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Where I come from, just about everybody keeps chickens and grows ‘taters, Where I come from, just about everybody keeps chickens and grows ‘taters, ‘maters and them zucchini squashes so they can leave big sacks of them on ‘maters and them zucchini squashes so they can leave big sacks of them on the neighbors’ porch in case they don’t got no squash vines the neighbors’ porch in case they don’t got no squash vines.

Mama weren’t no exception But she also grew all kinds of wild plants and a Mama weren’t no exception. But she also grew all kinds of wild plants and a bunch of different herbs. Said things like parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme bunch of different herbs. Said things like parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme made plain food taste good enough to serve to the preacher when he came made plain food taste good enough to serve to the preacher when he came for Sunday dinner after he done saved all the souls at the church that morning. for Sunday dinner after he done saved all the souls at the church that morning. Daddy just snorted and said Mama never did get over having a crush on them Daddy just snorted and said Mama never did get over having a crush on them folk singers back when he and Mama was courtin’. folk singers back when he and Mama was courtin’.

Mama just smiled and passed the snap beans, biscuits and cream gravy round Mama just smiled and passed the snap beans, biscuits and cream gravy round the table. Papa dished out the chicken pieces that Mama had smothered in the table Papa dished out the chicken pieces that Mama had smothered in onions and butter and lots of them herbs onions and butter and lots of them herbs.

I loved them dinners even if I didn’t much care for Preacher He always looked I loved them dinners even if I didn’t much care for Preacher. He always looked like he knew what you was thinking when he was talking about how we is all like he knew what you was thinking when he was talking about how we is all sinners in need of saving Thing is, I wasn’t so sure he was who I wanted to sinners in need of saving. Thing is, I wasn’t so sure he was who I wanted to save me. And save me from what I wondered. save me. And save me from what I wondered.

But Preacher’s wife was a different sort. All soft and sweet-voiced and always

But Preacher’s wife was a different sort. All soft and sweet-voiced and always made you feel special when she came to call. made you feel special when she came to call Mama was real fond of her, too, and when she came for the monthly Ladies’ Mama was real fond of her, too, and when she came for the monthly Ladies’ Guild prayer meeting, Mama always made something special to eat. Lady Guild prayer meeting, Mama always made something special to eat Lady Food, she called it. Food, she called it.

Mama used the best ingredients she could find: fresh eggs from her Chicken

Mama used the best ingredients she could find: fresh eggs from her Chicken

Ladies, big handfuls of all the herbs Mama could pick, plenty of sweet butter, Ladies, big handfuls of all the herbs Mama could pick, plenty of sweet butter, cream, and the bits of cheese she hoarded and saved for special dishes cream, and the bits of cheese she hoarded and saved for special dishes.