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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
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  • Meet Vanessa
    • 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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“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?
“The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and “The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and boast, the pangs of life will sting for a while longer, but don’t worry; the forces of evil are breathing their last. Not to worry…HE’S RISEN!” (Charles R. Swindoll).

Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; he has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to him.

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, he was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried; yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. (Isaiah 53)
I try to always remember to put a water bottle in I try to always remember to put a water bottle in my car before I go to pick up my daughter from school. She didn't ask me to do this, but a few months ago I began to notice that she was often thirsty when she would get in the car. Her water bottle filled up at the beginning of the day was empty by the time school got out and she would ask if she could have some water from my hydroflask. So I make sure to have one waiting for her. It's just a simple thing, really. But, I want her to know that I'm paying attention, that I see her.

Isn't it amazing how small gestures can make us feel less invisible? Knowing that someone is thinking of us and takes the time to meet a need that we might not have even realized we had? These little acts can have big impacts. What is something that someone has done for you recently that made you feel valued and seen?

What have you done for someone else to remind them that you are paying attention to their needs?

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
― Charles Dickens
“The next day the large crowd that had come to t “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ – John 12:9-19
#palmsunday
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