Watermelons and Peach Ice Cream

Oh how we looked forward to those “lazy days of summer” in the early 1930s. School was usually out in May and the first thing we did was take off our shoes and start going “barefoot.” I remember how cool the grass felt but how tender our feet were on gravel. They got much tougher quickly and even briars made no pain.

Watermelon Cuttings

Nearly every farmer had a watermelon patch and my grandfather Wilson was no exception. In about July he harvested some big “Stone Mountain” melons that were great.

Nearly every Sunday they had family and guests over after church to visit. About 3 in the afternoon watermelons came out that had been picked earlier and cooled in the shade. They were cut and placed on board table over sawhorses in the shade of big pecan trees. Everyone got a big cut of that delicious red meat of the fresh melon. Knives, napkins and lots of salt had to be brought out.

Kids had a great time eating and getting sticky, making watermelon teeth and having seed spitting contests. After everyone was finished and full the rinds were dumped over into the hog pen. Hogs loved those rinds and devoured them quickly.

What a great way for kids to end a hot summer day. It is reported that some boys even sneaked into neighbor’s watermelon patches on dark nights and snatched a few to eat. Watermelons were pretty plentiful in those days and most farmers didn’t even notice the loss.

Peach Ice Cream

As mentioned above, in rural areas friends and relatives would usually get together and visit on Sundays all summer. This was after church and a time they could all discuss the family news and eat a big farm dinner. They usually rotated this event from family to family. There was no air conditioning so they always sat out in the fresh “brush boomed” yard under the shade trees to visit.

In early June peaches were getting ripe and those that had orchards would sell “culls” which were good soft peaches ready to use. I remember Grandmother had an abundant supply and on these Sunday occasions the old ice cream freezer would come out. This was a big wooden bucket with a hand crank.

Peaches were cut up and mixed with milk and other secret ingredients and put in the metal container that fit in the middle of the old freezer. One filling was usually adequate for a big family. Ice was added around the edges of this container and salted down. Kids usually got a big kick out of turning the big handle and watching the ice and salt jump around. After a great while of cranking and adding more salt the cranking got much slower and harder to turn. This meant the mixture was about ready and after “setting” a few minutes the top of the container was removed and the “paddle” that turned as the crank was turned was taken out. After this process, youngsters were allowed to lick the paddle clean, they loved it.

Now, bowls or cups were furnished and the firm peach ice cream was dipped out and served to everyone. It was so delicious and cooling on these hot summer afternoons. Everyone usually desired and got a big second helping.

I personally don’t believe peach ice cream was ever better than this prepared on hot Sundays in the old hand crank freezer with good ripe Georgia Belle or Elberta peaches as the main ingredient.

Watermelons and Peach Ice Cream served under those big shady pecan trees on hot Sunday afternoons is long gone now but not forgotten by those of use who have reached that magic age.