I actually tried planting those tomatoes you mentioned last season. They grew really well in the raised bed along the south wall. The soil there gets full sun from about 10 in the morning until late afternoon. I mixed in some compost I'd been working on for a few months and the plants really took off. The cherry tomatoes were especially good this year. We had so many I started giving them to neighbors. One tip I learned is to water deeply but less often so the roots grow stronger. Also a light mulch of straw helps keep the soil moist and reduces weeds. I used a simple drip hose on a timer and it made a huge difference in consistency. Next year I want to try growing bell peppers alongside the tomatoes since they like similar conditions. U6F6BOd1lb The basil I planted nearby also thrived which made for great caprese salads all summer. Let me know if you want a cutting from the plants before the first frost hits.

LOWE'S

MyLowe's Rewards • Gold Member

YOUR GOLD TIER
REWARDS ARE READY

A Kobalt 100-Piece Tool Set and
$100 MyLowes Card — yours to redeem.

MEMBER NUMBER: MY-2236 | POINTS: 1,520 | STATUS: GOLD

Your Rewards at a Glance

KOBALT 100-PIECE
TOOL SET

• Professional-grade hand tools

• Workshop essentials included

• Backed by lifetime warranty

$100 MYLOWES
CARD

• Spend anywhere at Lowe's

• Tools, appliances, décor & more

• No expiration, full flexibility

About Kobalt: Lowe's house tool brand, recognized for durable hand tools and workshop essentials. Every piece in this 100-piece set is designed for reliability and long-term use — backed by a lifetime warranty.

About MyLowe's Rewards: Your membership unlocks exclusive perks, savings, and rewards like this. The $100 MyLowes Card can be used across tools, appliances, décor, and any home improvement purchase — in-store or online.

Redeem Your $100 Card + Kobalt Tool Set

Ref: 2103021030

I finally finished that cross-stitch project I mentioned a few weeks ago. It took way longer than I expected because the pattern had a lot of color changes in the background section. I ended up using a frame stand which helped a lot with tension consistency. The fabric was a 28-count evenweave which gave nice detail but made my eyes tired after an hour or so. I switched to a daylight lamp and that made a huge difference in seeing the thread colors accurately. The finished piece is about 8 by 10 inches and I'm planning to frame it with a simple dark wood hoop. My friend asked me to make one for her with a different pattern so I might start that next month if I can find the right color palette. The online store I usually buy from had a sale on the specific floss I needed which was a nice surprise. I also picked up a couple of extra needles and a magnetic needle minder that keeps everything organized while I work. Let me know if you want me to send you a photo of the finished piece.