I hate to belabor a point but I am so nervous about retiring at the end of this year. I just can't seem to get it off my mind. I go to bed thinking about it and wake up thinking about it. It's not necessarily bad thoughts either. I just can't seem to get it off my mind. Last night hubby and I were sitting out on the deck enjoying the evening and one of those small airplanes flew overhead and we waved. We have a couple neighbors that enjoy flying in our community and it's a pleasure to see them enjoying themselves. As I waved I looked over at hubby and said, "I love living here. I just really want to enjoy this place while I can." True, my enjoyment is labor intensive but I do truly love everything about this place and my life. I am going to try to put all this nervousness about retirement behind me and spend those efforts on each moment of the day, doing what I can to live life to the fullest and perhaps in the process giving a little back to those around me.
Today is a catch-all day outside. I'm going to finish up the kitchen garden and do all the outside stuff I desire and there's plenty to do!! Yesterday evening I checked my fig tree and brought into the house a half dozen of the biggest, juiciest figs you've ever seen!! I will either have more figs today or tomorrow and not just a few either!! It looks like I'm going to have quite a batch this year. For me, figs are a novelty. I barely knew they existed except for a couple recipes I have that require dried figs; but about 10 years ago I saw a tree and after that, I just had to have one. I made some fig jam with what I had last year but I only got a bowlful. This year, if they all ripen, I'm going to have bunches. I am really, really almost giggly with anticipation. I've been looking up recipes and trying to decide how I wish to preserve them. I think I'm going to prepare a few dishes with fresh figs and then dry the rest. And my tree is getting really tall too!! I'm actually going to have to get a ladder to collect all the figs. I'm sure it's no big deal to those that have been around fig trees all their lives but I think it's amazing!! My tree dies back every year, I mulch it really well and each year it comes back a little bigger, a little better and each year with more figs!!! I'm so pleased!!
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