Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Four and twenty blackbirds...

When our housekeeper, Asunta, arrived today, she was carrying a plastic grocery bag. "Have you ever had these before?" she asked and pulled out what I at first thought were fake doves like you would buy at a craft store to stick in some flower arrangement. As they started flapping frantically, however, I realized that they were not fake at all. "I can't remember what they're called in English, but they are very delicious in a soup for children." Isaac and Nora were jumping up and down with excitement and one of the birds was relieving itself on our floor.

"Um, pigeons?" I ventured.

"Yes! That's it."

Isaac hoped she would cook one for us. I was glad she didn't. She was taking them on the bus out to another town where she has a sick friend who could use some nourishing...pigeon...broth. So now we know what those women on the bus have in their bags!

5 comments:

Nate said...

Yikes! Watch out for psitticosis!

Alicia said...

Just for future reference, what is the polite way to turn down pidgeon soup that is good for you?

Anonymous said...

Yesterday Autumn and I saw a covey of about a dozen fat quail, just outside our basement window. After our initial delight at seeing the quail so close, I started wondering how Quail in a Sarcophogus might taste...

Anonymous said...

Yesterday Autumn and I saw a covey of about a dozen fat quail, just outside our basement window. After our initial delight at seeing the quail so close, I started wondering how Quail in a Sarcophogus might taste...

Anonymous said...

Yesterday Autumn and I saw a covey of about a dozen fat quail, just outside our basement window. After our initial delight at seeing the quail so close, I started wondering how Quail in a Sarcophogus might taste...