Our citrus orchard, life and awards

My analogy of our citrus orchard and awards in life.

Here it is the first Wednesday of the month.... so that means that it is Grammy Award Time. This past month I got a lovely award from both Marie and Tara. These are both great gals and good blog friends of mine. I hope that you will check out their blogs because they are good people and will add sunshine to your day.

This is the Attitude of Gratitude Award.

It is for people who take the

lemons they are given in life ...

...and...

...make ..

...lemonade.

We all know people who do that...

...and...

...we all know people who put on a sour

face no matter what sweet things they

have in life.

Let's all try to be the lemonade type of people.

I appreciate getting this award from Marie and Tara. I am glad that they think I am a "lemonade" type of person. I'm honored to post this award in my side bar.

...

Now I will pass it on..... but this award made me think..... about life...

Yesterday John was working out in our orchard.

Austin and I went out to take a walk and see Grampy.

I was thinking about this award as Grampy gave us a tour.

I think the fruits of our orchard can be compared to life.

Take oranges for example. I love oranges. I love eating them and juicing them.

I love their sweet flavor and orange color.

I know what to expect from an orange..... but....

...sometimes I get surprised...

both with oranges..... and in life.

Sometimes things do not turn out like I think they should or would.

Sometimes, like with this Blood Orange, I cut into life and find it is different than I thought it would be.... a different color.....a stronger taste.

At first I may not appreciate the change.... but if I bite into it with an open mind I am nearly always enriched by the new experience..... and glad I did so.
...

Sometimes big things come my way.
Like this Pomelo they may unfamiliar and hard to peel.
I may feel that it is too hard to deal with and not worth the effort....

...but.... if I take the time and effort to conquer the task...

I am delighted with the outcome and with what I have gained from the experience....

...just like eating pomelos.

They are a very hard citrus fruit to peel.... but inside is a treasure..

pure gold..

After the work of peeling it you are rewarded with the sweetest, best flavored citus ever...

...a truly delightful experience....just like the rewards in life of accomplishing a difficult task.

...
Sometimes in life, instead of getting something big we want like a pomelo, we are handed something much less....much smaller than we expected....

...like these kumquats.

A kumquat is so small that I can't peel it....

and when I cut it I find it is mostly pulp, seeds and sour juice inside.

...at first I didn't know what to think when I was presented with kumquats.

They did not meet my expectations and I was disappointed.

...Then John told me to not worry about peeling it....just eat the whole thing....

peel...seeds... and all.

So I did.

Wow....what a surprise!!!

They are yummy....but entirely different from any other citrus.

It is the peel that is sweet and delicious while the insides are tart...

...chewed up together they are wonderful...

...in fact they are our grandchildren's very favorite citrus.

...

What I first perceived as too small and sour turned out to be delightful when I learned how to eat it and gave it a second chance.

I have learned that same lesson at times in life.

Sometimes the little sour things can turn out to be sweet rewards when I learn how to bite into them and look at them in a different light.
...
And then there are grapefruitGrapefruit are not my favorite citrus...

...in fact...

I don't like grapefruit...

...but...

John loves grapefruit and has planted several varieties...

...so...

I can see their place in our orchard.

While I don't like grapefruit I sometimes eat them with sweetener when John is having one.

I have learned not to gripe about their flavor.

I've learned not to complain about their weird taste... because John enjoys them.

I've learned that my opinion is not the only opinion.

While my opinion is right for me.... it is not right for John... and that is fine.

It is OK to have a difference of opinion.

A husband and wife do not have to agree on everything.

On some things there is no right or wrong....just different view points... and that is fine.

It took me a long time to learn that..... but after 43 years of marriage I am finally catching on.

Just because I believe or feel one way about something... that doesn't mean that is the right way or only way to view it.... just like with grapefruit.
...

And that brings us back to Lemons...

and to today's award...

An Attitude of Gratitude

I would like to pass this award along to the following people who I believe do have positive attitudes and make the most of what could be sour experiences.

These are this award's blog rules....

Please link it to the person who gave it to you....in this case me.... and post it on your side bar. Then pass it on to 10 others , or any others, you think deserve it.

I know that many of my friends have already received this award.... If you already have it concider that you got it from me too.... because if you didn't already have it... I would send it to you.

1. Meme of Walking Widow

2. Chelsea of Sheba's Mom

3. Marla of Are We There Yet

4. Gloria of Canela's Kitchen

5. Angie of Can you All Hear Me at the Back?

6. Grandma B of The Long Journey

7. Sherryl of Heavenly Being Holmes

8. Krystyn of Really are you Serious

9. Patty of Patty's Page

10. Marlene of Stitchin by the Lake

11. Tricia of Jacobsons Journaling and Jibberish

12. For all the rest of you..... go on and take it.... you deserve it.

Thanks to all of you bloggers that set such a good example of lemonade people for me.

Have a good day. Love, Lura