I was telling my neighbor about how our tomato plants have completely taken over the raised bed this year. We started with just four little seedlings, and now they are easily six feet tall with branches sprawling everywhere. I had to build a last-minute trellis using bamboo sticks and old twine because the cages we bought were way too short. The cherry tomatoes are especially prolific; we've been picking handfuls every other day. My neighbor said her zucchini is doing the same thing, so we agreed to swap a few baskets of extras next week. I'm thinking of trying to pickle some green tomatoes this time around, though I have never done it before. There's a recipe online that uses dill and garlic that looks pretty straightforward. If it works, it will be a nice addition to sandwiches during the winter months. I also need to remember to water deeply rather than just sprinkling the surface, since the roots need to go deep to handle the afternoon heat. The whole experience has been really rewarding, even if the garden looks a bit chaotic right now. I might add a few marigolds next year to help with the pests naturally.

I spent the better part of last weekend trying to fix a running toilet in the guest bathroom and it turned into a much bigger project than I anticipated. I had watched a few videos online that made it look like a simple flapper replacement, but when I opened the tank, I realized the whole fill valve was corroded and needed to be swapped out. So I made a trip to the hardware store, picked up a new universal kit, and spent a couple of hours wrestling with rusty bolts and trying not to crack the porcelain. The instructions were not very clear about the height adjustment, so I had to guess and check a few times before the float sat at the right level. Eventually I got it all put back together and the water is running quietly again, which is a huge relief. I also replaced the supply line while I was at it, just to be safe. It is not a glamorous skill, but knowing how to fix a toilet yourself saves a lot of money on plumber visits. My next challenge is the kitchen faucet that has been dripping slowly for weeks.