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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

June 4, 2011

Inspiration Friday Party No. 18 and a Special Announcement!

Welcome everyone! We are so thrilled that you are joining us for another week chock full of creativity and talent and we know you will find so many ways to be inspired just as you inspire others!

Before we get to the amazing features from last week’s party, we have a
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!

There have been some very exciting happenings behind the scenes here at the Fence and we have been dying to let you all in on our little secret.
 
12 BLOGS, 6 DAYS, 1 PARTY
We are joining forces with some FABULOUS BLOGGERS 
Debbie-DebbieDoo’s Blogging and Blabbing
Kristin-My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Kim-Savvy Southern Style
Judy-DIY by Design
Kara-Elements Interiors
Jenn-Green Door Designs
Sherry-No Minimalist Here
Jenna-SAS Interiors
Debra-Common Ground
Courtney-French Country Cottage
and
Alison-Stuff and Nonsense
to host one giant blogger block party!  We’ll be kicking off the official start of SUMMER with a continuous week long link party and we are inviting you to join us!  There will be a different theme(s) each day hosted by these lovely gals, with a final wrap up on Saturday!  If you have a summer project to share there’s a theme for you! Paint Projects, Food, Fashion, Outdoor Decorating, Gardening, Summer Activities…you name it we’ve got it!
Each days’ links will connect with the next for one HUGE LINK PARTY!  And to top it all off there will be a fabulous giveaway for each theme! 
That’s 13 GIVEAWAYS people!!
Winners will be drawn at random from all of our link guests and announced Saturday evening!
We have provided a coded PARTY BUTTON in our sidebar under Our Buttons. If you plan on joining us we’d love you to help us get the word out by putting the Blogger Block Party Button on your blog letting others know you are joining us for the party.  We’d love it if you’d also share the party announcement on your Facebook Pages and Twitter streams!
So, get to work on those SUMMER PROJECTS and get ready to join us for the first ever
BLOGGER BLOCK PARTY!!
And now, onto the Features! Once again, it feels almost physically painful to narrow it down and only highlight just a few of the amazing things that were linked up.
But, in the spirit of welcoming summer and it’s warm, lazy days, we want to start things off by sharing 2 amazing Porch Transformations.
First up is Theresa from Momma T’s Place who shared her charmingly delightful porch which is just chock full of character and warmth.
Don’t you just love all of the colors? It reminds of us rainbow sherbet and everything about it says, “come and stay awhile”. Be sure to note the blue on the ceiling!
There are so many more details to see, so be sure and pay Theresa a visit!
Next up is this jaw-dropping porch shared with us by Kathy from All About Vignettes.
No. That isn’t her Inspiration Photo. That is HER porch.
Yep. We think it is pretty spectacular too!
Kathy has gone on to share more of how she transformed this space including wonderful tutorials on how to get those columns and that mirror to look so gorgeous. As well, she recently revealed how she gave that factory cart turned coffee table, a lime washed effect. This is one talented lady!
Up next we are headed inside from the summer heat to rest for awhile in
Gina from GinaCeramic’s Guest Cottage
guest w hat
guest kitchen collage
We are headed over Gina to stay awhile in your fabulous guest cottage!
We had two most unusual recipes shared with us last week, which also helped to put us in a “Summery” mood!
First is an incredible tutorial for making Violet Syrup. You read that right!
Jenn from Frugal Upstate showed us how to make this yummy sounding AND looking treat.
And then we have this recipe for Elderflower Cordial from the Modern Country Lady.
Somehow we can’t type that without thinking of Anne of Green Gables and her traumatic encounter with Raspberry Cordial! But, you can bet that this recipe will not have any such consequences.
In fact, we think that this would help you MAKE even more friends!
Doesn’t that picture look just so divine? We felt like we had just been to an English Garden Party!
And finally, Keri from Pressed Down, Shaken Together showed us how to make these darling
Paper and Twine Seashells. Aren’t they adorable?
So, can you tell we have Summer on the brain or what?
We know we aren’t alone in that sentiment!
If you were featured today (or have been featured in the past) please grab the new featured at button located in our sidebar!

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!

38 Comments Filed Under: Blogger Block Party, Inspiration Friday

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica @ O. Alouette says

    June 2, 2011 at 9:31 PM

    Thanks for hosting! Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  2. Sue says

    June 2, 2011 at 9:36 PM

    I’m always up for a good party! Sounds like fun. ~ Sue

    Reply
  3. Ange says

    June 2, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    Wow! Great party! 🙂 Looking forward to it, hopefully it won’t be while in the midst of moving because my hubby might be annoyed when I stop unpacking to read the blog and possibly whip up a post too. ;p Miss you girls!

    Reply
  4. Debra@Common Ground says

    June 2, 2011 at 9:59 PM

    Hey Girls!! Love the party graphic. I’ll do a post to announce this weekend, since I didn’t see this until just now. Thanks so much, it’s gonna be great fun!
    xoxo Debra

    Reply
  5. Brandi says

    June 2, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    Thank you for hosting! Hope you have a great weekend!

    Reply
  6. Marianne says

    June 2, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    What a great idea….can’t wait for the party! Thanks so much for hosting.
    Marianne 🙂

    Reply
  7. Kathy says

    June 2, 2011 at 11:08 PM

    Great features and a great idea for a party!
    I’ll be hosting a special A Return to Loveliness party -Tuesday, June 21 – Savoring Summer!
    In the summer mood! 🙂
    Kathy

    Reply
  8. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    June 2, 2011 at 11:30 PM

    Hi ladies, The graphics look wonderful and I am adding the button now. Kathy’s porch is fabulous and I love Gina’s guest room.
    xo,
    Sherry

    Reply
  9. Poppy says

    June 3, 2011 at 12:47 AM

    I’m all excited about the party…such a great idea! Thanks for hosting and for sharing these wonderful features… loved Kathy’s porch transformations. Have a wonderful weekend!~Poppy

    https://withadashofcolor.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  10. Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents says

    June 3, 2011 at 12:49 AM

    WooHoo ~ More parties coming! Sounds like such fun! Thanks for hosting!!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

    Reply
  11. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    June 3, 2011 at 1:12 AM

    Great features and looking forward to the party.

    Reply
  12. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    June 3, 2011 at 1:47 AM

    Hi Girls that blog party sounds like so much fun, can’t wait!! Thanks for hosting, Martina

    Reply
  13. Pamela says

    June 3, 2011 at 1:50 AM

    Hey ladies! What exciting news! Thanx for hosting!

    Reply
  14. Mary @ Redo 101 says

    June 3, 2011 at 1:52 AM

    Thanks for hosting the linky party – I’m excited to visit the other blogs to see what they’ve been up to.

    Reply
  15. Fishtail Cottage says

    June 3, 2011 at 5:30 AM

    Thanks so much for hosting! oxox, tracie

    Reply
  16. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    June 3, 2011 at 2:18 AM

    Happy to be partying with you guys! Thanks for hosting! 🙂

    Reply
  17. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    June 3, 2011 at 11:49 AM

    The block party sounds like fun!!!

    Reply
  18. alison says

    June 3, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    love the features…all linked up…so excited for the summer blog party my friends!

    Reply
  19. Wendy says

    June 3, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    WooHoo! That huge summer blog party sounds fabulous! As soon as I’m done admiring all the linky goodness, I am going to prioritize our summer projects & figure out which ones I can use to link up! So exciting! (I sound like such a nerd!)
    Thanks so much for hosting this party!

    Reply
  20. Anita @ Cedar Hill Ranch says

    June 3, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    Thanks for hosting, I just linked up. Love the cabinet feet idea. I am your latest follower!!

    Reply
  21. Michell @ Girl In Air says

    June 3, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    Super excited about the BLOG party!

    WOW! Your Features look straight out of a magazine! I’m off to check them out..

    Have a wonderful Weekend and Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  22. Diann says

    June 3, 2011 at 2:38 PM

    Wow, lots of beautiful inspiration! Looking forward to the Block Party! Thanks for hosting! Have a great day!

    Reply
  23. Theresa says

    June 3, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    Wow, thanks so much for featuring me this Friday! I am honored!
    The blog-block party sounds like such fun, I’d better get busy!

    Reply
  24. saltbox treasures says

    June 3, 2011 at 4:46 PM

    Thanks for hosting each week and taking the time to visit each link.
    Can’t wait for the summer blog party!
    Sounds like fun! What a great idea. Thanks for helping make blogging more like a community and helping us get to know and support each other.
    ~ Julie

    Reply
  25. Paula Jo @ Home Decor Accents says

    June 3, 2011 at 6:10 PM

    I just love Momma T’s porch. Brilliant idea! Have a great weekend.

    Reply
  26. Keri @ Pressed Down, Shaken Together says

    June 3, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    Excited about your blog party AND so excited about the feature!!! My paper & twine seashells had summer written all over them for me, too! Have a fantastic weekend!

    Keri
    shakentogether.blogspot.com

    Reply
  27. All About Vignettes says

    June 3, 2011 at 7:41 PM

    Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for featuring my porch. I feel so honored to be featured.

    Kathy

    Reply
  28. Karena says

    June 3, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    Vanessa this is simply amazing that you all have put this together!! It is truly very exciting and I will participate in your next one for sure!

    Come and enter my amazing $250 Giveaway from Tracy Porter!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

    Reply
  29. Dayle says

    June 3, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    I’m loving this party. My first time around.

    Reply
  30. Christine @ Stonehouse Living says

    June 3, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    Hi Heather & Vanessa,

    I have recently become a follower At the Picket Fence, and I decided to join the party this weekend. The block blogger party sounds like so much fun. I will add your button to my sidebar. I will mark it on my calender, as the summer event to attend this year. Thank-you for hosting, and all of your hard work.
    All the best,
    Christine

    Reply
  31. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    June 3, 2011 at 10:10 PM

    Hi girls, I am away and typing on the fly here. I am going to make my post here in a minute to make my announcement. (you wrote Babbling) not blabbing again:) I also meant to link up to your party and have it on a link if I get time later I sure will. see ya soon.

    Reply
  32. Conspicuous Style Design Blog says

    June 3, 2011 at 10:42 PM

    I’m SO sorry — i did NOT meant to link up my dresser three times, but I don’t see an opton to delete…can you delete 150 aand 151 for me? SORRY

    Reply
  33. Sarah says

    June 4, 2011 at 3:57 AM

    Just discovered your blog and am now following. What a great idea your Blog Party is. You certainly have an all star cast! Looking forward to participating. ~ Sarah

    Reply
  34. Kadie says

    June 4, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    What a great party!! I love the name. Can’t wait.

    Reply
  35. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage.com says

    June 4, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    Thank you for hostessing!

    Reply
  36. c.w.frosting says

    June 4, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    I’m new here… Thanks for hosting & introducing me to the other friday parties! Also looking forward to the summer blog party! Hope you have a lovely weekend.

    -caroline @ c.w.frosting

    Reply
  37. Becca says

    June 5, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    You party animals, you !! What FUN this will be. I gotta start getting ready to share my outdoor spaces, fo sho! And, thank for hosting … I crashed your party not once, but twice this week. LOL xoxo (Those are gorgeous features … I could sit on those porches and enjoy the day for hours on end!)

    Reply

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“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10
This is one of my most favorite projects from my b This is one of my most favorite projects from my book Life in Season! 

Because, if heaven has a fragrance, I’m fairly certain it smells like lilacs.

I think that somewhere along the way the verse in the Bible that said, ‘heaven will smell like lilacs’ just got lost in translation. But it HAD to have been in there at some point, right?

When I bury my head in the blossoms (which I absolutely MUST do every single time I walk past them), I immediately feel a stirring in my soul.

It seems like I wait forever for my lilac tree to bloom. Every year I anxiously watch as the buds begin to form on the branches and then when the blossoms finally burst forth I begin that agonizing process of deciding the absolute perfect moment to snip them and bring them inside.

And then, after all of that waiting and watching it’s just over…done. Because, unlike heaven, lilacs don’t last for an eternity. So, making my own lilac room spray seemed like the perfect way to enjoy their fragrance long after the blossoms have faded.

Here’s how to make it! Ingredients: Water, Vodka, Lilac fragrance oil. Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka. Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

Once you’ve made this lilac scented room spray you will be very tempted to spray it in every room in your house. And someone may want to use it in the bathroom to cover up other less…ummmm….pleasing aromas.

But, do not, I repeat do NOT, let them.

You’ve captured the fragrance of heaven in a bottle and you wouldn’t want to go and tarnish it now would you? 😉
We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most we’ve had in a LONG time) and now we are back to pouring rain. This has officially confirmed what I’ve know to be true for awhile now.

I’m a MUCH better version of myself when the sun is shining! 🤪 So I’ll just be over here today plotting and planning how my husband and I can be snowbirds someday when the kids are out of the house.

If you could spend your winters (and apparently most of spring too!) in any part of the country, where would it be?
Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of rain lately (which is saying something when you live in Oregon) and I’ll admit that it’s affecting my moods a bit. I feel like I’m dragging and struggling to find the energy to get stuff done. So don’t mind me if I’m over here looking at photos of my garden in the summertime and finding that it keeps me hopeful about those days to come. They will come, right?! 🤪. 

What are your favorite plants that you look forward to seeing in the summer?
We’re going to be giving our laundry room a make We’re going to be giving our laundry room a makeover soon. It’s LONG overdue! In fact, the folks from the counter company were just here taking measurements. While we have made some simple, inexpensive updates over the years, it still has many of the original elements from when the house was built in 1992.

Two of our bathrooms are also in need of major makeovers. And we’ve saved up enough money over the years to tackle those projects. But, for the most part, we made the decision to use the bulk of that money in another way. While we knew that it was financially wise to invest in our house, we also knew that the greatest investment we could make was in our children. 

I’ll admit, there are times where I see other people doing massive overhauls of their entire home in a matter of months and I feel a prick of envy. But, we decided that if our choice was between waiting a bit longer to enjoy a renovated bathroom or going on adventures as a family, we would choose adventures every time. And we don’t regret that decision for a single second. It’s not that we haven’t tackled home projects (we’ve done a lot!). It’s just that it’s been a slow and steady process. 

Most recently, we let our son pick where we would travel for spring break since this is his senior year of high school and we are trying to make up for lost time. With so much of life ‘paused’ for two years, we have appreciated these moments more than ever. And, since he’ll be heading to college in the fall, we are very aware of how important it is to spend this time together while we still have a modicum of control over everyone’s schedules.

We have many years left to remodel our home but only so much time left to make memories with our children.

And, while I’m always happy to look around my home and see rooms that are updated and more reflecting of our style, it doesn’t compare to the joy I feel when I look around my home and see the people I love the most who have been shaped by the many adventures we’ve experienced together.
Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and h Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and hail and snow) we are finally getting some sunshine and warmer temperatures. I’ll be honest, it’s really affected my spirits having one gloomy day after the next. So this is a much needed reprieve. Our cherry trees are showing off outside my kitchen window and we plan to get outside and make the most of these days while we have them.

What’s the weather like where you are?
“The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and “The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and boast, the pangs of life will sting for a while longer, but don’t worry; the forces of evil are breathing their last. Not to worry…HE’S RISEN!” (Charles R. Swindoll).

Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; he has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to him.

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, he was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried; yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. (Isaiah 53)
I try to always remember to put a water bottle in I try to always remember to put a water bottle in my car before I go to pick up my daughter from school. She didn't ask me to do this, but a few months ago I began to notice that she was often thirsty when she would get in the car. Her water bottle filled up at the beginning of the day was empty by the time school got out and she would ask if she could have some water from my hydroflask. So I make sure to have one waiting for her. It's just a simple thing, really. But, I want her to know that I'm paying attention, that I see her.

Isn't it amazing how small gestures can make us feel less invisible? Knowing that someone is thinking of us and takes the time to meet a need that we might not have even realized we had? These little acts can have big impacts. What is something that someone has done for you recently that made you feel valued and seen?

What have you done for someone else to remind them that you are paying attention to their needs?

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
― Charles Dickens
“The next day the large crowd that had come to t “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ – John 12:9-19
#palmsunday
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