7.02.2008

Love Thy Neighbor

It's not hard to do when one has such great neighbors. Like the neighbor who gave us a barely used queen size air mattress and two remote control cars (which have kept the kids busy for days). Or the neighbor who brought over a twelve pack of Sierra Nevada to say "thank you" for the home brew George had shared.

apricots

Then of course the neighbors who delivered to my front door a huge box full of apricots from their tree, and their children who came over to lend a hand in my kitchen.

processing apricots for the dehydrator

Prepping apricots for the dehydrator (which I scored for a buck at a rummage sale).

kitchen help

Washing the never ending stream of dirty dishes.

I should also mention the neighbors who invited my kids over to swim for several hours the other day, which allowed me time to process even more apricots.

IMG_5570

Yummmm. Apricot jam, sweetened with a little sugar and a little honey, an apricot kernel in the bottom of each jar to impart a subtle almond flavor (and a little cyanide - but not enough to harm).

An old neighbor stopped by Monday morning to say hello; she moved to Mississippi last summer and was in town for a friend's wedding. It was wonderful to see her and give her a jar of jam, made from the apricots which once hung over her back fence. Good fences may make good neighbors, but George and I both agree that fruit trees make even better neighbors.

So if you can, plant a fruit tree near a fence, share its fruits, and see how easy it is to grow love for thy neighbor.

17 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 02, 2008

    This is a really sweet post that I enjoyed very much. Makes me miss my old neighbors, and be a better one to the ones I have now. Also, I think I will dust off my dehydrater,also a $1 something thrift find:)

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  2. how sweet! those apricots look delicious!

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  3. Yes fruit has brought our neighborhood together as well. Lovely

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  4. What wonderful gifts!!

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  5. Sharing does a heart good.

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  6. I never tire of fresh produce pictures. The apricots and jam look amazing. This is a lovely post.

    How do you like your food dehydrator? I'm kinda wanting one. What else do you dry?

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  7. Agreed! Good fences make good neighbors, and fruit trees, too much lettuce in the garden, and a sharing few extra eggs, makes everyone smile a bit more ;).

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  8. Love Thy Neighbor's Fruit . . . I know it's in there.

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  9. AnonymousJuly 03, 2008

    I love this post! Probably because I adore so many of my neighbors. Don't you love it when someone shows up at your door, and asks to take a kid or two? Hmmm, let me think about that, sure.

    We have a number of baby fruit trees at our community garden. Can't wait til they grow up! As it is, I'm sure everyone is getting sick of all the squash I've been dumping on their doorstep! HA!

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  10. What a beautiful thought - fruit trees making better neighbors. I love that.

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  11. Oh you just can't beat a neighbor with a fruit tree! That's awesome!

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  12. Very sweet. I like how everything comes full circle.

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  13. What excellent neighbors you have, any houses for sale on your street?? I would love being your neighbor too!! :)

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  14. We are blessed with great neighbors, too. And they have cherry trees that will be mature soon ;)

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  15. AnonymousJuly 06, 2008

    I just came across your blog. I love the pictures of apricots, and the sense of home. Beautiful.

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