I'm a tomatoe!
I have been in love with tomatoes since I was a little girl, raiding my father's tomatoe plants and eating the juicy ripe ones right there in the garden! Whether cooked into sauces, layered on bread with mayo, or warm in the garden, nothing beats the scarlet goodness of this perfect fruit!
I have been growing tomatoes ever since I got old enough to work my own soil and when I was in my mid teens, my father gave me my own plot of ground. Tomatoes went in first, then were surrounded by other yummies like cucumbers and summer squash. I am amazed I did not break out in hives as a result of my indulgences!
I've learned a lot about growing tomatoes over the years. There is more to cultivating a harvest than just putting in plants. Tomatoes grow "sucker" branches which will ultimately grow into new main plants. If these suckers are allowed to mature they will draw energy, moisture, and strength away from the fruiting process. In short...you get more leaves and branches than tomatoes. I've become quite aggressive with these suckers and have seen a tremendous increase in the number of fruits on each plant. Definitely worth the trouble!
This summer while I was suckering my plants I was feeling down about my relationship with my husband. We'd been quite busy with work, projects, children...you name it. I was missing him and losing my desire to keep plugging along. Then it occurred to me....I'm a tomatoe!
I have a lot of good things in my life: five children still at home and still in need of nurturing; a big garden and a number of small flower gardens, all growing wonderfully; a awesome church family; a husband who still takes me out for dinner or coffee or a stroll. These things keep me fed, spiritually and emotionally. But I also have a lot of unnecessaries in my life. These things aren't "bad," they just sometimes take time and energy away from what is most important.
So...I put away my scrap booking materials, and folded up a stitch kit I was working on, and I made myself available. I stopped worrying about the old friendship which has recently ended. I got rid of some of the "suckers" in my life and began focusing on the really important things. I noticed a change right away. And I'm spending more time reminding myself which things need to be put away, which ones need to be set aside, and which ones are ripe for the picking! I have so much more energy to grow and learn!
I'm one saucy tomatoe!
I have been in love with tomatoes since I was a little girl, raiding my father's tomatoe plants and eating the juicy ripe ones right there in the garden! Whether cooked into sauces, layered on bread with mayo, or warm in the garden, nothing beats the scarlet goodness of this perfect fruit!
I have been growing tomatoes ever since I got old enough to work my own soil and when I was in my mid teens, my father gave me my own plot of ground. Tomatoes went in first, then were surrounded by other yummies like cucumbers and summer squash. I am amazed I did not break out in hives as a result of my indulgences!
I've learned a lot about growing tomatoes over the years. There is more to cultivating a harvest than just putting in plants. Tomatoes grow "sucker" branches which will ultimately grow into new main plants. If these suckers are allowed to mature they will draw energy, moisture, and strength away from the fruiting process. In short...you get more leaves and branches than tomatoes. I've become quite aggressive with these suckers and have seen a tremendous increase in the number of fruits on each plant. Definitely worth the trouble!
This summer while I was suckering my plants I was feeling down about my relationship with my husband. We'd been quite busy with work, projects, children...you name it. I was missing him and losing my desire to keep plugging along. Then it occurred to me....I'm a tomatoe!
I have a lot of good things in my life: five children still at home and still in need of nurturing; a big garden and a number of small flower gardens, all growing wonderfully; a awesome church family; a husband who still takes me out for dinner or coffee or a stroll. These things keep me fed, spiritually and emotionally. But I also have a lot of unnecessaries in my life. These things aren't "bad," they just sometimes take time and energy away from what is most important.
So...I put away my scrap booking materials, and folded up a stitch kit I was working on, and I made myself available. I stopped worrying about the old friendship which has recently ended. I got rid of some of the "suckers" in my life and began focusing on the really important things. I noticed a change right away. And I'm spending more time reminding myself which things need to be put away, which ones need to be set aside, and which ones are ripe for the picking! I have so much more energy to grow and learn!
I'm one saucy tomatoe!
2 comments:
I think this is great. I'm glad you're doing this and sharing that vast wealth of hard-earned knowledge you've got with regard to gardening, homemaking, and just living and solving problems. I love your pictures. I love YOU. MOM
Found your blog through Mary Jane's Farm site and enjoyed reading your posts. I too, love tomatoes. Once at a women's Bible study, when asked to pray, I thanked God for tomatoes, as I was enjoying the first of the new crop. The room quietly erupted in suppressed laughter! I guess that's an oxymoron... but true. Your lessons are also well taken. I hope I find you again!
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