I know it might seem strange that we would be harvesting lemons in December but we are.  In spite of the dipping temperatures (and by dipping I mean 50 degrees here in Southern California) my first year lemon tree is filled with bright yellow fruit ready to be made in to all things lemony.


Although my harvest was only a meager 15 lemons this year, it didn't stop me from creating four different yummy treats to share with you.  After a quick search of pinterest I settled on a lemon meringue pie, lemon scones, lemon extract and limoncello.  I would say I squeezed out (pun intended) every ounce of lemony goodness from every part of my small yield.

I decided to try my hand at a lemon meringue pie because it was my husbands childhood favorite and I wanted to surprise him with a homemade pie for his birthday.  This was my first attempt at this particular pie and although it wasn't a complete success, it wasn't a complete failure either.  Let's say it was a good learning experience in all things meringue!

This is the recipe I used and it tasted great but I probably should have researched how to have a successful meringue experience before attempting the pie and not after.  But then, that's generally how I roll.


These lemon scones were ah-mazing!  The picture doesn't do them justice but this basic recipe has been moved up to my go to for scones.  I can already see myself varying the flavors and adding a powder sugar glaze in the future.  Definitely one for you to try.


Who knew making extracts was so simple.  A little vodka, a few lemon peels and a little patience and you've got yourself a dash of natural lemon flavor whenever you need it.  This recipe was pretty straight forward and I imagine you could use it for just about any flavor extract you have a hankering for.  And transfer them to an amber glass jar, add a cute label and they would make adorable gifts.


Lastly I made Giada DeLaurentis Limoncello recipe.  Here again I rushed in without reading the recipe to the end but it still turned out delicious.  I failed to see the part about letting the lemon peels sit in the vodka for a couple of days before adding the simple syrup so I am sure it would have been even more amazing if I had.


So there you have it, Four Ways to Use Fresh Lemons.  I can't wait to add to my list next year when our little lemon tree produces its next crop but with lemons available in abundance very soon, who needs to wait?

Head to your local produce market, grab a dozen or two and let me know what you come up with.

xo, Patty

Just in case you want to check out the video version of all this lemon yumminess plus a little coffee chat, here's the link to my YouTube channel.

We are settling into fall here at the cottage.  The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are finally dipping down providing for the most glorious time outside.  For those of us in mild climates, autumn is the perfect time to tackle garden projects that were just not possible in the heat of summer.



Here on Lemon Lane that means my long awaited potager kitchen garden is finally being hardscaped and I am totally smitten already.


After much debate we finally decided on a stone border with pea gravel pathways.  It's only in it's beginning stages but I think it's going to blend the best of both worlds.  The curving pathways give me the casual cottage feeling that I love and the pea gravel ties it in beautifully with my husbands more formal garden space.



I am itching to get my cool season vegetables planted and have been busy amending the soil in the future garden beds but just knowing that it's happening is enough, even for this impatient garden girl...for now.



In the meantime, I cleaned up the perennial bed, added fresh mulch and am squeezing the last few blooms out of the flower garden.  There is a quietness in the garden as summer winds down.  With the beds tidied up and the perennials trimmed back, it's time for the plants (and this gardener) to rest and recharge before the next season begins.

xo, Patty

If you'd like to see more of the making of the potager kitchen garden, here's the link to my YouTube video documenting the process.  If you are not a subscriber to my channel, take a peek around and hit the subscribe button if you like what you see.


Help support Life on Lemon Lane by shopping my favorite gardening supplies and all your Amazon needs  here.

There is no shame in how much I love color in our little cottage.  It just makes me smile and that's exactly what your home should do.  So when I set about refreshing our little coffee station I sought out ways to add a mix of color and pattern to make the whole area pop with sunshine.


I am big proponent of shopping your homes nooks and crannies for decor before bringing in more stuff.  Chances are if we bought or brought it home, at some point I loved it and if that's not true then their is no reason for me to use our limited storage and wall space to keep it.


I knew I had enough room for a small shelf on the wall and was set on having my husband cut a piece of scrap wood for me to paint, when I remembered I kept a small galley shelf  (similar) when I redid the bathroom.  And as luck would have it, it fit like it was meant to be there.


Both the glass canisters and the colorful fruit enamel ones have been around for quite awhile and the pretty floral Pioneer Woman dish was being used on my fireplace mantel plate wall, which is about to be changed out with fall decor this week.  (When you shop your house, you get used to holes in the decor of other rooms until you work your way back there.)


Once those major pieces were in place, the rest of it came together as a matter of necessity for a functioning coffee bar.  Coffee, filters, pods, teas, creamers, mugs...those things we reach for every single morning are now within easy reach.


Friends and family always have fun choosing from my large collection of cups hanging on my mug rack which get changed out seasonally.

So have I missed anything?  What coffee bar necessities do you have at your hot drink station?  I did a full video tour on my YouTube channel.  I will link it below.

xo, Patty

Here's the link to the coffee bar tour.  While your there, be sure you check out the cottage style videos I have of the rest of our little cottage and hit the subscribe button so you don't miss the change to fall.