This morning as I stood looking out the kitchen window waiting for the coffee to finish brewing, I spied Mrs. Otis (my scarecow) standing placidly among the sunflowers.  Lit from behind by the early morning sunshine, the little sunflowers glowed like row of golden gems strung across the back of the garden.  Mrs. Otis’ apron lifted gently on the breeze then fell back against her worn denim skirt.  The snap peas, gallantly climbing their chickenwire frame, are already producing fruits.  Russian mammoth sunflowers and broom corn make slow, steady progress.  Years ago when we had the time to put up vegetables, this garden had straight rows of sweet corn, hot peppers, sweet peppers, okra, pickling cucumbers, potatoes, tomatoes, melons and pumpkins.  Today you will find it home to daylilies, terra cotta and Moonshine yarrow, purple veronica, bronze fennel, Autumn Joy sedum, purple silver grass, cherry and orange profusion zinnias, Shasta daisies and black-eyes susies, purple catmint and Russian sage, Fox Red Curly Sedge and brilliant orange butterfly weed.  You will still find some basil and a tomato plant or two in this sunny spot, but most of the vegetables have given over to flowers and goods for drying.

Whether you tend vegetables, flowers, or both, gardening is hard work. But tending a garden is also soul’s work and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  To stand at the edge of the garden at twilight and watch the fireflies float up like a million glowing embers from the garden’s cool depths and the GREEN scent of it all hangs in the air….bliss!  Yes, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Which brings me to this month’s offering!  Inspired by the luscious shades of yellow, red and green in my garden, and, I admit, with the thought of sun ripened tomatoes dancing in my head, I created a folky Tomato Garden Sewing Box.  The box itself is comb painted and it is topped by a fraktur-style needle punch flower.  Inside you will find two sweet tomato pinkeeps – one has been cross stitched in a fine tomato red and stuffed with lambswool; the other is a plump fruit made of wool and stuffed with sawdust and dried, crushed herbs from my garden.  A few other goodies are tucked inside. There is only one finished good available and you will only find it on The Primitive Gathering later this evening or on July 1^st.  You will find a link to The Primitive Gathering below.

You may also purchase the pattern (mailed or e-pattern).  It includes detailed instructions for making the needle punch, comb painted box, and both pinkeeps.  The pattern can be found under "Featured Items" at right.

One last bit of news ~ I have enlisted a new service to assure my monthly newsletters reach you. If you hadn’t been getting my monthly emails and are on my list, I hope you received the July letter.  Drop me a line and let me know!  You may also sign up for my email list by entering your email address below.

Until next month, my friends, enjoy these blessed days of summer...