June 16, 2025

Monday Morning Coffee

 

Good Monday morning! It is overcast and humid here today, with the promise of spotty showers and the possibility of an afternoon thunderstorm. What is it about a rainy summer day that makes me feel happy? It may have something to do with my innate love of all things cozy. Who knows? Soon enough, we will have those bright, hot, sunny days, the ones my mom used to sing about... " Roll out those lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer! " That song takes me back to the days of Bob Barker and The Price is Right before lunch, drippy ice cream from a plastic bucket scooped onto green, brown, or pink colored cones, rides around town with my dad in his truck with the windows down, and kickball games and Ghost in the Graveyard with our neighbor friends after dinner. Now, summer is many different things, but one of the favorites is something as simple as this.


Tomatoes. Garden tomatoes, to be specific. I am a simple person, and a bowl of ripe garden tomatoes on my counter just brings me joy!

Madison found these sweet salt and pepper shakers for me at Anthropology. She gave them to me for Mother's Day, and yes, that is a Tomato Sandwich candle, too! Madison has a friend who makes them. Tomato sandwiches, pasta with tomatoes, BLT sandwiches...I could go on and on. But I won't! I'll end this with a wish for a happy summer day, my friends! 





I hope you enjoy in the ways that make you happy!

Billie Jo


22 comments:

  1. My favorite time of the year, when the tomatoes are fresh off the vines. LOVE them!! Those are cute salt and pepper shakers!! And, how about that candle scent. You will have to describe the fragrance that it has....like tomatoes? Have a good day Billie Jo and try to avoid that humidity.

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  2. your summer days sounded much like my own as child! How I miss those care free days of my youth! I too love a cozy rainy day when I can stay home. LOL! Hope you relax and enjoy this cozy day... we have much the same weather here in Missouri today.

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  3. We had our first garden fresh tomatoes on a BLT last week and it was so good. Same weather here and I'm not mad about it. Have a great Monday.

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  4. Those are cute salt and pepper shakers that Madison gifted you. There's nothing like home grown tomatoes. That song, "lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer" was on an episode of Gilrmore Girls, and after watching the show I couldn't get the song out of my head. ; ) Your Pinocchio cup is delightful. He's so sweet. I know what you mean about a rainy summer day. I love them too. Have a happy June week, Billie Jo. And I always appreciate your childhood stories.

    ~Sheri

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  5. I love your summer description! I had the same kind of summer and you brought me right back.
    And now I want a garden tomato. :)

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  6. Yes - fresh, garden-grown tomatoes are the best. Your BLT sandwich looks delicious. The salt and pepper shakers are so cute! So glad you are enjoying a cozy summer. Have a good week. See you again soon!

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  7. Your summer description is amazing, Billie Jo! I love your mug! Fresh garden tomatoes are divine! Your sandwich looks scrumptious!

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  8. Oh I too love fresh tomatoes... it's a little early here yet but hopefully soon!! A BLT sounds divine!

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  9. I was a bit late to my gardening this year so my tomatoes aren't ready but I can't wait for them. Those type of candles sound very interesting.

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  10. What wonderful childhood memories you have!!! I love the salt & pepper shakers! At first, I thought they were real!

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  11. It is our habit to have BLT sandwiches most Mondays for lunch. Soooo delicious!

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  12. Your childhood summer days sound much like mine. I wish kids these days could experience the same freedom and innocence that we did.
    BLT’s are my favorite sandwich of all time. I even order it when we go out if it’s on the menu.
    Blessings and hugs,
    Betsy

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  13. Happy new week! It is those wonderful simple things in life (a cozy rainy day, garden goodies...) that makes life the best!! Completely agree. And whomever came up with BLT's was a genius!! Just sayin 😉 xoxo

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  14. Tomato sandwiches with iced tea are my favorite summer lunch. Sourdough bread, lots of mayo, and lemon and sugar for my tea, please! Have a wonderful week :)

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  15. I love those salt and pepper shakers! SO adorable! I love tomatoes, too. They are cheerful and bright.

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  16. Love the shaker set! Have a great week.

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  17. A rainy summer day, oh yes! Good thing we like them this year, ha. A tomato sandwich, especially with bacon, lots of salt, pepper, and a tiny bit of mayo (Hellman's please!), made with garden fresh tomatoes is the best. Add a glass of iced tea, mmm. When I was a kid, we brought the Tupperware gold salt shaker out to the garden to salt the tomatoes, ate them warm from the sun.

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  18. My tomato plants are done. I pulled them up today. I will plant a new one more toward the end of August. We can grow things all year long here in Florida! The salt and pepper shakers are so cute!! This made a nice catch-up!! Have a blessed week ahead!

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  19. I do hope we succeed growing tomatoes this summer. Now that I am baking sourdough, I plan to make lots of BLTs. Those salt and pepper shakers are to die for!!!

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  20. I don't think there's anything on this earth that tastes better or smells better than a ripe garden tomato! I could smell yours through my computer screen, Billie Jo! :-) ~Andrea xoxo

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  21. Does your candle really smell like tomatoes? I love it!
    I'm fond of BLTs too and now I want one.
    Those salt and pepper shakers are so cute!

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  22. The salt and pepper set is just darling. Thanks for popping in to say hi.

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Thanks so much for saying hello!

Billie Jo