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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary

Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary to popular belief, the celebration of Advent is VERY different from just simply doing a ‘countdown to Christmas’. It’s not about having little drawers filled with candy or doors to open with prizes inside. Those things are so much fun and definitely help to build anticipation as you head closer and closer to the big day.

But Advent, from the latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘arrival’ or ‘appearance’ keeps the focus completely on celebrating the arrival of the King who came in the form of an infant.

This is one of our favorite family traditions and over the years I’ve figured out how to incorporate the Advent candles into my decor without using the traditional wreath. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration as we head into this sacred season. 🌲

#advent #adventdecoration #wearethehomemakers

Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Bec

Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Because it’s the Saturday after and my house is almost completely ready to start the season! So I’m sitting with my coffee and just soaking it all up knowing that now I can focus on shopping, hosting and preparing our hearts for the start of Advent. The only thing left to do is get our fresh tree for the front room and then the decorating is done.

Starting early is a gift I give to myself and I’m always grateful for it! 🌲

#simplechristmas #traditionalchristmas

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest fo

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂

Christmas has arrived in the family room where I k

Christmas has arrived in the family room where I keep things simple but festive! We’ll get a fresh tree after Thanksgiving which will go in our front room bay window but this slim faux tree with its colorful ornaments tides us over for now. Which room in your home gets the Christmas treatment first? Or do you just start doing a little at a time in each room? 🎄

*pillow covers are from @jshhomeessentials

I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST

I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD!

And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃

How do I want people to feel when they walk throug

How do I want people to feel when they walk through my front door? That’s always at the top of my mind when I’m decorating my entry for each season, particularly at Christmastime.

✨I want them to feel like my home is greeting them with a smile.

✨I want them to feel like this is a place where care has been given to details (but not to the point of being too stuffy or too busy or too overwhelming).

✨I want them to feel like there is peace here.

✨I want them to feel like they are welcome…because they are.

My home is a reflection of my heart and my heart is a reflection of the ONE for whom I live and try to honor and praise all of my days, but especially at Christmas.

How do you want people to feel when they come into your home?

#christmasentry #simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers

This is not a criticism of those who are sharing t

This is not a criticism of those who are sharing their great new Christmas finds but rather an encouragement to those of you who are feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all and trying to resist the temptation to purchase more items than you really need.

Several years ago I felt a conviction in my heart about how much time and money I was spending on trying to create a new look every Christmas. I was not being a good steward of my resources and I was far too easily swayed by the peer pressure in this area. And a funny thing happened when I smashed this idol that had taken up residence in my heart. I suddenly found renewed joy in decorating for the season. By keeping things simple and maybe only buying something like a new spool of velvet ribbon, I actually realized that I could be far more creative reusing and repurposing what I already had.

In the coming weeks your news feeds will be filled with temptations for MORE. Maybe, this year, you too can find the joy in LESS. 🌲

#simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers

It’s that time of the year again! Time for me to

It’s that time of the year again! Time for me to set up the hot coca station! ⛄️🧣☕️It’s always a favorite spot in the house and I leave it up all winter long.

Do you have a hot cocoa or coffee station at your house? Here’s a look back at years past if you’re needing a little bit of inspiration!
#hotcocoa #hotcocoabar

I don’t know exactly why this is, but my home se

I don’t know exactly why this is, but my home seems to rise up to welcome Autumn like no other season. Maybe it’s the warm, subtle tones. Maybe it’s the way the sunlight streams in at a different angle this time of the year. Maybe it’s the leaves doing their fall dance. Maybe it’s just that this is when everything begins to feel a bit more cozy.

Whatever it is, I’m savoring every last bit of it as we enjoy the most beautiful final days of Autumn here in the Willamette Valley. The rain is forecasted to return later this week and I’m planning to move onto twinkling lights and evergreen boughs but, for now, here’s a little last look at Autumn in my home. 🍂

When will you begin to transition your home from Autumn to Winter?

I laughed out loud yesterday as I was listening to

I laughed out loud yesterday as I was listening to a podcast. Not because something funny was said but because the timing of the statement was perfect. The guest on that episode was offering encouragement to pastors about how to stay true to God’s Word during these tumultous times and then encouraged the rest of us to be thinking of how we can show love and care towards our church pastors. He said, “maybe even have them over for dinner!” And that’s when I laughed out loud because we were hosting our pastor and his family for dinner THAT VERY NIGHT!

After the heartache of leaving the church we had attended for over 20 years, it was such a joy to have this incredible shepherd and his wife and daughter in our home. We’ve witnessed them tirelessly, sacrifically giving so much to their congregation and the community at large and we loved that we were able to give them the opportunity to receive. They are some of the warmest, kindest people you’ll ever meet. The meal was simple (roasted chicken and vegetables recipe from @jocooks), the dessert was made the night before and it really required so little from us in terms of effort.

Friends, take care of those who are in the trenches of preaching/teaching right now as it is not an easy time to be in that role. Bake them a loaf of bread, drop off a gift card to a restaurant or maybe even have them over for dinner (but don’t use that time to complain or critique 😉).

I truly hope that it blessed them as much as it did us! 🍂

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