FRUIT!

  When we first pulled up to our new house a couple of weeks ago, we were greeted by this little satsuma tree LOADED with fruit!  I knew we had some fruit trees, but after some exploring we found more than we could have expected!  It is awesome because we call our children "fruit fiends" and they are!

 

  I am so excited about this tree because everyone in our family loves satsumas!  Each morning Hannah goes out picks a few for her breakfast or snack at school.  They are a little tart now, but she enjoys them anyway.  (Her and some yard workers that didn't see me watching, but saw the tree and thought, "free snack!" and snagged a few.  :)  I was cracking up!)  Hopefully we'll still have some when they are actually ripe which is in December I think.  Satsumas = Christmas time for me.

 

Just off our driveway I was also excited to see what appeared to be a tree full of limes.

Then I saw a few yellow fruits and realized that I was wrong.  I can't decide if I'd rather have a lemon or a lime tree, we love both!

  Then I got excited because we do have both.  This is a kaffir lime.  I have recipes that call for kaffir lime leaves, but had never found them or seen the actual fruit.  We decided to cut one up for burritos one night and wowza, kaffir limes are of a different breed!  I looked them up and realized that the lime juice isn't used much because it is so overpowering.  People mainly cook with the leaves and use the fruit for a natural insecticide and deodorizer.  I totally get why.  They smell like citronella candles, or the other way around.  I am excited to experiment with them.  I guess I still have to buy normal limes from the store for cooking though.

  I also didn't even realize we had an apple tree until Calvin was telling me about one.  The apples were at his eye level and not mine!

A pomegranate tree.  Someone please pinch me!

 

  I'm not sure if this is even a fruit tree, but it might be.  Someone please tell me if you know what it is!

Onto the backyard now.  Growing along the arbor and giving us some shade is this lush plant.

Full of kiwis!!  I know these aren't ripe for a little bit either.  Can't wait for when they are.  We all love kiwis too!

It's hard to tell, but it's a fig and this is the one fig left on the tree that I could photograph.  Fig season is over (they're all on the ground!).

More citrus!  We're assuming it's an orange tree.

And lastly, a persimmon tree.  LOTS of persimmons!  If you know what to do with persimmons, please tell me.  I know you can eat them as is, but they aren't my favorite fruit.  I have heard of persimmon jam, I might be able to squeeze a jam-making session in someday!

They sure are pretty!

  We also have raised garden beds in the front and back that we cannot wait to clean out and use!  Unfortunately, doing that is not first priority.  Still trying to get organized and "settled."  It's a slow process when you are limited to doing it after the kids are in bed if I'm not busy nursing or too exhausted.  You all know what I mean.

 

Happy Monday to you all!