• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

October 31, 2016

Thanksgiving Gratitude Tree

One morning, while upstairs putting on my makeup, I had the news on in the background and, as always, had my ears tuned to the weather segment. It was finally time for Mr. Al Roker to have his turn. He weaved his weather prediction magic and soon I knew just what the temps would be all over the country.

But when it came time to talk about the west coast, specifically my beautiful Pacific NW, he just kind of casually waved his arm and said, “And there will be rain in the Pacific NW.” I stopped dead in my tracks…eyeliner in one hand and coffee cup in the other, unsure if I had heard correctly or if in my usual morning stupor I had misunderstood him.

Gratitude or Thanksgiving Tree from atthepicketfence.com

Because, you see, outside my bedroom window all I could see was glorious sunshine and beautiful crystal clear blue skies. Huh??

“Mr. Al Roker”, I thought, “There might be some rain somewhere in the great Pacific NW today, but please be more specific so that everyone doesn’t buy into the lie that all we ever get is rain, rain and more rain!”

I was deeply insulted.

And I’m going to just say it…I think the Pacific Northwest is highly under-appreciated. Ever since I finally came to terms with being an Oregonian I’ve felt very defensive of my state. I mean, I’m not out hugging trees or anything…yet. 😉

Every year around this time, it’s so easy to get caught up in the festivities of the season. But we really want our kiddos to have opportunities to express their gratitude and what better way than with the beautiful visual of a tree filled with leaves filled with grateful sentiments?

I started out by taking apart the picket fence I used in my Fall Mantel two years ago.

picket fence posts

After lining them up like perfect little picket fence soldiers, I attached a board to the back to hold them all securely in place.

gratitude tree board backer

Next, I created the outline of a tree with tape.

scotch blue tape2

I decided to go with more of a Pine tree design so that this project can bridge the gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

And, of course, to pay homage to the vast number of evergreen trees here in Oregon!

taped tree outline

Next, I painted around the outside of the tape and pulled it up to reveal the shape of the tree.

scotch blue tape line

To create the tree trunk, I simply attached little sticks using hot glue.

gratitude tree stick trunk atthepicketfence.com

I found these beautiful paper-y leaves at the craft store and we began writing on them all of the things we are grateful for.

Gratitude leaves on thanksgiving tree atthepicketfence.com

The leaves were attached to the board using mounting putty.

mounting putty on leaf

As the last of the leaves begin to fall outside, this tree is having the opposite experience.

Leaves of gratitude tree of thanksgiving atthepicketfence.com

And these are definitely the most beautiful leaves we’ve ever seen!

Gratitude Tree with leaves atthepicketfence.com

Oh and as I type this it’s a beautiful, crisp, sunny day.

Take that Mr. Al Roker! 😉

Vanessa signature

 

11 Comments Filed Under: Autumn, Crafts, Decorating, DIY, Good Ideas, Holidays, Thanksgiving Tagged With: DIY, Thanksgiving

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Be the Light
Next Post: Mind the Gap »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jan says

    October 31, 2016 at 6:40 AM

    Thanks for sharing a wonderful story and idea.

    Reply
  2. Leslie says

    October 31, 2016 at 6:51 AM

    Love the gratitude and the beauty of fall! Look on the positive though…a pass with Al is certainly better than a visit from Jim Cantore reporting from your hometown! And yes…I’ve experienced both! Thank you for the beautiful project today and reminder of thankfulness…always love your heart!

    Reply
  3. Prudence Lay says

    October 31, 2016 at 6:52 AM

    As a fellow Oregonian, I’m in total,agreement with you. We live in a stunningly beautiful place and I’m so grateful to God to be here. Blessings!

    Reply
  4. Vickie Macfarlane says

    October 31, 2016 at 6:59 AM

    Beautiful idea and such a fun family project which promotes appreciation. Mr. Roker needs to be updated on the beauty of the Northwest. I understand your frustration, and have noticed very little detail on the NW part of the United States. I have never visited this area of the country, but those whom I know which have tell me it is lovely. Their pictures speak a thousand words.

    Reply
  5. Carol Neibling says

    October 31, 2016 at 7:19 AM

    Today was supposed to be sunny and warm and it’s cloudy and looks like it could rain. There goes the outside work, but there’s plenty to do inside.

    Started reading the book and couldn’t put it down.

    Reply
  6. MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says

    October 31, 2016 at 9:57 AM

    Vanessa, what a beautiful part of the world you live in! We have visited your state many times!

    Love the idea of the tree with the leaves! Truly, we have so much to be thankful for!

    Have a blessed day!

    Reply
  7. Marilyn says

    October 31, 2016 at 11:32 AM

    I have to agree with you..we were through Oregon a couple of times several years back. One time where we were was snow and beautiful, not at all regretful against the massive and dark green evergreens. The other time it was a gorgeous sunny day as we passed through on the interstate.
    I love your thankful tree and Hope to visit again someday.

    Reply
  8. rose l. says

    October 31, 2016 at 11:46 AM

    I love living in the Pacific NW (Oregon) but have friends and family who actually believe that it rains here every day! It is not that bad and does not get that much rain! I far prefer it here over MO or Calif. or AZ. I love the peacefulness of place I find here. It is great for me.

    Reply
  9. Jennifer Ross says

    November 5, 2016 at 9:20 AM

    My husband and I chose Portland and Seattle for our vacation this year, and we LOVED it! Every spot we visited was prettier than the last. You have much to be proud (and defensive) about!

    Reply
  10. dee says

    November 5, 2016 at 2:42 PM

    You are so on point with the general treatment of PNW; and that covers a huge area! The weather is seldom the same in OR or WA in the west or east sides of the states….then there Idaho, totally different weather. And it has been beautiful with a lot of sunshine in the mid-Willamette Valley. Try Fox 12 in Portland for early news and good weather reports.

    Reply
  11. sandra magle says

    November 6, 2016 at 6:41 AM

    This is a lovely idea. And a simple affirmation of what we should be thankful for. One of my leaves will be, I’m thankful the election is over…on Wednesday. Chortle, thanks for the gorgeous Idea! Sandi

    Reply

Leave a Reply to rose l. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • Why We’ve Chosen Vacations Over Projects April 26, 2022
  • A New Look for the Family Room March 1, 2022
  • Christmas Kitchen and Family Room December 19, 2021
  • Christmas Home Tour Part One December 10, 2021
  • Easy Hot Cocoa Station November 21, 2021

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

The month of June is coming to a close and it has The month of June is coming to a close and it has been JAM packed! The highlight by far though was my son's graduation from high school. When I started blogging, he was only 6 years old and some of you have been apart of my community here for that entire time. Now, he's 19 and there is a reason parents are told not to blink because the years truly do go faster than I ever could have imagined. He has become such an incredible young man we are so excited to see how God is going to unfold the next chapter of his life. We celebrated with parties galore (SO many open houses to attend!) and made memories we'll forever cherish. My mama heart was filled to bursting with the joy of it all! Now we're taking some time to just enjoy these warm, summer days making even more memories because, when you’re at this stage of parenting, you know all too well how much you need to grasp every opportunity to spend time together.

I hope your summer is off to a great start too dear friends! 🪴
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts o “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Happy first day of summer dear friends!! I can’t believe it’s been so long since I posted something new here but life has been crazy. I’ll have some new photos of house projects and life events to share with you soon but, got now, I’m just going to enjoy this gorgeous first day of summer after our ridiculously long, wet spring. ☀️
“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. Th “It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” (Maud Hart Lovelace) 

Welcome June!
“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
“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? 😉
We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most we’ve had in a LONG time) and now we are back to pouring rain. This has officially confirmed what I’ve know to be true for awhile now.

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.

If you could spend your winters (and apparently most of spring too!) in any part of the country, where would it be?
Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of rain lately (which is saying something when you live in Oregon) and I’ll admit that it’s affecting my moods a bit. I feel like I’m dragging and struggling to find the energy to get stuff done. So don’t mind me if I’m over here looking at photos of my garden in the summertime and finding that it keeps me hopeful about those days to come. They will come, right?! 🤪. 

What are your favorite plants that you look forward to seeing in the summer?
We’re going to be giving our laundry room a make We’re going to be giving our laundry room a makeover soon. It’s LONG overdue! In fact, the folks from the counter company were just here taking measurements. While we have made some simple, inexpensive updates over the years, it still has many of the original elements from when the house was built in 1992.

Two of our bathrooms are also in need of major makeovers. And we’ve saved up enough money over the years to tackle those projects. But, for the most part, we made the decision to use the bulk of that money in another way. While we knew that it was financially wise to invest in our house, we also knew that the greatest investment we could make was in our children. 

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?
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2022 At The Picket Fence