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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

January 6, 2012

Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 46!



We’re back folks! Did you miss us?
Did ya? Did ya?
Well, we missed you! But, we sure did have a fantastic time finally getting to see each other when we all got together at our parent’s home in Arizona. Our mom and dad are the best and we are so grateful for all they did to make our time with them so meaningful and fun. You can check out some of our adventures in the previous couple of posts!
We are so excited about the year ahead and had lots of time while lounging poolside 
to dream and plan about what we hope to share with you in the coming year.

Of course there will be the usual home decor and DIY projects, but we also want this to be a year filled with developing an even stronger sense of community and connection among all of us here in Blogland. So be sure to stay tuned for all we have in store for you!
Now, let’s take a look at some fabulous features from 2 weeks ago!
Sherry of Pondered Primed Perfected gave her chairs a fresh face-lift by adding these beautiful slipcovers. Aren’t those ties just the perfect finishing touch?

Shelley from Calypso in the Country cleverly hid the clutter behind the glass doors in her entertainment center by tacking on burlap fabric. 
We love this quick, simple and inexpensive update!
Christmas may be over, but we think these Paper Doily Trees from Small Home Love could be used in your home decor all winter long!

doile christmas trees
Cottage Living~From Beach to Burbs shared her absolutely beautiful kitchen makeover.
We are only slightly jealous of her brick fireplace!

We may still be coming down off of the Holiday Sugar high, but we can’t just go cold turkey!

Barb of Keeping Up With the Times shared this recipe for Little Sticky Toffee Puddings and we think it sounds like a warm and delightful way to start the New Year.

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:




 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!



53 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lynn at Cottage and Creek says

    January 5, 2012 at 9:07 PM

    So glad to hear you girls had a wonderful Christmas – and relaxing by the pool? Doesn’t get much better than that! Looking forward to all you have in store for 2012. I’m feeling a movement – everyone seems ready for community, creativity, and challenges that make us better women. Thanks for hosting and Happy New Year!
    Lynn

    Reply
  2. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    January 5, 2012 at 9:10 PM

    Glad you had such a great time together, ladies! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  3. Confessions of a Plate Addict says

    January 5, 2012 at 9:11 PM

    Sounds like fun! Great features! Thanks for hosting!…hugs…Debbie

    Reply
  4. Calypso In The Country says

    January 5, 2012 at 9:13 PM

    So nice to hear you had a nice holiday! What a surprise to see my burlap doors featured! Thank you so much! And thank you for hosting today! Cheers to the New Year!
    -Shelley

    Reply
  5. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    January 5, 2012 at 9:21 PM

    Welcome back and thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  6. FABBY'S LIVING says

    January 5, 2012 at 9:25 PM

    I’m so glad you girls had such a great time! Thanks for hosting and thank you for last year’s fun linking to Inspirations Friday at The Picket Fence and for having me.
    Happy and blessed New Year 2012.
    HAPPY KINGS DAY!
    FABBY

    Reply
  7. Eclectically Vintage says

    January 5, 2012 at 9:35 PM

    Looks like you gals had a blast!
    Welcome back
    Kelly

    Reply
  8. Sherry says

    January 5, 2012 at 9:47 PM

    Oh, this looks like my kind of planning session! Glad you had a nice vacation! Thanks for hosting.
    Sherry

    Reply
  9. Andrea at Opulent Cottage says

    January 5, 2012 at 10:18 PM

    Happy New Year Heather and Vanessa! Thank you for hosting, and have a great weekend,
    xo, Andrea

    Reply
  10. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    January 5, 2012 at 10:21 PM

    So glad you girls had a great visit. LOVE that pic of the two of you! Thanks for hosting and have a great weekend, Martina

    Reply
  11. A Mother and A Daughter says

    January 5, 2012 at 10:26 PM

    I love that picture of you ladies lounging with your drinks, reading your Traditional Homes magazines! That is so cute! ~ Barbara

    Reply
  12. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    January 5, 2012 at 10:28 PM

    Welcome back. Thanks for hosting. Happy New Year.

    Reply
  13. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    January 5, 2012 at 10:52 PM

    Glad you girls had such a great trip. Loved the pic of you two by the pool looking at magazines!:)Thanks for the party!

    Reply
  14. Jennifer @ Town and Country Living says

    January 5, 2012 at 10:53 PM

    Thanks, as always, for hosting. Glad you enjoyed your vacay!

    Reply
  15. debbie refresh restyle says

    January 5, 2012 at 10:57 PM

    Y’all are so cute! Glad you’re back, glad you got to spend time with each other and the family! I linked my mantel and Shabby Apple giveaway, hope that’s ok.
    Debbie

    Reply
  16. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    January 5, 2012 at 10:59 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting ladies!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  17. Barb says

    January 5, 2012 at 11:12 PM

    So awesome! thank you for featuring my Little Sticky Toffee Puddings!

    Reply
  18. Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR says

    January 5, 2012 at 11:24 PM

    Happy New Year, Ladies!! Glad you had such a great holiday!! Thanks for hosting and sharing these great features! Glad to link up!

    Reply
  19. Jacky says

    January 5, 2012 at 11:31 PM

    Thanks for featuring my trees and for hosting! I am actually going to leave them up all year 🙂

    Reply
  20. Kristi says

    January 6, 2012 at 12:50 AM

    Looks like a super fun time!! I linked back to you in my countertop post…Heather’s island transformation is on my to-do list!! LOVE it. Happy New Years, ladies!!

    {HUGS},
    kristi

    Reply
  21. Trish says

    January 6, 2012 at 12:54 AM

    Thanks for hosting and Happy New Year!

    Reply
  22. Richella says

    January 6, 2012 at 1:11 AM

    Hi Vanessa and Heather! Looks like y’all had a wonderful time at your folks’ house. How wonderful for all of you to be able to get together! I’m sure your parents are so grateful they had daughters. I sometimes wonder if there will ever be Christmases when all my children and (Lord willing) daughters-in-law and grandchildren will be together at my house–seems that families seem to gravitate to the wives’ parents’ homes! I’ll just have to be the world’s best mother-in-law and try to make our house extremely welcoming.

    I’m linking up a little wreath I made from leftover Christmas stuff. I’m always a little sad to take down our Christmas decorations. I LOVE putting them up, by taking them down. . . not so much.

    Thanks for hosting! Hope y’all have very smooth re-entries to regular life!

    Reply
  23. Mary Ellen says

    January 6, 2012 at 1:12 AM

    Oh Those little paper trees are so adorable!

    Thank you for the party!

    Reply
  24. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    January 6, 2012 at 1:15 AM

    Glad your family had such a good time together. Times to remember. Thanks for hosting…I’m really late but I made it. Have a super weekend!

    Reply
  25. Shelia says

    January 6, 2012 at 1:36 AM

    Happy New Year, ladies! What a great way to start off the year with your fun party! I’m looking forward to another year of blogging with you!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  26. andrea says

    January 6, 2012 at 1:48 AM

    Thank you for your weekly dose of inspiration and have a great weekend! andrea@townandprairie

    Reply
  27. Ivy and Elephants says

    January 6, 2012 at 1:59 AM

    Happy New Year girls! Sounds like you had a blast. Thanks for hosting!

    Paula

    Reply
  28. Debbie says

    January 6, 2012 at 2:16 AM

    Welcome home! I smiled every time I thought about the two of you spending time together. Did the rest of the family put the kabosh on any use of the word “BLOG” while you were there?

    Probably not. They’re probably a great bunch of cheerleaders.

    Or maybe they have earplugs.

    Loved your sampling this week. I am pinning that doily tree. That’s cute! I am saving for next year.

    Reply
  29. Miriam says

    January 6, 2012 at 2:19 AM

    Hahaha. I love the Traditional Home Mag shot. It looks like me and my sis 🙂 Thanks for hosting again, and Happy New Year!

    Reply
  30. Kerry Rossow says

    January 6, 2012 at 2:22 AM

    Welcome back! It looks like y’all had a great holiday!
    Thank you for hosting!
    Happy New Year!
    Kerry at HouseTalkN

    Reply
  31. Honey at 2805 says

    January 6, 2012 at 4:28 AM

    Welcome back girls! Hoping you had a wonderful vacation! Thanks for hosting this lovely party!

    Reply
  32. Tina´s PicStory says

    January 5, 2012 at 9:15 PM

    very inspiring pics! 🙂

    Reply
  33. Sherry says

    January 6, 2012 at 5:51 AM

    Thank You, Heather and Vanessa, from the bottom of my heart, for sharing my slipcovered dining chairs! It means so much to have wonderful, inspiring bloggers such as yourselves take notice of something that I have done! You ladies give me the kick start I need to keep at it and make it work! Your holiday looks like it was fantastic…so glad for you. Wish I could give you two a hug.

    Reply
  34. Nann from At Nann's Table says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:41 AM

    Hi Vanessa and Heather…This is my first time here. And I am SO excited about participating in your linky party. I put in 3 or 4 only because I have been doing The Twelve Days of Christmas Series. And I’ve been told by many how inspired they got from seeing them. I will only put one or two or whatever the limit is next time.

    I am a brand new blogger of only seven weeks and it has been so fun finding and meeting great bloggers like yourselves. Thankyou for hosting these linky parties where people can get to know each other. I look forward to many more.

    Nann

    Reply
  35. Stuff and Nonsense says

    January 6, 2012 at 12:37 PM

    you are two peas in a pod
    just settin’ there in your jackie-o shades
    sippin’
    readin’
    and
    gossipin’

    love the features
    and glad you’re back

    all linked up!

    alison

    Reply
  36. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    January 6, 2012 at 1:17 PM

    Again, thank you for hosting this party. I love participating and viewing all the posts of so many talented people. Much success in 2012! Looking forward to all of your great inspirations!

    Reply
  37. Betsy@ coastal-colors says

    January 6, 2012 at 1:31 PM

    Thank you for hosting this link party! It’s always fun to see so many talented people! I accidentally put my link on twice! Please delete one! I’m so sorry!

    Reply
  38. Mary says

    January 6, 2012 at 2:05 PM

    Love the picture of you two reading Traditional Home – very cute!

    Thanks for hosting!

    Cheers to 2012!

    Mary (sweetlittlebluebird.com)

    Reply
  39. Kim @ Cheap Chic Home says

    January 6, 2012 at 2:38 PM

    Welcome back!

    Reply
  40. Deidre~ says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    “Welcome Back and Happy new Year”!! Just wanted to stop by and say Thank you for hosting:)Deidre~ https://simplysimplisticated4.blogspot.com

    Reply
  41. New Every Morning says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    Just found your blog and joined the PARTY!
    Happy New Year!!!

    Reply
  42. stefanie says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:24 PM

    oooohhhhh, so much inspiration…thanks!

    Reply
  43. janet says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:30 PM

    Welcome home Gals!

    happy to be sharing my rejection notice with your readers this week.

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

    Reply
  44. Lakeshore Cottage Living says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    LOVE the first picture…so cute and true I am sure! lol

    Thank you for your comment about blogging nicely. You are so sweet!!! I just needed to say a few things, you know?! Have a great weekend Vanessa!! Kristine

    Reply
  45. Maria Elena says

    January 6, 2012 at 11:55 PM

    Happy New Year! It is so good to hear you guys had such a great time!
    Welcome back!

    Reply
  46. NanaDiana says

    January 7, 2012 at 12:04 AM

    How wonderful that you girls had such a great time together. I love your featurs, as always, U think those little doiley trees are just darling. xo Diana

    Reply
  47. Cinnamon Rose Cottage says

    January 7, 2012 at 4:54 AM

    Thank you for hosting and Happy New Year to you both!
    hugs,
    Beverly

    Reply
  48. Crafty Mischief says

    January 8, 2012 at 3:10 AM

    Thanks so much for hosting! I hope you’re having a fabulous New Year! 🙂

    Reply
  49. Jen @ Creating with the J's says

    January 8, 2012 at 4:39 PM

    Thanks for hosting! Have a Great week!!!

    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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