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Friday, January 14, 2011

"Chicken"

I don't feel much guilt about eating chickens. They're nasty animals with sharp feet and hard beaks -- and dirty besides. Okay, a pretty black and white hen nestled in my arms once, but she was the only nice one out of the whole species.

You might be able to tell that I have plenty of chicken stories, but who really wants to contemplate my terror of flying talons, dusty bedding, and egg thefts? Or plucking singed or boiled feathers either? Or seeing my paternal grandmother demonstrating multiple methods of killing the unfortunates? I'm still living the trauma.

Maybe it's better to think about the chicken soup I made yesterday? Making soup is a contemplative activity for me. Chop, chop, chop, simmer, chop, simmer... It takes an afternoon, and I had stuff I wanted to think about. Actually, chicken soup takes 2 days, because I boil the bones the night before. I deny any responsibility for anyone getting a bone in their bowl. Just goes to show it's real.

All modesty aside, I make the best chicken soup -- with the exception of Mary Lou's Italian wedding soup, but I'm not going to compete with her specialty. My soup is more traditional Ohio than Italian. She gave me some of hers at Christmas, and I'm going to give her some of mine when I see her later today. It's a good trade.

The chicken art is a reject if you can believe it. I had good plans for it too, but nooooooo. My nemesis found black and white clip art which was used instead. Such is the life of an artist! Maybe my fears of chickens came out in the art?

41 comments:

  1. Your rooster looks beautiful and dominant.
    Paula

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  2. Linda, you're definitely a "quick chick" by posting early this morning! What a beautiful and colorfully feathered bird you created- Your soup sounds like a similar masterpiece! :o)

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  3. That rooster looks pretty friendly to me. Lovely colors.

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  4. Whoever made your splendid chicken a reject and chose clip art instead could actually be made into your next chicken soup...or is that too strong a reaction??!! ;0)
    Have a great weekend,
    Jane x

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  5. Thanks everybody!

    @Michelle, One of the few times I thought it was funny to be called a "chick" :D

    @Jane, I absolutely agree with you! But who would eat the soup with my nemesis in it?!

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  6. I'm with you on this! I'm a turkey girl, myself. Beautiful imagery!

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  7. Now here's something to crow about! (sorry, bad pun :o)

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  8. Oh my God! Linda, this is a MOST BEAUTIFUL painting of a chicken! WOW! WOW! Oh goodness, you are so good. Everything you do is just beautiful.

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  9. Beauteous painting, my dear!
    I have such mixed feeling about eating chicken, or any meat for that matter. (I have those memories of grandparents axing off their heads too...) Did you know that if you haven't eaten meat for a long time, an egg tastes JUST like chicken? I am also a chicken soup fan...same grandmother made hers with homemade noodles...yum! Soup, in fact, is something I could live on. as long as there was dense bread to go with it.
    Thanks for your compliments on my post! (But what are "less than PC memories...?")

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  10. Very nice illustration. Liked reading your chicken fears.

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  11. Wonderful illustration. Beautifully done.
    Have a nice weekend!

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  12. Heisann!
    Chickens can be both wild and wonderful, your's wonderful, only!

    Have a nice weekend, eating selfmade soup ;:OD)

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  13. You are all so good for my ego! Thanks so much!!

    @Susan, "less than PC memories" fall into the same category as describing multiple chicken deaths in detail. Seems like people prefer reading about happy things, and I kind of like using this blog to talk about happy memories. It's a nice alternative world for me to escape into :)

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  14. thank you for your comment linda. i like your chicken and your very good writing.
    :)

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  15. You've created a beautiful chicken - a difficult task, as they're not the most photogenic of birds! Can't believe it was replaced by clip art. You've made great use of the leftovers.

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  16. Such a lovely chicken! They really are rather pretty birds.(and they DO make delicious soup!)

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  17. Like seeing a chicken in real life! Beautiful.

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  18. Thanks everybody! I still have a lot of soup if anyone's in Ohio :)

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  19. Well at least it didn’t go to total waste. We get the pleasure of enjoying it! I think yhis is one of the most wonderful chicken works I have EVER seen. Fantastic work Linda! Great colors and strokes. Now if you’ll excurse me... I have a sudden taste for soup! Take care Linda :o)

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  20. Yum, was just wishing for some hot chicken soup...great post! Great chicken too!

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  21. Nobody took me up on the offer for soup, so it's going in the freezer. Packaged in single serving freezer bags. Thanks for the comments!!

    @Jack, Nothing ever goes to waste. Some day I'll find a reason to put that chicken in something!

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  22. I'm allergic to chickens. But I DO love your chicken art!

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  23. What a great illustraton!! I never saw this one. It's nice to have these surprise pieces pop up, that you did at work. I love your chicken soup! For that matter all your soup.

    Thanks for the nice compliment on my Italian wedding soup :)

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  24. Thanks!

    @Mary Lou, compliments for your soup are well earned!

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  25. Hi! I think you're pretty stylish and I have an award to share with you! Please visit me, where you may find it and share with other blogging friends! :o)

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  26. My first blog award! Yay! Thanks Michele!!

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  27. Now, that is one very beautiful (and well groomed) chicken! Why it was turned down for a black and white clipart is beyond me!! Great work, Linda, especially for someone who has little feelings towards the creatures. (^)^)

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  28. Thanks Amalia. No accounting for some people's tastes!

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  29. The colors are so beautiful ! mmm~ you make me wanna try that chicken soup !!! not the illustration but your post ;-)
    Thanks so much for dropping by and for sweet comment *^^*

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  30. Thanks Sung-Hee, and thanks for the follow!!

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  31. Thanks for your comment! Your rooster piece is just gorgeous. I can't believe anyone rejected it; i'd give anything to be able to paint like that. And I'm sure if you met MY chickens, you'd love them! ;)

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  32. Thanks Sarah! There was that one hen who was nice to me, so maybe it's possible your chickens are nice too?

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  33. WHOA this chicken looks fierce! great job, linda.

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  34. Man I love your illustrations. i'm starting to get into watercolor myself and I'll definitely be coming back for inspiration. Thanks!

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