Lemons and Parsley

As gardening is something I hope to return to, and Scottsdale is somewhere I hope to retreat from, 

I have decided to resume writing, but in a new space.  

Please visit me at Lemons and Parsley, 

http://lemonsandparsley.wordpress.com/, 

where I have picked up my metaphorical pen and continue 

to write about things that I love. 

Mostly, family life and food.

Myrtle x 

Arizona Sky

Here it is.  

 Grapefruits from Little Brother's tree.

Oranges in the back garden.

Beautiful fruit. 

Silence

Just when I think I've seen it all. 

We have the Phelps family coming to Scottsdale.

They are scheduled to picket First Born's school today.

Apparently, there is too much tolerance. 

God's vocabulary does not include tolerance. 

First Born is participating in a silent protest.

I, too, am silent, or rather, speechless, 

but for different reasons. 

P.S.

  

The day after. 

 

It wasn't exactly a silent protest, but is was peaceful.  

Not Charlotte's Web

These incredible creatures are not the reason for our hasty retreat from the desert. 

But, I still don't want to meet one. 

These photos are from an arachnefriendly friend 

in Tucson, taken inside his house.

Want to go?

Test for Mango Addiction

First Born has a problem.

She can't stop eating mango. 

This may not sound serious to you, but, 

mango is expensive. 

I bought some for a dinner party.

It was all gone long before the dessert course.

I bought some today. 

Guess what happened. 

It's as if she has an internal mango magnet. 

She is drawn to mangos. 

It's a shame we don't have a mango tree in the garden.  

I reprimanded her for her indulgent behavior. 

She retorted, quick as a flash, that she has friends

that have to have monthly drug tests. 

That her mango habit was comparatively cheap and healthy. 

I wish she ate apples (or lemons) with the 

same fevour, but, as addictions go,

things could be worse. 

The Hedonistic Lemon Lover

A lemon by Manet

I have been accused of having an obsession with lemons. 

So?

It's fabulous . . .

I've just bumped into someone new. 

An interesting, creative, thinking person from another country.

I asked how he liked living in Scottsdale. 

He said that he loves the warm, dry weather, 

the scenery, and the low taxes. 

He lives alone in an enormous house with 

land, a pool and tennis court. 

He has satellite radio and television, 

as well as food flown in. 

He says it's fabulous as long as you get away regularly, 

and don't talk to anyone local.

????

Don't Do Dishes

Little One has a little friend.

She sometimes goes to the friend's house after school.

Little Friend is very nice and very sporty.

Her parents are very busy.

Anything that saves time is welcome.

So.

They don't use plates.

They don't use bowls.

They don't use plastic or paper plates or bowls.

The children eat everything out of small, plastic bags.

Snacks. Ok. 

Chips. Ok. 

Popcorn. Ok.

But, tortillas with salsa?

Is that ok?

I asked Little One if they ate their dinners out of bags.

She wasn't sure.

Just think of it.

Roast chicken and mashed potato in a bag. 

Lasagne in a bag.

Pea soup in a bag. 

Tuna salad in a bag. 

Scrambled eggs . . .

Why didn't someone think of this before?

Besides NASA.

I know I am old fashioned. 

I don't like to use my mobile phone whilst driving.

And I like plates, forks, knives, and napkins. 

Salsa Verde

We had friends for dinner. 

Fun people.

Vegetarians. 

No meat, no dairy, no eggs. 

No problem. 

I opened a book and found a recipe for Salsa Verde.

Italian Salsa Verde.

Similar to pesto, but made with 

parsley and without nuts.

Fresh lemons - grate some peel and squeeze some juice.

Olive oil, salt, pepper, and chili oil. 

Capers, spring onions, but I didn't use the anchovy paste in the end.

Flat leaf parsley, washed.  Chop finely. 

Capers in their salt.  Rinse, soak, and chop finely. 

Garlic.  Mash or chop finely. 

Here it is.  Did I say, chop finely? 

Get some bread. 

Dip. 

Hope you like it. 

Sucking Lemons

Lemons for supper. 

Lemons showing off.

A happy lemon tree. 

Lemon crush.

I love lemons.