Friday, March 16, 2012

Sweet Childhood Memories

Remember in a previous post when I told you that we were fortunate enough to be able to grab some lemons from our backyard since our neighbors have a huge lemon tree that overhangs onto the right side of our property? Well, we also some lovely grapefruit trees that overhang onto the other side of our property. And our very generous neighbors told us that we are free to pick them right off anytime since they are ripe and ready to eat!!! :)

I can't tell you how excited I am to have such a refreshing treat in the mornings! It brings me back to such sweet childhood memories, as my father cultivated some huge grapefruit trees growing in our backyard. My dad was such am excellent gardener & farmer, and grew everything organically! I wish I would have paid more attention to how he grew his tomatoes, eggplants, green beans, corn, peanuts, apricots, apples, almonds, onions, garlic, squash, peaches, okra, guavas, avocados, watercress, etc. {I know, right!}!

We hardly went to the market to buy produce because my mom would often send me to the garden with a paper bag and instructions on what she needed for dinner that evening. My father loved his garden and because of him, I'm determined to learn how {albeit slowly}! :) Don't know why I took all that for granted when I was younger. **sigh**

Years have now passed, and that first home that I grew up in is no longer standing, and the second house that we moved into no longer houses my parents since they moved to another part of Central California. So when I come home to visit them, I always long for that beautiful garden of fruits and vegetables, and especially of those sun ripened grapefruit trees that used to greet me in the morning.

So in honor of such beautiful memories, my family and I really did enjoy having this for part of our daily breakfast this past week. :) Who knew one could enjoy such simple pleasures while still "living in the city!" ;)

Wishing you all a most lovely "St. Patrick's Day" weekend! :) And thank you for your input/advice on my "windows post." I think we are going to go with vinyl windows {with grids} from Home Depot. Everything else is sooo expensive, and as long as they are functional and economical, I'm happy with that! :)



XO's,
Jessie


Sharing with: "St. Patrick's Day" @Pink Saturday with How Sweet the Sound


22 comments:

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

Oh Jess, this is such a sweet loving post - I adore those memories you have!

We didn't have citrus trees in our northern state growing up but I can't even look at a grapefruit w/o thinking of my father - no one in the world I knew loved them and their juices more than Pop.

Good decision on your windows - good things are happenin' for you, yay!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

jessica said...

Glad you've made a decision for your windows! Those garden memories sound wonderful! You living in warmer climate must get a lot more variety than we do up here!!
Happy st pattys weekend to you also!!

It's me said...

Hi Jessie.....i really like your lemmon post......have a nice weekend darling...love Ria...xxx...

Shanon at Vintage Sparkle Chic said...

Can't wait to see your new windows!
I love grapefruit and especially this time of year. What a treat it must be to pick them off the tree. beautiful photos!

~Shanon

La Vie Quotidienne said...

I don't have a grapefruit tree...yours look delicious...but I do have most of the other citrus trees and they are wonderful.

Such a nice post.

Unknown said...

What lovely and important memories! :) So sweet of you! And A happy St. Patricks day to you too! :)

Hugs,

SLR said...

reason #1052 i wish i lived in a warm climate all year round...FRUIT TREES!!! i wish i could have them in IL...ah fresh citrus from the yard...it must be so divine! your father sounds like an amazing gardener...why do we never pay attention to the important things when we are young??
have a great weekend!

Phyllis @Around the House said...

wow the grapefruit look amazing...love the pictures...

FairyFiligree said...

what a lovely string of precious memories. It is the ideal situation where everybody can have their own patch and cultivate it well. I don't envy you the grapefruits because that is perhaps one fruit which I don't like, but I do like lemons and have found that squeezing one lemon with a couple of oranges gives me that added vitamin boost to beat colds, flu, coughs etc... mmmm!

1CardCreator said...

Those look delicious! Happy Pink Saturday! ~Diane (I am #75)

Katherines Corner said...

Jessie, how wonderful, anything straight of the tree or vine is truly delicious! Hugs and happy wishes for a wonderful new week ahead.

Fresh Vanilla For C said...

Hi~~ Love these pretty pictures. How wonderful that you have access to such yummy trees.Cant wait to see the new windows. Your home will feel like new once they are in.
Hope you have a great week. We have a no school day today:)
Xo~Cheryl

Tricia said...

Isn't it funny how some of the simplest things conjure up memories? There are so many things I wish I would've paid attention to when I was younger too. Those grapefruit look delicious. My mother-in-law just sent us some from her tree in Arizona. The smell was amazing when I opened the box. Glad you figured out your window dilemma :)

Susan EvelynAndRose said...

Oh, how fortunate you were to have such a garden when you were a child, Jessie! It's really sweet when foods & scents take us back in time. Enjoy that citrus!

Anonymous said...

Hi sweet friend,
Oh I can just smell the wonderful citrusy smell now. Your so lucky, I miss having fresh fruits and veggies right out side the door!
I hope your doing well Jessie! You've been in my thoughts lately!
Have a great day.
Sincerely,
Melinda

Petronela said...

wow Jessie you've created an enchanting place here. Congrats and kisses.

Anonymous said...

Oh Jessie, your post reminded me of the lemon and avocado trees in our old home in Africa. We still miss those fresh lemons and avocados and we cherish the memories. Enjoy your fresh fruit in the morning! God bless x

Heirloom treasures said...

MMM, nothing like fresh citrus fruit for breakfast,especially picked that moment. Lovely memories too.
x jeanetteann

Blooming Rose Musings said...

Oh Jess, I can almost smell the citrus from here. I am fortunate to have a lemon tree in my backyard and love being able to go out and grab the fresh fruit whenever I want to make anything with lemons.
I also love the plate you have your grapefruit on, it's very pretty.
I hope you are enjoying the first full week of spring. XO

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

I'm in love with anything lemon.

Melissa said...

What a great post Jessie!! What a great way to start your day with a grapefruit picked fresh from the tree! Lucky!!! :)

Rachel Cotterill said...

I visited my dad in Turkey last year, and he had lemons and oranges in the garden (and pomegranates!) - it's just amazing to be able to go out and pick what you want :D

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