I think figs are my favorite fruit. These are the first figs I picked from my tree this summer. I picked 6 more big, fat, juicy ones yesterday after work. The plate they are on is another of my favorite things – Jen brought it to me from Barcelona. It’s a little footed dish that says something in Portugese like “all fruits” or something. I was SO sad when a spice bottle took a dive off the shelf and broke the edge of it! I glued it back because I couldn’t bear to throw it away.
My favorite meal is so simple. It’s olive oil, shallots, garlic, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil over pasta topped with freshly grated parmesan. I could eat this every day, well, only really in the summer when the tomatoes are so sweet. I was so grateful to have found a pasta that isn’t wheat that tastes good! And it goes together in about 20 minutes – just depends on how fast you can get the pasta water to boil. The bowl it’s in is from my favorite set of dishes – I love the color – it’s so cheerful! Of course, as soon as Williams Sonoma discovered they were my favorites, they discontinued the line!
Here’s part of the new flower bed by the front door. You can see my little fairy, the bunny and the “tranquility” stepping stone. Again, favorite items that greet me every time I leave or come home. I have the same kanji tatooed on my left ankle. At the time (my 51st birthday), I thought the choice of kanji was a reminder of my goal in life. Now, I think it was more of a cosmic joke. I pulled out 90% of the ivy and planted double blossom azaleas, hosta, impatiens and some bacopia. I love the way the hostas look and may put more in this weekend. As you might have guessed, I’m a big fan of white blooms.
There seems to be a “sea change” coming in my life.
Full fathom five thy father lies:
Of his bones are coral made:
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Shakespeare (The Tempest)
I’ve been feeling it for some time. Last Friday I allowed myself a Signature Hot Chocolate from Starbucks and was walking to the office. As I turned the corner on my street, I got a physical sensation – hard to define – like hair raising on the back of your neck or that feeling when you think someone is behind you. I remember thinking, “I don’t know exactly what is up, but I think it’s big.” My mother’s health has been deteriorating rapidly and we had a little scare with Husband recently, but I’m not willing to accept any change with Husband. Mom, OK – she’s so tired and misses Daddy so much. What it turned out to be that day was the resignation of a younger associate in the firm that we all had counted on to be our “rising star.” She’s leaving law altogether. The attorney I work for is likely to be appointed to the bench later this summer. She’s the anchor in the firm. One of the partners was in my office last Friday with a “deer in the headlights” look – I just said, you know, the Universe is clearly rearranging itself and we just have to be patient. I hope the sea change does turn out to be something rich – you can bet it will be something strange.
And, in times of ebb and flow, one needs favorite things for comfort and reassurance. And this one particularly needs Husband to be ever present.
