Life handed me a lemon tree: I make lots of Lemonade

This is my Lemon Tree (and my cute kids playing nicely together, sometimes it happens)
I like it. We are on the end of Lemon Season. My second one here in FL. I know this tree needs pruning but I don't know when to do it, since I am still picking lemons when the blossoms come on for new ones... I will learn, until then...

I like tart lemonade, my family can't be expected to. Since we will be drinking a lot of lemonade (lemons are free after all and milk is SO not) I needed to find a reliable, consistent, easy method for storage, preservation and usage.

Juice lemons using citrus juicer. We have four ice cube trays so that's usually about 1 full basket of lemons. Ours are really big and juicy so a number may not be appropriate. Sometimes I strain out the pulp and seeds and sometimes I don't. It depends if I have time or not.

Pour juice into ice cube trays and freeze.

When frozen store 24 cubes to a ziplock freezer bag, write date, fruit (because I have juiced light grapefruit that looks like the lemons too) and whether or not it was strained.

Back into the freezer or deep freeze. When we need lemonade, it's easy.

2quart pitcher
1cup of sugar
6-7 lemon juice cubes (about 6-7 TBS)
Stir up

I can add a spritz of key lime juice or another lemon cube to mine. But this is the perfect ratio where my kids and husband like it and it is easy and consistent. And if I am putting on a meal and the pitcher is half full it's a no brainier to add a few cubes, sugar and water.

Eventually I will branch out and use my lemons for more, but this is where I am at. I have a recipe to try so that's a start. :)

When we first moved here, this sweet tree with it's tart fruit gave me something to love about being here. It was a hard transition, but as I look back on it I am grateful for the little things like the lemon tree and the big things like life's Lemons that teach me to be better, to look for the positive and acknowledge the Lord's hand in my life, to appreciate the blessings I have.

Our Very Own Azalea Festival

We discovered the first blooms on the bushes on the front of the house and knew it would only be a matter of a few days before the whole front yard sparked in pinks and white.

I told the girls that when the azaleas were in bloom they could pick as many as they wanted. I have enjoyed seeing them live out every little girls' greatest wish: to pick the pretty flowers. :)

This made my day coming home one evening. I love to see evidence of their play. One day picking up Olea from the bus (that is why Nev is so high, she's sitting on the top of the stroller) Nev had to have some flowers to take with her (running back down the lane to grab some). Olea took a few to her bus driver one morning as well.

And now photos from the real camera. :)





When you walk down the street you can smell them two houses or more down. I love it. They are so beautiful and so much color. I wish it was like this year round. However, that would probably kill me with my allergies so I am happy to enjoy them in March.








I love the way as they fall their sad faces bury themselves in the earth making a little tent like shape.

Azalea
their buds promise me
like they promised me then
"we will be beautiful
we will welcome you
our bright faces open
our scent lifting you away
adding magic to childhood
and conveyance to memory"

when their job is done
this moment's rarity to protect
they'll fall softly
whispering as their scent declines
"our bright remembrance
will carry thee
adding magic to childhood
and conveyance to memory"

Looking forward to next March. :)