As many of you know, we have been growing a variety of edible items on our balcony in our container garden. We have been enjoying it all summer, first with fresh spinach and lettuce, and then green beans and even a zucchini or two.

We also have three tomato plants; two we grew from seed and are "patio" variety designed to be small and good for containers, and one is brandywine. We got the brandywine plant from the local co-op after our seedlings appeared stunted and we thought they wouldn't make it. All three are doing really well now, and are full of fruit.

Last week the tomato plants finally started to ripen, and we were very excited to pull the first tomato off the vine.

After placing the tomato on the counter we noticed something a little shocking;
it looked like a big arse.


Now I know brandywine tomatoes are of the heirloom variety, which means they aren't as smooth as some of the other types - but this?

Every time I looked at the tomato I would laugh, it was just so strange.

As funny as it looked, it certainly did taste great in our tacos last night. It's hard to beat fresh produce you grow yourself, and brandywine tomatoes are full of a deep rich flavor - in a word: delicious.

While munching on yummy tomato I came across a few posts this week that I really found interesting, check them out:

• Brip Blap has a great post that really gets you thinking about things. It's hard to sum up but worth reading: How your education and lifestyle keep you from changing.
• Common Sense with Money posted a delicious sounding recipe for Peach Butter. What a great way to liven up a meal.
• Mrs. Michah has an interesting post on which personal finance guru's she likes in different situations, and why.
  

• Green Panda has some great money saving transportation tips for students.
• Grad Girl over at This Writer's Wallet just realized how little time she has for things, and is asking for suggestions with time management - something everyone struggles with.
• Jennifer Lynn, the Broke-Ass Student, has an insightful post on the state of the economy and consumerism, a topic that seems to be on our minds a lot lately.
• MFA or Bust has some great ideas for having fun in college without spending lots of money.
• Stephanie at Poorer than You has some great ideas on keeping college loans under control, they are something many students conveniently forget until payment hits, but you need ot be careful.
• Broke Grad Student has some great free resources that are worth checking out whether your a student or not.