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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • 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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“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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