Be good for goodness sake
Like my
grandma in Missouri, my mother-in-law often went to take care of sick
neighbors. While she was gone, my father-in-law and I would slyly use some of
her eggs and bake him some sugar cookies. He would eat them before they cooled.
Every trace of our mischief had to be gone before her return. She wanted every
egg so she could buy thread and chewing tobacco.
Christmas Day
“Gal,”
(That was what my father-in-law lovingly always called me) ”would you make me some eggnog if I tell you how?” For him it just
wasn’t Christmas without that once-a-year treat.
I beat
until smooth, three eggs and added ¼ cup sugar and two cups creamy milk. I
continued beating while slowly adding ½ cup whiskey while cooking the eggs.
After the eggnog had heated through I sprinkled with nutmeg.
I dislike
whisky and drunkards, but I like eggnog.
New Year’s Day
My
mother-in-law always made me laugh on New Year’s Day morning. She truly
believed the old saying that the first visitor determined what luck she would
have with chickens. If a male were the first visitor, most of the eggs hatched
would be little roosters. If a female were the first visitor, she would have a
lot of hens. A man meant most of the little roosters would either be fried or
sold.
The first
year on the mountain I had forgotten who the visitor was but I sold $3.85 worth
of fryers and that was the only cash we had that whole year. All our share of
the tobacco money had gone to pay what we owned at the store.
NOTE: For
those of you who raise chickens, you had better watch for your first visitor on
New Year’s Day.
The note below may still be true. I have never tested the test. I just look at the expiration date labeled on the carton of eggs I purchase at the grocery store.
