After a 1000 varieties, or so, you move beyond crazy and you start a foundation, and then you start becoming more normal. People start believing that maybe this is a good thing. ;-))

reality is a delusion created by lack of fig trees in one's possession.  

Not really but I'm not too sure that she's so fond of the idea that I tell her maybe she can retire in a couple of years and come help me sell figs at farmers' markets.  So, instead of getting up at 5:30am maybe she can get up a 4 or so...?

Shouldn't some of you people be on a window ledge, with a crowd of people looking up at you?  But then again, I'm no different.  I once had over 300 "Sea Grape" seedlings growing all around my sunny kitchen, besides all the other tropical plants, fig cuttings, etc.  I needed a machete to get into the cabinets.
                      
***************************************************

For the Lady fig growers, Desert Dance, et al.:

After his ranting stops, tell your DHs that if you can't get any more figs trees...then you want a diamond for each tree he complains about.  He'll clam up...very quickly.  But, you gotta be convincing. : )))


Frank

Crazy, but mostly harmless.....yet there are seldom spoken limits that I live within.  A lot of our relationship is figuring out what those limits are as they morph.

I do everything with passion....halfast is for others... full speed ahead for me.  She knew I was what I was when we met, this was not a childhood sweetheart deal, we both had our eyes open, she collects Nippon porcelain, I have trees, I can eat the results of my craziness....nuff said, besides we had a pre-nupt, I will help her pack anytime it becomes unbearable, LOL

My wife thinks I'm crazy anyways. At least this craziness gives her something to eat when it's all said and done. But then again it's never done.

Not only my wife but my three kids, mom and dad, brother, sisters and brothers outlaws, mother outlaw, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends and neighbors, coworkers, city council ( freebie ) and fellow figgers.

But we all know, they're the ones who are loco.;)

If I don't get a really good crop this year, I may come home one night to a bon fire.

I'm going to miss her.

Wow!  So many great comments!  I love them all! 

Jenn, love the sticks all over your yard!  It's fun to get the kiddies involved.  Hope their "figs" grow! 

Frank, Unfortunately, the cost of a fig tree comes nowhere close to that of a diamond, and JD is not that ignorant!!  He'd never go for that!  I did find out (he doesn't really like figs..yet), that he loves other fruit, so I can bribe him with those.  OH, and cornbread!  That's a really good bribe!

not my wife but I seriously think my neighbor thinks I am one of those fanatic hasseik jews or whatever they call them who pray stairing at a wall... I noticed they watch me from their living room and talk to each other in whisper... All I am doing is re arranging my baby figs under the wall and OK... sometimes, I talk to them... I heard they may even grow better if you sing to them...? anyway, lately I noticed he avoids me to say g'morning or... how are you...he's weird!

My wife has stopped talking to me altogether. She says we don't have meaningful conversations anymore.  Funny thing, that's what my fig trees say to me, too ;)

Aloha, all around!

Nate

Great thread Suzi. I still get the "eye roll" from time to time when I receive a new plant or cuttings. Not quite as much as early on. Selling some plant material occasionally has helped a bit. Having a check or Paypal balance to show for has helped to reduce all the questions of my sanity to "that's nice" or a simple "Uhh huh" instead ;-) .

I think she's also figured out that my fig/fruit trees have proven to be one of her greatest forms of leverage when she needs me to do something for her. It's pure evil for someone to threaten my babies like that but she's actually referenced it a time or two! How could she even joke about such a thing?! Now who's crazy?

Jon (@ post #26). You know we all aspire to reach that level of Grand Master fig-growing-Jedi. One day we my finally snatch the pebble and graduate. But for now we must remain "grasshoppers" and only dream of our own fields of figs ;-)) .

Dennis. Obviously, the car has to go. Back her onto the drive and give those fig trees some breathing room! Just pat her on the hood and remind her 'it's only for the winter'. She'll be fine I'm sure ;) .

It was her idea to get a fig tree, so why not 24?

Yes, probably... the lady in my life tells me quite often that I am crazy.  But then, of course it's true.  I am crazy.  (I know it to be so).

Mike

I really enjoyed this thread, Suzi, and all the comments in it - so amusing! Even my husband loved them ....
And yes, I'm crazy, too.
Lilli

Whenever you obsess about anything, your spouse will roll the eyes, big sigh, dropped head, shoulder shrug.  The wives of fig lovers should be happy they are not being subjected to countless comments on every sport on this earth and why they did or did not win!!  And they should be happy he doesn't gamble the family fortune away.  The husbands of fig lovers should enjoy the bribes the ladies offer.......  ooops!~  Not going there.  Anything Midwest works for mine!  If I make fried chicken and cornbread, he'll pretty much (with the exception of diamonds), do anything!  AND If I actually like the sports of which he speaks, done deal!  He will go out and plant with joy!

I do like sports and am in many fantasy leagues.  This one is fabulous, and I have a streak of 7 going!  But it does not take my focus off my figs.  Other plants do.  We have this huge property, and "This time, you gave us a Mountain!"  God did, and it will take years to conquer.

Suzi

She has learned to love figs and I have been able to delegate all sorts of fig tasks.  (picking, watering, freezing and drying them).

But once you found a few trees that grow well and produce the figs you need she just can't see the point of wanting to have 100 different varieties and thinks we are all crazy for doing all this work.

This is all too funny.  No spouse but my family has no longer rolls there eyes.  After a 1000 plus orchids they just got numb.

pino, tell her it's like shoes. just because there is a pair that fits well doesn't mean you have to stop at that point. there might be other pairs. or purse... or make up...

Considering my husband has a tri bike that costs more than all  my figs combined I'm still okay...he does some eye rolling but mostly it's that slight smile you give a kid when you know what they are doing makes them happy and it isn't causing you too much grief ...yet...

I was able to talk mine in getting rid of our swimmin pool just so I could build a deck in its place. Deck will be built in 3 weeks. She knows the new deck will be the new home for some my trees. To keep her happy I'm having her car painted tomorrow. It's gonna cost me $800 bucks! Man, I was saving that money for my new greenhouse!

Was at a spring show today and while tearing down a display I was offered a Hops plant for an orchid.  There are a lot of Hops out there too....My new Hop is a Cascade. 

Mine says that i am obsessive.  But she notes that I am not obsessed with drugs, gambling, or other women. It could be worse.  Fun thread!