Written for Crispina’s Crimson’s
Creative Challenge #040, using pic #1.
This is where the image took me.
Crispina’s beautiful photo of a lemon tree reminded me of my cousin’s garden in Sicily. Franco is a little older than me, lives alone and has the luxury of an extremely relaxed lifestyle. The garden of his country house in Agrigento is full of trees … lemon, orange, peach, avocado, cherry, olive, almond, fig, grape and more. The number and variety is impressive. From mid-morning until late afternoon, Franco will sit in the shade of his garden; he will read, water the plants, nap and enjoy the freshly picked fruit from his trees. In the evening he’ll meet some friends in the piazza for coffee or gelato; sometimes he’ll go shopping in town for fresh fish. I could very easily embrace that lifestyle.
The image also reminded me of the song “Lemon Tree” , a folk song written in the late ‘50s by Will Holt and made popular by Trini Lopez. The tune is based on the Brazilian song, Meu limão meu limoeiro, which compares love to a lemon tree: “Lemon tree very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet, but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat.” In 1965, Trini Lopez recorded the most successful version of the song. Will Holt recalled: “I remember meeting Trini Lopez. He was a sweet guy, really charming. I heard his version of ‘Lemon Tree,’ and I thought, that’s a really beautiful take of the song.”
This is “Lemon Tree” by Trini Lopez
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The Elephant's Trunk 
I remember that song and remember some of the words (at least the refrain)
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Yes, the refrain! I with you there.
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Your cousin has an enviable lifestyle! Lovely post, and I love this song.
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He really does, Lisa!
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In NZ, my SIL’s sister had a lemon tree in the garden. It was quite something picking the lemons for their G&Ts.
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Sounds pretty tasty to me, Di!
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I love where the picture took you – you took me there too, delightful.
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Thank you, Keith. If only we could step through our screens and go to any destination we desire!
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I want to be Franco! 😊
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You and me both, Tiffany!
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Sounds like an ideal lifestyle!
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He’s got it made in the shade, Esther!
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What a lovely memoire of days spent in your cousin’s bountiful garden. Personally, I would be seated amidst rotting fruit, as every time I have had a fruit tree or tow- I could not keep up with their production!
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My cousin has gardeners who maintain his trees; they also deliver bushels of fruit & nuts to shops in town who sell them for my cousin. He’s got a good life!
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An idyllic lifestyle.
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For sure! When I was there, I didn’t want to leave.
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I can imagine.
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Ah, Nancy, … I could imagine that lifestyle too, and I would embrace it, truly embrace it, … sigh! … and now I’m singing about lemons, … what have you done to me?, …😉 💫🎶💫🎶💫
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I’m ready! Let’s go! ✈️ It’s my mission, Penn …. to fill people’s lives with music! Keeps Alexa busy! 😂 🎶♡
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