74m,

46. No Eggs Today

During the ‘growing up’ years the Doucette household was a busy one. This was a close knit family, where everyone worked together.

In the evenings, when supper was done, everyone had chores to do — Alphy would split wood and get the kindling ready for the next day, the younger children would help carry in the firewood Margurita and the older children would do the milking, and the twins usually cleaned up the supper dishes. Alphy would also help the younger children with their homework. Margurita would often sew and mend clothes until midnight.

Everyone worked hard, but there was also time for fun. Alphy had made sleighs for all the children, and in the wintertime they would spend countless hours coasting with their friends. Alphy had? also made a few guitars for the older children, and they would strum and sing their favorite songs.

The children developed their own individual interest. LeRoy enjoyed working with wood, Edna enjoyed baking and sewing, Ida and Velda loved to play the guitar and sing, Helen enjoyed reading, Ivan enjoyed playing with the dog, and Dennis was content to play with whoever had time for him.

The family had enough income to provide the basic necessities, but there was not much left over for ‘extras’. The family’s diet consisted of mostly fish, eggs, potatoes, milk and sometimes meat. There was lots of molasses, and Margurita would often make molasses cookies, and sometimes the occasional cake. She would usually bakea cake for special occasions. It was a ‘sure thing’ to get a cake on your birthday, and the children looked forward to this special treat. Margurita never forgot anyone’s birthday.

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