Harvest Time, Swimming Cats, and an Indoor Tomato Jungle

Last evening, Lou and I harvested 2 tubs of potatoes, to go with the brisket we were making.  Then, the old people went to bed before dinner (as usual), so the small red potatoes and the shockingly large Purple Majesties are still covered in dirt on the kitchen table.

Deciding to make chili out of the brisket, I needed onions, so I pulled two small Walla Wallas, then found a mature yellow squash and some freaky carrots under some leaves.  I have no idea what's up with my carrot crop.

Since it's been sunny but not warm, I have thousands of stunted green cherry tomatoes that won't turn red (or yellow - we have a rainbow of tomatoes - or, we're supposed to).  To give them a boost, I've moved the plants inside, in the Germination Station, under 5 plant lights that can be bent and moved to focus on different plants.  I moved 4 containers in, which adds up to 13 plants, and when they're doing well, I'll rotate them out.  I have about 15 other plants that need to come in.

Oh, and one of my 13-year-old Maine Coon brothers, Sebastien, actually got into the plastic kiddie pool in the back yard this morning.  Maine Coons like water - Sascha and Sebastien used to get into the bathtub with me, but not in years.  And the kiddie pool at 6 a.m.?  That cat's a freak.  He's now bundled up in a beach towel behind me on the sofa, hopefully not warming up to go in for his next laps.

That is not his happy to see you face.  He's been acting a bit strange since his buddy Howie died.  They all have, I guess.  The little calico, Olive Snook, sits next to the urn that's over his grave for long stretches during the day.  They never seemed to any interaction when he was alive, but she watched Lou dig the grave and watched me put him in it.  She's an odd little creature, in a house full of larger oddities.

Our house has been a haven for crazy this week.