a different significance.
We won’t share her entire story here, but we will say that the legacy her husband left is living on in their 2 sons. And we were reminded of how precious life is and to not take for granted our time together as families. Whether it’s a holiday or just any other ordinary day!
Thank you Lynn for sharing this special Thanksgiving story with us.
Thank you to all of our features this week as well as to all of you who share your amazing ideas, projects and inspiration with us each and every week! If you were featured today (or have been featured in the past) please grab the featured at button code located in on our Buttons Page found under our header!

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:



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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 (MANDATORY) and not just your url (main blog address)
  • Please post our button (code on our Buttons Page found at top of blog) or a text link on your blog so others can join in the fun! Tutorial on how to link up a button: Blogging 101
  • Visit another guest. Please try and visit at least the link directly above and below you! We try to visit as many posts as we can but as Inspiration Friday grows sometimes we miss some 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!

Are you new to linky parties and kinda confused how they work? Have you wondered if you’re following “linky party etiquette”? We invite you to pay Donna at Funky Junk Interiors a visit and follow her great Linky Party Series! 

This Inspiration Friday is sponsored by:

The Old Block House

42 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

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Previous Post: « Dining Room Makeover Reveal
Next Post: Supporting our Sponsors on Small Business Saturday »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    November 23, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    Oops, if this is suppose to be all about Thanksgiving, feel free to remove my link.

    Reply
  2. Kristin says

    November 23, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    Happy thanksgiving girls!
    Hope you have a beautiful day with your family.
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  3. Tanya@takesix says

    November 23, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    Thank you so much for hosting, and for opening it early! Have a fabulously blessed Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  4. Natasha in Oz says

    November 23, 2011 at 11:47 PM

    Blessings and best wishes to you for Thanksgiving! Have a great day.

    Thanks for having me today too!

    Natasha.
    xo

    Reply
  5. Lisa @ Before Meets After says

    November 23, 2011 at 11:49 PM

    Thanks for hosting 🙂 I can’t wait for the Christmas link up!

    Reply
  6. Eclectically Vintage says

    November 24, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    So thrilled to see my Dining Room reno featured! Great to be included among such creative people! Have an amazing Thanksgiving.
    Kelly

    Reply
  7. Katie says

    November 24, 2011 at 12:05 AM

    I hope you both have a great Thanksgiving!! Thanks for hosting!!

    Reply
  8. Carolyn@SweetChaos says

    November 24, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    Thank you for hosting! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving 🙂

    Reply
  9. The Polka Dot Closet says

    November 24, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    Thank you for hosting! I have linked up and want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving!

    Carol

    Reply
  10. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    November 24, 2011 at 12:23 AM

    Happy Thanksgiving ladies!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  11. Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR says

    November 24, 2011 at 12:27 AM

    Thanks so much for hosting each week! I am glad to link up! Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  12. Debra @ Common Ground says

    November 24, 2011 at 12:36 AM

    Girls, it’s been so good to get to know you, and we all love you both! Thanks so much for all that you do for the blogging world! Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving weekend!! xoxo

    Reply
  13. Grace @ Sense and Simplicity says

    November 24, 2011 at 12:37 AM

    Thanks for hosting the party – even when you are busy getting ready for Thanksgiving.

    Reply
  14. Youaretalkingtoomuch.com says

    November 24, 2011 at 12:40 AM

    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Love, Me
    http://www.youaretalkingtoomuch.com

    Reply
  15. A Mother and A Daughter says

    November 24, 2011 at 4:25 AM

    Thanks for hosting Inspiration Friday, Heather and Vanessa! HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO BOTH OF YOU, AND YOUR FAMILIES!!! ~ Barbara and Alicia

    Reply
  16. trumatter says

    November 24, 2011 at 5:37 AM

    Oh Inspirations galore!

    happy Thanksgiving dear heather and Vanessa. Have Fun.

    Reply
  17. Olga@Stardust-Decor&Style says

    November 24, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    Thanks for hosting the link party! Just linked up!
    Olga, one of your newest followers!
    http://www.stardust-decorstyle.blogspot.com

    Reply
  18. Lella Loves... says

    November 24, 2011 at 7:44 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  19. Lella Loves... says

    November 24, 2011 at 7:44 AM

    Thank you so much for holding another great party. I want to wish all my fellow bloggers a Happy Thanksgiving. Have a great weekend 🙂
    Lella xx

    Reply
  20. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    November 24, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    Heather and Vanessa, I am honored to think of you both as new friends since I started blogging, and I’d love to meet you someday in person. Today, however, I send long-distance wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving and wish you blessings beyond measure (both to give and receive) during the holy season ahead. Good luck with those Sally List projects! 🙂

    Reply
  21. Wendy @HerBallistic Garden says

    November 24, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Hi Heather & Vanessa…Happy Thanksgiving to you both! I’m entry 84 and my inspiration was to revamp the stool my husband made in Gr 8 (many, many years ago…hahaha) and turn it into a sweet step stool for our pup. So happy I can share it with you and everyone else. xo

    Reply
  22. Sherry says

    November 24, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    Blessings to you two! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Thanks for having us.
    Sherry

    Reply
  23. Kerry Rossow says

    November 25, 2011 at 2:21 AM

    Thank you so much for hosting!
    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Kerry at HouseTalkN

    Reply
  24. Pamela says

    November 25, 2011 at 2:51 AM

    Happy Thanksgiving ladies!! Hope it was a blessed one!

    Reply
  25. saltbox treasures says

    November 25, 2011 at 4:09 AM

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! A beautiful post.
    ~ Julie

    Reply
  26. Kelli @ The Turquoise Piano says

    November 25, 2011 at 5:57 AM

    Thanks for hosting! Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  27. classic • casual • home says

    November 25, 2011 at 6:55 AM

    I am thankful for At The Pickett Fence! Best wishes.

    Reply
  28. Relics of Witney says

    November 25, 2011 at 9:12 AM

    Hi Vanessa and Heather,

    This is our first week linking up with you. Thank you for having us!

    Our link is the Beginner’s Guide To Gilding Part 1 – we hope you have as much fun reading it as we have putting it together!

    The Relics Team

    Reply
  29. Becca says

    November 25, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Such a sweet and thoughtful post … thank YOU both for hosting such a wonderful blog and great gatherings! I hope you both had a Happy Thanksgiving. And, thank you so much for hosting … beautiful features. Heather, still lovin’ your dining room redo! xoxo

    Reply
  30. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    November 25, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    I’m late, but here. I have been super busy as I am sure y’all have, too. I hope your Thanksgiving was grand. Thanks so much for hosting.

    Reply
  31. Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing says

    November 25, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Happy late Thanksgiving…I made it whew! Congrats on your new sponsors too. Thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  32. Mimi says

    November 25, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    Love the Vintage Wren bedroom. What a lucky girl!

    Reply
  33. Lisa - A Room with A View says

    November 25, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Thank you so much for hosting..this is my first time linking up!

    Reply
  34. Andrea @Oasis Accents says

    November 25, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    Hope you both had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanks so much for hosting =)

    Reply
  35. Vanessa says

    November 25, 2011 at 11:38 PM

    Hi, Vanessa and Heather

    Thank you so much for hosting. Have a great weekend.

    Vanessa

    Reply
  36. The DIY Show Off says

    November 26, 2011 at 1:19 AM

    Beautiful highlights! I’m so thankful for your friendship too. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend, girls!

    Roeshel

    Reply
  37. Emily says

    November 26, 2011 at 1:02 PM

    its my first time linking up! Thanks for hosting, Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  38. Calypso In The Country says

    November 26, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    We all have so much to be thankful for! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and thank you for hosting!
    -Shelley

    Reply
  39. Jen Gilday says

    November 28, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    Looking forward to the blogger block party! I’m a new blogger and can’t wait to link up!!

    Jen
    athomeinthenorthwest.blogspot.com

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. About Cotton Pickin’ Time….. says:
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  2. Green and Gorgeous Vintage Wardrobe…Painted Furniture Show and Tell - Petticoat Junktion says:
    November 17, 2012 at 4:38 PM

    […] Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday The Shabby Nest Frugal Friday The DIY Showoff Holiday Highlights At The Picket Fence Inspiration Friday Dittle Dattle Amaze Me Monday Debbiedoo’s Blogging and Blabbing Newbie Party Under the Table and […]

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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.
The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was in 1998. I was a new bride and eager to impress them. It did not go well. Let’s just say there was a bit of a garbage disposal mishap. 

It’s been over 25 years since then and I’ve learned so much about what really matters when it comes to hosting and caring for my family well during the holiday season. 

The peace we long for in our home begins with our hearts. If you want your home to feel more peaceful during the upcoming holiday season, I have five things to consider that will make that not only possible but predictable.

✨ 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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