Tree to Jar

Fig preserves made from figs off my late Mema Jane’s fig tree.

From around the age of 5 on one of my most favorite days of the year / summer was when she showed up with her fresh fig preserves.  As a child I rarely had peanut butter and grape jelly sandwiches.  Mine were mostly PB and Fig.  Then as I got older I would sit down with a jar of peanut butter, some Saltines and a jar of fig preserves and savor every bite.  After she passed I couldn’t even think about making the preserves myself without feeling too sad.  It took almost 7 years for me to get to a place emotionally where I could try to recreate her taste myself.  Now it’s one of my own summer rituals.  They’ve never once turned out her consistency but the taste is pretty close and I think of her with every stir.  🙂

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