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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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    • Featured

August 26, 2011

Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 29!

Inspiration Friday Graphic1
WOWEE! What an incredible turnout at last week’s party! We just can’t thank you all enough for taking the time to come over and join in the fun and we know you are getting as much
inspiration from all of the incredible talent as we are.



Inspiration Friday continues to be a place where we want to hear about what is inspiring you.
Whether it is DIY projects, decorating, crafts, life experiences, recipes and everything in between.
ALL are welcome here!

Now, speaking of inspiring, Vanessa wanted to share with you how she was inspired by something shared at the party a few weeks ago.

Yep, that’s right folks!
Not only was I inspired by this recipe once, I’ve been inspired a shameful number of times since I first saw it!
These doughnuts were shared with us a few weeks ago by One Shabby Chick and as soon as I clicked on the link I knew I was in trouble.
Easy homemade doughnuts?
Sign me up!

After opening my can of biscuits I was faced with the dilemma of how to cut out the hole in the center.
No worries! The cap from a jar of sprinkles did the trick!

Fried up and generously dusted with that magic fairy dust (combination of sugar and cinnamon), they only lasted long enough on the plate for me to snap one picture!

My early riser on that Saturday morning gave them 2 thumbs up!
That is the ultimate seal of approval, don’t you think?

picketfence_20010

Now let’s get to the rest of our Features from last week’s party!

Lisa of House Dressing shared this absolutely gorgeous Floor to Ceiling Gallery Wall. Her entire home is just beautiful and she has shown here how to make a bold statement which still flows naturally with the other design elements in the space.

Here’s an awesome idea just in time for “Back to School” (which we are totally in denial about by the way!)!


Lina of Fancy Frugal Life transformed this $1 Goodwill lunchbox into this fantastic “note from mom” version with just a little bit of chalkboard spray paint!

We had several furniture re-dos this week! Seriously so much talent!
Two stood out to us for the shear amount of work involved.  Rebecca from You are Talking Too Much transformed what was in her own words a totally “BU-GLY (butt ugly)” sofa and chair into a gorgeous Pottery Barn inspired set!

You will not believe what she endured to rescue the foam for this project!
She is such a hoot and very talented!
Then we have the dynamic duo! Kahli and Milla from Design Par Deux! They took what was in their in their words a “fugly” (hehe…we love all of these creative adjectives for ugly furniture!) armchair and after teaching themselves to sew turned it into this

Double Take: Before & After Armchair
Yep…fabulous! Head over and read their very armchair makeover  post!
If you are in love with all things vintage than you will love this Mason Jar Soap Dispenser Tutorial shared with us by Kristin of Chi-Chi Studio Designs. I seriously need one of these in my kitchen and laundry room! So cute!

Kristin is so generous to share the step by step instructions on her blog, since she also sells these in her Etsy shop! So, if you don’t feel like tackling making your own you can always purchase one from Kristin!
And we wouldn’t be “Inspiration Friday” if we didn’t leave you with this very inspiring post from Lori at Always Learning.  A picture is worth a thousand words…

In this scary world we live in sometimes…having a “scary kind of love” is a blessing! Thank you Lori for reminding us that “newlywed love” can last throughout a marriage!

And thank you to all of our features this week as well as to all of you who share your amazing ideas, projects and inspiration with us each and every week!
If you were featured today (or have been featured in the past) please grab the featured at button located in our sidebar!
Are you following At The Picket Fence on Facebook?  Don’t forget we feature many of your links during the week on our Facebook Page! If you’ve been featured there, grab a button as well! Thank you to everyone who shared so many fabulous posts with us last week!  We appreciate you!
Now it’s time to share with us what has inspired you this week!
Thank you so much for joining us for Inspiration Friday at the Fence,
When you are done linking up head over and party with the other Friday Party Friends
The lovely Courtney at French Country Cottage

Our beautiful friend Alison from Stuff and Nonsense

Stuff and Nonsense

And the gracious Debra from Common Ground

vif187



Now all ya PARTY PEOPLE it’s time to link on up…here’s the rules!
  • Friend At The Picket Fence in some capacity
  • Link Up any post you’ve written that has Inspired You and will Inspire Others-it can be a home improvement project, craft, recipe, story, devotional…if it inspires link it up!
  • Be sure to link back to your original post and not just your url (main blog address)
  • Please post our button (code in the sidebar) or a text link on your blog so others can join in the fun! (MANDATORY)
  • Visit another guest. Please try and visit at least the link directly above and below you! We try to visit as many posts as we can but as Inspiration Friday grows and especially during the busy summer months, sometimes we miss some and for that we apologize.  It makes us feed good knowing others are visiting people as well!  Thank you..it truly means a lot to us!
We would love to recommend this fabulous post over at Crafter Minds for a quick tutorial on partying at a linky party! We couldn’t say it better ourselves! “Linky Party Like a Dinner Party?”

This week’s Inspiration Friday is sponsored by

“specializing in vintage and antique items and creating
one of a kind pieces from the unexpected…”

If you would like to become a sponsor of At The Picket Fence and be featured during Inspiration Friday please visit our Advertise With Us page for more details!

45 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

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Comments

  1. Debbie--https://refreshrestyle.com/ says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    Yummy Donuts and features! I’m going to check them out! Thanks for hosting and making me want donuts!

    Reply
  2. housedressingblog.blogspot.com says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    Thank you ladies for the feature! Ya’ll always host such a fun party, and I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it.

    Reply
  3. Brandi says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    beautiful features ladies. thank you for hosting. hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

    Reply
  4. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    I’ve made those donuts for years and they really are fabulous. So glad everyone like them. Your little princess is darling. Thanks for hosting such a fun party. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  5. Belinda @ Wild Acre says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    Joining in from England today, thanks for hosting! x

    Reply
  6. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:40 PM

    I’ll take one of those doughnuts and apply it straight to my hips. Yum. Great features and thanks for hosting, girls.

    Reply
  7. Lakeshore Cottage Living says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:42 PM

    YUMMY! thank you so much for hosting. I just think you two are pretty wonderful! Have a great week!

    Reply
  8. Amanda says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    Oh my goodness! Those doughnuts look sinfully delicious! Yummmmm!!! Thanks so much for the feature last week! What a sweet surprise that was! And thank you for hosting again this week! Have a wonderful weekend!
    Best Wishes and Blessings,
    Amanda

    Reply
  9. Catie @ Catie's Corner says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:53 PM

    Those doughnuts look scary good! Thanks soo much for hosting ladies. I love the features this week. That chair makeover is gorgeous. I’m off to check it out. : )
    ~ Catie

    Reply
  10. stefanie says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    the two thumbs up is always the best!!!

    Reply
  11. Christina says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    Lovin the mason jar soap dispenser! I may be making one or two of these soon!
    Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  12. Kahli says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:15 PM

    Oh my those donuts! Yummy! Thank you so much for the armchair feature Heather! We appreciate it 🙂

    Reply
  13. Debra @ Common Ground says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:36 PM

    Hi Gals, love those great features! Homemade doughnuts…yum! just linked up, xoxo

    Reply
  14. NanaDiana says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    Great features and I love your donuts..and I can see someone else does too! xo Diana

    Reply
  15. Lina - Fancy Frugal Life says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    Whoot whoot! That’s my little lunch box up there 🙂 Thanks ladies for hosting and for making my day!
    xo
    Lina
    Fancy Frugal Life

    Reply
  16. Richella says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    Vanessa and Heather, thank you so much for hosting this fun party!

    Those donuts look wonderful–I haven’t made those in so long! I’ll bet my boys would enjoy that reminder of things we used to do when they were little tikes!

    Reply
  17. Honey at 2805 says

    August 25, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    Absolutely terrific features! Thanks, ladies, for always being terrific hostesses! (The picture on link #60 was a bust, so you could delete it as I re-linked.)

    Reply
  18. Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life says

    August 25, 2011 at 10:39 PM

    Yum these sound so good for a weekend morning.

    Reply
  19. Tres Chere says

    August 25, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    OMG! I am making those donuts this weekend,they look delicious.

    Thank you for hosting. Hope you have a fabulous weekend.

    Reply
  20. Stuff and Nonsense says

    August 25, 2011 at 11:08 PM

    well let’s be honest…that furniture is just too good not to be featured…i think courtney’s featuring it too…giggle…all linked up girls!

    alison

    Reply
  21. Sherry says

    August 25, 2011 at 11:09 PM

    Your doughnuts look way too good and easy…I better not make them!:) Thanks for having us over!
    Sherry

    Reply
  22. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    August 26, 2011 at 12:55 AM

    Hmmmmmmm, donuts. Thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  23. Natasha in Oz says

    August 26, 2011 at 1:10 AM

    It looks like there are lots of wonderful projects and ideas being linked up again today! What fun!

    Thanks for having me today.

    Best wishes for a lovely weekend,
    Natasha.

    Reply
  24. Laura Beth says

    August 26, 2011 at 2:29 AM

    Thank you so much for having me!

    Reply
  25. Kristin @ Chi-Chi Studio says

    August 26, 2011 at 3:01 AM

    Thank you so much for the feature! This made my week!

    Reply
  26. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    Hi Girls!!! Great features…and little Miss is too cute!
    Thanks for hosting! 🙂

    Reply
  27. Erin {Lavender and Lemon Drops} says

    August 26, 2011 at 4:16 AM

    I LOVE homemade doughnuts! Yum! Thanks for hosting 🙂

    Reply
  28. Eleni says

    August 26, 2011 at 4:56 AM

    Those are some great features:) And as for the donuts… irresistibly yummy looking!!!Thanks for hosting this great party:) Just linked up!!
    xoxo
    eleni

    Reply
  29. Graces Goodies says

    August 26, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    You are making me hungry!! Great post and thanks for hosting:) much appreciated!

    Bianca

    Reply
  30. Jennifer S. says

    August 26, 2011 at 5:00 AM

    This is my first time linking up! Thank so much for hosting. I found you over at La Famille blog. 🙂

    Reply
  31. Terrie says

    August 26, 2011 at 7:15 AM

    Yummy doughnuts. Tea time for me here in Hong Kong. Thanks for hosting. Love to share all inspiring blogs.

    Reply
  32. Nancy says

    August 26, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    Mmmm. Homemade doughnuts. Yummy!

    Reply
  33. Christie says

    August 26, 2011 at 2:50 AM

    The party is ROCKIN’! I have MISSED it and all the fun! I will enjoy looking through the links. LOved the lunch box with chalk..will be trying that one! The doughnuts are on my grocery list now! My kids will love that! Hope you girls had a great summer! Vanessa, weren’t we JUST discussing camp and what we were doing this summer…like yesterday?!! Love, Christie

    Reply
  34. Ott, A. says

    August 26, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    Thanks for hosting this great linky party and I wanted to invite you to stop by my blog for our Canning Week Blog Party where we are inspiring others to can their own produce. Each day we’ve posted recipes and tips on how to can and of course have some great canning give-a-ways. Hope you can stop by and join in the fun!! https://alattewithotta.blogspot.com

    Reply
  35. Curtains In My Tree says

    August 26, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    I use to make those donuts also. They are really good

    thanks for the gracious invite to your party

    Janice

    Reply
  36. Kathy says

    August 26, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    Yumm, Great idea.
    I am linking up with your Inspiration Fridays, I have been without a computer a few weeks so excited to join.
    Kathy

    Reply
  37. Megan @ PolishTheStars.com says

    August 26, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    I am a new follower and this is my first time linking up here. You have a great party! Thanks for hosting. 🙂

    Reply
  38. Sue says

    August 26, 2011 at 3:20 PM

    Haether and Vanessa~You rock! Have a wonderful weekend! XOXO!

    Reply
  39. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage.com says

    August 26, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    Great features, thank you for hosting!

    Reply
  40. My Joys says

    August 26, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    Love y’alls blog! I’ll be following and linking up to your party! Thanks for hosting! BTW, The donuts look heavenly!

    Reply
  41. Robin @ Happily Home, After says

    August 26, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    Heather and Vanessa,

    I’m a first timer in your link party and wanted to thank you for the opportunity to participate. I’ve already visited a few other posts and am inspired by the creativity out there. I’ll visit more posts later.

    Wanted to let you know I also read the “Link Party Like A Dinner Party” article at CraftMinders; as a newbie (less than 2 months) blogger I really appreciate the insight and points shared in the article, and I have bookmarked it for future “refresher” reading.

    Robin
    happilyhomeafter.blogspot.com

    Reply
  42. All About Vignettes says

    August 26, 2011 at 6:05 PM

    Hi again Heather and Vanessa. Thanks so much for hosting. I’m sharing my updated 70’s kitchen.

    Reply
  43. Digital Scrapbooking Made Easy says

    August 26, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    Thanks for hosting! I’m your newest follower and LOVE your blog. 🙂

    Reply
  44. Wunkie's Mommy says

    August 28, 2011 at 7:31 PM

    Thank you so much for hosting and for your sweet comment on my baby blog! In the midst of all the Irene damage around us, it definitely made me smile. Thankfully we are all ok! Have a blessed Sunday!

    https://sweetsongbirdofmine.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  45. Kathy Owen says

    August 29, 2011 at 12:02 AM

    First time at the party, thanks for hosting.

    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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