By Lois Harper

Good morning February 25, sunny day and hopefully warmer. The birds have deemed it a happy day exurbanitely. The day lilies and money plants are pushing up; bountifully daffodils are blooming a golden look saying take heart. God’s on His throne.
Somebody’s dish of a bigger bird, fried chicken Saturday night at our senior banquet at New Hope Church. The thought struck me of how prized the chicken has always been.
Going way back in years when water was drawn from a well by hand, the joy of the lady of the house was her chickens and nobody better not mess with them. The eggs were considered golden too, bartend at the general store for sugar, etc.
I read this information in a library book about older times. When in the spring chickens laid eggs best, when a lady complained to the storekeeper she had a short supply. Thinking her hens weren’t laying she even fed them red pepper to jack them up.
The storekeeper was a valuable person, helping to keep boys out of trouble and if he knew he would say “your hens are a laying, there’s another reason you’re short.”
Immediately she would ask which one of my boys is stealing my eggs swapping them for your candy.
It seems in the spring others had a shortage of eggs and the storekeeper for punishment asked by the parent to put them to work, helping to keep the store swept, etc. This was very embarrassing to the culprit and customers knew about his egg stealing.
Sometimes his list was so long he advised the mama to punish them that they’d be sweeping snow off the porch and done forgot their crime.
So home punishment was a good talking to about the commandment thou shalt not steal by the mother, then sent to the barn, where dad was waiting with that old leather strap applied deftly sent back to the house for further instruction in helping her around the house. Back in those days the girls did this and the boys helped their fathers. More punishment for a specified time. By the time this was over the egg snitching for candy didn’t seem worth the deed learning a valuable lesson.
Growing up chickens was Mama’s prize possession; years have passed and they couldn’t be bartered for sugar anymore so some was cooked and a good supply of layers left.
During my marriage, living in the country, we had chicken and fried chicken couldn’t be bought ready cooked. Snow on the roofers will remember the process to setting fried chicken on the table. Sometimes I wish for chicken done this way, remembering how delicious it was but thankful for the ready to cook barn birds at Ingles raised somewhere at a commercial chicken place.
I miss the chickens we had in 1993 and 94 on our farm especially those tame enough to hop up on your lap while sitting outside.
Fried chicken is still a favorite meat. So chomp on the fried barn bird and rejoice the next opportunity you have it’s golden.
Town Topic
The only thing coming up will be our annual yard sale in March but don’t have an exact time. I haven’t received our new Rutledge Rooster newsletter. More info on this later.
Neighborhood Notes
Carl Sims was a patient in an Athens hospital until Saturday evening and said he was doing okay just had to take it easy for a few days. He is at home now.
Jeanette Pinson isn’t able to get out too much with health problems, so remember her in your prayers.
My daughter Betty Edwards isn’t feeling so good with the type of flu that’s going around now and the flu shots taken doesn’t help much. She wished me to inform you of that.
Linda Turk is home after having a pacemaker placed and was able to play the organ in church Sunday but still weak.
Bud Turner was a recent patient in the hospital due to a heart problem.
Rosemond Anderson celebrated her 90th birthday Sunday. Many more years to you.
Bill Haley hasn’t been in the best of health lately and was missed at the Center.
Betty Conner still feels pain from a pulled muscle in her back.
Condolences go out to the family of Roy Lambert in his death Friday.
Helen Brown has returned home from Newton County Hospital. She is on our homebound list along with Mabel Hyde. Kay Evans was back in the hospital don’t know whether she has returned home or not.
You can set your watch by Doug and Jean King going by in their van and him riding his power chair each morning.     
Baptist Church Notes
We had good attendance despite so many sick. Pastor Ghann himself was hoarse from his ailment but didn’t let it keep him from bringing a powerful soul searching message.
It was Senior Day in the choir and our special was “Heaven came down,” and “Glory filled my soul.” This went along to Wayne’s sermon, from Isaiah 49 – v 15, continuing his sermons on the cross. Emphasizing that for three hours it was dark, while Jesus sinless took all the sins of the world upon himself. God could not look upon him because of our sins.
Sunday night associate pastor Rodney Allgood brought the evening sermon taken from Matt. 25: 14. Using the master’s giving talents to some.
We have been given talents and are we using them for the Glory of God. Do we use these talents or hide them multiplying through use and when at the throne of Heaven Jesus will say, “well done.”
Those going to New Hope representing our church were Steve and Gerann Blanton, Jimmy and Brenda Thompson, Tony and Louise Hensler, Mary Sauls and I. We had a great time. The gentleman that rendered the songs was wonderful. Remember John 3: 16