I have been blogging for over four years and visiting with you here at Lemon Lane for the last two.  It's funny how a part of my life it's become and how easy it is to take it, and all of you, for granted. 


Every morning when I get up my computer is sitting on the counter waiting for me to open it up and greet the day.  It's amazing how quickly that ritual has firmly rooted itself into my life.  While the coffee is brewing I will check my favorite social media spots and slowly form a plan for the day.  Sometimes I get distracted (more times than not) and my quick check will turn into a half an hour.


Once my coffee is poured I will shut the lid on this grey distraction and head over to my favorite leather chair for my quiet time.  I am nothing if not a creature of habit...


After my first cup of coffee with Jesus, I top off my mug, head over to the kitchen table and scribble a few intentions in my day planner and reconnect with my cyber friends.  I look forward to reading your sweet comments (with the intention of replying but rarely the follow through, for this I am sorry) and head on over to your place to catch up with you.


Sometimes I feel guilty for the time I spend here.  Should I be doing something more productive than passing on pretty tidbits to my facebook friends or blogging about the random and menial things going on in my life? 

And so I try and imagine my life without all of you in it.  How would that time be spent, who would I be connecting with or encouraging?  What escape from the sometimes harsh realities of life would I have?


I firmly believe that we were created as relational creatures and that every generation has had their form of "coffee and girl talk", this is just ours.  Is there a need for balance and boundaries?  Should we set up time limits and make time for real life friendships?  Most definitely.  But is my time spent here wasted?  I don't think it is.


The joy, heartache, advice, encouragement and cyber friendships that I've formed on this little grey box have helped me stay connected in a way that wouldn't have been possible in real life.  There is no way I could have visited with all of you in person and I would have spent the whole day on the phone trying to catch up on all of your news without the Internet.


And how would I have updated you on the fact that I have six little pumpkins growing in my pumpkin patch and shared this sweet little pyrex bowl full of cherry tomatoes that my grandson picked for me this weekend.  And who would have looked at the seven pictures I took of them? You know, the important stuff...

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject and whatever else is new in your life.

xo, Patty

Every year I plant pumpkin seeds in my raised bed planters with visions of a grand pumpkin harvest.  Call me a dreamer but in my mind there are enough pumpkins for my grandkids and nieces and nephews to come by for cookies and hot chocolate as they frolic through the pumpkin patch.


I will set up a photo booth and take adorable pictures for their proud parents and we will enjoy a glorious autumn day together.


And every year I am teased with the sprouting of pumpkin vines only to have them put out a flower or two and quickly wither away.  Ever the optimist I think to myself...next year.  Next year I will plant the seeds and they will produce to my wildest expectations.


This year as I contemplated yet another round of rejection (and a few negative vibes from my hubby) I decided a change of venue might be in order.  I knew I needed a place with plenty of sun, good soil and lots of bees for pollination. 


I found the perfect spot in the rear of the yard and just look at these happy vines.


I wish I could say that I have oodles of pumpkins growing but that would be jumping the gun.  I do have lots of big orange flowers opening up with more buds than I can count. 


I will let you know when I have my first pumpkin sighting (although I am sure you just might hear my hallelujah chorus a few states away) as I think this just might be the year and come October when the pumpkin harvest is ready, I will be sure and send you all an invitation to the most idyllic fall afternoon ever.

Ever the optimist...

xo, Patty

It has been another busy week here as I continue to enjoy what's left of summer.  The weather in Southern California has been so pleasant that staying indoors just hasn't been an option.


Today I am off to spend a little quality time with some online friends that have turned into real life friends.  Elaine from Sunny Simple Life invited us (myself, Kris and Shelly) over for lunch and some fun in the sun.  Our grandchildren happen to be the same age as her youngest daughter so getting together can turn into a family affair.  I think I heard some slip n slide time is on the agenda (for the kids not me) which will leave us with plenty of time to sit and chat.


What does all this have to do with these carrots?  Not a darn thing!  I was cleaning out my photo file and realized that I never shared our carrot harvest with you.  Every spring my grandson and I throw some carrot seeds into a big pot and basically forget about them.  We had an early heat wave in June so we had a grand time harvesting these little guys before they bolted.


He had fun playing farmer for an afternoon and munching on the bigger ones like Bugs Bunny and I got a pretty photo shoot.  Definitely a win-win situation.


Tomorrow we are off to swim at my moms and then Friday I have more girlfriend time on the calendar.  Life is full right now and I am so thankful.

Have a wonderful hump day my friends.

xo, Patty

I think I've hit that point in the summer that has me craving a little more structure in life.  Even though my kids are grown and the gentle rhythm of school no longer dictates my schedule, with the beginning of summer still comes the welcome sigh of a more leisurely pace.


Somewhere around mid July though I always start to think about getting back to a routine.  I start to miss having a project with a holiday deadline, I miss fluffing my nest and planning a get together.


So I am officially calling July the last month of my summer holiday.  Come August first the projects around the house will take center stage.  No more loafing around...no more running here and there...no more late nights and later mornings.  It's back to old grind stone for me!


Unless of course, something better comes along...

Have a wonderful weekend friends.

xo, Patty

My sister flew back to Houston earlier this week and my life seems to be settling in to a normal pace once again.  She was here a full two weeks this time and what a jam packed time it was.  I think she hit just about everything Southern California has to offer.


We started out in the mountains, spent a day at an amusement park, she and my mom took a drive up the coast to Monterey, we spent a couple of days at the beach and of course, ate plenty of real Mexican food and drank a couple of margaritas along the way.


I'm sure she went home pretty much exhausted but full of family and good memories.


I have been busy trying to catch up with housework and laundry all week.  (Funny, isn't that how most vacations end?)


Can you believe we are midway through summer?  On the one hand I'm wondering where the time went and on the other hand, counting the days until fall weather arrives.


This pretty rooster canvas is a result of a day in my studio.  I headed in there for a little decompression time and came out with a few new items for the shop which will be reopening fully stocked soon.

Okay now it's your turn.  How is your summer going?

xo, Patty

Finding myself alone on the fourth of July, (hubby worked and the kids decided they had their own lives,) I decided to crash my brothers party and I invited myself onto the pontoon boat he rented on Big Bear Lake to watch the firework show.



What a perfect way to spend the fourth.  The mountain weather was such a nice relief from our sweltering heat, the views were gorgeous, the company was good and the fireworks were some of the best I've ever seen.



The day was such a blast that I have started a little savings jar so that I can take my own little brood next year.  My mind is already swirling with the details.  I love when a new tradition forms!




I hope your celebration was wonderful, too!

xo, Patty

As women tend to do, our paper doll went in another direction all together...


and she wore an orange dress that she forgot she had tucked in the back of her closet.  It just happened to coordinate perfectly!


Have a wonderful weekend.

xo, Patty

Just popping in to wish you all a Happy 4th of July.


I am heading out to Big Bear Lake to watch the fireworks from a pontoon boat with my family.

This is a first for me, but we're hoping to make it an annual tradition.


What about you?  How will you celebrate America today?

Whatever it is, I hope you have a terrific day!

xo, Patty

Do you remember playing with paper dolls as a kid or is that terribly dating me?  I would spend hours carefully cutting out clothes, being ever so careful not to cut through those little white tabs that held the clothes to the doll.  I wonder if that's where I got my love of cutting paper from?  There was no dollar limit or wrong sizes just endless possibilities and an outfit for every occasion.


Creating a mixed media canvas gives me that same feeling of creative freedom.  Arranging paper on a surface and then choosing colors for flowers or presents or dolls is still as fun as it used to be.


Here's where the question comes in.  I finished this canvas for my class this month and now I am thinking maybe it reads a little too dark. 


What do you think?  I cut out a new dress in a light background flower print just to try it out.


Dark dress or light one?  Number one...or number two? 


One more question...

If I were to add some of these to my etsy shop when I reopen it later this month, would you prefer a  half inch dimensional canvas to hang or a flat canvas panel that could be popped in a frame?

Tell what you think?  I have a favorite but I will leave the decision up to you.

xo, Patty