Is there anything better in August than vine-ripened tomatoes? If you don't emphatically agree with that rhetorical question, well, what's wrong with you? OK, not really. Some people don't like tomatoes (gasp!), and if that's you, it's ok. You'll just want to skip over #4 (below) in this month's Notes From the Heart. But, if you are a fan of summer tomatoes, we've got a few links you might find useful and entertaining.

Here are some things we thought you might like this month...

  1. Tomatoes are best when plucked right off the vine, so we encourage you to grow your own (not difficult), or at least, explore the options at your local farmer's market. Store-bought tomatoes rarely (if ever) compare to fresh, local varieties so it's always worth the extra effort to produce or procure this special summertime fruit.
  2. As for eating tomatoes, a classic, can-never-go-wrong combo is to pair a just-picked juicy heirloom with a generous pinch of good quality, large-flake sea salt, a short pour of fine EVOO, and a splash of real balsamic. OMG... THIS is what summer is all about. Of course the fun doesn't stop there. Here are 55 other tomato recipes to explore.
  3. But we can't leave the tomato garden without letting you know the single most important rule about tomatoes: Never, EVER store your tomatoes in the fridge. That debate has been going on for years, but science has compelling evidence that if you enjoy the flavor, tomatoes are best kept at room temp. We agree.
  4. The sweet little tomato art above features a quote from British humorist P.G. Wodehouse, who is the creator of Jeeves and Wooster. After a little digging, we connected a few dots and found a link to this book. And that friends, is how we segue from delicious summer fruits to fun summertime reading!
  5. And speaking of summertime reading, this book by Maria Semple is a favorite. And it features another summertime fruit (again, best eaten right off the vine) that nearly everyone we know loves.
  6. Because there are more daylight hours in summer, it tends to be a good season for experimenting with new morning routines. And sometimes the best morning routines are defined by what you DON'T do, instead of what you do do.
  7. And healthy routines are not limited to mornings. Rituals that make your life easier, more fun, and healthier can be practiced any time of the day. Here's a 10-minute ritual that we think everyone should practice.
  8. Another ritual we practice regularly is this: gratitude.
  9. And we'll leave you with this final thought: You get to choose how you live your life. And even when you are not making a choice, it's a choice. Want a better life? Make better choices. Here's a great way to do just that.

Signing off with love, from Chattanooga. Have a happy August.


Image: Tomato Struggling for Self-Expression by Bryana Johnson (Etsy)

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