wherefigsfly

Oliver Lake

I recently read something along the lines of

People overestimate what they can do in the short term – and underestimate what can be accomplished in the long-haul, a little bit each day.

This rung a familiar bell.  In fact, this has been our Fig way.

Here’s how it goes for us.  We always, always, think we are going to git-er-done  in x amount of time.  Inevitably, ‘er’ gets done in 2x amount of time.  This plays a not-so-nice trick on your mind:  you are not getting it done.

But then you run across an old Fig to-do list, and realize somehow things were accomplished.  And you think how did we do all of that?

Steady movement…little by little. 

Aesop knew a thing or two. 

Aesop sends a reminder to not lose heart.  Currently, my life does not afford an abundance of time at The Fig.  But a few hours today, a concentrated hour tomorrow…carries a sweet, unhurried momentum.  And I’m learning to ask better questions.  Not how much or how fast, but how?

Going little by little,

june

   Though the rose bushes are young, they have been yielding lovely Dutch-tied bouquets 

.

And while the rose bushes produce behind the barn, Frankie and I are in production mode in front of the barn.  This is one of the pieces that is in the midst of an update. 

After the paint goes on, these Lewis Dolin pulls in brushed brass are waiting for the drawer.

And these knobs are waiting for the doors.

Hope to have some finished lovelies to show you soon,

june

A couple of weeks ago, Frankie and I found ourselves heading through the town of Coats.  On a whim, we decided to stop at this place.  Glad we are! 

This week we revisited, and are thrilled with the pieces we acquired. 

Deborah Greider, the delightful proprietor, and her assistant April, run this business out of a 1920 Sears Roebuck home.  Stopping by here was one of the best plans we never made!  

   Colonial Corner Antiques & Gifts

   124 McKinley Street

   Coats, NC

Making plans for our on a whim pieces,

june & frankie

(For clarification, this is not an Ent from The Lord of the Rings.) This is the mighty oak in front of The Fig barn. Its size is impressive and its shade is appreciated.  

And this is a slab of oak in The Fig barn.  Its size is also impressive and its live edges are appreciated.

The plans for this coffee-table-to-be are to keep the live edges and trapezoidal shape.

David Stine Woodworking

This David Stine coffee table has us leaning toward fabricating metal legs for our slab.

Suffice it to say, we’re mighty excited!

june

At The Fig

My mom grew roses.  For years, she snipped beauty and shared quietly.  There was always a stash of vases waited to be filled and slipped to a neighbor or friend, or hospital room, or nursing home. 

During those years, I viewed myself as a daisy-chain kind of girl.  Young and free.  I could never see myself growing something as fussy and formal as roses.  But then, a couple of decades later, some storms swept through.  A hurricane did quite a number on our heavily wooded lot.  A beloved uncle died suddenly.  With an unexpected patch of sunlight in the middle of our woods and fresh grief, I started a rose garden.  I tended and found solace.  I snipped and inhaled beauty.

 My oldest son with ‘his’ Chicago Peace rose.  This first baby just turned 21!

By the time my third baby came, the rose garden began to be neglected.  Trees had rebounded and there was not enough sun.  Kids were running around and there was not enough time.  So I let the rose garden go.  I have missed roses ever since. 

And now, oh now, these beauties are waiting to go in the ground at The Fig.  As I made the decision to plant and tend a few roses at the barn, this thought hit me, and hit me hard.   I will now be snipping roses for my mom.  I almost stopped breathing.  The thought is just so full.  So very, very full.  Time and full-circles, love and give-back, life and loss-pile. 

What does one do with this weight?  Breathe.  Tend.  Snip beauty.

Happy Mother’s Day,

june

Frankie, after a cup of coffee

We had a great time in downtown Apex on Saturday!  We’re taking a bit of a break this rainy week, but ideas and texts are swirling:)

As we continue in a festive spirit, a Cinco de Mayo floribunda rose will be planted this week behind the Fig barn.

May your week be good,

june

The Flying Fig will not be open at the barn this Saturday, May 4.  We will be in downtown Apex at PeakFest from 9am – 5pm. 

Here’s a peek at three pieces that are getting ready to go to town this Saturday.

This walnut island is our first completely hand-built piece!  The drawers will be scrub-painted and the casters will come out of their protective coverings.    

On a cloudy week, what can you do but paint a piece in a lovely yellow!  More paint, sanding, and waxing to come.

And this old workbench got an oak top and bottom.  It is all I can do to NOT bring this one home.

Hope to see you in Apex this Saturday,

june & frankie

The Flying Fig is excited!!! about being a vendor in downtown Apex on Saturday, May 4 from 9am – 5pm for  PeakFest.  Vibrant and quaint are an unlikely mix of descriptives, but are the ones I would use for their historic downtown.  If you find yourself there for the food, arts and crafts, or family fun, look for us on Salem Street at the corner of Holleman. 

Hope you can stop by and say hi,

june & frankie

Asparagus, oh asparagus.  We’re giving a nod (and bow!) to this spring vegetable. 

We’ve got four casters… an asparagus-green paint chip…two drawer handles…

some walnut and a new kreg jig… 

and Callie overseeing the operation of a moveable natural-stained island for a moveable feast.  And of all things, we even have a Homer Simpson quote (this is a nod and bow to my brother-in-law:)

“Olive oil…asparagus…if your mother wasn’t so fancy, we could shop at the gas station like normal people.” –Homer

Hopefully, this contemporary island will be quite the perennial…and both Homer and Marge could be comfortable using it.

Bring on the asparagus and olive oil and the Zero bar and 64-ounce Coke,

june

The original owner had these metal chairs custom-made after her children kept retiring dining chairs.  (That so makes me smile:)  While the impetus for these was indestructibility, fun and style were definitely not compromised.  Now this couple is ready to paint the town!

Seeing red and smiling,

june