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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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January 5, 2012

It’s not a DIY Project but it’s sure fun…four wheeling in the desert

Wow! It’s been quiet here At The Picket Fence.  We’ve had such a great time being together that it’s been hard to pull ourselves away to update the blog….that and the slow as molasses internet connection.  Could one blog and live in the middle of nowhere? A question for the ages. grin.

One of our favorite activities and by far the most popular during our time together has been four 
wheeling! 

Ian (Vanessa’s Rascal #1) and Bama Boy

That’s a mighty big four wheeler, Ian! 

Lauren has her helmet on and she’s ready to ride!

And they’re off! 

Vanessa and Ian head out
Michael’s not far behind

There is nothing more beautiful then trekking through the desert and getting up close and personal with it’s beauty. 
The subtle beauty of the desert
The views

a replica western town
Bama Boy armed and ready for any wild critters

The only wild critters we saw…on a cattle ranch

At the Petroglyphs
Seeing them up close and personal is fascinating! 
Heather…all dusty and dirty …and not the DIY project kind of dust 😉

Poppa with The Girl and The Boy
Thank you Poppa for providing so much fun when we visit! We love you!

17 Comments Filed Under: Family

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Comments

  1. Ginger Zuck says

    January 5, 2012 at 3:13 AM

    Love to 4 wheel. I’ve got a Yahama and use it most weekends! Would love to do it in the desert! Love the BAMA t-sirt – rolltide!! Have a great week!

    Reply
  2. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    January 5, 2012 at 3:27 AM

    Looks like soooo much fun!

    Reply
  3. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    January 5, 2012 at 3:34 AM

    Looks like fun and great pictures.

    Reply
  4. Kelly says

    January 5, 2012 at 3:52 AM

    My family would be ALL over that!! We used to go four wheeling up in the North Ga mountains when my inlaws had one and a cabin up there. It was alot of fun. Now they live on alot of property and have one that they can use in the woods behind their home. I would’ve loved to have done that with you all!

    Reply
  5. NanaDiana says

    January 5, 2012 at 4:17 AM

    What fun it looks like you are all having. tat is the best part of it all, isn’t it? Making family memories! xo Diana

    Reply
  6. Debbie refreshredtyle says

    January 5, 2012 at 4:44 AM

    I love it! Beautiful place and people! Can I go next time?
    Debbie

    Reply
  7. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    January 5, 2012 at 5:26 AM

    Looks like you guys had a blast!! Great pictures too. I love the one of the old western town!!

    Reply
  8. Creative Raisins says

    January 5, 2012 at 6:15 AM

    Looks like it was a great time, This is one of my families favorite things to do too, so much fun.

    Reply
  9. Sue says

    January 5, 2012 at 7:33 AM

    I am one big chicken and probably wouldn’t hop on one of those suckers! Oh to be back out west again- you’re both so lucky to have made the trip, Heather. Such wonderful shots, btw. 🙂

    Reply
  10. Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home says

    January 5, 2012 at 4:12 AM

    Looks like a great time for all…wonderful memories in the making!!!

    Reply
  11. Judy says

    January 5, 2012 at 12:46 PM

    That looks like so much fun. You guys made some awesome memories on this trip. The four wheeling looks like a blast. Your photos are great too.

    Reply
  12. Vicki says

    January 5, 2012 at 3:11 PM

    Wow, so fun! I love those mountains in the background and that the beauty of the cactus. Sweetness! (Just don’t touch!)

    Reply
  13. classic • casual • home says

    January 5, 2012 at 4:06 PM

    I would love to try four wheeling! What a beautiful place.

    Reply
  14. Debra @ Common Ground says

    January 5, 2012 at 4:24 PM

    The scenery is just gorgeous, looks like you all are having such an amazing time, I’m so glad you could all get together!! great pics of you all! xoxo

    Reply
  15. Tanya@takesix says

    January 5, 2012 at 5:14 PM

    F A M I L Y!!!! There’s no life like it!! So glad you had a wonderful week, even though it was marked with sadness. When we go to our spot in the country all our family shows up on 4-wheelers!! Wishing you both a blessed New Year!

    Reply
  16. Robin says

    January 6, 2012 at 1:04 AM

    Four wheeling is so much fun. We try to get out as much as possible. Kids love it, adults love it. it’s perfect. We go to my parents cabin alot during all season but in the summer we camp and four wheel almost every weekend.

    Reply
  17. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    January 6, 2012 at 3:35 AM

    How fun, love seeing all the pictures!!!
    XO
    Kristin

    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? 😉
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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.

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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?

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― 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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