it's december and you know what that means

It's time for lemons!

No more icicles hanging from the roof eaves when there are lemons hanging off tree branches. Who woulda thunk? Winter is the time for citrus in Arizona! I'm not sure that I will ever be able to turn my thinking around to the fact that winter is not about snow, frozen ground and steam coming off your breath when you walk outside. Although, it is colder now. The mornings have been in the 30's the last couple of days and the furnace is running with great gusto. But, when you look outside, it just doesn't seem like the right chapter in the book. Or, in this case, the right month on the calendar. It still reaches the high 50's in the afternoon and the sun feels pretty warm. I'm amused by all the parkas, stocking caps and even mittens that I have seen people wearing in the afternoons while running errands. I know they have to be a tiny bit uncomfortable while driving in their car with the sun shining through the windows. Those are the people with Arizona license plates. It's the people in the Minnesota and Illinois cars that tell the real story. They are still wearing shorts.

We also have a lime tree that was looking pretty abundant about the time that we hired the crew to do all the trimming out in front. They did a great job clearing out old growth, some dead cactus and making things look a little less cluttered. They even de-cluttered the lime tree.

This is one of the only limes that was left on the branches. Can you say tequila!

And here is one of two kumquats on a little kumquat tree. Yes, kumquats do grow on kumquat trees. I'm smart like that.

These I think are tangerines. I can't remember what the previous owner said they were. But that looks to be true.
So, maybe a new tradition will start this year for Christmas. Lemon Meringue pie perhaps?

There is one thing for sure. Holiday music is tops on the favorites list around these parts. Every morning we wake to a little Christmas tune on the radio. Every radio station that I flip to in the car seems to play at least on holiday song here or there. I found one station that "is your Christmas music station for the holidays" and has been playing continuous Christmas music since halloween. I guess when you don't have an outdoor visual reminder saying "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"... then a good constant auditory sensation is what you need to remind you that "Santa Claus is coming to town". Don't get me wrong, I actually love holiday music and have quite a C.D. collection which my family looks forward to each year while decorating the tree.(!) But, I'm thinking this much, this early, just might sour the whole situation.

Like the lady at Whole Foods said to me the other day as she handed me my little container of salad... smiled and said..."Im going to be real tired of that music in about another week."

Maybe it is time for a tall glass of lemonade!