Oh, I finally got around to repotting that monstera you gave me last spring. It was seriously root-bound — the roots were circling the bottom of the pot like crazy. I went with a terracotta pot one size up and used that chunky aroid mix you mentioned. Honestly, I was nervous I'd shock it, but within a week it perked right up and is already putting out a new leaf with those beautiful fenestrations. The spot by the east window seems to be working well since it gets that soft morning light without the harsh afternoon burn. I also started bottom-watering it every ten days or so, and that made a huge difference — no more fungus gnats hovering around. Anyway, thanks again for the tip about the bamboo stakes. I finally gave it some support and it looks so much more structured now. Let me know if you ever want a cutting from this one once it gets a little bigger. I know you were eyeing it last time you were over.

Also, I tried that sourdough starter method you emailed me last month. It took about twelve days to really get active, but now it's doubling reliably every eight hours. I've been baking a loaf every weekend and the crust is finally getting that deep golden color with the blisters. I think the key was using filtered water instead of tap.

I finally figured out why my tomatoes weren't setting fruit earlier this summer. It was the heat — we had that stretch where nights stayed above 75 degrees and the pollen just denatured. I switched to a heat-tolerant variety called Heatmaster and it's been producing like crazy despite the temperatures. The flavor isn't quite as deep as a Brandywine, but honestly, I'll take a decent tomato over no tomato at all. I've been harvesting about six to eight a week and making sauce with basil from the same bed. The plants are in five-gallon fabric pots on the south side of the patio, which gets full sun from about ten in the morning until late afternoon. I'm also trying a shading cloth on the really brutal afternoons just to see if that helps extend the season into September. Anyway, I saved a few slices from the last batch and they were perfect on sourdough with a little salt and olive oil. Let me know if you want to try some next time I do a harvest run.

Also, I finally got around to reading that mystery novel you recommended — the one set in the coastal town. I finished it in two days because I couldn't put it down. The way the author described the fog rolling in gave me such a strong sense of place. I'm planning to pick up the sequel next week.