[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]

Originally Posted by 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]

Originally Posted by skyguy79

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!

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!

[CarGuys]

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

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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"