Saturday, January 16, 2010

Giant Grapefruit Mistaken for the Planet Jupiter!

It would be hard to imagine a more discouraging month. There was sadness, sickness, and wierdness up the wazoo. But it is turning out to be a great new year, full of promise, and a life time supply of grapefruit. Dear friend Cathy Bonnell, went out in her back yard, picked some of her other-worldly fruit, put it in a huge box, and mailed it to the dark, wet, cold, mist-shrouded, Northwest. Let me preface: she is the world's greatest librarian, and friend. Besides which, she lives in Arizona. You know, "sun, sun, sun, til daddy takes the T-Bird away". Come to think of it, she may live near Area 51.

To help you get a an idea of the size of these puppies.

The range of citrus: grapefruit, oranges, lemons, lime, tangerine, kumquat. They arrived just in the nick of time. I needed vitamin C big time, and this kind friend brought earth medicine, smiles, and an antidote to the blues.

At first these two didn't know what to make of each other. But after swapping stories...

It was best of pals. They became inseparable. Now they go everywhere together-- the beach, the cinema, hiking, they were even going to take in a jai alai game, but thought better of it.

11 comments:

tlchang said...

So is *that* the cure for the mid-winter PNW-endless-grey-and-drizzle blahs? (which some years take a turn for the S.A.D.-worse? Ugh. I think I am succumbing this year..)

It looks like you at least had enough ephemeral sunshine to shoot your lovely lovely citrus in. :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow! I think if those fruits were grown in this country they'd be setting some records! They are huge bags of sunshine.

Zuzana said...

Ah, this made me smile, due to so many reasons. First of all I love citrus fruits and I love the photography here. I am a fan of "progressive or comparative photography", such as *before and after* pictures.
I also like the sweet girls depicted here and the nice sentiments of receiving such a gift from a friend.;)

xo
Zuzana

steven said...

hello richard and welcome back to your world!!! the photographs - especially the two little girls holding the jupiter-sized grapefruit (!) - are funny and warming. mmmm hmmmm richard "warming" - fruit does that even in the middle of a winter in the eastern woodlands, even in the middle of a sorry month! isn't that pure magic. i'd dearly love a book about the fruit's friendship and travels - speaking of books . . . "bronwen, the traw, and the shape shifters" arrived last week. it'll be getting some airplay in my class next week - a super fantastic story with stunning illustrations!!! steven

Julia Kelly said...

I am glad your "creative juices" are flowing again-with the help of your friend sending you some juicy citrus!
The sun is shining here the last few days and my mood seems lifted too!

Kat_RN said...

Richard,
Once again your blog made me smile, it always does. I love the way you look at the world. I received a kreativ blogger award from Jeanne Klaver and I would like to pass it on to you. If you choose to accept it, details are on my blog. If not, that is fine too, I will continue to enjoy your blog. Thanks for sharing.
Kat

Elaine Asaidali said...

Those puppies are enormous! Thanks for bringing a burst of sunshine and laughter my way. This teeny-weeney kumquat and grand old grapefruit need their story told. I see a picture book in the making. Yessiree!

a dash of scraps said...

my mouth is watering!!! hope you feel better soon. soon it will be february and you know what that means...we'll be able to anticipate march and longer days ahead. c u soon, :DL

Richard Jesse Watson said...

Tara, it is the antidote. Eat on orange, or one of its cousins. And the light on that photo was a brief slant of light for only minutes late one afternoon through the woods.

Yeah, Kitty, when I opened the box, I said, "Whoah!"

Thank you Zuzana. I hope your year is filled with lots of citrus and smiles. And lots of progressive realities that you can capture in words and pics.

Thanks a lot, Steven. I am delighted that you will be sharing the Bronwen book with your class. It is an unusual epic poem. Wish I could hear you read it to them.

Julia, I also think we can make it through this winter. The trees are sending up their shoots, the crocus are stirring in their mulch. The bite of the cold and the grey of the skies seems less sure of itself. Spring is planning her comeback.

Kat, you are too kind. Thank you for sharing the "kreativ blogger award". I will try to follow up, although the next couple of months are drenched in deadline. Oi! I loved your sky pictures.

Hi Elaine, you make me laugh. It was so nice to see you at SCBWI. I hope your critique went well. Perhaps you are right. The two citrus pals may be up to something.

Hi sweet Donna Lyn, we can eat these fresh picked soon! hugs to the fam.

the wild magnolia said...

Blogged right over to visit you from 5preciousthings. Delightful words and funnieeee..too! Love the pictures and comparisons of fruits. Citrus and humor...good combo! Both medicinal. :-)

Richard Jesse Watson said...

Nice to meet you Wild Magnolia. Thanks for visiting. Here's to the medicinal benefits of a bunch of fruits!