Grandma, The Early Years - A True Story

Scampering up the trunk and branches of a China Berry tree to the roof of the house, "They're gone," Hertha (my grandma) shouted to her brothers and sisters as her parents rode out of sight in their wagon. Hertha jumped from the roof and ran to the chicken coop where her mom's setting hens were scratching around for corn kernels. Kenchion grabbed the axe while Clark (Stewie), Hertha and Rosa moved slowly towards an unfortunate hen.

In a cloud of dust plus a few scratches Stewie managed to grab the hen, placed her on the stump.... Poppa Abe used as a chopping block, and Kenchion swung the axe.

Quickly, the girls poured hot water over the body and began to pluck the feathers, loading said feathers into a bucket to be buried somewhere in the field. The job was messy and the smell of wet chicken feathers lingered in the air.

The hen was plucked, washed and cut up, Rosa began to melt the lard, season and flour the bird parts to be fried while Hertha (my grandma) got a big bowl down from the cupboard to bake a cake. Grandma had seen her mom make cakes on many occasions so she figured it would be easy. While the boys held the bowl Hertha (my grandma) began to add flour, eggs, salt, milk and a little too much sugar. "You put too much in, Hertha," Kenchion whined as his arms began to shake from the efforts of holding the bowl. Hertha shooed him to silence and carefully poured the too stiff mix into the cake pan.

Annie B. looked on in disapproval not liking the fact that she was too small to help. She couldn't understand why nobody would let her help and boldly stated that she was going to tell. Not a wise decision on her part as the other siblings turned to glare at her. Threats of being locked in the chicken coop or out in the barn with the horse and even worse locked in the outhouse convinced Annie B. that telling was not a good idea at all.

Rosa's chicken was frying up nicely while Hertha's cake smelled sweetly from the oven. Everyone's mouth began to water as the table was quickly set for the meal.

The kids all gathered around the table with Stewie heading the table. The chicken was tasty but the cake was way too sweet but no one complained, not even Annie B.

Bones, lard and any remains of the meal were fed to the hogs, slopping as it's known here in Texas. The kitchen was aired out and Annie B. was warned to keep her mouth shut once more as Poppa Abe and Great-grandma Dollie rounded the corner for home.

The next morning Great-grandma Dollie (Hertha's mom and my great-grandma)  was out in the coop rounding up eggs when she missed one of her setting hens. Puzzled, she asked the children about the hen's whereabouts...... with blank looks......no one knew anything, not even Annie B.

My grandma....

My grandma....

My grandma.......look at that innocent face...who would have guessed that in her youth the mischief she and her siblings got into.

 

If you've made it this far, you are in for a great give-away.

The other day I was looking through my UFOs and came across this rooster and nine chickens from my "Yard Birds" design.

 I'd already made a couple of quilts from my pattern so I don't remember what or why I had prepared these. They are only glued down with my favorite adhesive....Steam-a-Seam so all that's needed is for them to be sewn down.

Now, here's what's required to win them......you "must" be a FOLLOWER of my blog or become a FOLLOWER of my blog. That's it.

 Leave only 1 comment to say what you thought of grandma's colorful adventure in the kitchen & also in that same comment mention that you are a FOLLOWER or that you have just become a FOLLOWER.

I usually don't require that you follow when doing a give away but this is a special post for me.

I'll announce a winner at the end of the week.

 

One more thing.................

 

 

And finally, I've had to do another random pick for the "Kitty Cat" mug rug due to a non-comment, which means I had no way to notify the winner.

Here's the new winner

Guilitta!

Congratulations to you. Just leave a comment so that we can get together via email.