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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

October 15, 2011

Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 36!

Inspiration Friday Graphic large
Wreaths, pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, lots of “treating” and thankfully no “tricking”!
Blogland is overflowing with fantastic creativity and talent and we are so thrilled that you come here each week to share it with us! There is a bevy of activity going on around the Picket Fence these days too so we are just going to jump right in and get this party started.
This week we have not one but two Giveaways going on!
As a thank you to our Fabulous Facebook Friends (say that 3 times fast!), we offered a chance to win at $30 Pottery Barn Gift Card! Today (Thursday) is the last day to enter before we announce the winner on our Facebook Page Friday Morning. So, get while the getting’s good!
In addition, our Giveaway from

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is still going strong! One lucky reader will win a $35 Credit to Ann’s gorgeous Etsy Shop.

The winner will be announced at next week’s Inspiration Friday so there is still plenty of time for you to enter for a chance to win this awesome prize!
Ann is just one of our incredible sponsors here At the Picket Fence and we would like to take a moment to introduce you to our newest Sponsors as well.

We are thrilled to have Kelli from More Bang For Your Buck and The Encouragement Project
joining us! We love having the opportunity to promote other Blogs and this serves as a reminder that we always welcome partnering with folks in this way.
We would also like you to meet Vicki from

This Etsy Shop is filled with absolutely gorgeous handmade products and we
encourage you to pay them a visit!
And we are so excited to be working with Dawn from

Her incredible shop is filled with “affordable, original art, greeting cards and prints” and we know you will be just as stunned by the beauty of her work as we are!

We so appreciate the opportunity to partner with these talented folks and we hope you will take a moment and stop by and check them out for yourself!
Now, let’s get to those FEATURES, shall we?
We absolutely adored this wreath from Brown Paper Packages and loved the darling little fabric rosettes she made. “These are a few of our favorite things” after all.Winking smile

They add such beautiful color and texture and the entire wreath is just gorgeous!

Next door to her at the party we spotted this beautiful bunting from Rhett Didn’t Give a Damn.
We just think it is so soft and feminine and there was a really cute reason behind the phrase she selected. Her photography is absolutely incredible as well and she does some fantastic tutorials!

How adorable is this pumpkin coach from Fairfield House? The details on this are incredible right down to the key “stem”. We are amazed at the creativity and skill that went into creating this darling work of art!

Pumpkin Carriage
Now for some “treating”!
We never thought we would say that Black Widow Spiders are cute, but these ones from
The Seven Year Cottage are definitely the only kind of spiders we want around our house!
These are made using Oreo Cakesters and Hollie gives great instructions on how to put them together.

Black Widow Pops, Spider Pops, Black Widow Spiders, Arachnids, Cake Pops, Spider Cake Pops, Oreo Cakesters, Red Hourglass, Gum Drops, Lollipop Sticks, Jelly Beans
And here is another treat that is just too cute to be scary! We think these Mummy Pretzels from the Midwestern Sewing Girl are so adorable and would be the perfect addition to your Halloween/Fall Party!

Finally, you know that one of the things we love about our Inspiration Friday Party is that it provides an opportunity for you to share not only about your home, but also about your heart.
Town and Country Mom shared with us her love story. But, this isn’t your usual love story.
It involved loss, grief, the testing of faith and a heart opened to welcome a new love.
We encourage you to head over to read it, knowing that you will be  just as moved and touched as we were!

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 on our Buttons Page found at under our header!
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 on our Buttons Page found at top of blog) or a text link on your blog so others can join in the fun! (MANDATORY) Tutorial on how to link up a button: Blogging 101
  • 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 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 also wanted to let all of our fabulous At The Picket Fence friends know that we will be offering a special advertising rate for the remainder of the fall! $5 for Fall  If you sign up to advertise with us anytime during October or November* for a 2 month commitment we will offer you a sidebar ad for $5 for each of the month, that’s $10 for two months of advertisement! If you are a current sponsor of At The Picket Fence you can also purchase this special price to add to the end of your current contract! That’s a great deal folks! Email us through our contact page for more information. *Two month time period will begin from day of payment.


This Inspiration Friday is brought to you by the following sponsor:


Thank you Angela for renewing your partnership with us!

49 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday, Sponsors

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katie says

    October 13, 2011 at 8:38 PM

    These features are great! Love all the ideas! Thanks for hosting! Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  2. Kahli says

    October 13, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    Thanks for hosting! Great features

    Reply
  3. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    October 13, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    Thanks for hosting Girls and have a great weekend! Martina

    Reply
  4. Michell @ Girl In Air says

    October 13, 2011 at 8:49 PM

    Adorable features!! Hope you ladies have a wonderful fall weekend! Thanks for hosting this lovely party:-)

    Reply
  5. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    October 13, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    Thanks ladies for hosting and I hope you both have a great weekend.

    blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  6. Sherry says

    October 13, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    Hi,
    You have featured some great tricks and treats! Thanks for having us over!
    Sherry

    Reply
  7. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    October 13, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    Great features, girls. Thanks so much for hosting!

    Reply
  8. debbie~refreshrestyle.com says

    October 13, 2011 at 8:59 PM

    Oh that pumpkin carriage is so cute! Thanks for hosting and did I hear the sound of a nail gun coming from The Picket Fence?? 😉
    Debbie

    Reply
  9. Evie says

    October 13, 2011 at 9:11 PM

    Thank you SO much for the feature ladies! What a lovely surprise when opening up your page!! 🙂 I can’t wait to check out those other features as well!

    Have a great weekend!
    Evie @ Brown Paper Packages

    Reply
  10. Stuff and Nonsense says

    October 13, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    such lovely features

    especially that adorable
    fairytale pumpkin

    all linked up girls!

    alison

    Reply
  11. CalypsoInTheCountry says

    October 13, 2011 at 9:23 PM

    Love the features. Thanks for hosting. I am looking forward to checking out more projects!
    -Shelley

    Reply
  12. A Cozy Cottage in the City says

    October 13, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    Thank you kindly for hosting a lovely link party. It was a pleasure to be able to join in the fun this week. 🙂 Thanks for the continued inspiration from your blog and from the other bloggers that post!

    Hugs,
    Jessie

    Reply
  13. Judy says

    October 13, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    Those are some awesome features. That pumpkin carriage is absolutely incredible. I’ve never seen anything so cool. Thanks as always for hosting. I’m all linked up.

    Reply
  14. Town and Country Mom says

    October 13, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    Thank you so much for including my story in your features this week. I am honored and deeply touched.

    Reply
  15. Richella says

    October 13, 2011 at 9:41 PM

    Hi girls! By the time I get here on Thursday afternoons, there are always lots of people linked up–congratulations on hosting such a great party each week!

    I’m linking up a post about giving a shower for a baby girl–with nothing pink! 🙂 What can I say? I’m not a pink girl. 🙂

    Thanks so much being such gracious hostesses. Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  16. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    October 13, 2011 at 9:45 PM

    Thanks for the party! Great features this week.

    Reply
  17. Marianne says

    October 13, 2011 at 10:45 PM

    Hi Ladies, thanks so much for hosting and for the great features!
    Marianne 🙂

    Reply
  18. andrea says

    October 13, 2011 at 11:01 PM

    Wow, I love that featured wreath! Thank you for hosting this linky party, andrea@townandprairie

    Reply
  19. FABBY'S LIVING says

    October 13, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    Wonderful features. Thank you for hosting and having me. Have a great weekend. FABBY

    Reply
  20. Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says

    October 13, 2011 at 11:17 PM

    Those are some great features, girls! I never cease to be amazed at all the talented folks in blogland. Off to visit now!

    Reply
  21. Lynn@ The Vintage Nest says

    October 13, 2011 at 11:42 PM

    thank you for letting me attend your fun party….

    Reply
  22. Honey at 2805 says

    October 14, 2011 at 12:29 AM

    Cute features! What an adorable pumpkin! Thanks for being great hostesses!

    Reply
  23. The French Hutch says

    October 14, 2011 at 12:34 AM

    I Love the features and so much inspiration here. Thanks for hosting.

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

    Reply
  24. Lynn at Cottage and Creek says

    October 14, 2011 at 12:59 AM

    Enjoyed your featured projects and yummy treats. Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful weekend.
    :)Lynn

    Reply
  25. NanaDiana says

    October 14, 2011 at 1:07 AM

    OMGOsh~ What great features you have this week. Love that little pink bunting. I will pop around and visit some of these blogs when I have a bit of extra time.

    BTW- I love the pictures of you two girls with your husbands on your sidebar…even if one of the members IS a Yankee!;>) You are both beautiful- xo Diana

    Reply
  26. janet says

    October 14, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    So happy to be joining with al these fabulous links this week!!!!

    Janet xox
    https://theemptynest-janet.blogspot/

    Reply
  27. Carolyn@SweetChaos says

    October 14, 2011 at 1:14 AM

    That pumpkin carriage is amazing!! Thank you for hosting! Have a fabulous weekend 🙂

    Reply
  28. RhettDidntGiveADamn says

    October 14, 2011 at 1:16 AM

    Oh Lord have mercy guys! I have spelled YOU wrong in the bunting post! Lol. Thanks for featuring my post – even if I can’t spell. 😀 Best thing that’s happened to me all day.

    Reply
  29. Ramblings of a Southern Girl ~ Rhonda G says

    October 14, 2011 at 1:28 AM

    My first time here, and as a participate! Have enjoyed browsing over your fabulous blog! Adding you to my blog roster!

    Thanks for hosting this event! 🙂

    Reply
  30. Savvy Seasons says

    October 14, 2011 at 2:52 AM

    What lovely features! Thanks for hosting! I LUV coming her on Fridays! =) XOXO ~Liz

    Reply
  31. xinex says

    October 14, 2011 at 3:12 AM

    Thanks for all the inspirations!…Christine

    Reply
  32. Doreen Grace says

    October 14, 2011 at 3:13 AM

    Oops! My internet was being really slow and it looked like it didn’t stick the first time so I tried again. Now there’s doubles. Can you please delete #163? Thanks!

    Reply
  33. Tina´s PicStory says

    October 13, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    thanks for hosting 🙂

    Reply
  34. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    October 14, 2011 at 12:27 AM

    Hi girls!! Love your features- I’m all linked up – thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  35. Amanda says

    October 14, 2011 at 2:39 AM

    As always, great projects to browse thru. Thanks for hosting. I know it’s alot of details and work for y’all!
    Amanda

    Reply
  36. Marcia - Crafty Sewing and Quilting says

    October 14, 2011 at 4:15 AM

    Thanks for hosting! Enjoy your weekend!

    Reply
  37. Becca says

    October 14, 2011 at 11:31 AM

    Once again … I’m super impressed with the features and see lots of creativity linked up this week that I look forward to visiting! Thanks so much for hosting, friends! xoxo

    Reply
  38. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage says

    October 14, 2011 at 1:27 PM

    I am thrilled to have my black widow spider pops featured, thank you!

    Reply
  39. Marla and Steve @ Always Nesting says

    October 14, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    Wow, lots of great projects and links! Thank you!

    Reply
  40. Kelley @ TheGrantLife.com says

    October 14, 2011 at 3:42 PM

    ooops i accidentally double posted my link 🙁 im sorry!

    Reply
  41. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    October 14, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    Lots of fun features this week – as usual! I’m so glad you mentioned Town and Country Mom’s love story. I’ve followed her blog for a long time but missed those posts. God is so faithful!

    Reply
  42. Ivy and Elephants says

    October 14, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    You gals always have such wonderful features. Thanks for hosting!

    Paula

    Reply
  43. Kahli says

    October 15, 2011 at 2:21 AM

    My link posted twice. Sorry about that. My internet had went down and I didn’t think it posted :(. Please delete one if you can.

    Reply
  44. Abbie says

    October 15, 2011 at 4:41 AM

    Lovely features, ladies! I just linked up my new fall entryway arrangement, complete with $3 Goodwill lamps (gotta love a bargain! : ))–#304. Thanks so much for hosting!

    ~Abbie (Five days…5 ways)

    Reply
  45. Natasha in Oz says

    October 15, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Thanks so much for having me today. I hope you might have time to visit my Pink Post this weekend: it’s a post honouring all women who have have been touched by breast cancer.

    Best wishes,
    Natasha @ 5 Minutes Just for Me

    Reply
  46. CAS says

    October 15, 2011 at 7:15 PM

    Wow, already at 320 entries — ya’ll are awesome! Thanks for being the “Hostesses with the mostesses!”
    🙂 CAS

    Reply
  47. Erin {Lavender and Lemon Drops} says

    October 16, 2011 at 3:27 AM

    Thanks for hosting! I hope you are enjoying your weekend 🙂

    Reply
  48. Red Rpse Alley says

    October 17, 2011 at 1:35 AM

    That pumpkin coach is wonderful!! I have a coach that is similar, but it’s made out of iron. I always love seeing creative ways to make a fairytale coach.
    ~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

    Reply

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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
When the Lord blesses you with a glimpse of the pa When the Lord blesses you with a glimpse of the payoff of your investment in your children, it is truly one of the greatest gifts. We had that experience twice this week with our 18 year old son and were overwhelmed by this opportunity we had to watch as he handled two very different situations (one personal and one professional) with grace, maturity, integrity and courage. Those of you mamas of little ones, don't ever minimize the job you are doing in raising this next generation. 

Every story read at bedtime
Every correction made to strengthen character
Every outdoor exploration
Every nose wiped
Every bandaid applied
Every time you say no when the world says yes
Every night of helping with homework
Every difficult conversation
Every prayer uttered

The final pieces of the puzzle of his childhood are falling into place and the picture revealed is one that is more wonderful than we could have imagined. And we know that it is only by God's grace on us as we sought His wisdom and guidance that we have come to this point. We have been FAR from perfect parents, but one of my most sincere prayers for the past 18 years was that the Lord would stand in the gaps that were surely to be revealed by our imperfections. And He has answered those prayers again and again. He's taken my humble petitions and most sincere intentions and knocked our socks off with the young man we are so privileged to call our son. And we can’t wait to watch as his future unfolds!
Happy Saturday!! I haven’t posted all week (exce Happy Saturday!! I haven’t posted all week (except for in stories) because I was soaking up the sunshine and time with my family in San Antonio for spring break. One of our favorite activities was a bike tour of the missions and I found myself obsessed with all of the beautiful architecture, especially the doors. What is it about doors that is so fascinating? Is it knowing that these were so lovingly hand carved? Is it thinking about how many people have crossed through them? Whatever it is, I couldn’t get enough of them and had to stop and admire each one. 

I hope you are having a wonderful kickoff to spring too dear friends! 🌸
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