Father's Day and the Summer Solstice

This is an unusual photo of my Dad because as I remember him, he didn't care for the beach.  He was rushed to the hospital at one point in the early 60's because he had cut his leg with a circular saw.  The length of the horrific scar always amazed me and because of it, my Dad didn't like to wear shorts.

He did however, love cars.  I'm guessing this is Daytona Beach since the cars were driven right onto the sand.  Father's Day for me was always the kick off to the lazy beach days of summer; a family picnic poolside at relatives was expected every June.  Hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone, oozing with ketchup, mustard and relish. 

As summer officially begins on this rainy New England Father's Day, we look forward to this summers sunny days at the beach with our families.  

Happy Father's Day from The Old Granite Step!

A grill for Father's Day; 1967.

This time of year, it seems as though everyone is selling grills for the Father's Day crowd.  Most of them are elaborate gas grills complete with warming burners, built in starters and counter space larger than what we had in our first house!  Resembling the controls in a Boeing 747, they take up more patio space than the chaise lounge and require that you schlep half the kitchen to the great outdoors.  

What happened to a good old fashioned charcoal grill?  If I close my eyes I can hear the rotisserie mechanism slowly turning but speeding up a bit when the heavy part of the chicken got to the top.  Barbeque chicken cooked on a gas grill simply doesn't taste as good as a chicken cooked over charcoal.  

This photo was taken in the mid to late 60's; when the patio was simply that....a patio.  There was no need for an "outdoor room" as portrayed at the home and garden shows of today.  There was always potato salad, baked beans and macaroni and tuna salad at our outdoor suppers.  Corn on the cob from the local farm was a must and my siblings and I always argued over who would shuck the corn!

When I look a bit closer at the photo, I notice the cigar perched on top of the grill.  I smile.  My dad's signature companion.  All of these smells combine to bring back fond memories of family cookouts as a child.

Happy Father's Day!  My suggestion....buy the charcoal grill.