Thinking About the Good Ol' Days

My grandmother had a Mimosa tree in her backyard.  It was under that tree with all the shade it provided that most summer gatherings were held.  Our table was a utility line spindle.  My grandfather dug trenches for a living and I suppose those trenches were later used to bury large utility wires.  Pop Pop's bonus was the two or three spindle tables in the backyard.

There weren't really chairs for the table, although there may have been a few smaller spindle tables around that whoever was gathered used for sitting.  Mostly there were lawn chairs with a green and white plastic weave for comfort.  Us kids didn't usually have a seat- nor did we need one. We were too busy running around.  Running after fireflies, running down the dirt paths in the garden and through the trellises that supported the pole beans. 

Every once in awhile we would gather under the tree to make ice cream.  My granny would add in whatever ingredients were needed and all of us kids- siblings and cousins- would do the grunt work of turning the handle.  The rock salt tumbled and crunched as the heat of the day moistened our necks.

When the ice cream was finally done we would gather as small bowls of sweetness were passed out.  A summer day that ends with homemade strawberry ice cream- you can't do much better than that.