"Ignorance is Bliss." Remember this photo from last September? Back then, while eating my way from one end of this fig tree to the other, I had no idea there was more to a fig than meets the eye….
une guêpe (gep)
: wasp
Terms, Expressions, and an example sentence:
la taille de guêpe = slender-waisted, hourglass figure
le nid de guêpe = hornet's nest
Pour éviter les piqures de guêpes, un vieux truc [ou astuce] de viticulteurs: pincer le bout de la langue entre les dents tant que l'insecte menace. Cela créée une légère tension corporelle qui le gêne, s'il vient à se poser sur la peau.
To avoid wasp stings, an old tip [or trick] from winegrowers: pinch the tip of your tongue between your teeth for as long as the insect threatens. This creates a light corporal tension that bothers [the wasps], if they come to land on the skin. (that story here…)
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Figs and the Fascinating Life of a Lilliputian Wasp
Last night I heard a curious sound coming from outside the bedroom window. Toc, toc, toc…. Was it a thief?
My heart fluttered as I tuned into the strange noise. I listened to the intermittent thumping and shuffling, wondering what in the world? Was it a wild animal?
My mind reeled with possibilities, eventually settling on the least spooky conclusion: falling figs! I remembered back a day or two ago when playing fetch with Smokey. As he retrieved his stick, over by the boules court, I saw a scattering of figs lying there on the ground.
Next I noticed the ping pong table. It too was covered with figs…. I recalled the rumbling sky and the burst of rain we'd had the day before. The figs must have been knocked from the tree.
Allez. Pousse-toi, Smokey! Va là-bas, Braise! Like looters who appear on the scene, our dogs rushed up to the fallen goods, attempting to cash in on the catastrophe.
I reached down to pick up a fig and saw it was too young to salvage. But then, could one eat an unripe fruit? It was a question I'd often wondered about. Such a pity all these figs might be destined for the compost pile, instead of our plates–in the form of tarte à la figue or figues farcies au fromage bleu or "figues tout court"!
Impatient to know the answer I tore open one of the figs. Instead of the usual raspberry color with lovely star-burst yellow accents, this one was pasty white inside.
As I stood frowning into the fig my eyes caught on something… something wiggling! Dropping the fig I wondered, Was that a worm I just saw?
I walked over to the ping pong table and picked up another fig. Splitting it open I searched the interior until–wiggle, wiggle, wiggle!–I found what I was looking for. Beurk! C'est dégoûtant!
Any disgust was soon replaced by curiosity. The little fig in my hand was teeming with life. But how had the wiggly vers gotten there? Turning the fig round and round, I could find no port of entry….
An internet search ("worms in figs") opened up a fascinating new world–in which two living things come into being by the grace of the other–a process called mutualism. But how is this possible and which came first–the chicken or the egg (or the fig or the wasp?).
Quit sait? Meantime what is known is this: because of the location of the fig's flowers (inside the fig), to pollinate it a female wasp has to enter the fig through a tiny hole in its base. It takes a very small wasp to do this, hence its moniker "la guêpe liliputienne".
Once inside, the female deposits pollen and lays her eggs, which soon hatch. After the pupal stage, male wasps quickly find their way over to young females–and mate! Next, ever energetic, the males forge an escape route for the females (remember, everyone is still trapped inside the fig!). But all that gusto soon goes broke. The machos die at or near the sortie de secours and only the females make it out alive.
As the females crawl out of the fig, their little legs collect the pollen distributed by the first wasp…. Exiting, finally, the fig they salute their fallen heroes (OK, this part's made up) and, without missing a beat, make their way over to the nearest fig and into a little hole there at the base. Next the whole extraordinary cycle repeats itself!
As I said, some of the males–and those females who've lost their wings on the voyage out, die sur le chemin… These unlucky ones remain there, fallen heroines and heroes, trapped inside the fig which then grows and ripens around them–like a sweet tomb.
At this point you may be wondering, like I was, whether or not to give up your addiction to figs? Could you overlook this wiggly fact and bite into the luscious fruit with the same wild abandon?
(Relax, nature cleans up the gory mess….)
Better than a sci-fi movie, the mutant fig eventually (and completely) consumes the unlucky wasps–this with the help of alchemy! ASU's Ask A Biologist column explains the process:
Figs produce a chemical called “ficin” that breaks down the wasp bodies. Ficin is so effective at breaking down, or digesting, animal proteins that natives of Central America eat fig sap to treat intestinal worm infections.
The article goes on to say that the rumor some of us once heard (about fig newtons containing crushed insects) is false. As for the figs on the trees, it all depends….
Recently, I watched my friend Isa reach for one of our figs while admiring our fig tree. Je les adore! She cooed, about to pop one of the fruits into her mouth.
Noticing the figs weren't ripe yet, I yanked the fruit out of her hand.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you…."
***
Comments
To leave a comment, click here — or share your favorite fig recipe (and assure me that you are no namby-pamby–that you won't let some lusty wasps keep you from enjoying this fascinating fruit!).
French Vocab
toc-toc-toc = knock-knock-knock
allez = come on
pousse-toi = move it!
va là-bas! = go over there!
la tarte aux figues = fig pie, fig tart
figues farcies au fromage bleu = figs stuffed with blue cheese
figues tout court = simply figs (figs full stop)
beurk = yuck!
c'est dégoûtant = that's disgusting
un ver = worm
qui sait? = who knows
sur le chemin = along the road
la sortie de secours = emergency exit
Kristi and Chief Grape. (We moved from the Ste Cécile vineyard, Domaine Rouge-Bleu, almost one year ago, but Jean-Marc will always be the grape chief. Meantime he's getting ready to plant his next vineyard). Painting by Dana Constance Thomas. At Dana's blog, you will find the interview we did together about what inspires me… and the answer to this question : If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?. I had a lot of fun answering that one. Don't miss the interview, here!
I planted sunflower seeds sprouts last fall — and forgot about them. Those are radish pods. Having fun in the garden — hope you are having fun there, or elsewhere. Enjoy your day.
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Hi Kristin,
I think I would think twice about eating a fig now that I’ve heard what goes on inside. I guess the fig enzymes dissolve the wasp? Nature is so cool! We experienced the 17 year cicadas here this summer and I wondered about their life cycle too. Live in the ground for 17 years, exit the ground, mate and then die? What? What is the use! haha
I would like God to say “Entrez vous, s’il vous plait.” Or would I hope he knows me and use the familiar form? Or would he say, sorry take the escalator down?
Hi Kristin,
I think I would think twice about eating a fig now that I’ve heard what goes on inside. I guess the fig enzymes dissolve the wasp? Nature is so cool! We experienced the 17 year cicadas here this summer and I wondered about their life cycle too. Live in the ground for 17 years, exit the ground, mate and then die? What? What is the use! haha
I would like God to say “Entrez vous, s’il vous plait.” Or would I hope he knows me and use the familiar form? Or would he say, sorry take the escalator down?
Thanks for this fascinating biology lesson. When we moved into our current house we had a forest of fig bushes/trees. It was out of control and I knew nothing about figs, how to tend, what to do after ripe, etc. The spot could be a great location for my flower beds so I ripped out the figs. My husband and all the neighbors who used to pick figs as they walked by were ticked off. I tried to make it up to them by making a colorful garden for all the passers-by. They eventually came to appreciate the colors and scents I created alongside the sidewalk.
Thanks for this fascinating biology lesson. When we moved into our current house we had a forest of fig bushes/trees. It was out of control and I knew nothing about figs, how to tend, what to do after ripe, etc. The spot could be a great location for my flower beds so I ripped out the figs. My husband and all the neighbors who used to pick figs as they walked by were ticked off. I tried to make it up to them by making a colorful garden for all the passers-by. They eventually came to appreciate the colors and scents I created alongside the sidewalk.
Yes, I know about the wasps and the figs (a variation of the “birds and the bees”?) We have a fig tree that gives us the sweetest figs, and I have no trouble eating them as long as they’re cooked. I seem to have a slight allergy to raw figs. I have a great recipe for fig-banana-pistachio bread. I’ll see if I can find it and post it here. One year we made wine out of the windfall of figs. Impossible to eat them all! We still have figs in the freezer from last year. I give lots of them away to friends.
Yes, I know about the wasps and the figs (a variation of the “birds and the bees”?) We have a fig tree that gives us the sweetest figs, and I have no trouble eating them as long as they’re cooked. I seem to have a slight allergy to raw figs. I have a great recipe for fig-banana-pistachio bread. I’ll see if I can find it and post it here. One year we made wine out of the windfall of figs. Impossible to eat them all! We still have figs in the freezer from last year. I give lots of them away to friends.
In the meantime, here’s a fig bar recipe:
Vegan Fig Bars (Vegan, can be GF, soy free)
Makes 9
For the fig filling:
About 12 large figs
6 pitted medjool dates
1 tbsp brown rice syrup
2 tbsp lemon juice (or the juice of 1 large lemon)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, chopped
For the oat dough:
1 1/4 cup oat flour (GF if following a GF diet)
1 cup rolled oats (see above)
2 tsps cinnamon
Dash sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp brown rice syrup
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup safflower oil
1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Oil an 8 inch square baking pan and dust it with oat flour.
2) Place figs in a food processor along with dates, lemon juice, syrup, cinnamon. Process until the mixture resembles a smooth fig jam. Pulse in the nuts quickly.
3) Try not to eat all of said jam before you make your bars. You will be tempted. Very tempted.
In the meantime, here’s a fig bar recipe:
Vegan Fig Bars (Vegan, can be GF, soy free)
Makes 9
For the fig filling:
About 12 large figs
6 pitted medjool dates
1 tbsp brown rice syrup
2 tbsp lemon juice (or the juice of 1 large lemon)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, chopped
For the oat dough:
1 1/4 cup oat flour (GF if following a GF diet)
1 cup rolled oats (see above)
2 tsps cinnamon
Dash sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp brown rice syrup
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup safflower oil
1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Oil an 8 inch square baking pan and dust it with oat flour.
2) Place figs in a food processor along with dates, lemon juice, syrup, cinnamon. Process until the mixture resembles a smooth fig jam. Pulse in the nuts quickly.
3) Try not to eat all of said jam before you make your bars. You will be tempted. Very tempted.
Hi,
You help us learn something new–all of the time. I have to say I love fig newtons but have never had a fresh fig, it is now on the bucket list : ) Also, I am so glad you made use of the ASU Ask a Biologist, way cool. Hopefully it is not hazy, hot and humid in France like it is in Wash. DC USA…
Hi,
You help us learn something new–all of the time. I have to say I love fig newtons but have never had a fresh fig, it is now on the bucket list : ) Also, I am so glad you made use of the ASU Ask a Biologist, way cool. Hopefully it is not hazy, hot and humid in France like it is in Wash. DC USA…
Ping! Did anybody hear a pin drop? I am afraid I may have grossed you out with my fig story — and I would like to insist on the fact that figs are perfectly fine to eat when ripe–no wasps whatsoever! Personally, I have grand plans for all the figs left on that tree (hopefully theyll quit falling!) and I thank you for your recipe, Jolley! I will try to remember mine — for the fig tart — and post it. Meantime it is simple: half figs. Put them on a store bought pie shell. Drizzle honey over figs. Bake. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (if you happen to have any!)
P.S. Patty – just saw your note. So happy to know you’ve put fresh figs on your bucket list. Yay!
Ping! Did anybody hear a pin drop? I am afraid I may have grossed you out with my fig story — and I would like to insist on the fact that figs are perfectly fine to eat when ripe–no wasps whatsoever! Personally, I have grand plans for all the figs left on that tree (hopefully theyll quit falling!) and I thank you for your recipe, Jolley! I will try to remember mine — for the fig tart — and post it. Meantime it is simple: half figs. Put them on a store bought pie shell. Drizzle honey over figs. Bake. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (if you happen to have any!)
P.S. Patty – just saw your note. So happy to know you’ve put fresh figs on your bucket list. Yay!
OK, for the non-vegan/non GF people, here’s the best recipe:
BANANA-NUT-FIG BREAD
Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas (the riper, the better)
2 eggs
4 oz. Butter (or) 2.75 oz. Nut butter (almond, peanut, cashew)
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1.5 cup sugar (or) 2/3 cup honey (I use honey)
1.5 cup flour (whole wheat is best)
1 tsp. Baking soda
pinch salt
1 cup chopped nuts (I used pistachios moistened by pouring boiling water over them and letting them sit till cool, then drain, as per another recipe I have)
1 cup chopped fresh figs
Olive Oil for greasing pan
Preheat oven to 375 F
Mix liquid/squishy stuff in a big bowl.
Sift dry ingredients into the liquid mixture.
Fold in nuts and figs
Pour into an olive oil greased pan (8” x 4.5” or approx.)
Bake for 1 hour. If not done, cover with parchment (to prevent burning) and continue baking.
OK, for the non-vegan/non GF people, here’s the best recipe:
BANANA-NUT-FIG BREAD
Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas (the riper, the better)
2 eggs
4 oz. Butter (or) 2.75 oz. Nut butter (almond, peanut, cashew)
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1.5 cup sugar (or) 2/3 cup honey (I use honey)
1.5 cup flour (whole wheat is best)
1 tsp. Baking soda
pinch salt
1 cup chopped nuts (I used pistachios moistened by pouring boiling water over them and letting them sit till cool, then drain, as per another recipe I have)
1 cup chopped fresh figs
Olive Oil for greasing pan
Preheat oven to 375 F
Mix liquid/squishy stuff in a big bowl.
Sift dry ingredients into the liquid mixture.
Fold in nuts and figs
Pour into an olive oil greased pan (8” x 4.5” or approx.)
Bake for 1 hour. If not done, cover with parchment (to prevent burning) and continue baking.
Love all the recipes for figs but they are not so prevelant here in Ohio! And how do you know a ripe fig? Would hate to interrupt the cycle by breaking in too early. Love this new knowlege – can’t wait to share this gem at a dinner party soo!!
Love all the recipes for figs but they are not so prevelant here in Ohio! And how do you know a ripe fig? Would hate to interrupt the cycle by breaking in too early. Love this new knowlege – can’t wait to share this gem at a dinner party soo!!
Eeee. I might be a namby pamby!!! I can’t help it! Sigh. Will try to deal because “Tante Yetta”‘s fig compote at the Arles market is pretty awesome…I do however no longer eat morels since my friend Jennifer at the Gustia blog (do you know her? She seems like your cup of tea and is Aidan Larson-like nice) called them “bug motels.” 🙁
And I hate to break it to Patty but it IS hazy, hot and humid–at least here in Arles!!! Hope you are cooler in Bandol, Kristin et Bon Weekend!
Eeee. I might be a namby pamby!!! I can’t help it! Sigh. Will try to deal because “Tante Yetta”‘s fig compote at the Arles market is pretty awesome…I do however no longer eat morels since my friend Jennifer at the Gustia blog (do you know her? She seems like your cup of tea and is Aidan Larson-like nice) called them “bug motels.” 🙁
And I hate to break it to Patty but it IS hazy, hot and humid–at least here in Arles!!! Hope you are cooler in Bandol, Kristin et Bon Weekend!
I’ve never cared for figs and now I think I won’t try to cultivate the taste! Speaking of insects in cookies, when I was a child in England, Garibaldi biscuits were commonly known as squashed fly biscuits.
I’ve never cared for figs and now I think I won’t try to cultivate the taste! Speaking of insects in cookies, when I was a child in England, Garibaldi biscuits were commonly known as squashed fly biscuits.
LOL, Heather, I did read about the mushrooms. Thanks for the Gustia blog info – off to visit Jennifers site! Happy weekend to all.
LOL, Heather, I did read about the mushrooms. Thanks for the Gustia blog info – off to visit Jennifers site! Happy weekend to all.
Salut Kristin,
Wow! I never knew all that about figs! They are well acclimated to the Arizona climate, but I’m not familiar with any orchards in the Phoenix area. It maybe too hot in the desert areas…..It hit 119 degrees here last week!
Since I’m so old. . . When the good Lord greets me, after a “shake and howdy”, he’ll probably say something like, “Where the heck have you been, Partner?” or maybe “What took you so long?
À bientôt
Herm
Salut Kristin,
Wow! I never knew all that about figs! They are well acclimated to the Arizona climate, but I’m not familiar with any orchards in the Phoenix area. It maybe too hot in the desert areas…..It hit 119 degrees here last week!
Since I’m so old. . . When the good Lord greets me, after a “shake and howdy”, he’ll probably say something like, “Where the heck have you been, Partner?” or maybe “What took you so long?
À bientôt
Herm
What could be more like heaven on earth than fig trees, olive trees and grape vines, a vegetable garden (artichokes..yolo) and wild flowers, all breathing to the beat of a dog’s gently wagging tail and kissed by a soft sea breeze? The wasps don’t even seem that threatening!
It speaks out… Come in and peace be with you.
This must come to you through much hard work so even better must be the reward.
Artichokes in the garden are a memory from a former life in France. Today I must visit Whole Foods for gorgeous artichokes and seasonal fresh figs….
Ah..to live in France!
What could be more like heaven on earth than fig trees, olive trees and grape vines, a vegetable garden (artichokes..yolo) and wild flowers, all breathing to the beat of a dog’s gently wagging tail and kissed by a soft sea breeze? The wasps don’t even seem that threatening!
It speaks out… Come in and peace be with you.
This must come to you through much hard work so even better must be the reward.
Artichokes in the garden are a memory from a former life in France. Today I must visit Whole Foods for gorgeous artichokes and seasonal fresh figs….
Ah..to live in France!
super, l’histoire des figues aux asticots!
asticots= maggots vers= worms
super, l’histoire des figues aux asticots!
asticots= maggots vers= worms
I love this story —- I didn’t know this about figs. What a wonder! I love Mother Nature —- very smart!
Stay well!
I love this story —- I didn’t know this about figs. What a wonder! I love Mother Nature —- very smart!
Stay well!
KRISTI DARLING,
I am overwhelmed with joy from your post today…so many thoughts ignited by your observations of life. You have hit your stride in sharing your intermost thoughts with all of your precious friends. To open up and share how your feelings come to surface is a giant step in the journey of your writing. As I have nagged you for years – RESEARCH is the key to a memorable story, and what a joy research of all that catches our attention in life, and then to have the gift of communication, and the will to share (the courage to share) is the key to reaping the rewards of your toil into the center of life…and the center of your writing.
I am so proud of you Honey – I have so many thoughts just for you this morning – I wish I had your command of the art of communication, but I guess that is my reward for all of the @#%!# you reaked in my life as a 10 year old. Just kidding, but i am always wisked back to that moment in time in our little kitchen when you would sit at the table and rattle on and on about your adventures in the desert behind our house…remember when I put a tape recorder in front of you and said, “Honey, just tell your stories here.”
You are now my #1 storyteller….all of my love always to you Darling.
XOXO
MOM
KRISTI DARLING,
I am overwhelmed with joy from your post today…so many thoughts ignited by your observations of life. You have hit your stride in sharing your intermost thoughts with all of your precious friends. To open up and share how your feelings come to surface is a giant step in the journey of your writing. As I have nagged you for years – RESEARCH is the key to a memorable story, and what a joy research of all that catches our attention in life, and then to have the gift of communication, and the will to share (the courage to share) is the key to reaping the rewards of your toil into the center of life…and the center of your writing.
I am so proud of you Honey – I have so many thoughts just for you this morning – I wish I had your command of the art of communication, but I guess that is my reward for all of the @#%!# you reaked in my life as a 10 year old. Just kidding, but i am always wisked back to that moment in time in our little kitchen when you would sit at the table and rattle on and on about your adventures in the desert behind our house…remember when I put a tape recorder in front of you and said, “Honey, just tell your stories here.”
You are now my #1 storyteller….all of my love always to you Darling.
XOXO
MOM
So this fascinates me in a wholly deeper way. Metaphysically the wasp is the master architect, a symbol of fertility, productivity, of evolution. That fact it is literally absorbed into the fig imbues its meaning into the fruit. So says me.No wonder the fig tree is seen as sacred, for it is where Buddha found enlightenment. Oh that it could be so easy.
So the next time you bite into a fig ponder: Are you expressing yourself more clearly? Are you aligned with your goals? Are you living up to your greatest potential? Because that is what the wasp DNA is asking.
P.S. Love what you do……
So this fascinates me in a wholly deeper way. Metaphysically the wasp is the master architect, a symbol of fertility, productivity, of evolution. That fact it is literally absorbed into the fig imbues its meaning into the fruit. So says me.No wonder the fig tree is seen as sacred, for it is where Buddha found enlightenment. Oh that it could be so easy.
So the next time you bite into a fig ponder: Are you expressing yourself more clearly? Are you aligned with your goals? Are you living up to your greatest potential? Because that is what the wasp DNA is asking.
P.S. Love what you do……
I love figs and have cut them in half, caramelized them in some butter ,shot a dab of mascarpone cheese on one half and then wrapped 2 halves with Bayonne ham…as an amuse bouche.
I didn’t know about the bees…oh well a little protein.
Enjoy your figs and the the bounty of your gardens.
Kathleen
I love figs and have cut them in half, caramelized them in some butter ,shot a dab of mascarpone cheese on one half and then wrapped 2 halves with Bayonne ham…as an amuse bouche.
I didn’t know about the bees…oh well a little protein.
Enjoy your figs and the the bounty of your gardens.
Kathleen
Thanks for a most interesting post. Somewhere along the way I learned about the wasp’s relationship with the fig but not all of the fascinating details! I have loved fresh figs since I was a child and ate them from my grandmother’s fig bushes in North Florida. Perhaps they are like okra in that a taste for them is usually acquired early in life. Kristin, if you have an abundance of them, try drying some. They make a great snack which you can carry anywhere. Bon week-end.
Thanks for a most interesting post. Somewhere along the way I learned about the wasp’s relationship with the fig but not all of the fascinating details! I have loved fresh figs since I was a child and ate them from my grandmother’s fig bushes in North Florida. Perhaps they are like okra in that a taste for them is usually acquired early in life. Kristin, if you have an abundance of them, try drying some. They make a great snack which you can carry anywhere. Bon week-end.
I too learned about the wasp connection while looking for fig trees to plant near my home in Georgia (USA). A bit horrified from the picture of a split, unripened fig, I told myself that this must be a “special” type of fig. Now I know the undeniable facts and will continue to enjoy the sweetness.
Also, I want to let you know that I enjoy your enlightening posts. This one was exhilarating and makes me want to notice, smell, taste, listen and experience all that life has to offer.
Merci, Kristin. Continue to inspire!
I too learned about the wasp connection while looking for fig trees to plant near my home in Georgia (USA). A bit horrified from the picture of a split, unripened fig, I told myself that this must be a “special” type of fig. Now I know the undeniable facts and will continue to enjoy the sweetness.
Also, I want to let you know that I enjoy your enlightening posts. This one was exhilarating and makes me want to notice, smell, taste, listen and experience all that life has to offer.
Merci, Kristin. Continue to inspire!
Thanks for all this info, Kristin. I had heard this (apparently erroneously) about dates … and, even though I love them, had stopped eating them. It appears I can return to eating dates! Are dates and figs any way closely related where this could be true of both (one grows on a palm, the other on a tree)? Either way, the sharing of your diligent research makes me aware of the entire (fascinating!) process so I now know they are both safe to eat without fear of biting into a wasp!
Thanks for all this info, Kristin. I had heard this (apparently erroneously) about dates … and, even though I love them, had stopped eating them. It appears I can return to eating dates! Are dates and figs any way closely related where this could be true of both (one grows on a palm, the other on a tree)? Either way, the sharing of your diligent research makes me aware of the entire (fascinating!) process so I now know they are both safe to eat without fear of biting into a wasp!
Yummy … figs with protein! Aloha!
Yummy … figs with protein! Aloha!
Fascinating! Thank you for passing on this information. I always enjoy reading your posts and learning at the same time. Happy weekend, Nancy
Fascinating! Thank you for passing on this information. I always enjoy reading your posts and learning at the same time. Happy weekend, Nancy
Timely, just bought fresh figs at the farm stand and immensely enjoyed one last night…my first fresh fig! Chances are good I’ll be more cautious with the next one 🙂
Great interview and just love your answer to God’s welcome at the Pearly Gates. I love you. You never cease to endlessly inspire and delight me after all these years!
Timely, just bought fresh figs at the farm stand and immensely enjoyed one last night…my first fresh fig! Chances are good I’ll be more cautious with the next one 🙂
Great interview and just love your answer to God’s welcome at the Pearly Gates. I love you. You never cease to endlessly inspire and delight me after all these years!
Kristin,
I always enjoy your posts. Last night my father and I were dealing with some wasps here in the Okanagan Valley of southern British Columbia. While we were exterminating them I was trying to think of the word for bee in French and all that came to me was miel which is of course honey. Having just returned from Haiti I still have Haitian Creole on my mind. The Creole word for bee is in fact the the French word for honey. However, the Creole word for wasp is gèp and is pronounced exactly like the French word. Thanks for the lesson!
Mesi bokou!
Kristin,
I always enjoy your posts. Last night my father and I were dealing with some wasps here in the Okanagan Valley of southern British Columbia. While we were exterminating them I was trying to think of the word for bee in French and all that came to me was miel which is of course honey. Having just returned from Haiti I still have Haitian Creole on my mind. The Creole word for bee is in fact the the French word for honey. However, the Creole word for wasp is gèp and is pronounced exactly like the French word. Thanks for the lesson!
Mesi bokou!