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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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March 2, 2020

Saying Goodbye to a Relic

In the old days, a woman would bring a dowry with her into marriage. This was typically property or money or a combination of the two that was then given to her husband and, if you have ever read a Jane Austen novel, you’ll know it was commonly used as leverage to give her the best options for a good match.

In 1998, I brought a kind of ‘dowry’ into my own marriage in the form of property. It was a 20+ year old refrigerator that had belonged to my parents and my new husband was just as grateful for it as I was for the 10″ hand-me-down television that he contributed to our nuptials. It didn’t have a remote but we were blinded by love and didn’t really care.

10 years and two kids later, we moved into a new-to-us home and, having left a brand new refrigerator in the house we had just sold, we once again inherited an old one. It was original to the home which was built in 1992.

We could have replaced it, but it worked. And with many, many other projects needing our immediate attention, replacing a working refrigerator simply because it was an older model just wasn’t a priority. And years later, when we had the cabinets painted, the fridge was still working so we just had the paneling on the doors painted too.


But, inevitably, there came the day when food that was supposed to be just cold was frozen instead. And strange noises started coming from the general direction of that corner of the kitchen. It had a good run, but we knew it was time to finally say goodbye to this relic.

So, Robb and I decided that our Christmas gift to each other would be a brand new refrigerator.

And, I gotta tell ya, I had forgotten what it was like to have all of the food stay at the same temperature. And, this drawer freezer? You guys it is the BEST!

Between the increased storage, two ice makers, in-door water/ice system, glass shelves and a layout that is far more functional for our family, we feel like we have finally caught up to the new era.

My kids, who had grown up with the 1992 refrigerator must have said, “this feels so fancy!”, a dozen times within the first few days.

But, I’ll let you in on a little secret. There was apart of me that was sad to say goodbye to the relic. It was the last remaining appliance in our house that belonged to another time. Even the 20 year old washer and dryer set we purchased from Montgomery Ward had to be replaced last year.

Obviously I don’t miss the times I pulled out a bag of carrots only to discover them frozen.

But in this culture where we so easily dispose of the old, even when it’s not broken, to make way for the latest and greatest, I felt kind of proud of the fact that we waited until we absolutely had to replace that relic.

In fact, we still haven’t replaced the original counters in this kitchen but are hoping to this year as we are noticing more cracks appearing and will have saved enough money to be able to pay for them outright without accruing any debt.

With our social media feeds filled with a steady stream of seemingly ‘instant’ makeovers and the push to constantly upgrade to the most current trend, there’s just something to be said for acknowledging the fact that it’s ok to live with the relics. It’s ok to take your time, to wait until you have the money saved up and to make do with the old before you run out and purchase the new.

I don’t know about you, but I feel like we need to hear more voices talking about delayed gratification and making sensible decisions. We need to hear more about newlywed couples who are just scraping by and are content with their hand-me-downs. Who don’t have the money to buy their dream home right away complete with his and her closets, a craft room and a man cave.

So, I’ll keep being one of those voices. Someone who talks about her kitchen that wasn’t transformed in a week or a month or even a year.

But, instead, it was slowly brought up-to-date, one piece at a time, paid for in cash and appreciated all the more for it.

And, how about you? Do you have any relics in your home?

I’d love to hear about them!

14 Comments Filed Under: Decorating Tagged With: kitchen

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Comments

  1. Donna Marie says

    March 2, 2020 at 12:42 PM

    We have a deep freezer that is 43 years old and we have a 19 year-old refrigerator that just conked out on us Saturday and a dryer that is 19 years old. The dishwasher and the over-the-stove microwave are 19 plus years old (they were here when we moved in) so we feed like we are living on “borrowed” time!!! Lol

    Reply
  2. Renee Dillman-Kuehl says

    March 2, 2020 at 1:00 PM

    We have been married 40 years, and this last year all of the appliances that we had purchased brand new from Sears died, all with in a couple of months from each other. Microwave that was a gift is still going strong, but we are replacing it with one that will go over the stove. Money went a little farther back than, and so we had used all the money we received for our wedding for these new appliances-stove, frig., washer and dryer and our dishwasher was a gift for my college grad. from hubby. I agree saving and using used is ok!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 2, 2020 at 3:28 PM

      Renee that is amazing that they lasted so long!! Kind of annoying that they all broke at once though, huh? LOL! They just don’t seem to make appliances and other things as solidly as they used to. Congrats on 40 years of marriage!

      Reply
  3. Naomi S says

    March 2, 2020 at 1:03 PM

    For quite a few years my dishwasher didn’t work and I was told it would cost more to replace the pump or whatever the problems was, I forget, than to buy a new one. Well, I washed dishes by hand and used the dishwasher as a dish drainer for several years. Then, when my daughter and her two sons moved in with me about four years ago I decided the time had come to replace the dishwasher so I waited ’til I got my tax refund and bought a new one. Then, recently, my daughter decided that we needed to replace the 20-or so-year-old refrigerator that had been new when the kitchen was remodled and was falling apart in several places. So she bought the new frig with her Home Depot card, but paid it off in just a few months. I’m not thrilled with it being stainless steel but since she paid for it she picked what she tho’t was best for the money she could spend. So it’s fine.

    Your point about living with what you have as long as you can and not buying new just for the sake of having something fashionable is a sound one. And I think learning to “make do” is a valuable lesson to learn as a young person. Let us all “make do” and save our pennies for new.

    By the way, I think your kitchen is beautiful with the white cabinets and even with the “old” countertops.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 2, 2020 at 3:26 PM

      Thank you so much Naomi!!

      Reply
  4. Sandy Mcallister says

    March 2, 2020 at 1:19 PM

    Love to be able to save to be able to replace something. Very satisfying not to owe.

    Reply
  5. Donna Nance says

    March 2, 2020 at 3:45 PM

    Love your kitchen! You are to be commended for using appliances until they conk out. I don’t think they make ’em like they used to. My husband is a retired home inspector and he would hear folks, even first time buyers, whine about not having all new stainless appliances and granite counters. Heaven forbid that there weren’t enough bathrooms so everyone in the household had their own. Your saving for new things and not having to have the latest are good life lessons for your kids. Well done!

    Reply
  6. Darlene says

    March 2, 2020 at 5:23 PM

    I totally agree with this theory. Married fifty-two years in April and have kept out of debt except a mortgage, which we paid off very quickly. Built our own house and did as much work as we could ourselves. Slowly finished the house by paying cash and not borrowing. All these years later we still do not buy unless we can pay for it. Have kept my appliances til they quit. Have expressed this to our sons and daughters -in -laws as well. Very proud that our grandchildren are adults now and are trying to pay for things without borrowing too much. So sad when people look at a house and are upset that everything is not brand new. We were happy to have a nice kitchen and cupboards as well. It has become so trendy to do this now. We are fortunate to have six grandchildren, five adults, that listen to us.

    Reply
  7. Shelly says

    March 2, 2020 at 8:34 PM

    This is such a wonderful post. Your children are learning a great lesson from you, a lesson that they will appreciate when they start their own homes.
    So refreshing! I see so many people on blogs replacing things that really don’t need to be, what a waste especially at a time when we are encouraged to recycle and be green.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 3, 2020 at 7:47 AM

      Thank you so much Shelly!

      Reply
  8. angie g says

    March 3, 2020 at 5:53 AM

    I love this sentiment. We bought a small affordable house and have been enjoying it for 11 years now. It is getting close to paid off and still mostly meets our needs. Here is to enjoying the “character” in our lives and not always worrying about how pin worthy our lives look to others.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 3, 2020 at 7:24 AM

      Congrats on almost having your house paid off Angie!! That is a HUGE accomplishment! I agree that we need to just focus on making wise choices and stop comparing ourselves to those we see online. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

      Reply
  9. Lori says

    March 19, 2020 at 7:54 PM

    Besides the obvious reason not to incur debt, there’s another reason to avoid “instant” makeovers and purchase everything new, including appliances. There’s something really lovely that our parents’ generation knew about – anticipation. In fact, there’s something really lovely about yearning while you’re waiting for the cash to buy your dream . As Americans, we’ve become so used to instant gratification in all areas of our lives, that we somehow believe we “deserve” to have everything RIGHT NOW!!! This way of thinking deprives us (at least it does me) of the joy that is felt when at last I can pay cash for something I’ve been longing for.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 20, 2020 at 12:09 PM

      Lori you are 100% right!! The feeling of delayed gratification is lost to so many people nowadays and yet it is such an important part of life. Our son bought his first car recently and had worked hard and saved up cash (we matched his earnings) and did all of the research as well as all of the negotiating on his own and I can tell you that he appreciates that used car WAY more than if we had just gone out and bought one for him. It’s so character building!

      Reply

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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. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (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! 🍂

#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 🍤

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, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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