We took a little trip to a Pie Stand by the side of a cactus laden road. And while the pie was pretty amazing (I had chocolate cream), what was even more amazing was when we were browsing in the gift shop and came upon a bowl of free lemons. The owner explained that he had a lemon tree and hundreds to spare, and I was kind of amazed. Because my lemon juices usually come in a hard plastic lemon shaped container. Or from King Kullen, where they are tiny and unimpressive. So you can only imagine my delight at receiving fresh and beautiful and free lemons.
I was so happy. Because when life gives you free lemons, it’s just kind of awesome. When we got home, I was on a mission, to make something good of our free lemons. I looked up a good recipe for lemon bars, and then Heather and I got to work. Bless her heart, by the way. She was all cozy on the couch, watching the Cardinals, but was so willing to come and help me make the bars. She’s kind of amazing like that.
We measured and mixed and talked as though we were our own cooking show. We were proud when our dough was crumbly, yet firm, just like the recipe called for.
Our beautiful lemons sacrificed their zest and juice and beauty for the cause of our lemon bars. Because sometimes we have to let go and be squeezed and sacrificial for the good things in life to happen. And it’s okay, and it’s well worth the end result.
And the end result? Sheer lemony goodness.
Sometimes, when life gives you free lemons, you say “Thanks Life” and then you make something really good of it. In our case it was lemon bars and they turned out to be amazing. For a New York girl who has never heard of free citrus found at a roadside Pie stand, it was a fun and delicious lesson to learn.
Laura Herr Photography 