Summer was never really summer unless there was homemade 4th of July ice cream made in a vintage White Mountain Electric churn. The best part was stuffing all the rock salt and ice cubes into the wooden tub and listening expectantly for the motor to start groaning - the telltale call that meant the ice cream was ready. While the metal container was safely stowed in a sink full of ice cubes so the mix could harden, the "helpers" got the chore of eating all the leftovers melting on the blades.


Above is an example of Grandpa's architect training. The hand lettering is shakier than on his professional drawings but the note was copied according to his wife's recipe. Bonnie, whose frailty never stopped her from making any Thanksgiving dinners, also liked to mix up a mean, and green, Jello salad. The finished product is best eaten late in the day after most of the BBQ has been obliterated and before the chairs are lined up on the front lawn for fireworks watching.