My boyfriend has an obsession with figs.
Frankly, I don't get it.
They're quite a homely, unsightly fruit if you ask me.
And...that word...
f... i... g,so unpleasant.
But, for some reason my bicycle man has an abiding passion for these seedy little guys.
He has spotted fig trees while driving and almost run us off the road in his excitement.
He has texted me photos of fig trees he's seen on his long bike rides.
He has even suggested making a career move and becoming a fig tree farmer.
Now, try as I may, I just can't seem to convince my taste buds that my bicycle man is onto something here. What is it about a fig?
I mean...I know these strange fruits are nutritious. They even have historical and religious significance and are referred to repeatedly in the Bible from beginning to end. Even their cute little leaves were used to cover some pretty important man and lady parts in Old Testament time.
But, on their own, ehhh.
Now, add butter, sugar, and cream and we're talkin'.
Thanks to my sis and her cupcake know-how, I turned some crinkly figgy puppies into these and even had my one-time vegan boyfriend coming back for more.
These incredible cupcakes even have
this former fig hater singing their praises.
Step aside Red Velvet.
I've got a new lover.
*recipe from Cupcakes by Elinor Klivans
On Friday, while watching the early morning news, I learned about the annual Mighty Mud Mania event in Scottsdale. It was going on that morning and since we had nothing else planned, the kids and I hopped in the car and headed out to have some dirty fun. They ran through obstacle courses, played in mud pits, and slid down soapy slides. The boys, in true male form, got as dirty as possible, while Elle managed to stay mud-free. The giant shaved ice treats saved us from the 113 degree sweltering heat! It was a great event and I've promised the kids it can be an annual experience for us!
A good day to ride.
Saturday morning, half of our crew headed to the lake for some fishing. Max's first fishing experience and, from what I hear, he is hooked. He got so excited catching his first fish that he fell backwards in the boat, breaking off the end of his pole! The rest of us hiked down the road to the fire station for the Blue Ridge arts and crafts fair. The little ones had fun painting paper butterflies and the fire captain, dressed as a clown, entertained the kids with his balloon animals. Calvin had to dig deep for the courage to ask for green balloon dog (he hates clowns, but really hates balloons popping!).
We decided to head to the mountains for the 4th of July weekend.