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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

September 14, 2012

It’s Inspiration Friday No. 82! Welcome!

Inspiration Friday Graphic_thumb[3]
Wowee!! We think we might have broken a record at last week’s party with 435 links!
Want to know something about us?
Each week it still amazes us to see those links pop up after we publish the party post.
We never stop being humbled and honored that you would choose to share your talent and creativity here with us and we hope you know how much we appreciate all of you!
Now, speaking of being appreciative…we still can’t believe that we get to host the incredible GIVEAWAY we have going on right now.
Would you like to go to New York City??
LG is offering one lucky At the Picket Fence Reader a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly to NYC and attend the Food Network Wine and Food Festival!
Click here to find out more about how you can enter to win this incredible prize!

We’ve got a lot of fun projects coming up in the next few weeks so be sure to come on back and see what will be happening around the Fence!
But, for now, let’s get so some Features, shall we?
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INSPIRED ROOMS

Shirley from Housepitality Designs shared her gorgeous Foyer complete with her incredible Stained Glass Window…which has it’s own story!
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Pam from Simple Details revealed the incredible transformation she made to her son’s room and we think she lived up to her blog name and then some. This room is so cool and has amazing details!
MAKEOVERS

Cindy from Beaux R’eves gave a pair of benches she found at the ReStore a beautiful makeover and now they fit perfectly in her gorgeous mountain home!
We absolutely love this Mudroom Makeover from Maury at Life on Mars. Details like those beautiful corbels add so much character!
Laundry Room Makeover

CRAFTS and CREATIONS

How clever is this Mirror Pendant from our Danish friend at Monster’s Circus? She gives an excellent tutorial on how to make this and don’t worry, you can translate it into English!
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Rukmini from the blog Trumatter showed us how to make a beautiful DIY Vintage Pouch from Shirt Sleeves. So clever!
So, technically this one should be under our “Fall” category but since it filled up so quickly we had to share it here! We absolutely love this idea for a Fall Activity Tree shared with us by Alex of Alex Nguyen Portraits.

FALL PROJECTS and INSPIRATIONS

It’s easy to see why BHG would come knocking on Becca’s door to feature her fall mantel from last year when you see the amazing job she did with it this year! Head on over to Adventures in Decorating for more awesome ideas!
Debra from Common Ground can give just about anything the “Fall Treatment” including this Vintage Chicken Feeder!
Jennifer from Decorating Made Easy showed us how she made this adorable ghost using a tomato stand!
Keri from Shaken Together showed us how she made this darling Rustic Wooden Candy Corn Banner. It’s the only kind that won’t give you a cavity!

RECIPES

Kale Chips are all the rage these days and Jenni from Mom Essentials shared with us the recipe for an easy version that is big on healthy flavor!
Laura from Storybook Reality tried out this Giada De Laurentiis recipe for Prosciutto Melon Soup and declared it to be a new family favorite!

INSPIRED POSTS

Tricia from Thoroughly Modern Me shared a beautiful story of 1,000 Wishes made in honor of an important milestone in her daughter’s life.
The lovely Lauren from mercyINK shared a wonderful “Prayer of Surrender” for new moms and we just love her insights into this sweet yet challenging season of life.
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!
We have a SPECIAL REQUEST of you, if you visit INSPIRATION FRIDAY and like to PIN the great projects you see here! Please pin from the ORIGINAL SOURCE and not our blog…unless it’s one of our own creations, then by all means pin away from here…we won’t mind!


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:

vif187Fridays Unfolded
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Now all ya PARTY PEOPLE it’s time to link on up…here’s some instructions for Inspiration Friday
  • 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 on our Buttons Page found at top of blog) or a text link on your blog so others can join in the fun! (MANDATORY to be featured At The Picket Fence)Tutorial on how to link up a button: Blogging 101
  • Visit another guest. Please try and visit at least the link directly above and below you! We try to visit as many posts as we can but as Inspiration Friday grows sometimes we miss some and for that we apologize. It makes us feel good knowing others are visiting people as well! Thank you..it truly means a lot to us

This Inspiration Friday Party is Sponsored By:

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Disclaimer: At the Picket Fence may feature any of the projects linked up to Inspiration Friday in other posts or on Facebook, twitter andhometalk with all credit being given to the original source. If you would not like your projects featured please email us.

Don’t forget to enter the GIVEAWAY for a trip to New York City!

70 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

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Previous Post: « Giveaway! Trip to New York City and the Wine and Food Festival!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. keri @ shaken together says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:12 PM

    Thank you SO much for featuring my candy corn banner!! I love joining the party each week – thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  2. Nicole {WonkyWonderful} says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:14 PM

    Thanks for hosting another great party & the awesome giveaway! Have a wonderful weekend 🙂

    Reply
  3. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:18 PM

    Vanessa and Heather…thanks so much for featuring my foyer makeover…I am truly honored to be among the fabulous features from last week….Always love joining the party!!!…Have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
  4. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:19 PM

    Thanks for hosting, girls.

    Reply
  5. Jessica Kielman says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:20 PM

    Thank you for the lovely party every week, girls! Love the features this week…definitely trying the kale chips!

    Reply
  6. Gina says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:20 PM

    Love the features! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  7. Honey at 2805 says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:25 PM

    Thanks for hosting this lovely party each week!

    Reply
  8. How to Nest for Less says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:26 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting again girls. LOVE your features … and love your sponsor 😉

    Reply
  9. suzyq says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:29 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting! Fantastic features!!!

    Reply
  10. Cindy says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:30 PM

    Heather and Vanessa, Thanks for featuring my benches! You girls host such a fun party each week! Love it!

    Reply
  11. SwedishCorner ~ DownUnder...Pernilla says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    Thanks for hosting, ladies! Have a lovely weekend 🙂

    Reply
  12. Eclectically Vintage says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:45 PM

    I’m still dreaming of winning that NYC Wine Festival trip!!

    That ghost is the cutest!
    Kelly

    Reply
  13. Confessions of a Plate Addict says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:47 PM

    Love the features! Thanks for hosting!…hugs…Debbie

    Reply
  14. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:53 PM

    Great features girls! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  15. Sherry says

    September 13, 2012 at 9:01 PM

    What a giveaway! Lovely features! Thanks for hosting! Try to be kind to the Statue of Liberty! LOL
    Sherry

    Reply
  16. monsterscircus says

    September 13, 2012 at 9:05 PM

    Hi gourgeus girls!!!! Thank you so much for featuring my pendant mirror! You really saved my weekend, I’m definitely 20 inches taller now! Love the other features, and your wonderful sponsors! Have a great weekend and thank you so much for hosting! going to grab your button!

    Reply
  17. Athena at Minerva's Garden says

    September 13, 2012 at 9:06 PM

    What a lovely batch of features you selected this week, Vanessa and Heather–all beautiful. I appreciate the giveaway, and I thank you both for hosting Inspiration Friday. Have a lovely weekend doing something you love!

    Reply
  18. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    September 13, 2012 at 9:09 PM

    Thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  19. Paula@SweetPea says

    September 13, 2012 at 9:22 PM

    Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  20. Aimee - ItsOverflowing.com says

    September 13, 2012 at 9:26 PM

    Thanks for the party! XO, Aimee

    Reply
  21. Becca says

    September 13, 2012 at 9:56 PM

    You guuuuuys *blush* … truly flattered for the sweet mention of our mantel. Thank you so very much! I love the other features!

    Reply
  22. Lyuba @ Will Cook For Smiles says

    September 13, 2012 at 10:09 PM

    Thank you so much for hosting your great party!

    Reply
  23. Doreen @ Hymns and Verses says

    September 13, 2012 at 10:52 PM

    What great features this week. I especially love the boy’s bedroom makeover – so cool! Thanks for hosting ladies!

    Reply
  24. Anita says

    September 13, 2012 at 10:53 PM

    Great features again girls!! Thanks so much for hosting!!

    Reply
  25. Donna Heber says

    September 13, 2012 at 11:10 PM

    Heather & Vanessa,

    I’m so excited to be joining everyone this week. It is my first time at your party and hope to meet some new friends. Fabulous features from last week. Thank you for hosting this lovely party. Wishing you both a wonderful weekend.

    Reply
  26. Bonnie and Trish @ Uncommon says

    September 13, 2012 at 11:27 PM

    Thanks for hosting girls! Hope you are doing well!

    Take care,

    Trish

    Reply
  27. Alderberry Hill says

    September 13, 2012 at 11:53 PM

    Happy Friday, thanks so much for hosting this great party!

    Reply
  28. Jenny@daysofchalkandchocolate says

    September 14, 2012 at 1:30 AM

    So glad to be linking up! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  29. Mel says

    September 14, 2012 at 2:00 AM

    thanks for hosting, enjoy your weekend

    Reply
  30. Lauren @ mercy(INK) says

    September 14, 2012 at 2:09 AM

    Ladies, you’re wonderful! Thanks so much for featuring my post… means so much! Vanessa- I need to email you back… forgive my slowness!
    blessings,
    lauren
    http://www.mercyinkblog.com

    Reply
  31. Thoroughly Modern Me says

    September 14, 2012 at 2:12 AM

    Thank you for the feature. You all are so sweet and humble with your kind words about the success of your blog and link party. Best of luck. Tricia @ Thoroughly Modern Me

    Reply
  32. Nancy says

    September 14, 2012 at 2:24 AM

    So fun to link up! Thank you for hosting!

    Reply
  33. Kerry Rossow says

    September 14, 2012 at 2:38 AM

    NEW YORK CITY? Woohoo, fancy pants! Thank you for hosting!
    Kerry at HouseTalkN

    Reply
  34. Laura says

    September 14, 2012 at 2:51 AM

    Thank you so much for the feature!! I’m so excited!!

    Reply
  35. CAS says

    September 14, 2012 at 3:54 AM

    Thanks so much, Vanessa & Heather, for hosting another great party!

    CAS

    Reply
  36. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    September 14, 2012 at 4:22 AM

    Hi, girls! Thanks so much for a lovely party!

    Reply
  37. Carmel @ Our Fifth House says

    September 14, 2012 at 4:30 AM

    Thanks for hosting girls! Love these features – off to check out the kale chips!

    Reply
  38. Leslie Harris says

    September 14, 2012 at 5:52 AM

    These are lovely features, I continue to be amazed by all the talented bloggers that come here. Thanks for creating such a nice place to come.
    Leslie (aka Gwen Moss blog)

    Reply
  39. Leslie says

    September 14, 2012 at 12:41 PM

    Good Morning, Girls! Thank you for hosting! So glad I can link up here this week. I am sharing a more personal post since my sister is getting married next week. I’ve shared some pictures, memories, and I talk about the personal shower I threw her!
    Have a beautful and blessed day!
    Leslie

    Reply
  40. melissa @ daisymaebelle.com says

    September 14, 2012 at 1:26 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting! Life to the full, Melissa

    Reply
  41. Molly says

    September 14, 2012 at 1:43 PM

    Thanks for hosting! I love linking up here anytime I have a new project 🙂
    -Molly
    JustALittleCreativity.com

    Reply
  42. twelve-O-eight says

    September 14, 2012 at 1:51 PM

    Thank you so much for hosting Ladies! Have a fabulous weekend, hugs

    Tanya 🙂

    Reply
  43. Maury @ Life on Mars says

    September 14, 2012 at 1:52 PM

    Hey girls! Thank you so so so much for featuring my mudroom reveal! That made my day. I’ll be linking to it on my Facebook page today. Thanks for hosting too! Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  44. Kristin @ Simply Klassic Home says

    September 14, 2012 at 2:12 PM

    Realized I forgot to leave a comment and add your link to my post – DOH! Done, and done!

    Thanks for hosting ladies!

    Reply
  45. Foy Update says

    September 14, 2012 at 2:16 PM

    I’m sharing how I juice grapes for jelly making and then a seasonal favorite at my house fresh tomato pasta.

    Thanks for hosting!

    We also host a blog hop called Eat Make Grow and are always looking for quality bloggers to submit their links.

    Stop on by if you get the chance:
    https://foyupdate.blogspot.com/search?q=eat+make+grow&max-results=20&by-date=true

    Foy

    Reply
  46. Richella says

    September 14, 2012 at 4:04 PM

    Hey girls! I linked up earlier, but was having trouble with my computer and wasn’t able to leave a comment. (Gave me the willies to think about my computer’s being messed up–too much work on here that’s not saved anywhere else. Yikes!)

    Anyway, I just wanted to tell you thank you for hosting. Y’all do such a wonderful job with this party–no wonder you have so many linkers!! (Is that what we’re called–linkers?).

    Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  47. Nici - Posed Perfection says

    September 14, 2012 at 6:26 PM

    Thanks for hosting, ladies! Hope you have a great weekend!
    Blessings,
    Nici

    Reply
  48. Marla and Steve says

    September 15, 2012 at 12:05 AM

    Hi Vanessa! It’s been a long time and I see you are having wonderful success at your Friday party. Wonderful! It’s nice to be decorating and posting again.

    Reply
  49. pam {simple details} says

    September 15, 2012 at 1:46 AM

    What a sweet surprise after a day of jury duty! Thank you so much for featuring my boy’s room, quite the honor among everyone’s amazing projects!

    Reply
  50. Zuni, Chickadee Home Nest says

    September 15, 2012 at 4:15 AM

    Thank you for hosting; it’s a great party with lots of fun projects and ideas!

    Reply
  51. Jenni@MomEssentials.Net says

    September 16, 2012 at 11:57 AM

    Hi!
    Thanks for letting me share my own recipe of tasty and delicious
    Healthy Pumpkin Cookies!

    Here’s the link:
    https://www.momessentials.net/jennis-favorite-healthy-pumpkin-cookies/

    Reply
  52. Good Time Charlie says

    September 16, 2012 at 10:20 PM

    Love the mudroom makeover, plus all the wonderful Fall creations! Nothing finished around here either. All primed, prepped, no show pieces yet. Hopefully this week!

    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. 🌿
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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