Harvested a gazillion lemons from my friends tree. These will be sent to friends and family who are sick of winter, and I might have to make some ginger lemonade. Yum!
In 2013 I resolve to steal more of the fruit that the neighbors leave on their trees to go bad. All of the citrus trees in my neighborhood are loaded with ripe Eureka lemons, Meyer lemons, oranges, tangerines, pomelos and grapefruit. I know stealing is wrong, but so is wasting food. I've been sending flat rate priority boxes of citrus fruit back to friends and family in the midwest, and they love to get them!
Yesterday I scored 16 oranges and 5 lemons when I took my dogs for their morning walk. All of it was hanging over public property, over sidewalks and alleyways. Some of my fb friend told me that it's not illegal to take it if it hangs over public property. I ended up using my scarf to carry it home because it wouldn't all fit in my coat pockets.
If any property owner bust me, I'll apologize profusely and maybe bake them some cookies so there's no hard feelings. I really can't see that they would care though. The trees I'm raiding are covered in so much ripe fruit, and they just leave it to rot.
Free fruit!
Neighborhood Crime
I was walking my dogs this morning and went up a street that I usually don't walk on. My pups stopped to sniff at a driveway where the most giant, gorgeous Meyer Lemon tree is growing. This tree is currently covered with hundreds of ripe, fragrant lemons. They were dripping off the branches, a lot of them within very easy reach.
I looked around, no car in the driveway, no car parked in front of the house, no neighbors around. I only wanted one. I love Meyer Lemons. They are a lovely cross between a tangerine and a lemon. I really only wanted one. To cook some chicken with. I couldn't resist the urge, I reached up. "...Crrreeeaaaak", "Huh?!" The front door of the house opened! Here comes somebody! "Shit! I'm so busted!"
Out comes an old man. "Do you want some lemons?" Backpedal, backpedal, "Hi, yes. I just want one..um..." I wished the ground would open up, I was caught red handed.
"Let me get you a bag." He went to the side of the house where he has a stash of bags from the grocery store. He then lowered the branch and helped me to pick as many lemons as I wanted. I thanked him up and down, grateful for the wonderful produce, but mostly grateful that he wasn't a crabby old guy who yells at lemon thieves.
Wheww!