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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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  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

March 18, 2011

Inspiration Friday Party No.7

Top o’ the morning to ya!
Or afternoon or evening!
Whatever time of day it is where you are, we want to welcome you to
We would say that without a doubt the “luck of the Irish“ was with us last week when we found ourselves elbow deep in the pot of gold that was at the end of our party rainbow!
All of these lovely lasses (we are lacking in laddies around here) being featured are new friends to us here At the Picket Fence.
And let us just say, that aside from all of the amazing talent and creativity on display each week, we are having the most fun just getting to know all of you a little bit better. 
You are warm, witty, welcoming, and…ummm…another ‘w’…let’s see…way cool!

So raise your pints of Guiness and let us make a toast to our Features from last week’s Inspiration Friday Party!

First up we have Emily from Lovely Beasts and this is her
“La Bete Premiere“
She transformed this Beast
Into this Beauty!
Ooo la la! You must go visit Emily at Lovely Beasts and see more of her chez magnifique creations!
Next up we have Shelley from Crazy Wonderful who shared an amazing kitchen makeover with us.
She said that she felt like she was slowly being swallowed by oak!
Here is her kitchen Before
And here it is After!
Doesn’t it make you just go…ahhhhh
Light, bright, cheerful and we are so happy that the oak didn’t end up swallowing Shelley after all!
Now, Shelley just kept sharing her lovely self with us and also linked up a wonderful tutorial on how to make these absolutely fabulous ruffled shades for her dining room.

You won’t want to miss out on meeting Shelley so pay her a visit at
Crazy Wonderful!
Now we want to introduce you (if you haven’t already met) to Ann-Marie from
 Brambley Home and Garden.
When we saw these photos we were certain that the first one was from a magazine and the second was from her home. And then, it dawned on us! Well, actually, it dawned on Heather first. I mean, she is the oldest after all. And with age comes wisdom right?
These two UNBELIEVABLE “Kindred Arches” are situated across from each other in
Ann-Marie’s stunning kitchen!
This area they use as an Espresso counter.
We like ours with extra foam Ann-Marie!


And it’s “kindred spirit” across the way she uses as her baking station.
Uh huh….that’s right…we know your mouth is hanging open. Ours were!

Can you believe the gorgeousness?
And here is the thing. Not only is Ann-Marie’s home lovely and charming and gracious, but so is Ann-Marie herself!
Pay her a visit at Brambley Home and Garden!
Can you tell that we have kitchens on the brain here?

Maybe it is because Heather is getting ready to make BIG changes to her own kitchen!

You will have to stay tuned for that!

And in honor of St. Patrick’s Day we would like to feature the lovely St. Patrick’s Day Inspirations that were linked up this past week!

It is never a surprise when Sue from Munchkin Munchies links up some beautiful treats!  She shared these beautiful St. Patrick’s Day inspired cookies with us.

  
Michell from Girl In Air shared these adorable “Lucky Penny” necklaces she made! Cause who couldn’t use a lil bit o’ luck on St. Patrick’s Day!

Christine shared these delicious Mint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies on her blog Great Oak Circle.  Seriously…Mint and Chocolate?!  One of the best combinations ever!


And we fell in love with these adorable St. Patrick’s Day Burlap Pillows from Messy Mimi! Talk about your cute holiday decorations!


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

Before we sign off we have two more guests Bear Bryant (left) and Zoe (right) who Heather claims as her second two babies…most days, that would like to tip their top hats to all the lassies and laddies who hang out at the fence and wish them very Happy St. Patrick’s Day!



Now it’s time for you to share you inspiration with us! Please take a moment to read the instructions and then link up your favorite posts!

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 beautiful friend Alison from Stuff and Nonsense

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

Just a quick reminder since it’s so easy to just skim over the instructions.  We’ve noticed lately several people have forgotten to link back to Inspiration Friday.  While we we’ve decided we won’t delete your entry or “call you out” on it we pretty please ask that you take an extra minute to link your post BACK to At The Picket Fence.  It’s a pretty standard “rule” for linky parties and is a way to “thank” your hosts for well…hosting the party!  We want “your guests to be able to come back here and see all of the wonderful inspiration in blogland and to maybe link up one of their posts.  Thank you for honoring this mandatory requirement!

  •  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! 
So go on now and link up!

28 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

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Previous Post: « At the Kids Table…For St. Patrick’s Day
Next Post: Simply Sundays….Create In Me A Clean Heart »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michell @Girl in Air says

    March 18, 2011 at 12:07 AM

    Thank you so much for featuring my Penny!

    Reply
  2. Ange (Love From My Kitchen) says

    March 18, 2011 at 12:09 AM

    Ok guys, am I missing it? Wait, don’t answer that! Anyways, I can’t find where to link my blog to. Maybe I ate too much spaghetti.

    Reply
  3. Melanie says

    March 18, 2011 at 12:12 AM

    @Ange You are not alone. I don’t see it there either.

    Reply
  4. Martina says

    March 18, 2011 at 12:13 AM

    Hi guys trying to link up but I don’t see the button. Martina

    Reply
  5. Katie says

    March 18, 2011 at 12:22 AM

    Love all the features this week! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  6. Mimi says

    March 18, 2011 at 12:30 AM

    Oh wow – you are the cutest sisters with one of my favorite blogs. I was just checking your blog {’cause I love it} and saw you featured my Burlap Shamrock pillows! I am so honored! Thanks so much.
    Big hugs! Mimi

    Reply
  7. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    March 18, 2011 at 12:31 AM

    Thanks for hosting gals! Lots of inspiration around here!
    Have a great weekend.
    Hope you join me next Friday for my color my world partay.

    Reply
  8. Sue says

    March 18, 2011 at 12:32 AM

    Thanks SO much for the feature, girls. It’s a wonderful St. Paddy’s day surprise! There’s always so many fantastic ideas linked! Pat the pups’ heads for me:) Happy St. Patrick’s day!

    Reply
  9. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    March 18, 2011 at 12:44 AM

    Hi Ladies, Thanks so much for hosting and Happy St. Paddy’s Day.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  10. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    March 18, 2011 at 12:44 AM

    Thanks girls for hosting!

    Reply
  11. Honey at 2805 says

    March 18, 2011 at 1:00 AM

    Hi girls! Thanks for hosting…you are so gracious! Hoping I don’t get kicked off this week for have 3entries. They were all screaming to be here!
    Hugs, Honey

    Reply
  12. molly susan strong says

    March 18, 2011 at 1:54 AM

    So much loveliness to see!!!

    Reply
  13. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    March 18, 2011 at 2:12 AM

    I’m lovin’ that kitchen makeover! Thanks for hosting girls.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  14. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    March 18, 2011 at 2:22 AM

    Great features, girls! I just love that you actually used “Ooo la la” in your post. It’s been the most fun word around our house this week. You should see the grin on my 19-mo-old grandson’s face when he says it. Priceless! Thanks for making my night. 🙂

    Reply
  15. Vivienne @ the V Spot says

    March 18, 2011 at 2:30 AM

    Thanks for hosting. LOVED Crazy Wonderful’s shades!

    Reply
  16. Colleen @ MuralMaker&More says

    March 18, 2011 at 3:22 AM

    Thanks for hosting! Sorry, I was having Linky problems and there’s a duplicate link. Would you delete one of them? Sorry!

    Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  17. Emily@LovelyBeasts says

    March 18, 2011 at 5:42 AM

    Ahhhh! Thank you so much for featuring my blog Vanessa and Heather! I’m beyond excited…scary excited actually. I had to share with everyone via Facebook and mention it in my blog. It means so much to me.

    Thanks for taking the time to read all the entries. I was hoping one day to be able to display a “I was featured” buttons and now I can. And by one of my favorite blogs. 🙂

    You girls are the best! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
    Emily

    Reply
  18. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    March 18, 2011 at 2:23 AM

    Thanks for hosting ladies!!Love the features ~ Happy St. Patricks Day! 🙂

    Reply
  19. alison says

    March 18, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    hmmmm…great minds think alike? too funny…happy friday vanessa and heather!

    blessings,

    alison
    stuff and nonsense

    Reply
  20. Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says

    March 18, 2011 at 1:39 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting this party. I have visited one of your featured bloggers and hope to find time to get around to all of them. This is my first time to link up. I’m a newbie and I’m just joining parties.
    https://cottageatthecrossroads.com

    Reply
  21. poindextr says

    March 18, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    thank you so much for hosting! Your featured projects are awesome. I can’t stop looking at Ann Marie’s kitchen photos, they are lovely. And the mint chocolate cookies? Oh my. hope you have a wonderful weekend 🙂

    Reply
  22. Shelley says

    March 18, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    Squeal!!!!! Thank you SOOOO much for featuring my kitchen and chandy shades! My husband thought there was something wrong with me when he heard me squealing with excitement when I saw your post 😀

    Have a great weekend ladies!

    Shelley

    Reply
  23. Megan @ Cut the Craft! says

    March 18, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    LOVE those necklaces! Thanks for hosting.:)

    Reply
  24. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    March 18, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    Those necklaces are gorgeous. You pick out such lovely things to feature. That’s such an original idea too. Love it!!

    Sarahx

    Reply
  25. Kristine~Lakeshore Cottage Living says

    March 19, 2011 at 2:02 AM

    Vanessa,

    Thank you for always taking the time to visit and write the SWEETEST, MOST encouraging comments. I really appreciate them. That chair redo in the first pics is so wonderful and I am going over to visit Ann Marie right now! That is one amazing picture.

    I hope you have a wonderful weekend and thanks for hosting such a fun linky party!

    Reply
  26. Becky says

    March 19, 2011 at 2:46 AM

    New follower and participant in Inspiration Fridays! Thanks for hosting! Happy Weekend!

    Reply
  27. Kristi says

    March 19, 2011 at 3:50 AM

    I’m your latest follower! Thanks so much for hosting. What an adorable site you have!

    {hugs},
    kristi

    https://ishouldbemoppingthefloor.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  28. Emily@LovelyBeasts says

    March 21, 2011 at 4:47 AM

    Thanks Vanessa and Heather for checking out my latest French chair entry! You leave such cute personal notes, I don’t even want to know how you find the time or the words to respond to everyone…but it’s pretty amazing.

    You both are the best bloggy friends any blogger could ask for 🙂

    Hope you had a great weekend!
    Emily

    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!! 🦃
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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. 😉🎄

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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! 🦃🎄
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“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. 

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#club31women #wearethehomemakers
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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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