In 1967, we went to Woods Hole, in America, for the summer. One day, we went to the marshy 'Sippawisset'. We had nets and buckets and soon discovered there were lots of eels. Dad said they would be good to eat.
"THEY'RE GETTING OUT, DAD! WE NEED A LID."
"WELL, FIND ONE, AND CATCH THEM AGAIN."
Back home, the eels had to be skinned - not as easy as skinning rabbits - there's nothing to hold on to and they're so slippy.
Then Mum made eel pie - with mashed potato on top. It was full of horrid, little bones. "Crunch them up," Dad said.
... For once, leftovers were not served up another day and we never went eeling again.
(memory book paintings)
13 comments:
These are incredible! I love the one of the two girls skinning the eel (even thought it's kinda icky). It brings up memories of my sister and I working side by side, though we never skinned an eel together. Each of these little paintings is a wonder. I really like them and feel inspired to do something similar (if only I had the time to start such a project).
Alison -- this is such a charming and well done series!! Love the story and the illustrations!!! BRAVA!
These are wonderful sketches and really capture the day. However, eels yuck!
YUCK!!!The paintings are a kick but Eel Pie...
I do love these illustrated stories. Not as yucky but one of the girls convinced our boarding school nuns that you could make and eat sloe pie. Over 100 bitter uneaten desserts were returned to the kitchens!
Great story and wonderful pictures. I love the part about the leftovers not being served.
Great series!! do people really eat Eels - woah!!!
I adore your memory book idea, and what wonderful memories you have! Your artwork is lovely, and the creative ways of conveying the events adds so much more! (Like the ice cube feet, and the cat trouser pattern sky!) Keep it up, and you may have yourself a book to publish! I'd buy one, that's for sure!
I like the drawings, although the thought of anyone eating eel is rather unappealing. I like the cropping in on the table drawing.
Alison - I've seen your sketches here and there - Probably on Every Day Matters. Anyway, I just wanted to say this is one of the most delightful blogs I've found. Well done, keep it up - you'll have a lovely book.
robyn
Never had eel.....dont think I ever will either. I like the the illustrations though.
Woe me..just thinking of eel pie. I love all your work, the colors and the fun memories. It stirs up so many emotions and laugh out loud comments. Yuck, ooooh, holy cow..
Somehow I missed these too! Just fantastic Alison! A perfect rendition of a story that would be kind of hard to forget.
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