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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

December 23, 2011

Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 45!






Merry Christmas friends!
We’re kicking this party off earlier this week so that we can leave plenty of time for you to join in!
*Be sure to make note of our plans for next week at the end of the post*

Anyone else still having a hard time believing that Christmas is on Sunday?
Wasn’t it just Summer? 
With a New Year rapidly approaching, we want you all to know how blessed we feel to have been apart of your lives in the last year and how much we look forward to what 2012 has in store for all of us.
You are the best!

This month has been chock FULL of amazing ideas and inspirations and we have never been more in awe of the creative talent there is here in Blogland!

Speaking of talent, we wanted to say thank you again to the very talented Hani, from the blog Haniela’s, for her gorgeous custom Picket Fence Cookies she created for us and the incredible tutorial as well.
We are truly in awe of you Hani!
You will want to pay her a visit to see more of her amazing creations.

Now, how about we throw a little Christmas Spirit your way in the form of EXTRA Features?
It was just too hard to narrow it down this week…so we didn’t!

picketfence_20010_thumb[18]

Kristen of Sophia’s shared her absolutely stunning DIY Wrapping Paper!
Yup…that’s right.  All of this gorgeousness is handmade by this talented gal and we just hope it didn’t get a little wet from us drooling all over it!
Next up, not only is this the most darling Grinch Tree from Garden Therapy (even a Grinch can be darling right?), the story behind how it came into existence is even more meaningful.

We had several amazing links from Grown from Scratch and her beautiful mantel is just one example of the talent and creativity she shared with us. You must pay her a visit to see the rest!
Britt from Interestosity shared this great idea for Teacher and Neighbor gifts.
 Nutella Hot Chocolate! We are some serious Nutella lovers around here so this is definitely on our list!
And how about this for another idea for a Teacher Gift?
This one comes to us from Michelle Paige and we think it is super fun!

 We loved this take on the traditional “stocking” from the Precious Sister Blog. And we promise we aren’t just featuring them because we happen to love the idea of sisters blogging together!

 
 
 We pretty much don’t have words (which is a first for us!) for what we found over at A Re-Purposed Life.
You will just have to go over and check it out for yourself to understand because the beauty you will see will make your jaw drop open!

 
 
 Christy from 11 Magnolia Lane revealed her incredible kitchen transformation!
Love those lights!
 
 
Looking to try a new recipe this year?
How about these Raspberry Asparagus Endive Boats from Yummy Mummy!
Aren’t they just beautiful?
 
 
 
 
 
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 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:


Due to the holidays some blogs may not be hosting a party, but I’m sure they’d love you to stop by anyway! 



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 (MANDATORY) 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! 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!


Are you new to linky parties and kinda confused how they work? Have you wondered if you’re following “linky party etiquette”? We invite you to pay Donna at Funky Junk Interiors a visit and follow her great Linky Party Series!

We also want to take a moment to let you know that INSPIRATION FRIDAY will NOT be held next week.  We will be celebrating the Holidays all together as a family, so we thought our parents and husbands might like us to take a break! 😉 But we will be back in full swing the first Friday of January with features from this week’s Inspiration Friday!  May you all enjoy a wonderful HOLY-day with your families! 
We love you!!

54 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

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Previous Post: « Fun and Easy Tinsel Wreath and a few more decorations
Next Post: From our Fence to Yours… »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katie says

    December 22, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    I hope you both have a Merry Christmas!! Enjoy your break! You deserve it!

    Reply
  2. Anita says

    December 22, 2011 at 7:50 PM

    Thank you all for all the wonderful inspiration this year!! Merry Christmas to you both and to your families!!

    Reply
  3. Desire Empire says

    December 22, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    What an honour to have the cookies dedicated to the Picket Fence. What a talent Hani is!!!

    I have to agree that all the Christmas inspiration in the blogopolis is amazing. One wonders how it could be topped next year.

    Have a wonderful Christmas and thanks so much for everything this year!!!
    Carolyn xx

    Reply
  4. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    December 22, 2011 at 7:53 PM

    Thank you ladies for hosting and I hope y’all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  5. Vivienne @ the V Spot says

    December 22, 2011 at 7:55 PM

    Thanks for hosting the party. My thoughts are with you as you spend this Christmas without your grandma. Much love to you both.

    Reply
  6. Debra @ Common Ground says

    December 22, 2011 at 7:57 PM

    Have a wonderful Christmas Week! xoxo

    Reply
  7. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    December 22, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    What super features and amazing talent. Thanks for hosting and have the best Christmas ever!!

    Reply
  8. Erin @ How to Nest for Less says

    December 22, 2011 at 8:10 PM

    Merry Christmas ladies! I hope you enjoy some time together with your families and loved ones. God bless!

    Reply
  9. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    December 22, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    Wishing you both a very Merry Christmas. Thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  10. Andrea at Opulent Cottage says

    December 22, 2011 at 8:37 PM

    Hope you ladies both have a truly wonderful holiday! I have enjoyed spending time here with you on our blog so much this year. Looking forward to lots more creative inspiration in 2012!
    xo, Andrea

    Reply
  11. Eclectically Vintage says

    December 22, 2011 at 8:48 PM

    Have a fab Christmas ladies! See you in the new year!
    Kelly

    Reply
  12. Sherry says

    December 22, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    Heather & Vanessa,
    Have a very Merry Christmas and thank you for hosting this lovely party! Fantastic features! So much amazing talent out there.
    Sherry

    Reply
  13. Ruby Jean says

    December 22, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    Oh My Goodness!!! Those cookies are AMAZING!!! They are like a piece of Art… Okay, Now the question would be is… Are you going to EAT them..? that would be SERIOUSLY hard… 🙂 Your features are LOVELY!! I just finished linking up the Western Winter and Her Winter Apron… Thank you for hosting ladies and have a VERY blessed Christmas!!

    Reply
  14. Honey at 2805 says

    December 22, 2011 at 9:39 PM

    Thanks you for always being gracious hostesses and good friends! Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  15. Ivy and Elephants says

    December 22, 2011 at 10:08 PM

    Thank you for all that you both do to inspire the world. Merry Christmas ladies! Thanks for hosting…all linked up.

    Paula

    Reply
  16. Calypso In The Country says

    December 22, 2011 at 10:13 PM

    Have a Merry Christmas and thanks for hosting!
    -Shelley

    Reply
  17. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    December 22, 2011 at 10:16 PM

    Hi Ladies! The Picket Fence cookies are adorable! Thank you for hosting and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
    xmas hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  18. Kelly @ Craft Until Your Art's Content says

    December 22, 2011 at 10:53 PM

    Yes you are right, Christmas on Sunday. As much as I love Christmas day and all the festivities. I will miss all these lovely Christmas images. I have so enjoyed the deco’s, food prep.etc…..

    Merry Christmas

    Kelly

    Reply
  19. Sophia's says

    December 22, 2011 at 11:22 PM

    Those cookies are fabulous! I wouldn’t want to eat them. Thanks so much for featuring my DIY Wrapping paper and your kind words. I feel truly honored!

    I wish you both the very merriest Christmas ever!

    Kristen
    Sophia’s

    Reply
  20. Sally Lee by the Sea Nautical Cottage says

    December 22, 2011 at 11:30 PM

    Just stopping by to wish you both a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

    Hugs,
    Marie

    Reply
  21. Michelle Paige says

    December 22, 2011 at 11:43 PM

    Heather and Vanessa- What beautiful features—those cookies are delightful! Thanks for featuring my Ice Cream Social in a Box. You are so generous! Merry Christmas to you.

    Reply
  22. Rebecca says

    December 22, 2011 at 11:45 PM

    Thank you so much for the feature, this has been so much fun. Wishing you both a beautiful Christmas season.
    Blessings
    Rebecca

    Reply
  23. Maria Elena says

    December 22, 2011 at 11:47 PM

    The cookies are just adorable!
    Wishing you both a Merry Christmas!
    And thank you for everything you do!
    Looking forward to a New Year full on wonderful ideas and inspiration.

    Reply
  24. A Cozy Cottage in the City says

    December 23, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    Once again, such lovely features! Thank you so much for hosting – happy holidays to you!!! 🙂

    XOXO’s,
    Jessie

    Reply
  25. Kelly @ View Along the Way says

    December 23, 2011 at 12:40 AM

    First time linking up! 🙂 Thanks for hosting and Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  26. Gail says

    December 23, 2011 at 12:59 AM

    Wishing you both a Merry Christmas and thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  27. Heaven's Walk says

    December 23, 2011 at 1:35 AM

    Those cookies are incredible! Wow! Too pretty to eat! 🙂 Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate you sponsoring Inspiration Fridays! You’ll never know how much I’ve learned from visiting all of the great blogs out there. So…thank you!! 🙂 Merry Christmas to you both! ♥

    xoxo laurie

    Reply
  28. Sherry says

    December 23, 2011 at 3:06 AM

    Enjoy your time with family!!! You so should take a little break…we will all be back in January. You ladies are awesome ~ thanks so much.
    Merry, Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  29. Kerry Rossow says

    December 23, 2011 at 3:40 AM

    Have a very merry Christmas!
    Thank you for hosting!
    Kerry at HouseTalkN

    Reply
  30. Scribbler says

    December 22, 2011 at 8:18 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting — I have only just found you! Don’t know how I missed you, but I am certainly going to follow.

    Reply
  31. Jodie says

    December 23, 2011 at 5:08 AM

    Thank you ladies for hosting! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

    Jodie

    Reply
  32. Good Time Charlie says

    December 23, 2011 at 6:15 AM

    Wow, what a great selection. Personally, I would like the giant jar of Nutella for Christmas…come to think of it, I have one in hiding!

    Thanks for hosting, Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  33. Dayle says

    December 23, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    Have a fabulous Christmas!

    Reply
  34. Becca says

    December 23, 2011 at 11:57 AM

    Ohmygoodness … LOOK at those fabulous features … perfect choices! Thanks for hostings, friends … I think I linked up half of my house (LOL), making up for lost time. I’m off to make new friends … Happy Holidays !! xo

    Reply
  35. Christie says

    December 23, 2011 at 5:24 AM

    That is the cutest cookie I have ever seen! Always such great inspiration here! I hope you girls have a Merry Christmas full of peace and love and cozy moments with your families! Love, Christie

    Reply
  36. Robin says

    December 23, 2011 at 5:29 AM

    Just wanted to wish my hostesses a very Merry Christmas and my appreciation for all the hosting you do for all of us in blogland through the year.

    Reply
  37. Amy from Grown From Scratch says

    December 23, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    Thank you so much for featuring me today. You have really made my week 🙂 Have a Merry Christmas!

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

    December 23, 2011 at 3:38 PM

    Great features!

    And I love the lighted wreaths you shared in the previous post! Beautiful!

    So sorry for the loss of your grandmother! Thoughts and prayers are with you!

    Merry Christmas! 🙂

    Reply
  39. Christy says

    December 23, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    Thanks for the feature, ladies. I’m a proud follower of your blog, so it made my day to see my kitchen up here! Merry Christmas! ~~Christy at 11 Magnolia Lane

    Reply
  40. The Cottage Market {Andrea} ♥ says

    December 23, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    thank you so much for having such an incredible inspirational blog and for inviting us every friday to share (sorry about today — my item is in twice and it was a total error and i apologize profusely)
    sending holiday hugs to you and yours and wishing you the very best!

    Reply
  41. classic • casual • home says

    December 23, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    With my last name being Pickett–you know I have to make those cookies.
    Merry Christmas you sweet ladies!

    Reply
  42. Judy says

    December 23, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    I wish you both a very Merry Christmas. I am so grateful for your friendship. I look forward to someday meeting in person.

    Reply
  43. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    December 23, 2011 at 7:12 PM

    Hi Girls,

    Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas!!

    Reply
  44. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage says

    December 23, 2011 at 8:36 PM

    Merry Christmas, thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  45. adventuresindinner says

    December 23, 2011 at 6:57 PM

    Thanks so much for the lovely party, have a restive and festive holiday 😉

    Reply
  46. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    December 24, 2011 at 2:58 AM

    Just subscribed to your blog. Love it!!..Thank you for your kind comments on my post. Looking forward to your fabulous creations.

    Reply
  47. Jennifer Rizzo says

    December 24, 2011 at 3:28 AM

    Just wanted to let you know you were listed on the Dallasnews.com site for bloggers tours.

    https://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/home-and-gardening/headlines/20111223-peek-at-bloggers-christmas-style.ece

    Reply
  48. Little Bit says

    January 4, 2012 at 9:09 PM

    Thanks for hosting. Just wanted you to know I’m a follower and always try to participate in your link parties. I’m putting your link on my sidebar for great link parties. Little Bit from DecorateWithaLittleBit.com

    Reply
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  3. Mantles Adorned for Christmas « Housepitality Designs says:
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I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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