Mr Stripey, Culantro, Pensive Pinch Pot

You're probably thinking I made a typographical error with the spelling of culantro. Keep reading; I learned it's actually correct. This first photo is a Mr Stripey heirloom tomato growing in my vegetable patch. He's got a few splits from too much rainfall. I have three more I just picked. I'll have to let you know about the taste of these. They are pink striped green when they're ripe.

Now for culantro. I saw this herb at the local big box store and just had to try it. I read it's like cilantro but is much stronger flavored. Can't wait to try some of this. If the fragrance coming from the plant is any indication, it should make Cuban recipes taste even that much better.

I guess it's finally getting warm enough for the eggplant to set flowers. Some places call this plant aubergine. I love speaking the word aubergine, it just rolls off the tongue. I've got some catnip growing for the cats. They like their herbs too. It's flowering now. I've interspersed herbs among the vegetables so in winter there will be some cover to the soil and things to keep harvesting during the cold weather.

I'm also growing cubanelle peppers. These are similar in flavor to bell peppers but easier to grow I think. The other thing is they chop up quickly or you can easily eat them fresh.

I was under the weather so I didn't get to go to St. Petersberg, so I was really disappointed. Maybe some other time.

Here's a pinch pot I made several weeks ago. I purposefully folded creases into the sides. Then I saw a mouth had somehow formed. So I added the two lines for eyes with my thumbnail and enhanced the nose a bit. It's a pensive pinch pot; I love it when the clay does what it wants. I think maybe some type of oxide wash on the outside so the features aren't obliterated with glaze. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.