Ice Cream Afternoon

a summer treat

Summer afternoon -- summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.
~Henry James

I would have to add two more words to that list -- ice cream! What is better on a blistering summer afternoon? Well, any time, really, if you are a fan of ice cream.

The vintage magazine above got it right -- there isn't a kid today [or even one from this era] that wouldn't have the courage to tackle a lifesize ice cream cone. True, most of us wouldn't get very far, but what an experiment. Brain freeze anyone? LOL

When you've tackled your share of the ice cream for one day, hit the shade with a languid novel by Henry James and you'll be set for a completely lazy day. I've included some interesting links to the Master's life and works below. His stories are not easily digested in a quick read -- but they take their time and once you've read one, you'll savor it for years.

My own "best" encounter with Henry James occurred when I was a teen, while babysitting the neighbor children. It was a typical stormy autumn night. Their mother had to run down to the hospital for the evening where their father lay very ill. I didn't expect her back until midnight or later, if at all. I tucked the kids in bed and settled down to read James' The Turn of the Screw.

As I read, the storm raged outside, every gust of wind rattled the doors, an eerie scraping persisted against one side of the house -- and then the lights began to flicker. Definitely a scary situation, coupled with the story I was reading. I should have discontinued my reading, which contributed to the frightful experience, and picked up something a little less "atmospheric" but it was to be an extra credit project for school and besides I couldn't put it down.

A crack of something nearby woke up the kids, the lights flickered out, and I suddenly had three crying kids on my hands. And scared out of my wits! The storm had knocked out the phone, too. [In the days before cell phones.] We found a flashlight, I plied them with cookies and milk and got them back to bed and tried to tell their favorite stories to calm them. When the lights came back on an hour later, they were relaxed enough to fall asleep.

I held my post, went back to reading but kept the flashlight handy. The phone never came back on and there was no way I was going to take even the tiniest nap on the couch. All I could do was return to my book and stay awake.

Needless to say, I was hooked on James from that moment. There I was living the book I was reading!! A very upsetting/exciting experience!

I've enjoyed James novels on film, too. Hard to believe it, but it's a tribute to the screenwriters that can take a any wordy James novel and make a decent script out of it. Entertaining, too, I might add, once you add a good production team, some fine actors, and a skilled and sensitive director. The Innocents, starring Deborah Kerr is probably the best of the lot -- so far.

Merchant Ivory Productions have created many memorable films from Henry James novels, too.

I've included several links below for this odd combination of ice cream, summer and Henry James. And check out his works online, too.

For more information: Wiki ice cream, more history of ice cream, ice cream recipes, how to make homemade ice cream [with recipes], Wiki Summer, Wiki Henry James bio, more James information, Henry James works online, Merchant Ivory Productions.

Have a wonderful day!