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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

September 16, 2011

Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 32!

Inspiration Friday Graphic large
Can you feel it in the air? Did it come in with a rush for you? Or, is it creeping in slowly with a little tinge here and there? We’re feeling it here At The Picket Fence..finally! It’s Fall and it has shown up in all it’s autumnal glory! We clung to the last remnants of Summer as long as possible but now we are embracing Autumn with open arms! Welcome Fall and Welcome Friends to Inspiration Friday!
Before we jump into this week’s inspiration we want to announce the winner of our Signs By Andrea Giveway..
Eryn from Cookies For Dinner!!

Congratulations! You can contact us through out contact page and we’ll give you all the details.  A big thank you to Andrea for sponsoring this fabulous giveaway and for being a great supporter of At The Picket Fence!
Now you all know how much your links each week inspire us. In fact we often copycat your wonderful projects, recipes and ideas. You also may know how much we adore Debbie from Refresh Restyle.  I think at least once a week one of us calls the other and says, “Did you see what Debbie did this week?!” She’s one talented gal and her lovely Fall Mantle is no exception…
She calls it Simply. Falling. Leaves…we call it Simply. Gorgeous. 
Heather decided this week she’d give Debbie’s mantle the old copycat “college try” and use it as inspiration for her own mantle.
mantle5
I wanted to use items I already have and I don’t have a lovely white mantle like Debbie has (I’m working on wearing down sweetly convincing Bama Boy to let me paint the fireplace). I also wanted to avoid having to take my big heavy mirror down…
Fall Photos
so I temporarily covered it up with burlap and ribbon! I’ll give more instructions on that and sharing the details of how I put my mantle together and how to make the monogrammed pumpkin coming up soon! So did do you see Debbie’s inspiration? I sure hope so, cause I do and I’m reminded of her talent every time I see it! 
Thanks Debbie for inspiring my copycat mantle!
picketfence_20010
Now onto our Friday Features!
All Aboard for a Train Party hosted by Alyssa at Sweet Sewn Stiches! Alyssa created this adorable birthday party for her son…
and she held it at a park which we all know is not an easy feat! Alyssa created boxed lunches, build your own train crafts and they wrapped up the party with a train ride!
Visit Alyssa to see all of the creative ideas for this super cute train party!
Up next..we all need a “command center” in our home but Iesha at The Uncluttered Lifestyle took it up a notch!
We think this is a wonderful marriage of beauty and practicality and we love the little homage paid to her husband here.  To see the tutorial and read more about Command Station visit The Uncluttered Lifestyle!
Missy of Defining Designs made a stunning transformation to what started out as a ho-hum table!
Her “new” table looks fabulous in her dining room and she gives some hints and tips on how you can do the same thing! Visit Defining Designs to get the details!
The thing we love most about Inspiration Friday is the variety of posts you share with us! Catie from Catie’s Corner is a perfect example of that! She has started a Frivolous Fashion Friday and we think it’s Fabulous..was that enough “F” words for you? grin. Each week she puts together several adorable outfits based on a theme…
This past week’s theme was GREEN! We love seeing the ensembles that Catie comes up with and we love the creativity it takes to put these fashion board together! You can visit Catie every Friday for some fashion inspiration!
Up last but definitely not least. You know what suckers we are for an inspiring story and there’s not much that’s more inspiring than a celebration of marriage! Taryn, from Design, Dining and Diapers (don’t you love that name?!), and her husband Brian celebrate their anniversary every year with other family members that all share the same anniversary month including parents and grandparents! This year was Taryn’s turn to host…
they all met at a restaurant where Taryn used her talent to create a lovely table setting
we loved these winecork placecards but we love even more the celebration of a combined 137 years of marriage! Now that’s inspiring! Visit Taryn at Design, Dining and Diapers to see the lovely couples!
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 code 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:

stuffandnonsense
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 Inspiration Friday is sponsored by:

Signs by Andrea

48 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas, Inspiration Friday

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bella Vista Cottage says

    September 15, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    Heather and Vanessa, thanks for hosting another lovely party….looking forward to it.

    Barb ♥

    Reply
  2. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    September 15, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    Yay! I’m number 1!! I am SO excited…can’t believe it. Thank you so much for hosting…love all the mosaics. I’ll be back later to visit some links.

    Reply
  3. Ginger Zuck says

    September 15, 2011 at 8:44 PM

    Thanks for hosting! Congratulations to all your features. Loved them all! I’m very inspired.

    Reply
  4. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    September 15, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    Thanks for hosting Girls and great features! Martina

    Reply
  5. NanaDiana says

    September 15, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    What a great post- and I LOVE your mantle. It is absolutely lovely…an original!..but inspired by another original…is that a copy?;>) Love all your picks this week and I will pop to visit them later tonight-xo Diana

    Reply
  6. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    September 15, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    Thanks for hosting ladies!

    Reply
  7. Lakeshore Cottage Living says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Oh I love that outfit! I am going right over to check it out!

    Reply
  8. Leslie says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:05 PM

    PARTY?!?!?! Party? Did Y’ALL say PARTEE??? Here I am! We can start!
    Love the featured ladies ideas—soooooooooo creative they are!
    I am submitting the baby shower I just hosted last month…it was a PARTY too!
    Blessings sweet thangs!
    love ya!
    ~me

    Reply
  9. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:05 PM

    Great features girls and thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  10. Catie @ Catie's Corner says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:06 PM

    Ahhh, thanks for the feature ladies!! I love putting those posts together, soo much fun. I need to get my rear in gear and start putting together this week’s Frivolous Fashion Friday post. I’m thinking the color this week will be orange and brown. Thanks soo much for hosting!! I love to party with you two! = )

    ~ Catie

    Reply
  11. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:28 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting. Nice features.

    Reply
  12. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜@ Debbiedoos blogging and blabbing says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    Debbie, is so very talented! Love the copy cat, nice job Heather. Thanks for hosting gals!

    Reply
  13. refresh reStyle says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    I’m sitting here grinning from Ear to Ear :)…Thanks so much for all compliments! Y’all inspire me too! Your mantle looks great, and I don’t know if you remember but my frame was a cover up too! I can’t wait to visit your features! Love you girls! Thanks for the party and the shout out!
    Debbie

    Reply
  14. CalypsoInTheCountry says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:43 PM

    Great features – Thanks for hosting today!
    -Shelley

    Reply
  15. Melissa Miller says

    September 15, 2011 at 10:09 PM

    Vanessa thank you for hosting and getting in touch with me earlier. It was great to hear from you. It had been too long my sweet friend.
    I will enjoy browsing all of the beautiful inspiration shown above. Gorgeous!

    Warmly, ~Melissa

    Reply
  16. Tres Chere says

    September 15, 2011 at 10:12 PM

    Thank you so much for hosting! Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

    Reply
  17. Natasha in Oz says

    September 15, 2011 at 10:50 PM

    Thanks for having me today. It looks like there will be lots of Fall posts this weekend!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.
    xo

    Reply
  18. Sherry says

    September 15, 2011 at 10:51 PM

    Your mantel is wonderful! I need that command center! Great features! Thanks for having us over!
    Sherry

    Reply
  19. Honey at 2805 says

    September 15, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    I like your new look! Thanks for hosting ladies, and being such good friends!

    Reply
  20. Lynn@ The Vintage Nest says

    September 15, 2011 at 11:31 PM

    you surely picked some fabulous inspiration this week and that mantle!….oh my,it’s wonderful!

    Reply
  21. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    September 15, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    Hi Ladies, Thanks for all the inspiration and for hosting.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  22. Vivienne @ the V Spot says

    September 16, 2011 at 12:12 AM

    I love both versions of the Falling Leaves! The features are all fabulous too. Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  23. Mary Ellen says

    September 16, 2011 at 12:22 AM

    Thank you again for such a great party! I love the features this week- that command center is such a great idea!

    Reply
  24. Alyssa says

    September 16, 2011 at 2:11 AM

    Amazing mantle! And WOW…thank you for the FABULOUS feature! I always look forward to your fun link parties!!

    Alyssa
    http://www.SweetSewnStitches.com

    Reply
  25. Nancy says

    September 16, 2011 at 2:46 AM

    Thank you so much for hosting!

    Reply
  26. Laura Beth says

    September 16, 2011 at 2:47 AM

    I’m loving your mantle & am SO glad FALL is almost here 😉 Thanks for hosting the party!

    Reply
  27. Zuni says

    September 16, 2011 at 2:48 AM

    I’m new to blogging…lucky me that I found your blog. I love the variety. I’m following you and Liked you 🙂 .

    Reply
  28. Lynn at Cottage and Creek says

    September 16, 2011 at 3:12 AM

    Thanks for hosting this very inspiring party. I love this time of year and know I’ll get lots of great ideas as I travel around to the various participants. I love your mantle too. Great job!
    ~Lynn

    Reply
  29. Debra @ Common Ground says

    September 16, 2011 at 3:37 AM

    Hey Heather, love your interpretation of the leaves on burlap, such a neat idea! just linked up, thanks for hosting, xoxo D

    Reply
  30. Cindy says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    Such great features! Thanks so much for the party!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply
  31. Taryn @ Design, Dining + Diapers says

    September 16, 2011 at 4:41 AM

    Aww thanks so much for sharing my anniversary celebration post! I love this think party because it’s so different and unique. Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  32. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    September 16, 2011 at 7:59 AM

    Oooh, I love your mantles!! I’m so exciting that we’re getting into autumn!! It’s one of my favourite times of year.

    Thank you for hosting!

    Sarahxxx

    Reply
  33. Christie says

    September 16, 2011 at 1:40 AM

    Heather, I love the mantle! I need to get movin’ as I love the fall colors! Yours looks great! Thank you for hosting! I have missed joining the fun! Christie

    Reply
  34. Karen says

    September 16, 2011 at 1:03 PM

    what great inspiration you have shared with us this week. Thanks for hosting. We are feeling the air all the way down in MS. Great football weather for Friday night!

    Reply
  35. Richella says

    September 16, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    What beautiful things you’ve featured here! This is always such a nice party.

    I was inspired to create some new fall decorations while spending absolutely no money. With two kids in college this fall, I really don’t need to be spending money–but I wanted some new things! So I used what I had and created a couple of new things. I’m pleased with the results!

    Thank you so much for hosting! Y’all have a great weekend!

    Reply
  36. Diann says

    September 16, 2011 at 1:07 PM

    The mantel red turned out wonderful! thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  37. Shelia says

    September 16, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    Thank you ladies for hosting your most wonderful party! 🙂
    Be a couple of sweeties,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  38. Tracy Suzanne says

    September 16, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    Great party Ladies. Thanks so much for hosting and letting me be a part of it. I’ll be sure to share your link today.

    Have a fun weekend.
    Hugs…Tracy 🙂

    Reply
  39. Michell @ Girl In Air says

    September 16, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    Wow! That’s a ton of link ups…I might just be here all day! Thanks so much for hosting!!

    Reply
  40. stefanie says

    September 16, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    lots of great ideas…thanks!

    Reply
  41. Erin @ EKat's Kitchen says

    September 17, 2011 at 12:25 AM

    Ladies, I’m a little late to the party (#267!!!) But I wanted to thank you for the inspiration for these fabulous pizzas. 🙂

    Reply
  42. the poor sophisticate says

    September 17, 2011 at 2:26 AM

    I adore your blog it is so stunning!!! Beautiful work! Thanks also for stopping by mine! Glad to be your newest follower 🙂

    Reply
  43. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    September 17, 2011 at 3:06 AM

    Hey girls!!! Loving the copycat mantel – it turned out gorgeous Loving the features too!Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  44. The Uncluttered Lifestyle says

    September 18, 2011 at 4:54 AM

    Hi Ladies. Thanks so much for hosting the party and for featuring my command center. The hubby actually uses it since I included the Star Trek symbol! Score one for organization!

    Reply
  45. Carmel @ Our Fifth House says

    September 18, 2011 at 11:21 PM

    I’m late but I’m here! Thanks for hosting! Gorgeous mantels – I’m feeling inspired for sure!

    Reply

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There’s nothing quite like enjoying the rewards There’s nothing quite like enjoying the rewards of your labor! The whole family pitched in to get our bark spread around the yard (I’m the master at raking it until it’s nice and even) and by the end of the day we were all done. Now we can head into summer with our big yard projects completed! 🙌🏻 Do you put in fresh bark every year?
Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’ Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’s your favorite thing about this month? Mind can be summed up in this quote…

“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.” John Steinbeck
“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 and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

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.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
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