The egg and I....

 Today is World Egg Day.  I'm not sure why today has that distinction unless it's because of the ovals in 10-8 or the Os in October.  It does seem appropriate that this should be a day celebrated world wide since I can't think of any food more universally eaten, except maybe bread and milk.  When I was a child there was a popular book published called "The Egg and I."  It described the efforts of a city woman to live in the country (with her husband) and care for chickens, collect their eggs and make some money from the effort.  This book was published just about the time my city dwelling parents decided to buy and fix up an old house in the country on five acres.  Included with the package were two chicken coops.  Happily, probably after reading the book, my parents decided to raise chickens, but only to sell as fryers at eleven weeks old.  Chickens grow fast.  In addition to the 1500 chickens in the coops, my mother decided at one point that we should also have a few free range Banty chickens.  I think she had dreams of using their eggs for our breakfasts.  Sadly roaming chickens tend to lay their eggs in remote places resulting in eggs too old to eat by the time they are discovered.  We started the Banty experiment with five hens and one rooster.  Eventually some chicks came along.  The most memorable hatching happened in the crotch of a tree about five feet off the ground.  We kids watched in interest to see how the mama hen would get them out of the tree when they were old enough.  Luckily I got to see the event. (Any excitement is good in the summer in the country.)  As I watched, the hen actually kicked the chicks out of their nest in the tree.  They bounced a little when they hit the grass, but then got on their feet and toddled away.  I'm not exactly sure why, but eventually we gave all the Banty chickens away.  Possibly too much of a questionably good thing.