Make Mine Real

When someone gives you a bag of lemons, you make lemonade...right? This wasn't how I was taught to make lemonade but this is how a lazy woman, short on time and long on hand pain makes lemonade. Everything I do requires hand, wrist and arm strength and my hands, etc. take a daily beating. Anything I can do to circumvent or alleviate pain, I do and, sometimes, that means wearing wrist/hand supports on both hands. Truly attractive...not but, a lot of days, so very necessary. 

All the lemons were washed before being cut into quarters. In smallish batches, they were piled into a blender along with a couple of cups of tap water. My tap water is delicious but if I had to drink city tap water...shudder, gag, choke, cough, sputter...ugh. I'd rather use bottled water because I don't like the taste of bleach and no matter where I go, I can always, but always, taste bleach in city tap water. 

Once the lemons were crushed and chopped they were put into a China man's hat which is what I grew up calling this apparatus. At the thrift store, when I was buying it,  a woman said, "Oh, you've got a ricer." I replied, "Well, I've always called it a China man's hat." She looked like one of those prim sorts who had fallen prey to the PC crowd...you know the type...pursed lips, disapproving look on her face, looked like she'd been sucking lemons. 

Anyway, I digress. I smiled and said, "I started out calling it a China man's hat and since it's going to live at my house, that's what it'll continue to be called. Her eyes looked like Morse code...blink. blink. blink. blink blink...you get the idea. 

The lemon water mixture was pushed and pressed to give up all the juicy goodness collected in the glass bowl beneath.

Each time, all the lemon water mixture was encouraged to give up everything except the bare dregs of lemon peel and rind.

There's a couple of pictures missing...the one where more water was added (to taste), the photo where the lemonade was poured into a big round pitcher; the photo where I made simple syrup. Hmmm. What can I say except ooops.

Simple syrup is in the glass jar on the left while the leftover lemonade is in the milk jug on the right. Simple syrup is a nice, easy way to let everyone sweeten their own drink (lemonade or tea) as much as they want. To make simple syrup I mix 2 cups boiled water with one cup of sugar and stir until dissolved. Keeping it in a glass bottle in the refrigerator means it stays fresh and is an easy pour.

The Aladdin plastic drinking vessel is my new favorite. Although I'm not crazy about drinking from plastic, nor am I crazy about broken glass or condensation. This drinking vessel doesn't sweat or break and, when filled with water several times a day, is one way I trick myself into drinking 64 ounces. 

My lemonade isn't as clear as when the lemons are pressed so their juice is released. My version is also a trifle more tart than the other way but, to my taste buds, it's far superior. There's ever so much more flavor and nary a seed to distract the indulgence.  This lemonade was a rare treat and was served with freshly baked shortbread. I would show a photo of the shortbread but it's gone...all gone.

Lemonade is best consumed with friends and this friend is Mary Katherine, from Through a Glass, Darkly. She and her lovely daughter, Julia, stopped at the farm on their way from somewhere to somewhere else. Did it dawn on me to get a photo of she and her daughter? No and I must admit I'm ashamed to admit it. Julia, please forgive me!

Meeting blogging friends is a blessing and for we Christians, gives a taste of what Glory will be like one day. I know most of we happy Christian bloggers will never meet this side of the veil so when it happens, like this visit, it's joyous indeed. Mary Katherine and Julia, many thanks for making me a stop on the way; thank you for your gift of time.

Blessings ~ fresh lemonade ~ simple syrup ~ Christian sisters ~ blogging friends ~ Mary Katherine ~ Julia ~