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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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  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

January 28, 2011

New Blog! New Beginnings!


Welcome to At the Picket Fence!

We are so excited that you decided to meet us here! We hope you will stay awhile, find a little something to enjoy and come back often.
Just who are the crazy girls behind the Picket Fence?

Well, we are 2 sisters, living in 2 different states but wanting to stay connected across the miles.
Until now, we have maintained 2 separate blogs
Gourmet Meals for Less
and
Southern in my Heart
But we couldn’t ignore the fact that not only were we having so much fun being on this blogging adventure together, we were both looking to take our blogs in a new direction.

One that would be more all encompassing.
Because we aren’t just women who love to cook and decorate.
 Our lives are much more than that.
And so are yours!
Our favorite part of blogging has always been the connections we have made with the amazing folks in this one-of-a-kind community. YOU were the inspiration behind this new adventure! A desire to go Beyond the Blogs and into the hearts and homes of those we now call friends and those friends yet to be made.
Whether it’s through Good Ideas, Good Eats, Good Thoughts or just a Good Grief moment, we hope you will find Inspiration and Encouragement for every area of your life.
So what will you find here?

Good Ideas
Home Decorating
Party Planning
Hospitality
Holidays

Good Eats
Meal Planning
Foodography

Good Thoughts
Reflections
Ramblings
Encouragement
Support

Good Grief
We all have our moments!

 To kick things off, we are going to be doing
an ENTIRE WEEK of


GIVEAWAYS!!

So be sure to come back tomorrow when the fun really begins!


In addition, the Inspiration Friday Party now has a new home here At the Picket Fence.
So, for those of you coming over from Southern in my Heart, we would love it if you would still consider joining in the fun at this location!


Take some time to make yourselves familiar with this new site.

Click on the
Community
 tab to join in our Blog Frog Forum, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Visit some of the
Bloggers we Love
to find more great ideas and inspiration.
Learn more
About Us
and our families.


Thanks again for coming by and meeting us here
At the Picket Fence!

Heather and Vanessa

Modern Country Style


33 Comments Filed Under: General

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bella says

    January 30, 2011 at 4:20 PM

    AWESOME, Michelle, sent us here, and I am so excited. Vanessa, I heart you and all your lovely comments you always leave, I read them all, even when they aren’t on my blog, lol, You always have such sweet things to say.

    I’m happy to get to know your sister Heather, I bet you gals will be putting on quite the show here, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.

    CONGRATS, the new blog, looks AWESOME!!!!

    Bella 🙂

    Reply
  2. Infatuated with Homes and Gardens says

    January 30, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    Congratulations ,girls you ahve something that I cannot buy ,sisterley love and friendship ,I am so happy for you.I am your newest follower!
    Take Care ,Sharon X

    Reply
  3. Melanie says

    January 30, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    I am so excited! I read both of your blogs and love you both. Congrats!

    Reply
  4. JodieMo says

    January 30, 2011 at 10:04 PM

    Oh Hooray! I’m so excited for both of you!

    Reply
  5. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    January 30, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    This is fantastic! You and your sister are both so very clever. I wish your new venture much success!

    Reply
  6. Belinda @ Wild Acre says

    January 30, 2011 at 10:26 PM

    How very lovely! What a gorgeous blog you have made, clever girls! Look forward to following.x

    Reply
  7. Shelia says

    January 30, 2011 at 10:26 PM

    Well, hello gals. What pretty sisters and this sounds like it’s going to be lots of fun!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 🙂

    Reply
  8. Carol says

    January 30, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    Heather and Vanessa,

    How fun for us, as your parents, to be even more a part of your lives by reading your blog each day.

    We are blessed to have you as our daughters.

    Mom and Dad

    Reply
  9. Melissa Miller says

    January 30, 2011 at 10:57 PM

    Wow! Congrats ladies! Great job on the blog. I’m very excited to see what you will do here.

    Vanessa what a precious video of you. You look and sound beautiful!

    Warmly, ~Melissa 🙂

    Reply
  10. The Decorative Dreamer says

    January 30, 2011 at 10:58 PM

    Congrats! This is so neat! I loved seeing and hearing your real voice. I can’t see your sister though. ??? I think this is going to be a fantastic blog and I wish you both all the best!

    Reply
  11. The Decorative Dreamer says

    January 30, 2011 at 10:59 PM

    Oops! Nevermind you must have been tweeking things a bit. I see her now! So cute!

    Reply
  12. Honey at 2805 says

    January 30, 2011 at 11:09 PM

    Congrats on the two of you being together and your beautiful new blog! You girls certainly have been busy bees.

    Wishing you much success!

    Hugs, Honey

    Reply
  13. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    January 30, 2011 at 11:41 PM

    Congratulations to you both. This is going to be awesome. I look forward to all of your posts. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  14. Vicki says

    January 31, 2011 at 12:22 AM

    Congrats ladies! This is a really nice set up here. I’m following (and already cutting and pasting recipes!). Best of luck with the launch.

    xoxo Vicki

    Reply
  15. Judy says

    January 31, 2011 at 12:32 AM

    Vanessa – I’m so excited. The new blog is absolutely GORGEOUS. I love it. I’m following. I will grab your launch button and add your new blog to my blog role on my sidebar. Congratulations!! Looking forward to getting to know your sister as well.

    Reply
  16. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    January 31, 2011 at 1:17 AM

    Hi Vanessa & Heather, I just watched the videos and both of you are so cute! I am now following so I’ll be back often. Congrats on the new blog.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  17. Cathy~Mille Fleur says

    January 31, 2011 at 1:31 AM

    Oh girls! I am so excited for you both! Count me in! I am so looking forward to following along!

    Reply
  18. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    January 31, 2011 at 3:23 AM

    Congrats on your new venture girls! I’m sure it will be tons of fun and a huge success. I’m following along!

    Reply
  19. Erin @ EKat's Kitchen says

    January 31, 2011 at 4:43 AM

    Congratulations ladies! How very exciting for you both. I can’t wait to see more of your new venture.

    Reply
  20. Erin @ EKat's Kitchen says

    January 31, 2011 at 4:45 AM

    me again! Thanks for including me in your foodie bloggers blog roll – I’m honored (and in highly esteemed company!)

    Reply
  21. NanaDiana says

    January 31, 2011 at 5:21 AM

    Well, you know I am just so tickled for you I could do handflips..but trust me..that would NOT be pretty! I am sure this is going to be successful…and hey…you are even cuter than I thought you were! Hugs- I’ll be back…you know I will! Love to you both- Diana

    Reply
  22. SavannahGranny says

    January 31, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    Congratulations on a beautiful blog. I wish both of you lovely ladies much success. I am looking forward to this new experience. I am following. Hugs, Ginger

    Reply
  23. Pamela says

    January 31, 2011 at 5:45 AM

    Awe, that is sooo super sweet your mom left y’all a comment!!! Ya know I am excited for ya!:)

    Reply
  24. Stormy says

    January 31, 2011 at 5:54 AM

    I found you through Michelle as well!
    Looking forward to visiting yr blog!

    ~Stormy

    Reply
  25. Debbie says

    January 31, 2011 at 6:09 AM

    This is going to be wonderful. I can feel it in my bones!

    The still photos of you two don’t capture the “sisterness” of you two like those videos do, btw.

    Looking forward to tomorrow… which is technically today here on the east coast. I can’t sleep so I stumbled downstairs and out to the fence.

    Reply
  26. Kelly says

    January 31, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    Love it already! Congratulations!

    Kelly

    Reply
  27. Sue says

    January 31, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    Ok, sounds like fun with this new venture of yours, Vanessa and Heather. ♥ Sue

    Reply
  28. michelle says

    January 31, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    You gals are so wonderful and beautiful and talented! Everything looks amazing and I am so excited for you!! I can’t wait to to see everything that unfolds in this blog throughout the years!!

    Reply
  29. Karen At Home says

    February 1, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    Congrats on the launch!!!

    Reply
  30. Becca says

    February 1, 2011 at 9:47 PM

    CONGRATULATIONS !! This is so wonderful, and I can’t wait to come along for the ride !! Vanessa, I actually got a bit teary-eyed watching your video and hearing you speak … so sweet, friend !! You and your sister are going to have so many fans and will be such a great source of inspiration for all of us !! Again, congrats … love ya, girl !! *Becca*

    Reply
  31. CAS says

    February 3, 2011 at 3:00 AM

    Wow, take a few days off to help with a new grandbaby and just look what happens. Congrats to the both of you. This looks like so much fun. Vanessa, you’ve always been one of my favorite bloggers, so there’s no reason to believe that you and your sister together won’t just have a wonderful new blog. I’m, of course, a new follower & subscribed to the email updates. Good luck to both of you. Please pop over & take a look at Avery Quinn, our 5th granddaughter & 6th grandchild!
    CAS

    Reply
  32. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    April 14, 2011 at 3:22 PM

    I’ve watched your videos before when you first started but I’m afraid I couldn’t resist watching them again!! I lurrrrrve your accents!! Love. Love.

    I love this post. It sets out so exactly what you aim to do. I knew as soon as I read it that your blog was going to be AWESOME….and I was so right!

    Sarahx

    Reply
  33. GLENDA CHILDERS says

    April 14, 2011 at 5:30 PM

    Hi,
    I am joining Sarah’s lovely party from my vintage apartment in Chicago. So glad you joined, too.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

    Gg – Notes on the Journey
    Link #26

    ps. how fun to blog together as sisters.

    Reply

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Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super simple centerpiece that you can make in five minutes (or less) with just a few pumpkins and extra faux greenery. Let’s spend less time decorating and more time enjoying this season. It’s my favorite!! 🧡

#fallcenterpiece #falldecor #centerpiece #fiveminutedecorating
"Define your day", she told me as I held my newbor "Define your day", she told me as I held my newborn son. My mom and I were talking about how blurred my days and nights had become and how easy it would be to just stay in my pajamas 24/7. She encouraged me to make an attempt to put on 'real' clothes in the morning even if they were just nice sweatpants (bonus if they were clean!) and to throw a little bit of makeup on. That simple advice helped chart a course for my years of motherhood that continues today. And recently I began thinking about how critical it is that we not only seek wisdom from those ahead of us in our stage of life but that we are willing to apply it as well.

So, I asked this question on my personal Facebook page; "What is something you feel you've done well to create a peaceful/meaningful home for yourself and your family?" The catch was that the question was geared towards women in the 40+ age range. The responses came flooding in and were so wonderful and insightful. So, I'm going to be starting a new series where I share this wisdom with you and will include the first name of the woman who offered it. 

Today we start with Alison who said "I learned to set my alarm early to get up and moving before my kids woke up. I showered, got dressed and did my devotions while the house was quiet. It set my heart and perspective for each day.”

Is this something you do in your life too? What wisdom would you offer to a mom of young children?

I truly think our culture would greatly benefit from more women in different seasons of life being willing to invest in each other. 🍂

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #motherhood #parentingwisdom
If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a resta If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a restaurant I’m definitely ordering it! It’s one of my all time favorite treats. So I decided to try my hand at making some here at home with a little fall twist and it was SO delicious!! 🍎

Ingredients:

6 slices of day old bread (french, sourdough or even brioche works great)
2 cups of heavy cream
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
For the apples:
3 peeled and chopped apples of a tart variety
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour (or corn starch)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350
Cut bread into cubes and place in a greased 8 1/2 x 11 baking dish
Whisk together in a bowl the eggs, cream, vanilla, rum, cinnamon and nutmeg and then pour it over the bread cubes. In a separate bowl, mix together the apples, brown sugar and flour/corn starch. Pour the apple mixture on top of the bread mixture making sure to spread the apples evenly across every part of the bread mixture.
Bake for 45 minutes. 
Enjoy!

#falldesserts #breadpudding #fallrecipes #desserts
When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after onl When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after only a week of school, you take the opportunity to make Saturday a truly restful day. Pancakes on the griddle, puttering around the yard admiring the way the limelights have begun their autumn journey from white to green to pink. Sprinkling touches of fall around the house a little bit at a time. Savoring the slowness of it all and taking care of my people in this place that provides us all with a respite from the world even if just for a day.

Hope you’re weekend is off to a great start and that you make it a priority to slow down for a bit and soak up the beauty around you. 🍂

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #falldecorating
As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but thin As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but think about how grateful I am for the reminders all around me of God’s Sovereignty over everything including the seasons. It can be challenging in our world today to trust that there isn’t a single thing happening that surprises Him.

In a way, decorating my home to reflect the changing season serves as a tangible reminder of this trust. Even something as simple as seeing a pumpkin on my mantel or a basket of mums on the coffee table fill me with peace because they represent the things that remain constant and true.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #club31women
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?
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