Have you every noticed that things are not usually as they seem but more like what we make them out to be? Such is the story of these three tomatoes shown with the last of our peas and carrots.
The orange tomato on the left fooled me. I was waiting for it to turn red. Finally, slightly puzzled that it was taking so long to ripen, I reached under the plant and found its tag – Hillbilly (heirloom) Plant produces good yields of large orange yellow beefsteak tomatoes with read and pink streaks. Very flavourful. Excellent for salads and sandwiches.
It was ripe after all – just not red. It was also absolutely delicious.
Now the green tomato really is green. It accidentally came off with the other Hillbilly. But look at that big Ugly tomato – what happened to it? I can only guess that it was double pollinated. Let’s have a read of its tag – Carbon (heirloom) Flavour is exceptionally rich yet sweet and the essence of delicious summer tomato flavour. Medium to large, tomatoes are flattened round and smooth, without the cracking or blemishing that seems to plague some black tomatoes. They are dark purplish-brown on the outside with deep brick red interior.
I can tell you it did lived up to its flavour description but was maybe a little off on expected appearance. We had to eat it in three sittings. That was one monster tomato.
Speaking of descriptions our dear Laurie Buchanan received her birthday present copy from Len of PRECIOUS SECONDS – Mayne Island in paintings and photographs. Here is the comment she left on the Blurb publishing site under her penname Paden Plume:
This evening I sat down with a glass of wine to enjoy Terrill Welch’s new book. The description on the wine label said:
“This wine shows a heady nose of chocolate, deep rich blackberries, red fruits, and a creamy mocha finish that is unmistakable in its intensity and length. It’s reminiscent of a blackberry chocolate cupcake with a mocha coulis.”
If that description sounds good to you, let me say that turning and savoring each page of PRECIOUS SECONDS was an even more delicious treat! One that I will indulge in over and over again.
Thank you Laurie and thank you to everyone who purchased a book this week. Some of you I know who you are and others are friends in the universe who I greatly appreciate supporting my work. Thank you, thank you and thank you.
PRECIOUS SECONDS –Mayne Island in paintings and photographs now has its own facebook page HERE. Please feel free to come “like” its page and share your own “precious seconds” adventures.
And speaking of Laurie, she has brought the bubbly out to celebrate a blogging milestone. Speaking from the Heart has received over 50,000 views since February 2010. There isn’t a blogging party over there yet but we could always start one! Congratulations Laurie! I wish you many more views to your rich and engaging blog over the months and years ahead.
The weather has cooled and I have harvested the garden and the rest of the tomatoes are ripening up for dinner over the weeks ahead.
Sprout question: What do you have ripening for your creative dinner?
New: Check out my coffee table book PRECIOUS SECONDS – Mayne Island in paintings and photographs
© 2011 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.
Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.
Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch
Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.
From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com
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Creative Potager 
Congratulations to you and Laurie–you’re both reaping the harvest for all your good work.
In answer to your sprout question, my YA adventure is ripening daily. : )
Good to hear Leanne! Looking forward to the delicious read it shall serve up. And thank you… we have an amazing community here on Creative Potager for which you are very much part of – a pleasure to have you sharing in the fun.
TERRILL – I love the photographs and the oh-so-accurate title of this post! In the first photograph, the tomato on the far right is just about the scariest tomato I’ve ever seen!
I’ve got your book, “PRECIOUS SECONDS – Mayne Island in Paintings and Photographs,” right between our reading chairs. It’s so nice to be able to just pick it up and take a beautiful journey — all in the comfort of one’s pajamas and slippers.
Thank you for using this well-loved platform to share with your readers about the 50,000 views over at SPEAKING FROM THE HEART. It was so fun to be in “Site Stats” and watch the last 20 numbers (sort of like watching the odometer on a car). When it hit 50,000 I screamed and jumped up and down. Len had purchased champagne (Barefoot Bubbly) that afternoon because we knew it was a potential to hit it yesterday — we put it to good use 🙂
Sprout question: What do you have ripening for your creative dinner?
Well…you’re simply not going to believe it. We just discovered it yesterday while doing yard work, but you’ll have to wait until next Thursday. You’ll know what I’m talking about when you see a post titled “I’m Not Kidding!”
Have yourself one fantastic weekend!
READERS – For those of you who don’t know me, please know that I say what I mean, and I mean what I say, and I’m saying: ORDER TERRILL’S NEW BOOK. YOU’LL BE OH-SO-GLAD YOU DID!
With your reputation on line and such a BOLD claim Laurie I think even I will go order a copy or 10! 🙂 As always, a pleasure to be in community with you – have an amazing weekend my friend.
What a spectacular post – so vibrant and energetic – the colors are fabulous.
I was surprised by about a cup of blueberries left on a bush this morning – thank you birds. The cherry tomatoes are ripening and I have treated myself to a handful on a piece of whole wheat toast with my chicken and rice soup in the evenings. They are yummy too.
We did heirloom tomatoes last year and got some very amazing colours and shapes….the Burgundy plants were over 10′ tall and only produces about 7 tomatoes, but they were an amazing flavor.
My great surprise was that the deer came through and ate all the zinnia starts we put in after the peas for a great fall hedge of colour and delight. Well…those critters missed one! and there on the way to the compost is one lovely orange bloom this morning!
After our heat wave week, the roses are going crazy still, the best blooms of the season. The fall garden is quite a harvest…and you have captured it well.
Ah Patricia the wonder and surprises that we can find in that backyard during harvest time. Just a beautiful time of year. Enjoy those tomatoes and that one lone zinnia on the compost pile. Have a great weekend and shall catch up with you again on Monday!
My harvest has been a little lacking due to a bit of a dry spell, veggie wise and creatively. I seemed to have missed a few exhibits that I was looking forward to being involved with…. Hmm? There still might be time, if I smile and ask nicely…
I love the second photograph, rich and crisp in color, conveys the abundance of your harvest!
Thanks Jeff! This was actually the first image I tried with my new lens. Had to exit back into the bathroom to get it though. Wow, this baby has long legs on it 🙂 Sometimes I find after a dry spell I just pick up where I left off instead of trying to nurture half-dead ideas back to life. But either way, always nice to get out there creating and observing again.
I love that last photograph most of all.
I know the crop season has had it’s difficulties, especially in the New Jersey area where Hurricane Irene has wrecked havoc on the pumpkin supplies. Word is they are importing from other areas to meet demand as the fall and Halloween approach.
Glad to know that your own harvesting gave you at least a few delicious specimins.
I too am awaiting the arrival of PRECIOUS SECONDS, which will provide for soulful interactive for great settings and wonderful art by a true master.
Here’s to the creativity that such work can inspire.
Sam, I was wondering if it was your book that is being processed right now. Thank you so much for your support and I can hardly wait to hear what you think.
We didn’t have a great garden year either because June and July were so cold but August and the first part of September made up for it so we still got some things. As I mentioned to Jeff that last photo was my first experiment with my new lens. Not a great test but I just couldn’t wait to try it out.
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