Cherokee Purple

First came the deer, and then came the raccoons. My little garden is in ruins, except for two zucchini plants barely clinging to life. I have learned at least that deer and raccoons don't like zucchini.

Not much of anything came of my garden, but there was one success. I ordered some Cherokee purple tomato seeds that my relative started for me, and then we shared the plants. I discovered Cherokee purple tomatoes at the farmer's market in Asheville, NC, a couple of years ago. It's hard to pass the purple-black tomatoes and not notice them (the ones I saw there were blacker than the one pictured below).

Even though we started the seeds late and didn't get the plants out until the end of June, my relative has gotten a few tomatoes and is pleased with the results -- a nice-sized tomato with few seeds. The taste is different, but I liked it. Don't ask me to describe it because I'm definitely not capable of putting a tomato's unique flavor into words.

Stop the presses! This just in: we're STILL obese!

You know, I'm no longer shocked by any of these studies that place WV in top one or two obese states in the nation.

What does shock me is the FREQUENCY of the studies.

Honestly, how many of these are necessary per year? It seems like every other month a new study comes out about obesity. Are they expecting a vast change in a few months, or even a few years?

Come on. Leave us alone for a while.

(um, are you going to eat those fries? 'cause, if not...)

Bee in Indian Pipe

While hiking this week, I stumbled upon something I'd never seen before: hot, steamy bee in Indian Pipe action (as always, inspired by Michelle). You just never know what you'll find in the woods.