Saturday, July 19, 2008

Sunday After Church



Hot summer Sundays...
We all vividly remember the days before Air Conditioning. We'd drive to and from Church with the 4-65 AC in the car, and look forward to a fan moving the hot air around at home.

Another pretty vivid memory I have is looking forward to our family's summertime after Church ritual...
We'd get home, and Mom would mix up a batch of "Reymer's Blennd". It was a Kool-aid like citrus drink, and on those hot days it sure gave us something to look forward to when we got home.

It may be available on Amazon.com.
Mom, does that look like the gen-u-ine article? If so, I'll order us a couple gallons.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Never got to enjoy this drink....sounds delicious. I think our treat on a hot July day was a big cold watermelon, cut up outside and everyone got at least one big piece. Remember everyone's chin dripping with juice, big smiles and great fun with friends.

Bo

the golden horse said...

I never got to try this either. Sure looks good.
Do you remember the juice man that would come around. He had OJ and lemonade and many other kinds in gallon jugs.
Also, do you remember ever buying farm fresh veggies from Mr. Lammert, that drove around in his huge old car and had these incredible vegetables in the trunk?He was Steven's grandfather and had his place up on 135. The best stuff I have ever tasted.
Dozen ears of corn for 50 cents.
OH Bo, that watermelon sure sound good about now.

Greybeard said...

Good lemonade was something I looked forward to, but always left me feeling like I needed a glass of water afterward to really quench my thirst. "Reymer's Blennd" always made me want a second glass, then maybe a third... it was that good.

A cold, sweet, Indiana watermelon, with juice flowing down your chin out of a smiling face is another great memory, Bo. Thanks for that.

GH, I'm sorry to say I have no memory of Mr. Lammert, but I sure remember Mr. Rund's big ol' grocery truck. (Now we truly are beginning to sound like a "Waltons" episode, huh?

TwoDogs said...

Sundays after church for us was a visit to the Grandparents, trading every other Sunday between the two sets of grandparents. One set lived just two houses east of the church, the other lived right across from the church. Visiting the Sells sometimes meant seeing our cousins from Speedway. We would occasionally hop the fence and play at the Community Center. Sometimes, we would go back to the creek. The three ‘City’ boys from Speedway did not know much about our ‘country’ life – but were very wise in other ways. Therefore, we learned from each other. Ha…. We would always get in trouble – one way or the other. A treat on that Sunday was always ice cream and the ‘fresh from Grandpa’s garden’ strawberries. Dinners were usually at our ‘old farm house’, because grandma’s house was too small for 6 boys. Occasionally, we would have watermelon and that was always out back by the smokehouse. Six young boys in the house with watermelon - Mom said "I don't think so!"

The other side of the family always had a reunion in August. Dad had a bunch of Aunts that really knew how to cook. Mostly farm ladies who all had big gardens, fruit trees, grape arbors, etc… Real fried chicken, dumplings, chicken and noodles, greenbeans (fresh from the garden) cooked down with a lots of ham in them. Most of the ‘fixin’ were made from scratch (as they used to like to say). Lots of cobblers, fresh stawberry pies, cherry and apple pies, rhubarb pie and my favorite – peach pie. We would always ‘make’ ice cream and boy, was it the best – over the top of that peach pie…. Those ladies sure liked to cook and the men sure knew how to eat. That generation is all gone now and sad to say, for the most part, so is that style of cooking. Probably wasn’t the healthiest ‘lifestyle’, but every once in a while, it was grand!

I remember Steve’s grandfather. We used to buy eggs from him, as well. South of County Line on St.Rd. 135, I think. Someone up in that are also had goats. Dad used to go there to buy goat’s milk. I also remember the big old car that he used to drive around in.

Isn’t it funny that we all had some connection with each other. Our Center Grove ‘Community’ was the best!

Top Cat said...

Sad we don't have the good old days. Seems like family always got together after church. The simple things in life were so good. Our kids and grandkids wouldn't understand. Here we sit in the airconditioning with computers, cell phones, big screen TVS. Remember when it was no air just our bicycles to ride and play with friends. Today how many friends do we really have that we do things with? By the way Fly your still young most will be turning 62 soon. I'll be 61 tomorrow. Dosen't seem possible. Speaking of old I better tell Sharon to get to the Social Security office and get signed up. She'll love me for that. Well see you all soon.

TwoDogs said...

Yes, You go ahead and tell Sharon. If you do - You may not make it to 61.....

Happy Birth Day, Top Cat!!!!! Go fishing or something. You work so hard, you deserve to take the day off!
Oh, and have some cake for me.

the golden horse said...

HBD Top Cat,

Isn't grand to still be 60?? Are you really going to say that to your wife?
I turn 61 on Aug. 15, the first day of football practice and squirrel season opens. At least, back a few years ago.

TD..you are so right, the childhood memories and the family reunions. MY family was from Kentucky, so you can imagine the food we had there. We just didn't know how lucky we were back then.
I remember you guys running the neighborhood. I used to go back behind your house somewhere and there was a horse running around a little gravel pit. I thought I was on the great western plain.
Then around the community center was awesome. And playing in the creeks.
You are right, that is exactly where Mr. Lammerts place was. His produce was so good.
Just had a watermelon last night.
Awwww for just one week back then.
You on Buck, Peanut on his black steed and me on Dusty or Admiral.
It doesn't get any better than that.