". . . and Dad gave me a stainless steel paring knife. I'd bent mine up in grouse feathers during the season." Ina Dobson, January 1, 1933
I recently visited my dentist. You know how it is – they like to numb you up and put stuff in your mouth, then start an interesting conversation. The dentist, who is probably in his early 50s, is also a bird hunter, and knowing that Mike hunts, he will regale me with hunting-related topics.
Mike will still occasionally press me to clean his birds. The other day he told me that he and his hunting buddy, Ken, had been discussing duck hunting. Ken mentioned childhood duck hunting experiences with his dad and grandfather. Mike pointed out that ducks really are hard to clean, whereupon Ken stated that his grandmother just loved to clean ducks. They would drop them at the house after a hunt and she would immediately take up the task." But my thinking is that the woman knew how to clean ducks, was good at it, and knew the work was hers to do as part of living off the land and preparing food for the family. Perhaps she even enjoyed duck meat and appreciated the hunters' efforts. But did she love cleaning them? I think that goes a step too far.
[I took these pictures this afternoon as we tramped the woods to the north of the farmhouse.] KW
4 comments:
Pheasant for dinner?
Actually, I do cook fresh bird more than I used to. It saves Mike effort in putting them up for freezing, and I think they're best fresh. A pheasant is two dinners and a lunch.
But tonight we had venison stew -- very good -- and a pumpkin dessert.
Just so you know - I'm always kidding whenever I mention Kathy cleaning my birds. I really wouldn't want anyone else to do it. It's part of the process.
He was kidding?!!! Now he tells me! (LOL) Yes, we did agree years ago that he would clean the birds. But the topic comes up now and then -- especially when it's cold and his hands get numb.
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