Tomatoes right off the vine!

[electra225]

Only three and they aren't very big, but they are nice and juicy. Plus, I didn't kill the plant, so that is something in itself....

[TC Chris]

We're almost in a position to raise crops here in Michigan. It has been in the upper 30s all week, warmer inland. I don't pass many other vehicles on the bicycle, except when I pass a long line of cars at the stoplight in my bike lane, but today.... Today I passed a street sweeper. This is Feb. 1, for goodness' sake, and I should be passing snow plows, not street sweepers. All of my snow has melted except for piles where I shoveled it from the driveway and sidewalks. It will be sunny and warmer the next few days. Meanwhile I'm just wearing out the carbide studs in my winter bike tires. I may press the summer bike into service tomorrow since the roads are dry, clear, and swept.

The good news about warmth is that the furnace in my Mom's cottage crapped out Tuesday. My sister was taking a neighbor home from the airport and checked on the house. The low-temp phone dialer had not gone off yet but the temp was 2 degrees below the thermostat setting. The burner had deteriorated so the tech could not get to the pilot light to diagnose it. But wow, what good luck to have the furnace fail when temps are in the 30s instead of teens. The new one will arrive Monday and meanwhile the heating guys have supplied electric heaters to maintain minimum temps.

Since it will be sunny this weekend, I'll head out hiking or biking, summer sports for an odd winter.

Chris Campbell

[William]

Yup, warm south of you too. We received full sun this afternoon and I can feel the heat coming through the window. If the guessers are correct, we will have full sun for the next three days. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Bill

[19&41]

Your tomatoes look mighty good for home grown. I assume they have already given their all to your fine dining.

[electra225]

They have. They were mighty good, too...