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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
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  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

February 25, 2011

Inspiration Friday Party No. 4

Welcome to Inspiration Friday!


Before we jump into showcasing some of the fabulously creative folks who joined in last week’s party, we wanted to take a minute to share with you some exciting news.

If you have been over here for any length of time, you know that we are girls who love words. Our husbands might refer to it as being “wordy” but we beg to differ!
We just simply enjoy sharing…and caring.
And now, we are taking this passion beyond the Picket Fence.
Do you know about this website?
  
As part of the DaySpring community (the Christian subsidiary of Hallmark) the women who contribute to this blog are seeking to provide a place for anyone, no matter where they are on their faith journey, to come and feel supported. 


Their desire is to “create a new home for the heart’s of women” and with regular contributors like The Nester, Melissa Michaels from The Inspired Room, Lysa TerKeurst, Jennifer Schmidt from Balancing Beauty and Bedlam and many more, they are doing just that!
(in)courage also welcomes other women to contribute to it’s community and we are so thrilled and honored to have been selected to Guest Post there…both of us!

Vanessa’s post will be THIS FRIDAY the 25th and Heather’s will be coming up on March 26th.

Head on over there on Friday (after you link up to our party, of course!) and visit

Vanessa at the Daily Guest blog or click on

the DAILY GUESTS tab at the top to read Vanessa’s post.
We hope you will enjoy hopping over the Picket Fence for a little while and hearing from us at (in)courage!

Now, can we just say that you are some incredibly talented folks? We can? Ok, good. Because you are! Every week we are blown away by the awesome-ness and last week’s party was no exception.

If you are a new friend to At The Picket Fence, you might be asking 


Just what is Inspiration Friday?

Well, this is one of the very few Linky Parties where you can share pretty much anything with us.
Decorating, Cooking, Crafts, Great Ideas, Poetry, Inspiring Stories, they are all welcome here. 

We hope you will be inspired just as you inspire others!

Each week we start the party off with some highlights from the week before.
In keeping with tradition, we will be mostly featuring bloggers who are fairly new to our little community here. So, if you are featured this week, or even in weeks past, please feel free to grab the new “I’ve been featured” button from our sidebar!


First up this week is Jodie from Love, Laughter & Decor.
She created this absolutely stunning nursery for her precious girl.

This space is darling and sophisticated all at the same time!
And there are so many elements that will still work when this becomes a “big girl” room making the room functional beyond the baby stage. Let’s face it though, we all know that you never quite get back that “ohhhhh ahhhhh” feeling once the Polly Pockets start taking over!

To see more of this adorable room and all of the other wonderful creations from Jodie (wait until you see the Birthday party she just did!), please pay her a visit at  
Love, Laughter & Decor .

Next up is Rebecca from Throw Open the Windows. She decided that her family room was in need of a little “CPR” (her words) and started out by breathing new life into the pillows for her sofa.

This first one was made using a bath rug!

bathmat pillow3

She did a tutorial on making this darling ruffle pillow.

Ruffled Pillow
We think her plan for “resuscitating” her family room  is well on its way!

pillows3


Next up we have One Shabby Chick who shared with us this wonderful recipe for
Applesauce Muffins.

As well as this gorgeous Urn she found for a steal at Pottery Barn. It is filled with orchids given to her by her hubby for Valentine’s Day. Gotta love a guy who knows that it is ok to veer away from traditional red roses! Aren’t those beautiful?
This gal has an absolutely lovely blog so be sure to pay this One Shabby Chick a visit!

And last but certainly not least, we are breaking with tradition by highlighting a blogger who has a bigger following, but we just couldn’t resist showcasing her gorgeous silk draperies.

Ginger, the Savannah Granny herself, made these and they are simply beautiful!

Look at the fringe on those tie-backs!
And she coordinated her living room with the dining room by making these stunning valances.

To read more about the time and energy and skill that went into making these please pay the lovely Savannah Granny a visit!

Now don’t forget to grab your “Featured At” button ladies!

We sure love our friends here at the fence so if you’d take a moment to join us through google friend connect, email or our RSS Feed.  We’d love to get to know you better! We also love to see tweets about Inspiration Friday, if you feel like sharing with your twitter friends!  The more the merrier when it comes to a party!

And now, let’s get this party started! Here’s how to link up!

1. Add your Permalink to your entry but not your General Blog Address. To get your Permalink, click on the title of the blog post you are wanting to submit and copy and paste the address into the URL box. You will also have to add your email address but it will not be visible to anyone else.
2. Do not try and Link up until you have actually published that particular post on your blog.
3. Please link back to the host blog, At the Picket Fence by grabbing our Inspiration Friday button code on the sidebar or creating a text link so that those who visit your blog will be able to find some wonderful Inspiration from everyone else. (mandatory)
4) Give some linky lovin’ to some of the other Inspiration Friday link ups!  It’s always nice for others to hear how they’ve inspired you!  Of course we love to hear from you too so please leave us a comment and say hi!
We can’t wait to be inspired!
Thanks so much for stopping by the Fence today!


Love the girls at the fence,


After linking up to Inspiration Friday click the graphic below and pay a visit to French Country Cottage our Friday Party Friend! 

32 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

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Previous Post: « Oh Good Grief! Thirtysomething…it ain’t what they said it would be.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Melissa Miller says

    February 25, 2011 at 1:06 AM

    Thanks for hosting ladies. I adore your inspiring party.

    Warmly, ~Melissa

    PS I grabbed your button to disply. Precious!

    Reply
  2. elizabeth says

    February 25, 2011 at 1:08 AM

    Congrats on the guest posting at in courage…LOVE IT!

    Reply
  3. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    February 25, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    Hi Ladies, I’ll be sure and check your post at In Courage. Thanks so much for hosting.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  4. Bethany {3SonsPlus1} says

    February 25, 2011 at 2:36 AM

    Happy to link up…thanks for hosting!! And congratulations on the guest post!! 🙂

    Reply
  5. oneshabbychick says

    February 25, 2011 at 3:25 AM

    Vanessa and Heather, congrats on your wonderful news… and thank you so much for the lovely feature!!! I am honored… :-}

    Reply
  6. Lindy says

    February 25, 2011 at 3:26 AM

    Thanks a bunch for hosting!!!!

    Reply
  7. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    February 25, 2011 at 3:43 AM

    Thanks for hosting gals. Great inspiration…I love Savannah Granny!

    Reply
  8. linda says

    February 25, 2011 at 4:10 AM

    Happy Inspiration Friday! Thanks for the linky party!

    Reply
  9. Honey at 2805 says

    February 25, 2011 at 4:55 AM

    Hi ladies! Thanks for host Inspiration Friday and congrats on the InCourage post.

    Reply
  10. Lynn Richards says

    February 25, 2011 at 5:14 AM

    I can’t wait to see your guest posts over at (in)courage. It sounds like a wonderful place. I’m looking forward to visiting.
    And such talent you have showcased this week! WOW!
    xo
    lynn

    Reply
  11. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    February 25, 2011 at 5:29 AM

    There’s some great inspiration in your features! Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Erin @ EKat's Kitchen says

    February 25, 2011 at 5:29 AM

    Hello ladies! Thanks for hosting! I’ve linked up a tour through our brand new house! I’ve had some challenges with linky tools and got three error messages, so if I linked up three times, I sincerely apologize.

    Reply
  13. Marie C. says

    February 25, 2011 at 6:07 AM

    Thank you so much for hosting — this is going to be fun!

    Reply
  14. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    February 25, 2011 at 2:08 AM

    Hi girls- Congratulations on guest posting!! All linked up- thanks for hosting! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Kim @ Quit Eating Out {Recipes to Make Dining Out a Choice, Not a Chore} says

    February 25, 2011 at 3:27 AM

    Thanks so much for hosting this party! And CONGRATULATIONS on being a part of inCourage. What a great blessing!!! Have a super start to your weekend Friends…

    Reply
  16. Martina says

    February 25, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    Thanks so much for the sweet comment you left on my daughters bedroom. I just linked up to your party and became your newest follower. Being a newbie to blogging I really need to make myself a list of all these great linky parties. Have a great weekend, Martina

    Reply
  17. Martha says

    February 25, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    Thanks for all the inspiration and for hosting! Have a great day!

    Reply
  18. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    February 25, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    I will be sure to check out your post…thanks for hosting!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  19. Jodie says

    February 25, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    Good Morning Ladies,

    Thank you so much for featuring my nursery! When I found out the news, I was elated (big smiles)! Thank you again!

    I’ll be linking up today, thanks for hosting!

    Jodie

    Heather, I’m still thinking about your guest bathroom! Love it! I think I see a bathroom makeover in my future! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
  20. thegypsymama says

    February 25, 2011 at 5:16 PM

    Love having you ladies over at (in)courage – thanks for sharing your story with us!

    ~Lisa-Jo

    Reply
  21. kara@elements-interiors.net says

    February 25, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    HEY O!!! Im back sweet guuurlz! Thank you for Hosting! I have been DROOLING over Jodies nursery for a MONTH! I want ANUTHA Baby!!
    Well….I dont want to be Preggers and DELIVER one, just want someone to Hand me a NEWBORN! Yeah…NOT gonna happen! You ladies a ROCKIN your new Blog! AWESOME!

    xoxokara

    Reply
  22. SavannahGranny says

    February 25, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    AWWWWW! Thank you so much. I am so honored. I am grabbing your featured button. I can’t tell you how excited and honored I am at this moment. Hugs, Ginger

    Reply
  23. Katie says

    February 25, 2011 at 6:30 PM

    Those muffins look delish!!

    Reply
  24. AshTreeCottage says

    February 25, 2011 at 7:12 PM

    So much inspiration. I just love this party!!

    Love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

    Reply
  25. LowCountryLiving says

    February 25, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    I picked you for the Stylish Blogger Award! You can go to my blog and get a copy of the award (copy and paste the award button)along with instructions.

    Reply
  26. Green Door Girl says

    February 25, 2011 at 11:11 PM

    Thanks for hosting each week and congrats on the guest posts at inCourage!

    Reply
  27. Heather says

    February 25, 2011 at 5:39 PM

    Great inspiration this week! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  28. One Heart (Marcia) says

    February 26, 2011 at 3:02 AM

    So much inspiration. Loves those throw pillows! I look forward to joining the party next week. Looks like fun.

    Reply
  29. classic • casual • home says

    February 26, 2011 at 7:09 AM

    I love this party!
    Mary Ann PICKETT 🙂

    Reply
  30. Pam @ Our Adventures in Home Improvement says

    February 26, 2011 at 2:54 PM

    Thanks for hosting this party. I started my blog about a month ago, so am thrilled when I can find all of these new blogs!

    I’m your newest follower and look forward to seeing your posts.

    Have a great day.
    Pam

    Reply
  31. LowCountryLiving says

    February 27, 2011 at 1:40 AM

    Thanks for the note about Tuesday Treasures. I’ll have to check it out!

    Reply
  32. Beth@Wiccan Make Some Too says

    February 27, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    Following your blog now. Thanks for the great party!

    Reply

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I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
.
…It was just the beginning!
Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house that’s become the landing zone for ALL THE THINGS! 🙋🏻‍♀️🤪 I’ve never been more thankful for our rarely used dining room table as it’s become command central for school books and laptops and games.

Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

What do you need to bring to Him today? I’ll share mine in the comments and I’d love to hear from you too!
I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole lockdown thing began, I’ve come to appreciate this time of day even more.

It feels the most...normal. Daytime is strange and foreign right now. My husband has taken over our home office, I’m suddenly taking over the responsibility of managing my kids’ distance learning and let me just say that teaching 7th grade algebra to my daughter is hugely ironic since I struggled with math all the way through school. I’m trying to do my own work but it feels utterly futile with the constant interruptions which take precedence right now. In the daytime, I’m constantly reminded of how upside down life feels.

But, in the evening, I cook dinner like I’ve always done and we gather around the table like we’ve always done and we laugh and tell stories and then clean up and play games or go on a walk or watch a show. And that feels SO gloriously normal.

So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

What feels ‘normal’ to you right now? Whatever it is, keep doing it. 🌿
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If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

If you are tempted to quit a job, start a business, start homeschooling permanently, stop homeschooling permanently, move to a new city, buy a farm, quit pursuing your dream, join a commune or make any other major life decision just…wait. Because, if it is in fact the right decision, it will be made even clearer once our lives return to their ‘regularly scheduled programming’. Instead, in this strange season, let’s all just take a deep, collective breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anxiety that threatens to overtake us. Let’s help each other maintain some perspective and not slip into a posture of over-thinking every little thing in our lives. Let’s remember that the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to use this time when things feel dark to manipulate us into thinking that aspects of our lives are worse than they actually are.

My prayer for you in these days is that you will have the clarity to know what is true and that you will be filled with peace even while we live in this season of so many unknowns.
Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking thes Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking these days! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m trying to avoid gaining the #corona15 but my daughter and I LOVE baking together and it does help to pass the time plus it counts as a science lesson right?

If you’re able to find flour in the stores (for the love people please stop overbuying!) and you’re doing more baking at your house too you need to add this apricot bread to your list of new recipes to try!

Normally I’d point you to my blog for the directions but I’m going to do you a solid and leave the full recipe in the comments.

What have you baked so far during this time of social distancing? I’d love some new ideas!
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