A Healthy Obsession

Most days I am in the greenhouse first thing in the morning. I love to take in the sweet scent of the bitter melon blooms. This year I am blessed with 13 healthy productive plants. This morning’s count was 20 melons that I could see. Now there’s one less. I cooked photo #7 for lunch with an eggplant from my sister.

I haven’t master the art of growing eggplants. I am still waiting for my first eggplant. The blossoms keep falling off before becoming a fruit. I looked into reasons why. Too hot, not enough water, severe pruning, etc. My best bet was unsuccessful pollination. It’s flower is like the tomato’s. It contains both male and female organs. I had been shaking it once in awhile. That hasn’t worked so I’ve been hand pollinating it with a small brush. I have only one bloom left. Cross my fingers and toes.

Talking about tomatoes, I have one ripe one on the vine. So far I’ve always had a big crop of tomatoes because I plant a lot of tomatoes except for this year. I’ve cut back. I might be sorry because this is the year of not great results.

However, we do have alot of beans. Buckets, buckets and buckets. I’m up to my ears blanching and freezing. I’m taking a little rest break to write this post.

THERE’S ALWAYS TOMATOES, BEANS AND TOMORROW

I haven’t made too much progress with life. I am still mired up to my eyeballs with things to do. August is a month of bounty. Our gardens are in full production. A casual stroll through the home garden and greenhouse can yield a bucket of tomatoes, cucumbers, bitter melons and peppers. A trip to our city allotment could bring back pails of beans. Thankful that the peas are done and processed. I’m happy that the snow peas at our community garden plot are also done. I still have a batch in the fridge to process.

I’m really not complaining. Having this much produce is a good problem. But I am feeling a little squished for energy. I don’t have much time to sit and contemplate my navel. There’s not much time for reading . It is all very good. I do have purpose. The house is a mess. The dining room table is full odds and ends and tomatoes waiting to be sauced or eaten. It’s nothing to feel stressed and bad about. I do the things with deadlines. I stop worrying about the rest. I don’t have time to be bored or depressed. If I do, there’s always tomatoes and beans to be processed. And of course, there’s always tomorrow.

It is well into the evening and time for bed. But it is good for my mental health to make a little time to capture some thoughts and feelings. It is a little rest and time to inhale, exhale and say good night. Sweet dreams.