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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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July 15, 2015

There are Socks on My Table

There are socks on my kitchen table.

socks on the table

A hula hoop and jump rope on the rug in the entry.

hula hoop and jump rope

There’s a hotel upstairs.

pretend hotel room

And monopoly in the hallway.

monopoly

There are bathing suits drying outside.

bathing suit

And forts in the playroom.

forts

And well, frankly, this is the only kind of ‘decorating’ happening in my house these days.

I had visions of things I was going to accomplish this summer and rooms that were going to be refreshed. There are paint cans which have been sitting in the garage for 2 months waiting to find their way to my daughter’s room and onto the walls. As of today, I have no idea when that will happen.

And while I have had some new lighting installed and have even set up a tablescape or two, the reality is that right now my time and energy is being poured into more important things…or rather, more important people.

Like these two who proudly waved the American flag at every car that drove by while waiting for their grandparents to arrive on the 4th of July.

kids on the 4th of July

And this guy. My love. The one who whisked me away on a dream vacation and who still makes my heart go pitter-patter and is my best friend in the whole world.

Robb and Vanessa Pebble Beach

I’m creating special memories with this girl, making her dream come true by taking her to the place where stuffed animals come to life. We’re bonding over sparkly dresses and hair accessories and I’m cherishing every minute as I notice her long legs getting even longer and her beauty growing even deeper…both inside and out. I’m watching as she skips through these sunny days with a never fading smile on her face.

build a bear day

I’m going on bicycle rides with this tween boy who captured my heart the first time I held him 12 years ago. Soon he will be as tall as me (and then taller than me!) and our talks these days have moved from trains and dump trucks to music styles and the latest iPhone technology. I’m enjoying his quick wit and observations on the world around him while feeling so privileged to witness the incredible young man he is becoming.

helmet heads

I’m making a choice to spend less time on home decor projects and more time on heart building projects.

family 4th of july

 

And I’m embracing it all knowing that there will come a day when I will look back and remember with fondness this very special kind of summer home decorating.

Even the socks on the table. 😉

 

26 Comments Filed Under: Family

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Comments

  1. Rebecca says

    July 15, 2015 at 2:55 AM

    This article is so cute. There will come a day that you will not regret spending the time with the children vs doing house work / decorating. I admire you, plus the children will never forget it as long as they live. More parents need to do this and make this Country a better place.

    Reply
  2. Kim says

    July 15, 2015 at 3:18 AM

    Good for you! That is the kind of “home stuff” you need to be doing right now and you’ll never regret it!

    Reply
  3. Donna Marie says

    July 15, 2015 at 3:49 AM

    I don’t miss your “other” stuff as long as you include this more important “stuff”, especially the pictures!!!

    Reply
  4. Peg says

    July 15, 2015 at 4:17 AM

    What a beautiful family! Thanks for letting
    us peek at your life. You are truly blessed.
    : )

    Reply
  5. Donna says

    July 15, 2015 at 4:43 AM

    I am a mother of four, my youngest just turned 20! And yes, time does fly. It seems like yesterday that I was picking up my three boys Hot Wheel cars and Legos, braiding and curling my daughters hair. I was blessed to be a stay at home mom. I soooo miss the summer days with my children. The laundry and projects will always be there. Enjoy your moments with your children while you can!

    Reply
  6. Hope Williams says

    July 15, 2015 at 4:44 AM

    Then I would say that all is in order! Cherish every nanosecond! It goes by way too fast!

    Reply
  7. Delilah Gillio says

    July 15, 2015 at 7:05 AM

    Thanks for sharing! Such a beautiful reminder that it isn’t about a perfect house but about the time spent with the people in it that makes a beautiful home!
    Have a wonderful Summer!

    Reply
  8. Rebecca Turner says

    July 15, 2015 at 7:36 AM

    There is a time and a season for everything. Invest in your children while they are children,, and so charmingly delightul. Bonding wtih them, and training them, pays dividends. You’ll never regret it! You can still sneak in a little decorating and/or improvements. I’m in a season of caring for my mother, who has cancer, and spending quality time with my grandchildren (we call it dream day) and designing my own tablescape, inspired by some of you bloggers. Happy Summer to you!

    Reply
  9. Donnamae says

    July 15, 2015 at 7:36 AM

    Love this post…there is far more to life than decorating! Enjoy these precious days! 😉

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      July 15, 2015 at 3:46 PM

      Thank you Donnamae! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Anita says

    July 15, 2015 at 10:07 AM

    Awww, my house always has forts and tents and shoes everywhere. I clear it away to take a few photos, then it’s back to normal:-) Trying to enjoy my kids as much as I can because it seems like every summer gets shorter and shorter:-) Enjoy every moment with them Vanessa!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      July 15, 2015 at 3:46 PM

      It’s so true that every summer seems to get shorter and shorter! Enjoy your time with your precious family sweet friend! <3

      Reply
  11. Pamela says

    July 15, 2015 at 11:34 AM

    What a great looking group!! Enjoy this time as it will pass quickly and in a few summers you will miss this time and laughter,talking because your house will be quite , because your young adults are going to be busy and not home very much.
    Have a wonderful summer.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      July 15, 2015 at 3:45 PM

      Thank you so much Pamela!

      Reply
  12. Michele says

    July 15, 2015 at 12:57 PM

    You have a beautiful family! You totally have your priorities straight – keep up the good work. I cannot even begin to tell you how fast they are grown and gone. : – (

    Your husband is handsome and looks so much like my chiropractor I did a double take. WOW, talk about doppelgangers!!! Unreal!

    Glad you are enjoying your summer. All we have is rain, rain, rain and then on a good day, more rain.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      July 15, 2015 at 3:45 PM

      LOL Michele! Thanks so much for your sweet comment and I will pass on the compliment to my husband! 😉

      Reply
  13. Doreen says

    July 15, 2015 at 1:51 PM

    Awesome! I truly don’t know how DIY/decor bloggers do it with young kids! Keep writing these inspiring posts! They are just as good as any paint project out there! I worked from home when my kids were young and thankfully I had flexible hours, so I often worked into the wee hours of the morning in the summertime just to fit everything into those sunny, fun filled days! You will never get these moments back! Treasure them!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      July 15, 2015 at 3:44 PM

      Thank you sweet friend! It’s definitely a juggling act, especially in the summer, but I really am so thankful that I get to work from home and set my own hours so that I can enjoy these times with my kiddos. 🙂

      Reply
  14. Nancy Sharp says

    July 15, 2015 at 2:20 PM

    I really enjoyed seeing the pictures of your family. And yes mam! Enjoying your family is exactly what summer is all about. They grow up so quickly.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      July 15, 2015 at 3:43 PM

      Thank you so much Nancy! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Rose L. says

    July 15, 2015 at 4:01 PM

    A home lovingly lived in!

    Reply
  16. Carol Reddin says

    July 15, 2015 at 8:29 PM

    Love you four! Mom

    Reply
  17. martina says

    July 16, 2015 at 6:34 AM

    Vanessa I couldn’t agree with you more!! Time flies and they grow up to quickly…I’m hardly on the computer these days and I don’t even miss it! Reality hit me this summer knowing my oldest will be going off to college in a few years!!!

    Reply
  18. Julia says

    July 16, 2015 at 9:16 AM

    Thanks for sharing your precious family moments with us!

    Reply
  19. Bonnie Morgan says

    July 18, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    Love this post. I love real life and blogging mostly focuses on perfect houses, gardens or beautiful tablescapes which we all know is not real life.
    Thank you for sharing your heart and beautiful values.

    Reply
  20. Teresa Emrich says

    July 19, 2015 at 5:19 AM

    GOOD FOR YOU! Super wonderful blog!!! God blesses those who bless each other, and thanks for sharing and helping us to refocus on what IS IMPORTANT in life. All the other things are only “stuff.”

    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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