The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Despite my grand intentions of planting a real garden this spring, it never happened. However, while visiting a local organic farm, I bought three tomato seedlings on a whim. Once I got home, I wasn't sure what to do with them. I didn't have a raised bed and the space next to the garage and shed where I thought about planting them is backed by pressure-treated wood (not something you want next to your veggies.) What I really wanted were those Topsy -Turvy upside down tomato planters. But I didn't really want to shell out the $60 it would cost to buy them. So, a little Googling and I found directions to make my own, using 2 gallon paint buckets.

Basically, I cut a hole if the bottom, put the plant in upside down through the hole, added planting soil, and then I planted some petunias on top to make it look nicer. Hubby added the brackets to the outside of our shed and, voila, DIY upside down tomato planters.

I planted these really late in the season (um, late June) so they are just started to bud but I do finally have some little green baby tomatoes on there. I can't wait for their ripe juicy goodness.


A while back, Luke expressed interest in making our own pickled cucumbers so about two weeks ago, we did. They had to cure in the fridge for one week but we broke into them this weekend and oh my, were they good. And yes, I'm speaking in the past tense because they are already gone. Um, all 5 jars. Anyone who really knows me knows I likes me some pickles. These were out of this world good. I can't imagine eating store-bought pickles again, but unless I learn to can for real, I'll have to eventually. But for now, I've got another 5 jars that we made today, sitting in my refrigerator. I can't wait til next week.