heart of southern life, the

Dear Friend,

Evening meals this month at our house always feature sliced fresh tomatoes. When the harvest from our garden is plentiful, we also try to make delicious sauces using them. Now if you're not a gardener, Associate Foods Editor Vicki Poellnitz gives you some good tips on how to select a tasty tomato the next time you're at the store. In her story, "Tomato Time," which starts on page 104, she covers some creative as well as some oldfashioned ways to enjoy this special summer fruit.

Not only do we enjoy the fresh tomatoes from our garden, but Pam and I also love the local produce from our two area farmers markets. One is a classic truck market offering mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, but diversity rules at our more uptown market. Here we can find just about anything, from wonderful cakes to cut flowers to flavorful herbs to every sort of vegetable. Few markets across the South top Georgia's Dekalb County Farmers Market. When Senior Writer Donna Florio was looking for a single market to explore for great recipes, Dekalb was the natural choice. Her story, starting on page 80, features a selection of recipes to satisfy any palate.

Now that I have you craving all the best foods of summer, I want to remind you how cool and refreshing water is this time of year. Being around water simply relaxes me. This month, our Travel section celebrates some of the places you can stay to enjoy sensational pools. I recently visited The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, and the shot of their pool on page 70 by Photographer Gary Clark gives you an idea of just how beautiful and tempting this oasis appears on a hot day.

The Homes department also jumps into the water with a story about a Texas home that overlooks Galveston Bay. I am inspired by the owners' love of sitting on their porch; I wish I was there with the Joiners right now. Homeowner Colene Joiner explains the appeal by saying, "...the moon is incredible. We love to sit and watch the moonbeams on the water." Those words reminded me not to forget that summer evenings are magical. Assistant Homes Editor Amy Bicker Mercer's story starts on page 86.

Have a restful and fun-filled July.

Best regards,

John Alex Floyd, Jr., Editor

John Alex Floyd, Jr., Editor

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jul 2006
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