Round Cucumbers...?

I went picking some fruits of my labor the other day, and found the strangest thing! Maybe I thought I knew it all, but now I realized I don't. I found the most interesting looking cucumber, it was round and instead of the usual sharp little bumps it had thin hair like around it. So I left it alone and let it go for a few days, but then I just couldn't resist myself and picked it. I googled and learned that there are round cucumbers called lemon cucumbers and boy they are so sweet. I was just amazed, and in my salad it went that night. The taste was excellent to say the least and we couldn't get enough of it. I wish I had let it grown a little longer, but I just can't help myself. Once again, I went inspecting my plants to see if there are any more growing and to my surprise there are more blooms.

Aside from cukes, I have been able to have my tomatoes nearly every day. The plants have turned out to be very productive, but now I feeling the summer nearing an end and I am hating it. But at the same time glad because the kids will be back to school :D and I've had the opportunity to learn a little more about planting and where I could get a better crop. I now know where I get the most out of the sun and so that is where my plants will be next spring. We also had a chance to build a raised bed, and hopefully we can get to work on a few more. It has taken a little longer than I wish but I also want to make sure that we use recycled materials. Wood that otherwise would have ended up in the trash, of course free of paint and chemicals untreated wood. 

In other topics, I haven't been updating my blogs for the past week and I feel so bad about it. But I have and excuse ;) I have been working on the Real Housewives of Bravo website and also completing the training for my interpreting job. I start working next weekend and my shift goes from 7 pm to 3:30 am. That promises to be exhausting for the first few weeks, but I suppose I will get used to it. If you are bilingual and are interested in working from home, I can hook you up! Just leave me a comment, and I'll give you all the info. You need to be very well spoken in both languages, and it helps if you have a cultural background in the target language. Learn more about interpreting here and what equipment is required here.

Tonight is the first part of the Reunion episode for The Real Housewives of NJ and I should have a post up tonight. I didn't get a chance to watch last weeks episode of The Real Housewives of DC, it is on my DVR to be recorded tonight and I should have a post on that tomorrow. And well, I think that is all the updating I wanted to do for today. Hope you all have a wonderful day today, it is sunny here so I know I will.

'Til next time,

Lina
xoxo

Pruning... Today was all about pruning the tomatoes

I have been lazy, updating content takes thought and energy. Besides, constantly adding to HubPages has been taking a bit of my time and ideas. Nonetheless, here I am typing about pruning tomatoes!! Learning all about blogging is not as easy as I thought. Making money out of blogging is even harder than I had hoped, but we'll take up on that some other time. For now I want to focus on pruning :D

Last night was raining, thundering and lightning like crazy! So with the storm gone, I had to focus on pruning all the extra weight off the tomatoes plants. All of those extra branches that are not holding any fruits are just dead weight and when there's a storm it just causes more damage. I focused on the lower branches, but ended up working my way up and pruning quite a bit of them. I can finally see all the clusters of tomatoes hanging onto the plants.

Pruning tomato plants is beneficial for several reasons. For one, there is less weight on the plant itself, as the branches get larger it just makes it hard to navigate around them and adds unnecessary weight. Another point is that these branches keep the fruits from getting all of the nutrients that they should be getting. As these branches seem to get so large and bulky, they are getting all the nutrients. Pruning the plants will yield larger fruits!


I was a bit disappointed the other day because I found some blossom end rot on some of the fruits. But today all of that went away when I could finally see behind all the branches. I continue to be amazed every time I step out the door to check on the garden. The clusters of tomatoes are amazing, I've never seen so many tomatoes in just one vine! A whopping 14 on just one branch, of which 11 are growing perfectly and 3 are still babies (too soon to say if I will actually harvest all 14). And I know that all this may sound stupid or even crazy to you; but to me actually seeing that the work I've put into my garden is paying off is just darn awesome. My daughter and I picked two green beans and ate it right off the plant. It was so heart warming to see her eating that green been like it was candy and to see her amusement by nature.


Thanks for reading my ramblings.. until next time
Lina
xoxo
Link to my latest Hub

Showing off!! Sorry :D

 

This tomato has an extra butt!! LOL

The long week is finally over! Now back to relaxation =)

The last time I blogged I had so much in my mind that by the time I got to sit down, between the kids interrupting, dinner, and cleaning, I forgot all I had in mind. So I figure, with such a busy week and very little time, I would write down my thoughts and blabber and post them as I make time. More efficient, I guess, and I can edit as I type.

So phase one of my daughter's room is on it's way; what a disaster of a room! I have the track system installed, and a wire shelf already set up (and yes, I did install it myself). I am definitely no contractor, but I'd say I did a decent job installing the system. Now I have to get myself to the hardware store to get the desk portion and a few more brackets.

Today I am working on my yard, getting some mulch on my plants. And when I say mulch I mean all the leaves and pine needles we collected over the fall that is sitting on the side of my yard. As nature takes its course all the leaves and brown matter start to turn to mulch and compost. My tomatoes are looking wonderful, I really can't wait to try them!! So with that said, here are some pictures of my work this week *apart from my real job* and I will soon be blogging about making it in this economy with a family of five, tips and tricks to smart shopping.

If you are reading my blog comment, follow me, share me, twit me =) Don't worry my husband is not jealous ;) ooh and keep yourself hydrated in this heat!! Until next time
xoxo
Lina

Wooohooo!! I got my rewards today =)

I opened up my mailbox and how exiting to see that envelope from My Points??? OMG my three gift cards for Overstock.com came in, I'm dancing on my chair right now. And here is a picture, so I can get you excited too! I also got some free samples from P&G, overall I can't complaint.

I have to show pictures of my San Marzano tomatoes, they are growing so much. I have a bunch of little tomatoes on the vine! I just can't wait to make my sauce with them yummmy. I took a picture of my cucumbers and of course as promised Spot!!

It's amazing to watch nature take it's course. It all started out with a little seed that I saved from last year's farmers market finds. And now its a grown plant with blooms and fruits. I know my kids will enjoy picking the tomatoes and eating them right off the vine. It really is a different taste than what you would normally get at the store. The flesh is just fresh and delicious. And although their shelf life is not as great as what you buy at the store, you are also eating the most natural and organic. I don't use any pesticides, or growth pills or whatever the case may be. I just picked up some composted leaves from my yard, and away they grow!

My cucumbers are beginning to vine, I did plant them a little late. But nevertheless, I can see little buds where there will be flowers soon. And of course a salad isn't a salad without lettuce! I have that going as well, they are slowly making their way up to catch up with the rest.

Please if you have any comments or suggestions, I do appreciate them. Follow me, share me, twitter me, I don't mind at all ;) I hope you enjoyed my blog, and until next time!

Lina

Working, working, working!!

I've been away from my computer for a few days now, been working since last week and needed a day to recuperate ;). But I have to say my vegetable garden is doing well. I picked some baby leaf lettuce yesterday, and the taste was wonderful. I finally see little baby tomatoes on the vine, from what I can tell they might be the San Marzano Roma tomatoes. I picked up a few last year at the Woodstock Farmers Market and saved the seeds (except I never label my seeds). I put them out early and to my surprise they held up really well even in the cold weather. We have yet to work on our raised beds, and since it's a bit late now I might just build it and get it ready for next year. Or I might use it for lettuce and radishes, since lettuce is cold hardy it should work. 

Simon is sitting on my lap as I type, he is just the biggest cat I've ever seen lol! I promised to post pictures of our pets, and here is a picture of him. I will have a picture of Spot, our bunny up soon. Here is a picture of my tomatoes plants, I believe this is the San Marzano. I suppose I will let you know soon enough. 

My Points Overstock gift cards are on their way! I have yet to figure out what to get from them :/ I almost feel like I should have chosen The Gap or Old Navy! I am not great at purchasing clothing online, in fact, I've never bought clothes online. So with that in mind, maybe I will stick to my usual electronics purchase, perhaps a new espresso machine :). I have to have my morning coffee when I'm going to work, otherwise I am like a walking zombie. Cappuccino anyone? I just love FREE stuff!! I few emails here, survey there, and voila! A gift card in the mail! 

I will sign off for now, besides, I am in pain right now! I broke a nail down to the nail bed at work the other day and it seems like every time I bump into something it lands right on my nail!!!!

Until next time, 

Lina