Everyone who knows her, knows she likes to go deer hunting and started doing that a long time ago with her Dad. But your Mother/Grandmother/Sister-in-law/Cousin/Aunt/Friend didn't limit herself to the once a year deer hunting season. You can add duck and goose, and .... yes, that's right, squirrel hunting to her resume'. You could say that she "cut her teeth" - literally and figuratively speaking - on squirrel. The picture does not lie.
 |
| 1960's in the kitchen at 60 Church Street, Montello |
We found this little gem in the attic today while looking for Dad Mateske's Christmas decorations. As soon as she saw it, without hesitation, she remembered, "That was my first squirrel." No details were immediately forthcoming, but I'm sure, if pressed, she would share them, and tell you a couple other squirrel tales to go with it.
Here's one sidebar story - but no picture to back it up. On one of my first visits to Montello way back when, I remember very well sitting at the backyard picnic table with my future wife, and a few of the latest kills from earlier in the day, probably from the woods behind the house. I don't remember how many exactly, and I don't remember being there for the hunt itself. But, boy, she sure knew how to impress a guy - I guess.
With skillful ease she proceeded to "clean" the little critters, and prepare them. Pray tell, prepare them for what, you ask? Well, for supper, of course. Before the day was over, I ate my first squirrel. Don't remember what the sides were - I mean, what goes well with squirrel? A salad? Fries or baked potato? Nuts? What I do remember while sitting at the dinner table is thinking that this was an awful lot of work for so little meat.
How did it taste? Well, you know ... like chicken, of course.
Is that the squirrel that she put on the front of the car as a trophy??
ReplyDeleteI've also enjoyed a squirrel dinner at 60 Church St. thanks to the free small game license I got after finishing hunter education. Mom shot it (I can't hit a squirrel, are you kidding??), I cleaned it, and Grandma shake-n-baked it!
This is an excellent photo. :)
Good follow up, Amy! I forgot about both. "Shake 'n' Bake. That kills me!! But I can see Gramma doing it without batting an eyelash - I mean, "shake 'n' bake - that's so practical. I wonder if we would have told the "Shake 'n' Bake" people about how we used their product, if they would have been happy about that that, or not. Doubt they would have put it on the box.
DeleteI didn't actually put it on the front of the car until we got home before we showed Gramma. The 22 rifle was a nice clean shot, and Grampa said to shoot them through the head. And mostly I did, since to shoot them anywhere else left us with little or no meat to eat. I remember we had to go to one of Grampa Schultz's friends to find out how to skin a squirrel since Grampa didn't know, never having been squirrel hunting. And yes, a lot of work for a little meat, but fun hunting!
DeleteWhere is that photo?
DeleteAnd I agree, Dad, Grandma shake-n-baking it is the highlight of that story. :)
It was in a album we found in the attic. Some real gems in it.
DeleteIt is a good picture. The "old" kitchen set-up, the lunch box, and the parakeet in the corner. Wonder if that bird ever got nervous with Mom around!
ReplyDeleteHa. That bird loved me. It actually "talked". As clear as a bell it would say "Tootie" and "What's trump".
DeleteDid Bert and Ernie talk before they drowned?
DeleteIs that the bathroom door or the porch door?
DeleteNo, no other parakeet talked.
DeleteBathroom door
DeleteWe don't talk about our birds, please.
DeleteCarol you are a hoot.I noticed the lunchbox immediately. Great memory.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many thoughts coming to my head after reading the blog and the comments. I love these stories! The bird saying "what's trump?" is hilarious!
ReplyDeleteThat was the kitchen before the remodel. The sink was on the south wall with the window opening to the porch. Everything rearranged with new cabinets - and the carpet we just took out.
ReplyDelete