Time to dine. . . . . . . . .

I spent much of Sunday doing this!

Even though I had promised myself it would be a day of relaxation I just felt

 it was time to make changes and start decluttering the dining room.

So I got moving, making this chore part Spring Cleaning, part downsizing.

At this point in time a future move is always in the back of my mind. 

Meanwhile fewer dust catchers will make life and cleaning easier.

I've painted this dresser several times in the 30 plus years since I bought it

 unfinished. I still like this grayish-blue shade so it will stay. 

With all the china removed, and gently washed by hand, I replaced some

 antique/vintage items, packed others up to dispose of, and placed some of my

 everyday plain white 'French Countryside' china so it's more accessible than

 in the kitchen cabinets. After all, that's what dressers were originally built for

 before fitted kitchens hung on walls were ever invented.

This is how it looks now with everyday dishware consisting of plates and bowls for 

serving food, cups and saucers for tea, and demitasse cups for coffee, all at hand.

Some antiques remain - many picked up during travels to England and France - because

 they are special to me.  

Still other areas to work on - so I must get moving!

. . . . . . just stop by and cozy up to a bar!

OK, these look old-fashioned, don't they?

Just another way to use those homegrown Celeste figs.

My lovely friend Jeannette made them first with figs from my tree - shared 

them and the recipe with me. Sunday I made a batch of my own.

I may try freezing a few of these to see how that works. . . . . . 

they can cozy up next to the several bags of baked figs already

frozen for Winter desserts.

These are not fig Newtons. More like old-fashioned bars with a layer of honeyed 

fresh figs, cooked down to jam consistency with grated lemon peel and chopped 
walnuts added, then spread between two layers of crust made with brown sugar, 
butter and oats. Walnuts, lemon and oats are really healthy - just don't think about 
the sugar content!

However, I think diet days are looming in the near future after indulging in so 
many baked goodies around here in the past few weeks of fig harvesting. 

I'll be off to a couple of countries known for wonderful food soon. . . . . . and you 

can bet I'll be eating my share!

Farewell to figs………………

Over the weekend the figs seemed to vanish into thin air. The plump ones left on the 

trees Saturday - because I just couldn't handle any more in my kitchen - were devoured 

by birds, especially robins, and the occasional squirrel. Fruits pecked open and 

savored allowed the bees to buzz in. . . . so I stayed away.

It has been a great crop this year and I have made good use of the figs. . . . . come 

on over if you want a jar of yummy jam, I have plenty, fig and lemon, fig and ginger.

Need to do some gentle pruning soon as both trees are so big now. . . . . have some 

friends who would like a fig tree of their own so I may try propagating a few to share.