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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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April 19, 2016

Mother’s Day Brunch Table Setting

I don’t often get to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mother. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I did.

Spring centerpiece and tablescape

 

So when Balsam Hill asked me to share some Mother’s Day inspiration using one of their gorgeous artificial arrangements, all I could think about was how much I would love to have her come over for a simple brunch.

Just the two of us.

20160407-Mothers-Day-Brunch-Blog-Hop---Banner(revised)

We would sit together at the table with no kids (or retired husband/my dad) vying for her attention and just relish our time together. I would break out the china and silver and maybe whip up my yummy Lemon Creme Brulee.

lemon creme brulee 1200 x 875

You see, by this point in my life, I’ve come to realize that not everyone can say that their mom is also their best friend. I know that it’s a rare thing. A blessing. A gift.

I can talk to my mom about everything from home decorating to finances to the challenges of being a mother myself.

And she’s always there. Always available. Always ready with a listening ear and solid wisdom.

Lovely Mother's Day or Spring brunch table setting

I always find it interesting that when I think back on my childhood, it’s not the specific conversations that I remember. It’s the feelings, the moments, the smells, the essence. When my mom would come and kiss me goodnight, I loved the scent of her face lotion. When I close my eyes I can still smell it. It represented comfort and familiarity and consistency.

She would pray with me and sing to me and I would fall asleep with such a deep sense of security.

It’s a security I still feel to this day when I’m with her.
Balsam Hill orchid and snowball arrangement

When I became a mom myself, suddenly it seemed like I needed my mom more than ever. Yes, I needed the advice and the ideas and the re-assurances, but what I needed most was the security that she provided. Even though my entire world had changed, when I was with my mom I felt like I was just ‘me’.

Just Vanessa. Just her daughter.

silver tea container

My mom is a truly one of the most wise women I know. And the best piece of parenting advice she has ever given me is to always remember that I’m an imperfect person raising imperfect children in an imperfect world. She reminds me that I’m just not going to do things perfectly. It’s an impossibility. I will make mistakes and I will mess up and so will my kids. But, in the midst of all of the trying and messing up, there’s always grace. Grace for them and grace for myself. Lots of it!

Mother's day brunch table setting atthepicketfence.com

There is something about looking at photos of my mom when she was near my age that strike me so differently now that I’m a mother too. I see her in a new light.

I see myself in her.

Mother's Day place setting with photo

And I’m beyond grateful that God gave me the amazing gift of having her as my mom. We might not be able to celebrate Mother’s Day together this year (my parents divide their time between two homes and won’t be back here in Oregon until summer), but it’s really ok. Because it’s only a day.

The real celebration happens every time we laugh together over a funny family memory or when she listens to me as I moan about how hard it is raising a teenager.

The real celebration is in our hearts.

I love you mom!

Vanessa signature

 

For more Mother’s Day brunch inspiration visit the other participants:

Balsam Hill Blog

Duke Manor Farm

tablemd

The Yellow Cape Cod

My Sweet Savannah

French Country Cottage

11 Comments Filed Under: Celebrations, Decorating, Family, Good Ideas, Holidays, Spring Tagged With: Mothers Day, spring

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Comments

  1. Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says

    April 19, 2016 at 4:39 AM

    Such a beautiful post – and a beautiful table setting! I love that you remember her face lotion smell. My youngest son always says he loves the way my face smells when I go kiss him goodnight too! I don’t always see my mom on the actual Mother’s Day either. Sometimes we just pick a day during that week and go out somewhere when it’s not crowded. I have also had a Mother’s Day brunch with my sister and her son, my mom and my boys. So many nice ways to celebrate yet the message gets across how special moms are to us! Great post!
    Shelley

    Reply
  2. Brenda Scott says

    April 19, 2016 at 4:40 AM

    You, my dear, are so blessed to have had a mother like that and to have so many great memories.
    …always love your posts!

    Reply
  3. june says

    April 19, 2016 at 7:00 AM

    What a beautiful table setting and I love today’s post. How blessed you are to have such a wonderful relationship with your mom. I was too. I love how you reference the smell of her face lotion. For me it is the smell of Emeraude or as I came to call it the stinky green stuff.
    She loved her Emeraude. I do believe God created our sense of smell to grace us with peace when we need it.

    Today I will head to my local Walgreens and ask to hold a bottle of Emeraude and spray the tester. My mom passed 9 years ago today and I miss her every single day. I know she is here with me but to just get that hug and smell her favorite fragrance on her would be the best.

    Reply
  4. laura janning says

    April 19, 2016 at 8:02 AM

    what a precious post. I can hear your heart beaming when you talk about your mom …..and your family. You are a real gem and a blessing to your mom and to your own children.

    Reply
  5. Amy Kaminski says

    April 19, 2016 at 10:45 AM

    That was just lovely Vanessa. I’m passing it on to several friends. Thank you so much for the reminder that there is grace for all.

    Reply
  6. Carol Reddin says

    April 19, 2016 at 12:11 PM

    Ahh, Vanessa! It warmed my heart reading this today. You were certainly a delightful little girl to raise to adulthood! Happy (early) Mother’s Day to the loveliest of daughters! We will celebrate a month late. I love you!

    Reply
  7. Michele says

    April 19, 2016 at 12:14 PM

    What a beautiful post and tribute to your lovely mom.

    The tablescape – all the touches- are amazing.

    Heading over to Balsam Hill now – those faux are incredibly realist looking – WOW WOW WOW!

    Reply
  8. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    April 20, 2016 at 5:28 PM

    Your table is beautiful and so is your story and the love for your mom….your mom gave the greatest advice…she said it all … there is no such thing as perfection as humans…if we were all perfect, the world would be a boring place!!…That arrangement is so beautiful and sweet….like southern tea!

    Reply
  9. Dagmar Obert says

    April 21, 2016 at 9:01 PM

    First, what a sweet tribute and compliment to your mom! I love how the ribbon ties in with color of the floral arrangement and how the black and white photo you’ve attached adds a nostalgic touch. It helps you realize where you came from, what is happening now and where you are going. The floral arrangement looked lovely with your accents and I’m sure that lemon take on the brulee is tasty.

    Reply
  10. Sheila Irwin says

    May 1, 2016 at 7:37 PM

    Vanessa,

    I have never been to your blog before, and though I frequent several every week, I don’t always comment. However, this post was so gorgeous (the photos! that table setting!) and so tenderly written, I just had to tell you. As a blogger myself I know how hard it is to write from the heart every time, and this was wonderfully written. It was warm and heartfelt, and real. It made me tear up and made me think of my own mother and how she raised me, as well as my own children and my connection to the three of them. And on top of that, the tablescape was gorgeous.

    Thank you for such a beautiful post…. literally and figuratively.

    Sheila
    http://www.maisondecinq.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 1, 2016 at 9:18 PM

      Oh Sheila thank you so much for your incredibly sweet comment! I hope I will be seeing more of you At the Picket Fence! šŸ™‚

      Reply

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Happy first day of Autumn!! šŸ‚ Here’s a super Happy first day of Autumn!! šŸ‚ Here’s a super simple centerpiece that you can make in five minutes (or less) with just a few pumpkins and extra faux greenery. Let’s spend less time decorating and more time enjoying this season. It’s my favorite!! 🧔

#fallcenterpiece #falldecor #centerpiece #fiveminutedecorating
"Define your day", she told me as I held my newbor "Define your day", she told me as I held my newborn son. My mom and I were talking about how blurred my days and nights had become and how easy it would be to just stay in my pajamas 24/7. She encouraged me to make an attempt to put on 'real' clothes in the morning even if they were just nice sweatpants (bonus if they were clean!) and to throw a little bit of makeup on. That simple advice helped chart a course for my years of motherhood that continues today. And recently I began thinking about how critical it is that we not only seek wisdom from those ahead of us in our stage of life but that we are willing to apply it as well.

So, I asked this question on my personal Facebook page; "What is something you feel you've done well to create a peaceful/meaningful home for yourself and your family?" The catch was that the question was geared towards women in the 40+ age range. The responses came flooding in and were so wonderful and insightful. So, I'm going to be starting a new series where I share this wisdom with you and will include the first name of the woman who offered it. 

Today we start with Alison who said "I learned to set my alarm early to get up and moving before my kids woke up. I showered, got dressed and did my devotions while the house was quiet. It set my heart and perspective for each day.ā€

Is this something you do in your life too? What wisdom would you offer to a mom of young children?

I truly think our culture would greatly benefit from more women in different seasons of life being willing to invest in each other. šŸ‚

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #motherhood #parentingwisdom
If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a resta If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a restaurant I’m definitely ordering it! It’s one of my all time favorite treats. So I decided to try my hand at making some here at home with a little fall twist and it was SO delicious!! šŸŽ

Ingredients:

6 slices of day old bread (french, sourdough or even brioche works great)
2 cups of heavy cream
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
For the apples:
3 peeled and chopped apples of a tart variety
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour (or corn starch)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350
Cut bread into cubes and place in a greased 8 1/2 x 11 baking dish
Whisk together in a bowl the eggs, cream, vanilla, rum, cinnamon and nutmeg and then pour it over the bread cubes. In a separate bowl, mix together the apples, brown sugar and flour/corn starch. Pour the apple mixture on top of the bread mixture making sure to spread the apples evenly across every part of the bread mixture.
Bake for 45 minutes. 
Enjoy!

#falldesserts #breadpudding #fallrecipes #desserts
When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after onl When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after only a week of school, you take the opportunity to make Saturday a truly restful day. Pancakes on the griddle, puttering around the yard admiring the way the limelights have begun their autumn journey from white to green to pink. Sprinkling touches of fall around the house a little bit at a time. Savoring the slowness of it all and taking care of my people in this place that provides us all with a respite from the world even if just for a day.

Hope you’re weekend is off to a great start and that you make it a priority to slow down for a bit and soak up the beauty around you. šŸ‚

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #falldecorating
As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but thin As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but think about how grateful I am for the reminders all around me of God’s Sovereignty over everything including the seasons. It can be challenging in our world today to trust that there isn’t a single thing happening that surprises Him.

In a way, decorating my home to reflect the changing season serves as a tangible reminder of this trust. Even something as simple as seeing a pumpkin on my mantel or a basket of mums on the coffee table fill me with peace because they represent the things that remain constant and true.

ā€œThe grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.ā€ Isaiah 40:8

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #club31women
I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. šŸ‚

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
ā€œAs the alluring song of September begins to whi ā€œAs the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.ā€ (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! šŸ‚

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls šŸ¤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, ā€œWhoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.ā€

Have you done any ā€˜watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ā€˜watered’ you in return?
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