When the sun shines so strongly that I feel blinded even with my sunglasses on and the rays of heat seem intent on burning a hole right through my skin, that is a day for ice cream! Ice cream is one of the best summertime treats out there, as it is sweet and chilled~

Normal ice cream, purchased at the grocery store, is generally okay. There’s always a wide selection of flavors and consistencies, and one purchase is usually several servings of ice cream–unless my brothers get to the container first. Some of the newer, “boutique”-type ice cream brands offer really inventive flavors that can please even the trickiest palate. In the summertime, it can be a lot of fun to sit around the kitchen table and talk while everyone’s ice cream slowly melts.

In fact, an ice cream social would be a really lovely summer meetup! Hmm, maybe I’ve just given myself an idea~

All that aside, although there is plenty of ice cream available in the summer, sometimes it’s best to go out to an ice cream parlor! An ice cream parlor is (of course) the best place to get sundaes and sodas and other creations…but it can also be the source of exquisite flavors and wonderful craftsmanship! My favourite places to stop are little personally-owned shops where they make their own flavors.

In my neighborhood, this means Bobtail! I adore everything about their shop, from the delicious signature flavors to the quaint surroundings and ambiance. I ordered “Lincoln Park Zoo,” a strawberry ice cream with rainbow sprinkles and frosted animal crackers swirled into it! (How could I resist something combining so many tastes I am fond of?) A carefully-layered scoop was pressed onto the pointy-tipped cake cone, the rainbow-dotted pink confection looking almost too good to be edible~

Sitting on the bench, swinging my feet and trying to keep my cone from dripping on my hand, summer never seemed so sweet!