In the old days before our families got too large and Uncle Duke & Aunt Lillie still lived on the farm, we all had Christmas dinner together at the home place. "Mammie", Mittie Martin Oates, our grandmother chose her largest turkey to be cooked for dinner. I recall seeing it on top of the stove in a large dishpan with another dishpan on top. I think it was too large to fit in the oven. The night before she and Aunt Blanche would peel lots of oranges, separate the cells, cut them up and add sugar and lots of fresh grated Coconut. After setting over night the result was ambrosia.

Another thing I remember was the sillybub made in a churn. Silly Bub is whipped cream, sugar & white whisky. We children had to wait for the second table & it seemed like the grown ups ate forever.

I had Joe read this yesterday and he remind me that we were also invited to eat wild turkey that Uncle John Martin shot while Quail hunting. He liked to bird hunt but I don't recall anyone else shooting a wild turkey.

-Kathleen-

date uncertain, but written prior to June 29, 1996 (date that Joe Oates died)