Some summer memories....

[pooh]

Today I started thinking about summer and what came to mind immediately were some of the smells of summer that I remember. Growing up just a few houses from the beach, the air was fragrant with the smell of the sea. It was a wonderful nasal sensation. Then there was the reason I wrote....ice cream! Ice cream always is fun and enjoyable to ingest, but in the summer, it was even more special. When I was growing up, Dad would take us to an ice cream and sandwich shop that had the best coffee ice cream I've ever had. As a teen, I worked summer's in an ice cream shop. Neither of these places were air-conditioned.....they were just little family owned shops. The combination of sea air, warm and moist, along with slowly melting ice cream, makes my heart smile. Interestingly, when this memory comes to the surface, it's always coffee ice cream that is remembered....not vanilla, strawberry, chocolate,....just coffee.

Many remember sights, sounds.....how many of you remember aromas? My son is in his 40's....when we talk, he remembers tastes....maybe so, he's now an executive chef. I wonder what my grand kids will remember?

[njbchbum]

with the opportunity for but a one or two week vacation at the jersey shore, i fondly recall the aromas of the point pleasant boardwalk...the smoke from jenkinson's beach train, bleach from jenkison's pool after the salt water had been emptied and the walls and deck scrubbed down, the stale beer at the doorway of the Rip Tide, fresh popped corn, the fresh squeezed orange juice next to the custard stand, noxzema, and the grease/oil from the bumper cars - but best of all - the smell of the salt air that was pervasive beyond all of the other smells and fragrances while walking the boards. if i close my eyes i can see the neon lights and hear the ting-a-ling of the bells on the kiddie rides!

thanx

[pooh]

with the opportunity for but a one or two week vacation at the jersey shore, i fondly recall the aromas of the point pleasant boardwalk...the smoke from jenkinson's beach train, bleach from jenkison's pool after the salt water had been emptied and the walls and deck scrubbed down, the stale beer at the doorway of the Rip Tide, fresh popped corn, the fresh squeezed orange juice next to the custard stand, noxzema, and the grease/oil from the bumper cars - but best of all - the smell of the salt air that was pervasive beyond all of the other smells and fragrances while walking the boards. if i close my eyes i can see the neon lights and hear the ting-a-ling of the bells on the kiddie rides!

thanx

Thank you! What great memories, I'm glad you shared.

[bandsdavis]

I grew up across the street from a park that held band concerts every Tuesday night on a stage very similar to the ones in the TV town squares. These were the old fashioned band concerts that played Sousa and other "concert band" numbers. People would pull their cars up onto the park lawn, and honk after every song. I remember the music vividly, sitting on my front steps. I also remember the smell of the popcorn from the vendor. Nothing like that around anymore, and it's a shame.

B.

[njbchbum]

I grew up across the street from a park that held band concerts every Tuesday night on a stage very similar to the ones in the TV town squares. These were the old fashioned band concerts that played Sousa and other "concert band" numbers. People would pull their cars up onto the park lawn, and honk after every song. I remember the music vividly, sitting on my front steps. I also remember the smell of the popcorn from the vendor. Nothing like that around anymore, and it's a shame.

B.

yes there is!!! come to maine in the summer! the town next to our town has that bandshell concert EVERY thursday nite! and there is a popcorn and soda vendor on site, too! sousa is a featured nite every july and during the july 4 concert before the fireworks! we love everything about it - EXCEPT the mosquitos!!! ;)

[pooh]

I grew up across the street from a park that held band concerts every Tuesday night on a stage very similar to the ones in the TV town squares. These were the old fashioned band concerts that played Sousa and other "concert band" numbers. People would pull their cars up onto the park lawn, and honk after every song. I remember the music vividly, sitting on my front steps. I also remember the smell of the popcorn from the vendor. Nothing like that around anymore, and it's a shame.

B.
Sounds great...and I think you're right....not much like that these days. Iinteresting, you remember sounds and aromas....:)

Thanks for sharing your memories, I enjoyed reading them!

[Mudder]

The best thing I remember are the sounds of the merry go round on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. I loved getting the brass rings ! I went there every single day and rode many many times.

[skyguy79]

One of the things I remember is the daily passing by of the Friehofer's horse drawn bakery wagon by our house. The aroma of the fresh baked bread and cakes was intoxicating. On our route there were two horses that alternated days. One was names Josephine and the other was Frank. Guess what my parents names were? It almost belongs in Ripleys! :)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4QTB1HYsPoY/SLxlOsUAMRI/AAAAAAAAD5k/UzZ7dka4IgU/FairBreadCart.jpg

The Story of Freihofer's Bread Company (http://www.freihofers.com/about-us/our-story.aspx)

[pooh]

The best thing I remember are the sounds of the merry go round on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. I loved getting the brass rings ! I went there every single day and rode many many times.

Ah, the sounds of a merry go round! The one I rode in the summer didn't have the brass ring thingy...., but I still enjoyed riding the horse on the outside edge of the ride. Didn't you get dizzy??....;)

[pooh]

yes there is!!! come to maine in the summer! the town next to our town has that bandshell concert EVERY thursday nite! and there is a popcorn and soda vendor on site, too! sousa is a featured nite every july and during the july 4 concert before the fireworks! we love everything about it - EXCEPT the mosquitos!!! ;)

Sounds wonderful! I'll bet the popcorn and soda tastes great. Something about being outdoors, fresh popcorn and live music that just makes a great memory. Enjoy!

[pooh]

Have been trying to respond to your post Skyguy.....TOTV won't let me do it so I'm trying it this way.

The smell of freshly baked bread is absolutely wonderful! And the wagon and horses provide a great visual accompaniment to the olfactory memory! Bet your parents got a chuckle out of the horses' names.... ;)

[skyguy79]

Have been trying to respond to your post Skyguy.....TOTV won't let me do it so I'm trying it this way.

The smell of freshly baked bread is absolutely wonderful! And the wagon and horses provide a great visual accompaniment to the olfactory memory! Bet your parents got a chuckle out of the horses' names.... ;)My parents did get a good laugh out of it. This memory also brought this to mind... if people think that dog poop is a problem... I think you can guess the rest. At least the horses didn't come onto our lawn and do their business! :1rotfl:

[mar/bob]

Hi Pooh
Love your msg as I didn't think anyone loved coffee ice cream but me.
Have to have it everywhere I go. Pa has some good places for it.
Also every Friday night we went to a place called West Point Park where
they stamped your hand and rode the rides for a few bucks.
Popcorn, crushed ice with cherry flavor, cotton candy, and much more
Nothing today to compare.
The wild mouse was something and our cousin twisted her neck and
couldn't drive us home so underaged to drive we did a good job.
Those were the days.
Thank you for the memories.

Mar/Bob

[pooh]

:super:My parents did get a good laugh out of it. This memory also brought this to mind... if people think that dog poop is a problem... I think you can guess the rest. At least the horses didn't come onto our lawn and do their business! :1rotfl:

:1rotfl::clap2::1rotfl:

[pooh]

Hi Pooh
Love your msg as I didn't think anyone loved coffee ice cream but me.
Have to have it everywhere I go. Pa has some good places for it.
Also every Friday night we went to a place called West Point Park where
they stamped your hand and rode the rides for a few bucks.
Popcorn, crushed ice with cherry flavor, cotton candy, and much more
Nothing today to compare.
The wild mouse was something and our cousin twisted her neck and
couldn't drive us home so underaged to drive we did a good job.
Those were the days.
Thank you for the memories.

Mar/Bob
Coffee icecream is my favorite! It's interesting just how many different coffee ice cream flavors there are.

Glad you all got home safely....even though you were too young to drive, I'm sure it was the best time driving that any of you had! :icon_wink:

[CFrance]

Lake Erie--the sound of the waves and the wind, and the seagulls crying over the top of them. We had a house a block or two from the beach, so everyone would pile into the cars and go down to the beach for the day, bringing blankets and a picnic and swim toys. We'd build a fire--the smell of the fire and the sounds of crackling wood. The aroma of hotdogs cooking on sticks. But most of all the smell and taste of my mother's amazing potato salad. The taste of the first chomp into a baloney and mayo sandwich. The dampish-cool feel of the sand after the sun went down. Then of course the marshmallows burning. Sigh.

[CFrance]

Lake Erie--the sound of the waves and the wind, and the seagulls crying over the top of them. We had a house a block or two from the beach, so everyone would pile into the cars and go down to the beach for the day, bringing blankets and a picnic and swim toys. We'd build a fire--the smell of the fire and the sounds of crackling wood. The aroma of hotdogs cooking on sticks. But most of all the smell and taste of my mother's amazing potato salad. The taste of the first chomp into a baloney and mayo sandwich. The dampish-cool feel of the sand after the sun went down. Then of course the marshmallows burning. Sigh.

Oh, and I forgot Reymer's Lemon Blend
http://www.pennmac.com/images/3963

[BarryRX]

We spent summers growing up in White Lake, NY, not far from Yasgurs farm where Woodstock was held. Summer in the Catskills were cool nights and hot days. Most days were spent on the lake water skiing or just hanging our with friends, or at the pool. In the evenings we went to the clubhouse for a movie or a dance. We danced to the twist and a lot of other dances of the times. As we got older, we would head to the "boat club" in the evening. The boat club was a bar and we would show our false ID to get a beer and play 8 ball and listen to the jukebox all night. Many summer romances began there!

[Golfer in Sanibel]

My parents did get a good laugh out of it. This memory also brought this to mind... if people think that dog poop is a problem... I think you can guess the rest. At least the horses didn't come onto our lawn and do their business! :1rotfl:

That is what I was thinking of when you praised the oder. ;)

[graciegirl]

The yummy man on his tricycle with his ice chest full of popsicles and other cold treats. My cousin who lived next door and I didn't get a treat every night that he came but oh how I remember that icy goodness in my mouth.

It was HOT and we took damp wash cloths to bed to try to stay cool with no air conditioning.

I remember the smell of cut grass and roses and the smell of cherry pie baking. I remember being hugged against my grandmothers clean and fresh starched and ironed apron and her faint smell of Muguet Royale, her favorite perfume. I love the smell of Lily of the Valley to this day.. I remember having my fingernails painted on the front porch by my bigger cousin.

Going to the movies on Saturday afternoon. Being crazy about June Alyson and Dick Powell. Owning a cowgirl outfit and cap guns. Playing in the sandbox with army jeeps.

The joy of those early summers is how I feel now in this beautiful place.

[Mikeod]

Wow. Summer memories. Playing ball almost every day with my friends. We had a field about 1/4 mile from our house. Never found out who owned it, but we built a mound and base paths. We set up foul poles and a centerfield pole and strung rope between them to make our outfield "walls". When we didn't have enough kids, we established a rule that a right-hander had to hit to the left field side of the centerfield pole and a left-hander to the right of it.

And then there was Whalom Park and the lake. The Fun House there had a large turntable about 12-15 ft diameter that spun faster and faster. We would sit on it and try to stay on while it spun. Learned my first rule of physics there. The closer to the center you sat, the better you could tolerate the spin.

The farm stand where you could buy FRESH corn and real tomatoes was just up the street from our house.

And a later memory. Working at Acushnet Company in the summer and seeing my new bride working next door at Aerovox through the window. Sigh. So near and yet so far.

Gotta go. I could write for hours on this subject.

[Schaumburger]

Summer memories -- ice cream truck coming down the street ringing the bell. Begging my mom to let us get some ice cream -- ice cream was so much better off the truck than from our freezer. Catching lightning bugs in a jar at dusk. Dead fish flies (yuck) on the Julien Dubuque bridge that connects Iowa and Illinois. Going to Chicago with my dad to watch the Cubs play at Wrigley Field. Waving sparklers on July 4. Hearing the bugs that make the humming noise starting in early August -- that meant that school would be starting in a few weeks. Walking 4 blocks to the bookmobile once a week to check out books from the library.

[ssmith]

A few more thoughts, everyone on the block sitting on front porches, no one had A/C. Playing hide-n seek, Ghost in the Graveyard, Mother May I,
Tag. All the neighbors congregating and chatting. Staying up to sometimes 11:00 because it was too hot inside the house. Catching those Lightning bugs. A trip to the Frozen Custard for some really good ice cream. Daytime.... swimming at the neighborhood pool.

Later my parents bought a camper, so sitting around campfires and swimming in lakes all day long! Sometimes swimming in Lake Michigan burrrrrr and bonfires on the beach at night.

Simpler times...nice. I loved Gracie's post that stated that living in TV reminded her of those Good Old Summer times!

[CaptJohn]

Growing up along the Gulf Coast it was always water activities. Water skiing in Pensacola Bay, fishing, oystering, floundering, swimming in the sound side along with lots of seahorses (try to find those these days!), swimming in the Gulf and being brushed by sand sharks playfully, swimming in the undertow with no problems other than having to walk a mile back to where you started, hiking to the eagles nest. Of course, the ice cream truck came some days and other days was the mosquito spray truck with that fun to play in, sweet smelling smoke full of DDT! :22yikes:

[CarGuys]

Ahhhh all of you who in your youth grew up working summers on a dairy farm can remember those smells!

:rolleyes:

[TomOB]

Summers at the Jersey Shore...what memories. Mantoloking (still have a house there) and going to Pt. Pleasant or Seaside Heights. There are so many memories that I would have to write a book. I still love going for Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. Several of my friends still have their family homes from before we were in Kindergarten.

[bandsdavis]

Wow. Summer memories. Playing ball almost every day with my friends. We had a field about 1/4 mile from our house. Never found out who owned it, but we built a mound and base paths. We set up foul poles and a centerfield pole and strung rope between them to make our outfield "walls". When we didn't have enough kids, we established a rule that a right-hander had to hit to the left field side of the centerfield pole and a left-hander to the right of it.

And then there was Whalom Park and the lake. The Fun House there had a large turntable about 12-15 ft diameter that spun faster and faster. We would sit on it and try to stay on while it spun. Learned my first rule of physics there. The closer to the center you sat, the better you could tolerate the spin.

The farm stand where you could buy FRESH corn and real tomatoes was just up the street from our house.

And a later memory. Working at Acushnet Company in the summer and seeing my new bride working next door at Aerovox through the window. Sigh. So near and yet so far.

Gotta go. I could write for hours on this subject.

Wow! A Whalom Park reference! I grew up in SW NH and we would occasionally go to WP for the day. I remember going with my extended family when I was about 13, and the only one remotely near that age, so I was pretty tired of the little kids and the adults. So I wandered off by myself and found my way to the little stage where they sometimes had acts. How surprised was I to see Chuck Connors, The Rifleman, giving a little talk and demonstration! I thought that was the best until the next act came out. Dion, of Dion and the Belmonts! Unbelieveable! That was 50 years ago or so, and I can still see it as if it were yesterday.

B.

[2BNTV]

Summer memories -- ice cream truck coming down the street ringing the bell. Begging my mom to let us get some ice cream -- ice cream was so much better off the truck than from our freezer. Catching lightning bugs in a jar at dusk. Dead fish flies (yuck) on the Julien Dubuque bridge that connects Iowa and Illinois. Going to Chicago with my dad to watch the Cubs play at Wrigley Field. Waving sparklers on July 4. Hearing the bugs that make the humming noise starting in early August -- that meant that school would be starting in a few weeks. Walking 4 blocks to the bookmobile once a week to check out books from the library.

Funny - I was closing my windows tonight and saw several lightening bugs. I should have made the time to go out and catch them.

I remember sparklers on the fourth of July and no one mentioned salt water taffy.

I loved the smell of the ocean and remember how hungry it made me. Great times at the Jersey shore.

I remember Freddie to hotdog man who had a cart pulled by a horse. That aroma I was not fond of. My uncle told me the horses name but I can't remember it. Sorry.

[kathy and al]

Yes, Whalom Park and then Nantasket Beach amusements and of course the Revere Beach ferris wheel and bumber cars!!!!!

[jebartle]

Summer was the time for the fair....yummy corn dogs and funnel cakes, fat ladies and giants on stilts, my father's Knights of Columbus booth, 10 cents bought me a number, my dad's horror as I screamed out "Daddy, Daddy, I won"

[Cedwards38]

Summer means lightning bugs flickering across an open field, the smell of corn dogs when the carnival came to town, the yips and yells from the local little league baseball field, the cacaphony of crickets throughout the night, falling asleep listening to the radio broadcast of the Cincinnati Reds, sweat (I mean really, who had air conditioning), watching drive in movies from the back of a pickup truck or the hood of a car while wearing pajamas, the WHOOSH of water that occurs with a well performed cannonball dive into the pool, the cool sensation of aloe on sunburned skin, the smell of charcoal and hamburgers sizzling on a grill, the taste of ice cold beer, the squeals of children as they run through the spray of the garden hose, lying in the grass at night and counting shooting stars, and buying a watermelon from a tub filled with ice water and breakiing it open to scoop out the juicy red goodness with you hands.............to name a few.

[eweissenbach]

[QUOTE=graciegirl;492817]The yummy man on his tricycle with his ice chest full of popsicles and other cold treats. My cousin who lived next door and I didn't get a treat every night that he came but oh how I remember that icy goodness in my mouth.

It was HOT and we took damp wash cloths to bed to try to stay cool with no air conditioning.

I remember the smell of cut grass and roses and the smell of cherry pie baking. I remember being hugged against my grandmothers clean and fresh starched and ironed apron and her faint smell of Muguet Royale, her favorite perfume. I love the smell of Lily of the Valley to this day.. I remember having my fingernails painted on the front porch by my bigger cousin.

Going to the movies on Saturday afternoon. Being crazy about June Alyson and Dick Powell. Owning a cowgirl outfit and cap guns. Playing in the sandbox with army jeeps.

[B]The joy of those early summers is how I feel now in this beautiful place. QUOTE]

Gracie nails it! TV gives us all a chance to relive our childhood summers. Remember riding a peddle car? Now it's a golf cart. Remember going to the movies to escape the heat because the theatres were the only air conditioned places in town? Now it is wonderful multi-plex theatres, still air conditioned, and still with the overwhelming smell of :popcorn:. Remember going outside and playing with your friends all day? Now it is the same only instead of baseball, marbles, and riding bikes, it is softball, pickleball, golf, zumba, and again, golf cars (or with some people, still bicycles). Remember being excited beyond beleif that the carnival was coming to town? Now we have a carnival every night in the town squares. For that matter, remember the town square?????? Remember sitting on the porch and visiting with friends and neighbors who happened by? Still doing it in TV. :coolsmiley::coolsmiley:

[eweissenbach]

Another summer memory for me is the smell of fresh asphalt on the streets. My hometown always put a layer of hot asphalt on the streets in early August. Football practice started each year on August 15. Two a day practices in 90-100 degree temperatures IS NOT FUN!!!!!!!!! Therefore I still associate the smell of fresh asphalt to the beginning of football practice, getting strawberries (grass burns) on my elbows and knees, the sweat getting in my chinstrap and chafing by chin, doing up and downs until you felt like you couldn't move another muscle, getting yelled at by the coaches ... Yuck!

[Patty55]

Anybody else spend their days digging to China? :1rotfl:

[batman911]

Spent my youth in Texas. Summer in Texas is hot and dry. Long, hot summer days listening to the cadence of the cicadas and watching heat waves in the distance below the clear blue sky. Riding our bicycles with cane fishing poles attached to our favorite creeks, always looking for the big one that always seemed to elude us. Buying a whole watermelon for 25 cents and sitting on the back porch sharing it with my best friend. Picking dewberries along the railroad tracks after you shake the bushes with a long stick to warn any snakes that you are coming in. My mom would make dewberry pie and jelly. Eating loads of Blue Bell ice cream every chance we got. Homemade Vanilla has got to be the best ice cream there is. You need to try some at least once in your life if you have never had it.

Blue Bell Ice Cream (http://bluebell.com/)

[eweissenbach]

Spent my youth in Texas. Summer in Texas is hot and dry. Long, hot summer days listening to the cadence of the cicadas and watching heat waves in the distance below the clear blue sky. Riding our bicycles with cane fishing poles attached to our favorite creeks, always looking for the big one that always seemed to elude us. Buying a whole watermelon for 25 cents and sitting on the back porch sharing it with my best friend. Picking dewberries along the railroad tracks after you shake the bushes with a long stick to warn any snakes that you are coming in. My mom would make dewberry pie and jelly. Eating loads of Blue Bell ice cream every chance we got. Homemade Vanilla has got to be the best ice cream there is. You need to try some at least once in your life if you have never had it.

Blue Bell Ice Cream (http://bluebell.com/)

Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla tastes just like the stuff I got to lick off the paddles when my grandma cranked a fresh batch. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM :icon_hungry: :icon_hungry:

[batman911]

You are absolutely correct Oldcoach Ed. I've had both and cannot taste the difference.

[CaptJohn]

Eating loads of Blue Bell ice cream every chance we got. Homemade Vanilla has got to be the best ice cream there is. You need to try some at least once in your life if you have never had it.

Blue Bell Ice Cream (http://bluebell.com/)

Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla is a staple every week around here!
There's a new variety with fudge swirled in called "Made in the Shade".
Time for an ice cream break! :laugh:

[paulandjean]

Playing in grade school and high school summer basketball outside for hours and hours in 90 degrees. Morning and evening. Later coaching 100s and 100s of players at basketball camps again where it was HOT.

[eweissenbach]

Playing in grade school and high school summer basketball outside for hours and hours in 90 degrees. Morning and evening. Later coaching 100s and 100s of players at basketball camps again where it was HOT.

I coached in basketball camps in the 70s where the temp was over 100 degrees in un-air conditioned gyms. I sweat bullets, but loved every minute of it .