There are a few things in life that are worth the effort required for the benefits derived – true love and homegrown tomatoes.

Today I picked my first “tomatah” right off one of four vines which are planted  in my front yard, tucked snuggly beside the old garden phlox.

I’m saving it for the weekend, but just looking at it reminds me of a country song by Guy Clark called simply “Homegrown Tomatoes.”

Here’s how the refrain goes:"There’s only two things that money can’t buy, and that’s true lovin’ and homegrown tomatahs.” sings Clark with feeling. It was a catchy little ditty that I’ve been humming ever since. I was able to obtain the lyrics for you:

“Ain’t nothin’ in the world that I like better than bacon & lettuce & homegrown tomatoes
Up in the mornin’ out in the garden, get you a ripe one don’t get a hard one.
Plant `em in the spring eat `em in the summer -All winter with out `em’s a culinary bummer. I forget all about the sweatin’ & diggin’ everytime I go out & pick me a big un.
Homegrown tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes. What’d life be without homegrown tomatoes. Only two things that money can’t buy -that’s true love & homegrown tomatoes.
You can go out to eat & that’s for sure, but it’s nothin’ a homegrown tomato won’t cure
Put `em in a salad, put `em in a stew You can make your very own tomato juice
Eat `em with egs, eat `em with gravy. Eat `em with beans, pinto or navy.
Put `em on the side put `em in the middle Put a homegrown tomato on a hotcake griddle
If I’s to change this life I lead I’d be Johnny Tomato Seed
`Cause I know what this country needs – homegrown tomatoes in every yard you see.
When I die don’t bury me in a box in a cemetery -out in the garden would be much better
I could be pushin’ up homegrown tomatoes

Thankfully the country crooner was wrong. You CAN buy homegrown tomatoes if you know where to look.

Meanwhile, my taste buds are gearing up for my favorite summertime meal – homemade pimento cheese smeared on a piece of mayo- slathered white bread (hold the sprouts and seven grains – this has got to be white bread.)

Of course the dish must have a big ole slice of a homegrown tomato right in the middle.

It just doesn’t get better than this.