A SHORT STORY
One day the Lady of the House carefully planted a few pots of herbs + one pot of small patio tomatoes. There was joy in the land.
The sky was blue above, forsooth.
Cardinals, sitting in trees, shooketh their tail feathers.
Cute garden tags proclaimed what was in each herb pot.
However, one evening a magical thunderstorm rolled through the land turning the sky to a weird shade of orange, creating a beautiful unexpected rainbow. Things had changed.
At first, the Lady of the House was charmed by the rainbow, until she saw that the storm winds had snapped her tomato plant in two. She was sad.
But the Lady of the House, being ever hopeful and raised on fairy tales, put the little green tomatoes in a dish on the kitchen table near a sunny window.
Where, alas & alack, despite the Lady of the House’s tender care, the little tomatoes remain green and inedible to this day.
Kroger offers a lovely array of tomatoes for your dining pleasure. But they never seem to taste as good as home grown, do they?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Zen-Den, no, the store-bought ones, while pretty, never taste the same. However, considering the situation, I will enjoy Kroger’s bounty, grateful to have any tomato at all.
LikeLike
I was so jealous until the end. If it isn’t groundhogs it’s mother nature. There is a conspiracy against us getting tomatoes!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Kate, YES! This is a conspiracy. I’m sure you’re right. But considering how delicate tomatoes seem to be, how’d they last this long out there in the wild?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? It’s like all those berries that grow wild but won’t grow in my yard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly. So baffling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wholeheartedly agree. Our recent heavy rains has left the soil quite soft as if Mother Nature not only sent the herd of deer to destroy my garden but wanted to make sure in no uncertain terms that I knew she’d done it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Deer got your garden? After all your effort of putting it in? I’m sorry. Mother Nature is not playing fair with you.
LikeLike
Yep. Nice deep hoof prints running from end to end. grumble grumble.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I read once that wrapping tomatoes in newspaper helps them ripen…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deb, no kidding? Okay, now all I have to do is find a piece of newspaper…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I felt so much pressure after posting that so I checked my facts and yes, it says wrapping works. Also, putting them in a brown paper grocery type bag is supposed to work as well. Good luck. I truly hope this doesn’t result in a mess of rotted tomatoes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deb, thanks for looking that up. I’ve got a brown paper grocery bag, so why not give it a whirl? Sounds like a grand experiment to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you didn’t chuck that tomato plant! If you had stuck it in a jar of water, it would have rooted, and you could have put it in the pot again (this time, tied to a sturdy little stake). Then…red, ripe tomatoes all summer!
LikeLiked by 2 people
nance, I’ve left the remains of the plant in the pot because the roots seem sound. I’ll add water daily, so maybe the little tomato plant will start to grow again? And we’ll have tomatoes by late August. *fingers crossed*
LikeLike
That orange sky and rainbow is amazing. Maybe a stake would support the tomato better. Then would it be a beef stake tomato? LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
lorriedeck, good one! Made me laugh out loud. I should have staked this little plant, but who’d have thought that it’d topple over so easily? Not me, obviously.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry about your tomato plant, Ally Bean. The photos are beautiful though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jill. As always, if a good blog post comes out of an experience, I consider it a success!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We did the same thing with our tomatoes last year and they did turn orange, eventually. But by then they had become part of the clutter scenery and no one ate them and they turned to mush. Oh well. Cool picture of rainbow though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tamara, I fear that’s exactly what’s going to happen with this little dish: it’ll “become part of the clutter scenery.” But who knows, maybe we’ll eat them. 🙂
LikeLike
Tomato massacre! Tragic!
LikeLike
robin, tragic, to be sure. And unexpected thanks to that weird orange sky. The things I put up with…
LikeLike
I am dealing with 106 degree weather. Ugh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s too hot. How do you even think straight?
LikeLike
Who said I ever think straight? The head just makes it worse. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
The tomatoes were so young, so full of potential… Cruel, cruel Mother Nature for teasing you with what you could have only to take it away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Allie P, I love my little patio tomatoes on my salads come summertime, but not this year. Mother Nature’s some explaining to do! Why, I ask– why?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am excited to report I managed to harvest 1, count em 1 blueberry this year and now have two tomatoes on the vine. The Potts clan may not starve this winter after all.
I also tagged you in a game of happiness tag (http://alliepottswrites.com/2016/07/07/the-happiness-tag/). Please don’t feel pressured to play along. I just wanted to share your blog with others because it always makes me laugh.
LikeLike
Allie P., if I get even one tomato off the remains of this plant, I’ll call it a victory. I’m impressed that you got a blueberry, never been brave enough to try to grow fruit.
Thanks for tagging me with happiness. I could use some this week. I probably won’t play along because I decided to stop doing blogging memes this year, but I’m thrilled that you thought of me. I adore what you write, so the laughter is mutual. We’re really the best allies, aren’t we? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
No worries. I rarely do them too, but thought a little extra happiness out there was worth it.
I’ve had this blueberry bush (and I use the term loosely as it is more of a glorified stuck in the mud) for 4 years now and this is the first time I managed to actually sneak a berry past the birds. It was probably poisoned or otherwise bad, so likely the joke is on me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😉 [Hope it was tasty.]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a tale of woe. Beautiful photos though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
joey, thank you. At least I have a picture of the orange sky that snapped the life out of my little tomato plant. So there’s that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such gorgeous skies come with a price I suppose.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, indeed. Well said. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunning sky and rainbow photo! Too bad about the tiny tomatoes. Love your stories!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Janet, glad you liked the photos. [So do I.] It’s just I was looking forward to fresh tomatoes, as one does when one makes the effort to grow them. But now…
LikeLike
I was so sure there was going to be a happy ending! Oh well, I loved the way you told this story. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
serena, sorry to disappoint you, but blame it on Mother Nature. I mean, there I was being a good pots-on-deck farmer when *whoosh* my little tomato plant was no more. I tell ‘ya…
LikeLiked by 1 person
When life gives you lemons ~> make lemonade.
When Mother Nature snaps your stalk of tomatoes ~> make Fried Green Tomatoes OR Green Tomato Relish.
They may ripen in a paper bag on the counter with an apple or banana inside the bag to add ethylene.
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/ripen-tomatoes-bananas-64916.html
LikeLiked by 2 people
nancy, I thought about fried green tomatoes but realized my little rounds would be Barbie-size! Will put a banana in the brown bag with these little tomatoes now that I know to do so. I tell ‘ya, the things I’m learning today. Thanks.
LikeLike
I’m so sorry for your poor little tomato plant! That sky does look like an exciting storm, however. I’m don’t think I’ve seen an orange sky with rainbow. I do love a good storm.
Perhaps you have a local nursery that sells mature tomato plants so that you don’t miss out on the tasty treats this summer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Zaz, the orange sky with rainbow was like nothing I’ve ever seen around here before. The storm itself was delightful because it washed all the pollen out of the air, so overall I enjoyed the weather event. But my tomato plant didn’t fair so well. I like your idea of looking around for a mature plant. Will do that. Thanks.
LikeLike
I thought you were going to say the cardinals got at them… Bummer about the tomatoes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
John, I wouldn’t put it past the cardinals to try to eat my tomatoes instead of the flora in the woods. They’re not the brightest birds.
LikeLike
But they’re so pretty. I prefer the birds no one likes, the crows and buzzards. Very intelligent…
LikeLike
Yes, a crow could stump a cardinal any day. Or a robin. Should Jeopardy come up with a “birdbrain” week. 😉
LikeLike
Those poor little maters look like grapes. Perhaps a prank is in order?
I attempted veggies this year, but our puppy keeps yanking nearly ripe cucumber off and romping in our yard with the plant behind her. I forgot about my tomatoes, a variety that grows like ivy…and they’re nearly 7 ft long! Never seen anything like it!
Beautiful rainbow photo btw. Turned out wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
bitsfromheaven, I’ve never tried cucs, but usually can get some decent tomatoes. I like your idea of a prank. *bwha-ha-ha* The rainbow was like none I’ve ever seen before in real life. So orange.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Tis truly a tale of woe and sorry you weave here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Sarah, it is a woeful tale. Thank you for noticing.
LikeLike
I’ve never done the “growing food” thing, but it does sound complicated. I can’t even keep a plant alive.
Stephanie
http://stephie5741.blogspot.com
LikeLike
Stephanie, I enjoy goofing around and growing herbs, veggies, flowers, but it’s never a given that my efforts will be rewarded. Although usually it’s the pesky squirrels, not thunderstorms, that do in my projects. This is a new one for me.
LikeLike
Have you offered them to Fuzzy yet? Little green tomatoes might be right up his alley…
LikeLiked by 1 person
evilsquirrel13, I’m sure that you’re right. He’d love them, green as they are.
LikeLike
Sorry Ally. After all your efforts. What a pain!
LikeLike
Chez Shea, I’ve had critters destroy tomato plants, but never a thunderstorm. It’s a first, as was the orange sky with a rainbow.
LikeLike
That’s a lovely, heartwarming story (apart from the last bit). 🙂
LikeLike
Bun Karyudo, yes, ’tis a tale for the ages. Colorful with a dubious moral.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, indeed! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing better than a home grown tomato, so I feel your pain!!
LikeLike
Thanks Margaret. I’ve left what remains of the plant in the pot, so maybe I’ll get a few tomatoes by September. Maybe…
LikeLike
Hahaha! Love it. Can you rustle up some fried green tomatoes??
LikeLike
Barbed Words, I suppose I could make some, but they’d be mighty tiny, not even large enough to qualify as appetizers. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool kids probably also get to a post in time to leave a comment, don’t they? Ah well. I’ve always known I was destined for uncoolness…
And (as I was *gonna* say on your “what sin, if not sloth??” post), I am a firm believer in:
LikeLike
Alice, that’s wonderful! Who doesn’t believe in a sloth reaching for her dreams? Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ally, have a happy Fourth of July, and be safe! :O)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Hope your 4th was a safe & happy one, too!
LikeLike
It was thank you, Ally. :O)
LikeLike
“Cardinals, sitting in trees, shooketh their tail feathers.” That’s hilarious.
But good point: how did those delicate tomato plants survive in the wild?
Cheers and sparkles for the 4th (OK late, but great parties just keep going on and on…)
LikeLike
philmouse, Happy 4th to you, too. I don’t know if you have the sort of cardinals that we have around here, but ours are show-offs who never miss a chance to get attention. *look at me, look at me* I love ’em, but they are rather needy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The ones we have have lovely voices. Our giant pair is MIA – possibly hawk, …see what all that show-offing posing got them. But there’s a very petite couple that stay very low profile. Fingers crossed they stay invisible.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope your petite pair survive. Cardinals have a such a nice song and their colors are captivating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: The Happiness Tag – Allie Potts Writes
Great story and pics … but I wanted a happy ending! lols
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kim, you and me, both. Seems sad that such small little tomato plant couldn’t have a happier ending.
LikeLike
Cute story! Love that rainbow shot. Doesn’t even look real!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Britt, I thought the same thing when I saw the weird orange sky. And then to have a rainbow in it… trippy!
LikeLike