Sizzlin'

I love this old picture of my mom, her sisters and some friends from around the 1920's.  A swimming hole in Panther Creek near Panola IL was their favorite place to cool off.  That's my mom, Florence, in the middle.  Her sister, Taty, is to the right, and her older sister Rosa is to the left.  

Don't you know that it was a hot day on the farm when these girls put on their swim suits, tied up their long hair in handkerchiefs and took the plunge?

Soothing cool water that is moving ever so slowly.  Sitting back and letting the current take you where ever it may go.  The best place is a shady spot downstream where you can close your eyes and just relax.

In those days before we had air-conditioning, the swimming hole was the only place to cool off.  Whether you were working out in the yard, playing ball, or working in the hot kitchen, it really helped to take a little time and jump in the cool water.  Though I think my Grandmother had a summer kitchen set up in a building outside the house, it was still a steamy job preparing food for a hungry family of mostly boys and hired men.  I never did ask my mom if Grandma got to go for a swim.  But knowing her, she probably didn't.  Just mopped her face with her hanky and went back to frying the pork chops and boiling the potatoes.

Aren't we lucky with our air conditioned homes, cars, and every convenience known to man?  But it is still nice to head for the creek on a hot summer afternoon and take a dip.  

Last one in is a rotten egg!  The only way to stop a sizzlin' summer is to take a dip in that cool, cool water.  Hope you all are enjoying some of that right now!