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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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June 2, 2014

Summer Home Tour 2014

Flip, flop. Flip, flop. Flip, flop.

Don’t you love it when a word so perfectly describes the sound it makes?

And nothing says summer quite like the sound of flip flops.

In fact, I was tempted to just scatter flip flops all around my house and say, “There. Consider my summer decorating DONE!”

But then, well, I figured that since the lovely Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage invited me to be part of her Summer Home Tours I should probably show you just a tad more than that.

But, don’t believe for a second that I’m not wearing flip-flops while you’re reading this!

Simple Summer Decorating Ideas and Home Tour atthepicketfence.com

In fact, why don’t you go put on yours and we can just flip-flop our way through this tour together! If you’re just coming over from Nesting Place I want to welcome you to At the Picket Fence and to my home here in the beautiful Willamette Valley, Oregon.

stucco exterior Mediterranean style home

Come on in!

And see…flip flops! 😉

welcoming to summer home tour2

When it comes to summer decorating I like to take a ‘Beach Boys’ approach.

Stay with me here…you see, decorating for Fall and the Holiday season seems to be so much more obvious and attention grabbing. Those seasons are all like, “Look at me! Look at me!”

But summer, well, summer is cool, relaxed and nonchalant.

It’s less ‘Joy to the World’ and more ‘Good Vibrations’.

And when it comes to adding touches of summer around my home, I keep it simple and subtle.

living room summer decor atthepicketfence.com

Because frankly, once you start getting some sunshine in Oregon the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time worrying about home decor.

I want to be outside soaking up those glorious rays of Vitamin D people!

Living room summer mantel atthepicketfence.com

So, I go for soft touches here and there. Like fresh flowers on the mantel next to this beautiful painting done by my incredibly talented father-in-law. This one is called ‘Here Comes the Sun‘ and I think it fits perfectly in here. You can find more of his amazing pieces on his website.

summer mantel decor atthepicketfence.com

Summer in the dining room doesn’t involve elaborate tablescapes.

traditional dining room atthepicketfence.com

A simple tray filled with fresh flowers and candles makes for an easy centerpiece with plate, forks and napkins all ready for casual entertaining.

We keep things laid back even in this more formal space. Gotta make sure the flip-flops fit in here too, right?

summer dining room centerpiece

My roses are in full bloom and I love being able to get fresh flowers right outside my door.

French country entry with curved staircase atthepicketfence.com

Even the laundry room gets a little bit of summer-fi-cation.

french country laundry room atthepicketfence.com

The breakfast nook is flooded with light this time of the year and every morning you will find me sitting here starting the day with a cup (or 2 or 3!) of coffee.

breakfast nook atthepicketfence.com

And the sideboard is all ready for friends to pop over at a moments’ notice.

summer buffet table decor atthepicketfence.com

How is it possible that something as simple as bottles of Pellegrino can look just so pretty lined up on a tray?

summer buffet table atthepicketfence.com

I used to be filled with a sense of dread when it came to switching out my mantel decor to welcome a new season. I would scour Pinterest and stress out over the fact that my family room mantel is dark wood instead of white. In fact, do you know that if you do a search for ‘Summer Mantel’ you will not see one single dark wood fireplace? Not-a one folks!

traditional family room with dark cabinets

But, then I just channeled my inner Elsa and ‘Let it Go’! (Anyone else out there sing that song in their loudest Operatic voice just to annoy there kids? Yeah…me neither)

I remembered that what I really love and what really reflects my style are simple, natural touches. Like ferns in urns.

And frankly, that’s really fun to say. Ferns in urns.

simple summer mantel decorating atthepicketfence.com

With 2 skylights above, my kitchen stays fairly bright even on the cloudiest of Oregon days. But, in the summer…oh in the summer it is the absolute best!

kitchen

The older I’ve gotten the more I’ve realized that there is less I really want. Does that make sense?

I want less filler, less stuff.  It doesn’t mean that I don’t still enjoy the process of turning my house into a home.

It just means that I’m more selective about what I bring into it.

And this approach takes all of the guess work out of decorating for me.

globe collection atthepicketfence.com

Because summer decorating can be as simple as a little silver bucket filled with lavender.

lavender on coffee table

Or a sailboat tucked into the corner of a room.

sailboat decor

Or seashells filling bowls on tables.

seashells on coffee table

It can just be flowers that you can’t help but bury your face into every time you walk by them.

summer roses

Or your grandmother’s vintage cocktail napkins ready and waiting to be used by guests…who aren’t really guests…because everyone is family once they walk through our door.

And I wish you could walk through my door this summer.

I wish my flip-flop wearing feet could greet your flip-flop wearing feet.  I wish I could put a nice cold bottle of Pelegrino in your hand…or maybe a Corona with lime.

vintage linens and silverware atthepicketfence.com

I wouldn’t point out all of my summer decorations and you wouldn’t really even notice them.

Because, we would head straight out the back door and onto the deck. Where we would watch the kiddos jumping on the trampoline and running through the sprinklers. We would eat the best grilled chicken you’ve ever had after my husband smoked it on the Traeger for a few hours and you would have brought some kind of amazing dessert for us to enjoy. You know you would!

We would laugh and talk and laugh and talk and laugh some more until the sun went down and we had to light the candles in the lanterns and pull on sweaters as the temperature dropped.

And after it was all said and done, you would leave my home knowing what I think summer is really all about.

Family

Friends

Food

Fun

Who could ask for more?

 Now, how about you take your flip-flop wearing feet right on over to visit my friend KariAnne at Thistlewood Farms, I know she wears ’em too!

And here is the full list of all of the incredible homes you can visit each day on this Summer Tour!

Monday, June 2nd

The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Nester
At The Picket Fence (Vanessa)
Thistlewood Farms
The Inspired Room

Tuesday, June 3rd

The Handmade Home
My Fabuless Life
Finding Home
In My Own Style
The Hunted Interior

Wednesday, June 4th

Inspired By Charm
Jennifer Rizzo
Madigan Made
Makely School for Girls
Funky Junk Interiors

Thursday, June 5th

Jones Design Company
Beneath My Heart
The Pennington Point
White Buffalo Styling Co.
Southern Hospitality

Friday, June 6th

At the Picket Fence (Heather)
Desert Domicile
Tatertots & Jello
Home Stories A to Z
Live Laugh Rowe

Thanks for meeting me here today At the Picket Fence,

Vanessa signature

64 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Home Tour, Summer Tagged With: home tour, home tours, summer decorating

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Previous Post: « Pucker Up! 5 easy lemon recipes for summer!
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Comments

  1. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    June 2, 2014 at 3:52 AM

    Your home looks beautiful and perfect for Summer, Vanessa! I hear ya on the flip flops ~ they are my footwear of choice once the warmer weather hits, too. Love your sideboard. I have got to find some plates to decorate around the mirror in our dining area. Your fireplace mantels look so pretty. I especially love the ferns in urns.

    Reply
  2. Leann Slater says

    June 2, 2014 at 4:29 AM

    Vanessa, you have a beautiful and bright home! I love the sunny color on your walls- may I ask what color you have on your entry, dining and sitting room?

    Reply
  3. Kim says

    June 2, 2014 at 4:45 AM

    It is all beautiful, Vanessa and I love my flip flops!

    Reply
  4. Debbie says

    June 2, 2014 at 4:52 AM

    Beautiful and I love your flip-flop summer-fied style 🙂
    Debbie

    Reply
  5. Kimm at Reinvented says

    June 2, 2014 at 5:12 AM

    Your home is beautiful and I love the summer touches! And flip flops! Thanks so much for sharing, I am leaving inspired. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Anne@DesignDreams says

    June 2, 2014 at 5:20 AM

    Sigh… your home is stunning! Your sense of style is amazing, love it all! I too am becoming less interested in “stuff”. I’m happier with fewer pieces and less clutter.

    Your home is an inspiration (as are you!)

    xox

    Reply
  7. Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says

    June 2, 2014 at 5:28 AM

    Vanessa, your home is just beautiful and I love that photo of you in your light-filled kitchen! I’m a flip flop kind of girl, too. Thanks for the tour and you’ve inspired me to put some ferns in urns just so I can say it multiple times! 🙂

    Reply
  8. heidi @ Decor & More says

    June 2, 2014 at 5:33 AM

    Gorgeous, just like you, Vanessa! Loving all the simple summer touches!
    xo Heidi

    Reply
  9. Cheryl at Snaps of zginger says

    June 2, 2014 at 5:45 AM

    Absolutely gorgeous!! So light and airy and cool. It makes me want to run home and dedcorate in white and green with pops of color from beautiful flowers. (Yes, basically, copy you!)

    Reply
  10. Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG says

    June 2, 2014 at 6:09 AM

    enjoying the tours this morning – you home is looking lovely as always

    Reply
  11. Kerry Purcell says

    June 2, 2014 at 6:59 AM

    You have such a beautiful home. Thanks for sharing. And LOVE those flip flops! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    June 2, 2014 at 7:26 AM

    Vanessa…you are inspiring me to go to my “storage room” and start taking out the summer things!….Love your home and al of the great summer touches and details….cannot imagine how beautiful your area in the Williamette Valley is….Oregon is on our “list” to explore!

    Reply
  13. Carol Reddin says

    June 2, 2014 at 7:48 AM

    Beautiful home with pretty amazing people within! Thank you for the tour!

    Reply
  14. melissa @ the inspired room says

    June 2, 2014 at 7:50 AM

    We are so fortunate to live in the NW, but now that we’ve spilled the beans everyone is going to know the awesomeness of it hahah! 🙂 Your home is lovely, warm and welcoming in all seasons, but I love the subtle summer touches and the pretty greenery too, it makes it all feel fresh and alive! Thanks for the tour! I love being a part of it, too! xo

    Reply
  15. Lisa Palmese says

    June 2, 2014 at 7:56 AM

    You are right!! Summer is all about Family and Fun!!
    I have so many flip flops some regular some fancy but
    I wear them all. Thank You You and your Home are Beautiful
    Lisa.

    Reply
  16. Lindsay says

    June 2, 2014 at 8:07 AM

    Beautiful home tour, Vanessa! It is exactly what you said, relaxed and it just glows of summer!

    Reply
  17. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    June 2, 2014 at 8:28 AM

    I love, love, love your home and you look absolutely fabulous. I love seeing you have wood cabinets in the kitchen too.

    Reply
  18. Lynn Richards says

    June 2, 2014 at 9:54 AM

    Oh, Vanessa! SO good to catch up with you. I love your easy summer style. I am all about flip flops and sea shells and fresh picked flowers…
    Wishing I could come out and share a cup or three of coffee with you in your breakfast nook. I know the conversation would be extra sweet.
    xo
    lynn

    Reply
  19. Interioridea says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:17 AM

    Wowwww!! Your home is very nice and clean. I really love it!

    Reply
  20. Funky Junk Interiors says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:43 AM

    In a word… stunning! Sunlight comes to mind and is the one thing that personally gives me the most energy. Your home has that and more!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      June 2, 2014 at 7:17 PM

      Awww thanks so much sweet friend!! So appreciate you stopping by and only wish you were coming by to visit in person. Maybe someday! 🙂

      Reply
  21. Gee says

    June 2, 2014 at 10:57 AM

    Oh… breathtaking Vanessa. Me and my flip flops will be right over in 2 shakes.
    Hugs, Gee

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      June 2, 2014 at 7:17 PM

      Thank you so much Gee! And come on over! 🙂

      Reply
  22. Shannon @ Fox Hollow Cottage says

    June 2, 2014 at 11:16 AM

    Happy Flip-Flop days girl! Enjoy those fabulous, flower filled rooms and our short lived sunny season :))) Happy Summer!!

    Reply
  23. Kim @ Sand & Sisal says

    June 2, 2014 at 12:15 PM

    You home is so lovely! Wish you lived closer so I could drop in sometime!

    Reply
  24. kristin says

    June 2, 2014 at 4:11 PM

    Love your home tour, it is just gorgeous!! Every detail is just beautiful, love the picture from your FIL, stunning!!! I see you picked the lemon pic 🙂
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  25. Cindy says

    June 2, 2014 at 6:57 PM

    Beautiful!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply
  26. Anita says

    June 2, 2014 at 7:21 PM

    Oh Vanessa what a great post and such a beautiful welcoming house:-) Love your beautiful dark woods too so much. So gorgeous!

    Reply
  27. Jennifer @ Town and Country Living says

    June 2, 2014 at 7:24 PM

    Your roses are beautiful and I love the light colors in your home. Perfect for summer!

    Reply
  28. Summer says

    June 2, 2014 at 8:02 PM

    Your home is beautiful! I really enjoyed this tour!

    Reply
  29. Pamela says

    June 2, 2014 at 8:52 PM

    I stopped by earlier and just now realized my comment didn’t go thru!:( Love your beautiful home Vanessa. The love you have for your family and home shine right thru the pics!

    Reply
  30. Julia@cuckoo4design says

    June 3, 2014 at 4:31 AM

    Everything is so gorgeous! I adore the beautiful outside of your home too

    Reply
  31. Janet Egan says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:59 AM

    I need to know the yellow paint u used love the crispness and light in it! Your home is beautiful!

    Reply
  32. karen says

    June 3, 2014 at 11:08 AM

    Your home looks wonderful, fresh, inviting and I love the simple summer décor. Loved the tour, thank you for sharing it with us. I am wondering what kind of plant on either side of your front door is, is it boxwood?
    Look forward to the next post/tour.

    Reply
  33. Lisa~ says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:21 PM

    Vanessa! How fun to get to know you like this. I am gonna HAVE to come sit in some of those comfy chairs and drink Pellegrino and talk all night like teenagers. Love it all! Just beautiful. Lisa~

    Reply
  34. dawn@joyfulscribblings says

    June 4, 2014 at 7:14 AM

    It was a pleasure meeting you at SNAP Vanessa. Your home is beautiful and I love your carefree attitude. You will find me in flip flops all summer long as well 🙂 As I’ve gotten older I’m trying to take a less is more approach as well. Have a great summer!

    Reply
  35. Gina says

    June 5, 2014 at 4:48 AM

    Your home is gorgeous and your tour was fabulous! I really felt I was there with you on your deck with a Corona laughing and talking and laughing some more. I even got real comfy and put my flip flopped feet up!

    Reply
  36. Melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle says

    June 5, 2014 at 3:09 PM

    So pretty! And yes I totally understand the “wanting less” thing! Life to the full! Melissa

    Reply
  37. Becca says

    June 6, 2014 at 5:57 AM

    Your gorgeous Summer home is calling to me, sweet friend … thanks for inviting me over! It’s gorgeous, as are you! I’ve loved watching how your taste has evolved … love the less is more … and, the fabulous soft pops of seasonal color! I envy your enjoying your home, as mine is in a state of one.big.mess right now! Ugh … “let it goooooo, let it goooooooo!” LOL xoxo

    Reply
  38. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

    June 6, 2014 at 12:48 PM

    Your house is so bright and airy! I definitely get that summer vibe 😉

    Reply
  39. Kelly says

    June 6, 2014 at 6:52 PM

    Such a lovely home! I put on my flip-flops just for the tour too {giggle}. Girl, I took a sigh of relief to see your dark cabinets too. We’ve talked about painting ours, but boy does that make me nervous. I felt right at home in your space — and I’ve all over wearing my flip flops 99% of the time during the warm weather. HUGS!

    Reply
  40. Anne says

    June 7, 2014 at 5:53 AM

    Your home is lovely – and so perfectly clean! Mine usually has piles of clothes in corners & shoes everywhere. Love the old dresser & the small anchor hooks look beautiful as well.

    Reply
  41. boob Lift says

    June 8, 2014 at 7:37 PM

    Hi! I could have sworn I have actually seen this site prior to but after searching with a few of the write-ups I recognized it’s new to me.

    Regardless, I’m definitedly delighted I located it and I’ll bee bookmarking it and will bee back
    often!

    Reply
  42. Mary Beth B says

    June 11, 2014 at 6:49 PM

    I love your blog!!!! found it while reading about the house tour at Thistlewood Farms and I am now a follower. Would you be able to share with me the yellow paint color in your dining room? I am sitting here in my family room with painted squares of yellow all over the walls–we want to paint it yellow but just can’t find the right one. it’s so frustrating –and time consuming. There are too many choices! The yellow in the photos of your home looks beautiful. Thank you!!

    Reply
  43. Monnaie says

    June 12, 2014 at 2:56 AM

    Beautiful home tour, Nice interior designing and interior furnishing!

    Reply
  44. BasementWaterproofing.com says

    June 16, 2014 at 9:01 AM

    Vanessa, you have a beautiful home! Thanks for giving us the “inside-access” with this tour!

    Reply
  45. Katie says

    June 22, 2014 at 6:12 AM

    Your house is beautiful!! I love the sideboard. Did you paint it or was it already that color? What is the name of the color?

    Reply
  46. sheri says

    July 19, 2014 at 7:18 AM

    Oh i love it. all of it. But “ferns in urns” is now going to be stuck in my head LOL. Your home is gorgeous 🙂

    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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