Sunday, June 7, 2009

My summer addictiction...

Thank you Robin for hosting this fun Summer Stock Sunday. If you would like to participate or view more fun photos head on over to check out Robin's blog today.



When I was a little girl we use to have a watermelon and fruit man come to our neighborhood in New York. The fruit man drove an old and noisy school bus that you could hear approaching from a mile away. All the grandmothers would call out to us kids to run and get their little black change purses. Didn't every little Italian grandmother have a little black change purse back then? It became a social hour with the grandmothers gathering around the bus to exchange recipes while they picked out their fruits and vegetables. They all boasted the best eggplant recipe this side of the ocean. An old scale hung on the outside of the bus where the fruit man would weigh the items. Now this was our chance to raid the peach basket inside the bus. Of course the fruit man would run after us and tried to catch us. He called us who knows what in Italian and each week we repeated the peach game with him. We all thought this was the most fun and the start of my peach addiction.

Later in the week, the watermelon truck would come rolling up our block. It was a regular farm truck and the owner would yell out in a thick Italian accent "Watermaloon". All the kids on the block would run behind his truck and yell "Watermalloon" trying to imitate his accent. For many years I thought that was the way you actually pronounced watermelon . If you did not have the money for a watermelon, he would take this old paper bag that he kept as his ledger sheet and put a plus on it to indicate you owed him double the next week. We did not always buy a watermelon as it was considered a luxury in those days. When we did have money for one it was a slice of heaven. I remember sitting with my piece and being fascinated with the wonderful pink and green colors. Those big black seeds were so much fun for spitting contests.

Today when I eat the first summer peach & "watermaloon" slice I am immediately transported back into time and can feel that same sugar rush. Oh how I enjoy the taste of summer time!

29 comments:

  1. Your post made me smile, I can just vision it all in my head. Hope you have a wonderful day! ♥ Teresa

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  2. What a great summer memory! I grew up in a farming belt so we didn't have a "watermeloon" man but we did sometimes end summer days with watermelon. When the days were long, hot and full of work in the garden, my mom would announce, "we're cutting a watermelon tonight." It was such a great way to celebrate the end of the day.

    Thanks for the memory.

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  3. What a delightful story!! The next time I eat peaches or melon, I will smile and think of you running away from the fruit man!!

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  4. What pretty photos and such a tender memory.

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  5. what a great photo collage!

    Even today watermelons are a treat!

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  6. Watermelons are a favourite at our house - my little ones LOVE them!

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  7. I just love your memory...what a delightful story....you are so lucky to have that memory of your grandmother. I have many memories of my grandparents. Your watermelon looks so yummy...my problem is i have a hard time picking a good one...i have bought a few lately that are all mushy inside.

    Have a great rest of your weekend!

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  8. My favourite melon is Cantaloupe. It's those big black seeds that put me off water melon, though I'm told it's better than a glass of water for quenching a thirst.
    Angie, xx

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  9. Oh! The WATERMELON man! Wow! Great memory! Watermelon does speak summer!

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  10. What wonderful memories, thank you so much for sharing them.

    Watermelon is a quintessential summer food here in Israel too, but ours are without seeds. They're a lot easier to eat for sure, but I sometimes think my kids are missing out on half the experience.

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  11. I loved your watermelon fiesta. So refreshing and hydrating during the summer. I'm on my way to the grossery store - will me some red juicy melon!

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  12. yummy, colorful collage
    and a wonderful story

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  13. when I was expecting my first child...I used to eat a large watermellon every day! And then I could not figure out why I gained almost 80 pounds and was retaining water! lol
    I am still hooked and love it!

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  14. What a fun read. I could just picture this in my mind and taste and smell that fruit of summer! Now I am craving both sweet treats. ~ Robyn

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  15. What fun memories! I could just picture it all too! Great job telling your story. Gee, a slice of watermelon would taste good about now.

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  16. Ok, if the watermelon isn't mouthwatering enough, what you've done with the picture even makes it moreso! YUM!!!!!

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  17. I think it's memories like these that really make the peaches and melons so much better. I was fortunate enough to be raised on a farm and we had more melons to eat than we knew what to do with. I remember going to the creek and putting it under the little waterfall to cool...and humm was it good after a long swim and playing on the rope swing.

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  18. LOVE your watermelon mosaic! Funny, I am actually eating watermelon right now! Have you ever checked the National Watermelon Advisory Board website? They have some great recipes!

    You can go on to Bob's website and they will send you a free bottle of sauce to try. It's really good stuff.

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  19. First of all I love your header shot! It too could say summer.
    Watermelon - great collage and certainly the must summer of subjects.

    Nice blog.

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  20. Hi Joyce! Oh, what a wonderful story. It actually sounds like the beginning of a great book! I could just see it all unfolding as you've told it!
    Be a sweetie and I hope your watermeloon was good! :)
    Shelia :)

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  21. What a fun post that was. I love watermelon, especially the middle peice that to me is the sweetest. You have some great memories and a beautiful way with words.

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  22. Howdy
    I loved this post it was so beatuiful .
    Thank you for sharing.
    I bought my own little black coin purse about 25 years ago and still have it.
    No grandchildren yet but hey I have high hopes .
    Thank you for making my day so much brighter.
    Blessings of joy to you.
    Hugs

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  23. That is the coolest memory! I love how we do connect to things like this ! Sweet mosaic too !
    Hugs ~ Kammy

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  24. Watermelon could be the poster child for Summer .. yummer

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  25. I do remember the fruit and vegetable man Joyce. He came with a horse drawn cart, I kid you not --and thsi was the late 50's early 60's! We also had the grinder that came around once a week ringing a bell and all the housewives would bring out their scissors and knives and grass cutters to have the blades sharpened. My husband remembers the egg man and the dry goods man who went door to door and spoke Italian to his Mom.

    My favorite is the first juicy peach of summer and we also love soaking them in a glass of red wine! So good!

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