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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

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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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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