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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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“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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