The Shame of the Fallen Lemon: My Backyard Battle with Myself

The first fallen lemon hits the ground with a dull thud, an interruption to the happy landscape of my backyard. I glance towards the corner, where my two lemon trees, usually a source of pride, now inspire a pang of guilt. Their branches, once proudly displaying their bounty of bright yellow lemons, seem to droop in silent judgment.

Hey, I’m a busy parent. Don’t judge me!

It happens every year. I, the self-proclaimed backyard guru gardener, always fall victim to a strange procrastination regarding the lemon harvest. The thought of tackling a full harvest feels overwhelming but I ignore this task and procrastinate as usual.

Don't get me wrong, I adore these trees. They're a source of joy, a testament to my green thumb (or at least, my ability to keep them alive with a watering can). I like the ease of just reaching out and grabbing a lemon when I need it. I enjoy the spontaneous pick-and-squeeze ritual – a burst of citrusy goodness into our water glasses or a dash of zest to elevate a dish. It's a luxury, a connection to fresh, homegrown flavor readily available at my fingertips. 

But the sight of those fallen lemons littering the ground is a stark reminder of wasted potential. It just seems those lemons are multiplying faster than my motivation can handle!

But life as a busy parent is a constant juggling act causing me to push things like a simple backyard harvest far down the to-do list, morphing into a looming chore rather than a fun family activity.

So now, I’ve decided to transform this shame of the fallen lemon into a call to action. My annual dance with the failed lemon harvest is over. This year, the battle lines are drawn! No more surrendering to procrastination. It's time to harvest those lemons and share the bounty.

This year, I will rise to the lemon challenge by harvesting and sharing with my neighbors. So, here's to conquering the lemon harvest, and transforming them into fun family memories!

Update: Well, it turns out, "harvesting lemons" is not fun for my kids. Harvesting is more like "the attack of the tiny citrus thorns." We did complete the harvest, but the kids will leave the harvesting to me next time. But they did love the lemonade! 

As for foodie neighbor, this is my new secret weapon where I can post a request for help harvesting our lemons. Interested neighbors can lend a hand and in exchange, I share our Meyer lemons. A win-win for everyone.