Tomatoe Trouble

This year had most definitely been a learning experience for us regarding our tomatoes. These things have grown so big that we have had to prune them several times, learn how to prevent them from falling over and tie them up so they can grow. Recently I noticed that we were finally getting some that were turning red and was so excited! There was one about the size of a baseball that I was particularly excited about. I could see it every time I pulled into the driveway and was giving it just the right amount of time to redden. I was going to pick it the next day and I drove in and I did not see it. So after we got out of the car I went to find it. To my astonishment it was not there! I could not imagine what happened to it. Did a squirrel come and take it? I decided that it must have been some random person who helped themselves. Then about a week later Kevin had taken the car and I was home alone. I was talking to the maintenance man at our back door and a resident walks by with his mail and something red. When I looked again I realized it was a handful of our precious tomatoes. I was shocked. In a quick moment all I could think to say was "you can't just pick those, they are mine and we have not had very many" "you can't just pick them you have to ask!" To which he said oh, okay and kept walking away. Maybe I am mean but I have worked hard all summer to get tomatoes and we are just now at the end of August getting a few. This spring was too wet and cold so we have had a very short window of good weather. Anyway I think he has stopped picking them and we hope the sun will continue to shine enough to get more yummy home grown tomatoes.