While we were in Texas a few weeks ago my grandson missed one of his good friends birthday parties.  I know there will be plenty of birthday parties but a friend that moved a town away was going to be there and he was especially bummed not to see him.


When we got back I decided to contact the boys mom (thank goodness for facebook in this case) and see if he could come over for a play date.  She thought it was a great idea so I decided why not invite a few friends to add to the fun.


We (by that I mean I) decided to make it a Halloween themed event.  Not wanting to invest a lot of money, I headed down to my local Dollar Tree and picked up a few fun and scary things.


I threw a festive quilt over the buffet table, put out a few snacks and just like that we had ourselves a quick pop up Halloween party.


Needless to say, it was a big hit.  All six boys had a fun time and enjoyed being able to help themselves to as many snacks as they wanted.


Can I just say it is so much easier entertaining for small people.  They didn't care about dust bunnies or dishes in the sink...or maybe I didn't care, which is probably more important.  They just had fun.

Happy Hallo's Eve Eve Eve.

xo, Patty

I thought I'd show you what I came home from the library with last week.  Thank you for your suggestions.  I did a thorough search in the library computer and found a few matches.  (I had hard time finding some of them and don't know if I just misspelled something or if they are hard to find, so I will be sending a couple of you an email for clarification.)


I love the stack I came home with.


When I posted this photo on instagram I had a few of my friends recommend One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus, so that's where I started...and I am loving it.  I am just about at the half way point and look forward to opening it up every chance I get.  I will probably have it finished in another day or two and am wondering what I should read next?  Any suggestions?

xo, Patty

In my quest for more intentional living I have a list of things that I am trying to give myself time to do everyday or at least a few times a week.  Things that I enjoy, things that bring me personal gratification and feed my soul.

Simple things really like creating something in my studio, having a slow cup of coffee, baking from scratch, studying God's word deeply or reading.


It's funny how the anticipation of this time is such a vital part of the joy.  Like going to the library.  I keep a list of authors and books that I want to read in my purse but I will also just walk around my favorite sections hoping for a title or a book cover to grab my attention.

I gather my overly ambitious stack of books, check out with the librarian, head home, stack them in a prominent place near my favorite reading chair and wait for that quiet moment when I can open up the pages and get lost for a little while.


This stack is on it's way back today.  I loved Trisha Yearwood's cook book and have added Anne of Green Gables to my favorite of all time books list (sorry again, Jen).

Any suggestions as to what I should bring home today?  I'd love to hear your favorite books and authors to add to my list.  I'd love to go in search of a few of your favorites, too.

xo, Patty

I didn't say anything yesterday but now that it's happened two days in a row I guess it's kind of a thing, on it's way to habit, so I can let you in on it...


I am an exerciser.  There I said it.  I have now gotten up earlier than usual, done fifteen minutes of stretching and good old fashioned leg lifts and arm toners and then headed out the door for a 30 minute brisk walk.


Can I get a woot, woot from the crowd?  What, you're not impressed?  You say you've been doing this for years?  I say good going and keep it up (woot, woot to you).  But for this anti-exercising, please don't make me walk girl, it is a big deal.


Now that I'm older it takes more than just a few salads and less sweet treats to see any progress on the scale so I thought it was time to get moving.  I have made a pact with my mom that I will call her when I head out and she is going to do the same when she walks her dog.  There is accountability in numbers, right?

It may sound silly but I feel better already.  It has inspired me to get dressed (with make up and everything) and really be productive.  Okay, I know it's only been two days but it's a start.

What about you?  Do have a workout plan or is your exercise just hit or miss or none at all?

xo, Patty

Last week we had a very small window of nice fallish weather so I took full advantage and did a little baking.  We are a family of classic chocolate chip cookie lovers so whenever I see a recipe for "the best chocolate chip cookie ever" I like to give it a try.


I found the latest version in my current bible study work book of all places, Kelly Minter's study entitled, What love is.


The recipe itself is pretty standard with a slight difference in the amount of flour, her's call for 3 cups verses the standard 2 and 1/4, which results in a taller more substantial cookie which is how we like them and pecans instead of walnuts.

They are delicious.  A definite hit around here and even good enough to become my go to chocolate chip cookie recipe.


I will usually make half the cookie dough right away and store the rest in plastic wrap in the freezer for later.  That way I don't end up eating them all at once and I still have a dozen or so to look forward to when the craving strikes.


Speaking of eating too many cookies...I stupidly bravely got on the scale this morning after eating myself through the Houston area the last four days and seemed to have gained a pound for every day there.


Between Nymfa's fajitas and Blue Bell ice cream everynight (my grandson still does not understand why we don't have Blue Bell in California) and lasagna and beef dips and pumpkin breads galore, I knew it was bound to happen.  But you know what, I wouldn't change a thing.  I say a good appetite is a sign of a good life and these last few days I've had a pretty great one.

But now it's back to reality and if I want to fit into the new fall clothes I have coming my way I better substitute a few salads and less sweet treats real quick.  I guess that means finish these cookies as quickly as possible.

Happy Wednesday my friends.

xo, Patty

I just got back from a quick trip to visit my sister in Cypress, Texas.  I've barely had a chance for a quick nap and to throw in a load of laundry but it already feels so good to be home.


I traveled this time with my mom and seven year old grandson and had a wonderful time.  It's still hot in southeast Texas but we managed alright.  It seems I left quite a heat wave behind so I guess it was an equal trade.


I love visiting but I do love coming home.  I'll be back soon with a proper post.  It seems I've come back with renewed excitement for life and a full, creative heart.

xo, Patty

I love October for all the reasons I'm sure most of you do.  There is just a hint of something special in the everyday that lures us into the beauty of Autumn and I think October speaks to this more than any other month.

I mentioned in my last post that I have been trying to be more intentional in how I live my life in general and in my marriage specifically.  It is so easy to get up each day and do what we do with little thought or intention and before we know it we have strung together day after day of unintentional living.


This can be especially true in our relationships.  I have been married for over 30 years and can attest to this first hand.  I am not saying that our lives should be one exciting adventure after another, because let's face it the cleaning and the laundry won't do themselves, but I am trying to create small intentional moments everyday.

This might look different for everyone.  For us it could be as simple as seeking each other out for a cup of coffee together and a little bit of face to face talk time.  Or me opening up a folding chair in the garage while he does whatever men do in the garage.  Or making up a batch of his favorite chocolate chip cookies.  I find even tagging along while he runs his errands gives us talking time to and from the Home Depot.


For me, he might bring me a cup of coffee in bed or put a few pretty flowers in my garden to surprise me or even fix a door that's sticking.  Just little things...

A perfect example was last Sunday after church.  The grand kids were away with their mom and I had a couple of hours to myself so I decided to head to Target to stroll the aisles at my leisure without having to go through the Lego section.  I didn't have money to buy anything except maybe a bag of popcorn but just the time alone was enough.  As I was heading out the door my husband handed me a twenty and told me to buy something for myself.  Swoon...the little things.


Now before you start thinking that we have a marriage without strife or friction let me set you straight.  My man and I are as different as night and day and our thirty plus years together have been hard earned at times.  We are both fiercely independent and could easily live together without these moments for weeks on end.  But the bottom line is that I love him and he loves me and I don't want that to happen, so these little intentional moments are vital to us.

You may not be married or you may be married and spending those moments together may be natural for you, but I am sure there are other relationships you have that could benefit from intentional living.  How about a parent, or a child, or a sibling, or a real life in person friend?

Life is short and the ones we love are not guaranteed to be here for ever.  Let's make the most of time we have and live it on purpose.

xo, Patty