This is the first of this years canning session.  I haven't put up any tomatoes for years.  So many other things have been put first in the forefront... traveling, reading, watching the clouds go by, cutting the grass, surfing the web (aw so many excuses) or doing nothing.

This year I decided to get on the band wagon and give it a go again.  With our shortened summer no one to weed the crops - none were planted.  I bought these at a small roadside vendor.  He was happy - so was I.  No bending over to pic, not having to worry abt having enough  - just what I needed right then, right now.  Love that part and that I could help in the economy by purchasing from some small grower who needed to make a living.   Besides, there is just something abt pulling off the road on "fruit stand road" and buying freshly picked veggies.  It's easier on me and mine rather than go to the farmers market.  The farmers market is something you have to get to EARLY in the day so as not to get overwhelmed by so many vendors (which one should I buy from). Well, some days being somewhere EARLY in the day just isn't something I am up for.  Besides, at the roadside they load it in the car for you.