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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

March 4, 2011

Inspiration Friday Party No. 5!



Before we kick off Inspiration Friday we want to announce the winner of our
CSN Gift Certificate Giveaway!  Thank you to everyone who entered!  And the winner is…

Sharon @ Elizabeth and Co.!
Sharon please email us and we will send you your electronic CSN gift certificate, so you can use it right away!
Watch for more upcoming giveaways At The Picket Fence over the next few weeks…cause we love giving gifts to our friends…at the fence!


Now on to Inspiration Friday….

Wowee Zowee!!
 Last week we had a grand total of 107 Guests stop by and visit us at
Now, while we were totally amazed and humbled by the number of folks who stopped by and joined in the fun, it did present a little problem.
Here’s a hint…

That was sent on Friday night and was the first of many texts flying back and forth between us as we ooohhhed and aaahhhed over every single link that popped up!
You amazingly talented and creative people don’t make this easy on us!
But, as hard as it was to choose, and it was HARD, we did manage to narrow it down.
Here are just a few of the High-Lights from last week!



First up we have Janet, a.k.a. The Craigslist Queen.
She tranformed her hallway from


This…

To This!

Janet did this entire project for $50! The detail in the trimwork and the carefully thought out placement of the frames and the crosses just gives this space an entirely new look.
Fabulous job Janet! To see more of this transformation hop over and pay a visit to
The Craiglist Queen!



Next up is Patty from Nuestras Aventuras en Texas.


She took an inexpensive Kitchen Pantry Door Rack and turned it into a
Gift Wrapping Station!

                   

Hung on the back of a closet door, everything can be neatly tucked away and out of sight. We think this was very clever of her and one of us plans to try this in our own home…
We’ll let you guess which one!
Check out more of Patty’s projects by visiting her at:
Nuestras Aventuras en Texas.


Now, normally we try and Feature Bloggers who are fairly new to our community, but we just could NOT stop talking about how fabulous this next entry was.

Amanda from House Revivals shared with us the Design Solutions she came up with for a lovely couple whom she now considers more friends than clients.
This is truly like taking a virtual tour of a remodel…before it has even been remodeled!
Her first recommendation was removing the entry closet which was not serving the family’s active lifestyle very well. This was the rendering she did of what would go in its place. Is this not incredible?


And here are just a couple of more snippets of how she cleverly redesigned these spaces to be not only more functional, but beautiful as well!


To see more of this project, head on over and visit Amanda at House Revivals.


Now, last but not least is Rebecca from You’re Talking Too Much.

We are pretty sure that, judging by the name of her blog, we must all be related somehow!
She named her Party Link: “Panels for Newbies”.
That seems innocent enough, right?
Nope!


It all started out as a dream, inspired by Miss Mustard Seed‘s wonderful tutorial on making curtain panels.



It quickly spiraled into a nightmare of extremely hilarious proportions which involved 
this…

(You know you are DYING to know what this is!)

And it also, sadly, involved some of this…

I’m pretty sure when the chili dog enters the picture you have entered a dark decorating place.
very, very dark!
You must go over and read this post for yourself to get the full impact of Rebecca’s humor, style (minus the chili dog), marvelous way with words and so much more!
 Pay her a visit at You’re Talking Too Much!


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

We can’t wait to be inspired!

Love the girls at the fence,

After linking up to Inspiration Friday click the graphics below and pay a visit to our other
Friday Party Friends!

The lovely Courtney at French Country Cottage

And our newest Friday Party Friend, Alison from Stuff and Nonsense

link up every friday!

And now, let’s get this party started! 

*Please note that due to some technical problems with Linky Tools, some thumbnail images are not currently appearing. The links to those posts are still accurate and accessible. We have notified the service provider and hope to have this corrected shortly!*


It’s so easy to link-up…here’s a few rules to help you:

  • Follow Us At The Picket Fence
  • 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!
  • Visit a few of the other links and leave a comment, we try to visit everyone but sometimes it’s impossible, so thanks for helping us be good hostesses by visiting other guests! 
Link Up!

30 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    March 4, 2011 at 1:28 AM

    Thanks for hosting girls!

    Reply
  2. Melissa Miller says

    March 4, 2011 at 1:28 AM

    Everything is beautiful Vanessa!

    Thank you for hosting. I always appreciate you taking the time.

    Warmly, ~Melissa 🙂

    Reply
  3. Andrea at Opulent Cottage says

    March 4, 2011 at 1:31 AM

    Great inspiration, as always! Wow I need to do that with my gift wrap. Thanks for hosting us again this week!
    xo, Andrea

    Reply
  4. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    March 4, 2011 at 1:34 AM

    Hi ladies, Great projects and thanks for hosting!
    xo,
    Sherry

    Reply
  5. Honey at 2805 says

    March 4, 2011 at 1:53 AM

    Great project highlighted. Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  6. laxsupermom says

    March 4, 2011 at 2:00 AM

    Terrific featured project. Thanks for hosting this party! I love getting inspiration from everyone else in blogland.

    Reply
  7. Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl says

    March 4, 2011 at 2:17 AM

    Hi Girls,
    This is a fun party!!! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  8. Kim @ Cheap Chic Home says

    March 4, 2011 at 2:40 AM

    Phew, finally remembered to link up! Happy Friday, girls!

    Reply
  9. NanaDiana says

    March 4, 2011 at 2:44 AM

    I love coming here to see what you girls are up to! There is such amazing talent out in BlogLand…I know how hard it must be to pick anyone. And, Congrats to Sharon…she is going to be soo excited…cuz she is just that kinda gal! xxxoo Diana

    Reply
  10. Desire Empire says

    March 4, 2011 at 2:56 AM

    Thanks for sharing the love. Great to be inspired by so much talent.

    Best wishes Carolyn

    Reply
  11. Anita says

    March 4, 2011 at 3:38 AM

    Hi Vanessa, thanks for stopping by!! Looks like you girls are doing great over here!!! Too much fun!

    Reply
  12. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    March 4, 2011 at 3:58 AM

    Wowee,zowee is right! I’m so excited to win the CSN gift certificate! Thank you so much Vanessa and Heather!

    Reply
  13. Deidra says

    March 4, 2011 at 4:27 AM

    So much talent – all in one place! This could keep a girl busy for days! 🙂

    Reply
  14. ~K @ VintageSkye says

    March 4, 2011 at 5:28 AM

    Thanks for hosting! I linked my VERY quick and VERY easy White Glass Jar Project #49 – So fun for spring! -Even though I have a bunch of snow outside my window:)

    Reply
  15. Janet says

    March 4, 2011 at 5:39 AM

    SOOO excited to see that you featured me! THANK YOU!!!! I feel fabulous 🙂

    Reply
  16. Lynn Richards says

    March 4, 2011 at 5:44 AM

    Hi girls!!!
    Thanks for hosting. I love this party!
    That hall way is unbelievable!!!!
    xo
    lynn

    Reply
  17. Betty says

    March 4, 2011 at 7:33 AM

    Hi
    Thanks for having this wonderful party every week. It is so much fun for me to share a story about the good old days.
    Thanks for your comment.
    xo
    Betty

    Reply
  18. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    March 4, 2011 at 1:31 AM

    Hi ladies~ Thanks so much for hosting!! 🙂 All linked up!

    Reply
  19. Patty says

    March 4, 2011 at 2:24 AM

    Thank you soooo much ladies for featuring my post.
    I really enjoy coming over and linking up and learning and being inspired by the many talented people out there in blog land!

    Reply
  20. alison says

    March 4, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    i’m so glad we did the party share thing…i hope you both have a wonderful weekend.

    blessings,

    alison
    stuff and nonsense

    Reply
  21. Jodie says

    March 4, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    Vanessa,

    It was so nice to hear from you! Thank you for hosting this wonderful party!

    Have a fantastic weekend Ladies!

    Jodie

    Reply
  22. Kristin says

    March 4, 2011 at 5:08 PM

    Hey pretty girls! I finally feel like I am getting my linky groove back on! Thanks for hosting!

    Vanessa, Happy Late Birthday! Love the tribute from Heather. Also, thank you for all of your prayers and reaching out to my sister during this tough time. So sweet.
    Stop by sometime so we can chat about Malibu. ;o)
    Love, Kristin

    Reply
  23. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    March 4, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    Did I say how much I LOVE your blog? Oh, I did!!? Well, I do. I do. I do!!!

    Sarahx

    Reply
  24. Becca says

    March 4, 2011 at 9:13 PM

    Hey, hey, hey! My eggs and I are here to crash your party! Thanks for hosting! What a great transformation of the picture gallery! And, I love the blue and white fabric that CG chose! I hope you have a fabulous weekend. Becca

    Reply
  25. sweet european dreams says

    March 5, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    Super excited that I found you girls today – I’m already inspired! -diane
    https://www.sweeteuropeandreams.com

    Reply
  26. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    March 5, 2011 at 3:35 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting this…I have had the best time this morning visiting some new blogs. Amazing women out there doing such fun stuff. Very inspirational!

    Reply
  27. Lynn at Cottage and Creek says

    March 5, 2011 at 7:15 PM

    Lovely party and one in which I am always inspired. Keep up the great work. Love your humor and being able to see what so many people are busy doing. Thanks for hosting.
    Lynn

    Reply
  28. thatsmyjob says

    March 6, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    Thank you for featuring me! My first feature! Just took your button and made a spot for it on my blog! Thanks both of you! Love, me
    http://www.youaretalkingtoomuch.com

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. DIY Bauble Ring says:
    February 24, 2013 at 2:39 PM

    […] Inspiration Friday @ At The Picket Fence […]

    Reply
  2. DIY Bauble Ring | Great Oak Circle, blog design, logo and print design, DIY blog says:
    March 1, 2013 at 2:28 PM

    […] Inspiration Friday @ At The Picket Fence […]

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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. 🌿
When I was in college I would frequently call home When I was in college I would frequently call home and pour my heart out to my mom, sharing with her all that was happening in my life in that completely unfiltered way that you can talk with the person who potty trained you. These phone calls usually took place at night and my mom would patiently listen as I vented frustrations about professors, roommates, boyfriends and the food in the cafeteria. And, inevitably, they would end with my mom saying, “Everything seems worse when you’re tired. Try not to overthink things or make any major decisions tonight, especially when you are feeling emotional.” Dear friends, may I pass along this advice to you today?

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!
There are a LOT of people out walking in our neigh There are a LOT of people out walking in our neighborhood right now (but still social distancing!) and she decided that she wanted to bring them some joy and put a smile on their face when they pass by our house. Also, the square with ‘say no to coronavirus’ is priceless. 😂 I just love her so much!
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