Augh it is that time of the year. Kind of sad that the seasonal celebration has turned into one big shop fest. This year I am getting into it more because since most folks are tight on funds the spirit of giving seems be more centered on the giving rather than the cost of what was given.
Mr Pig here was made by my father in wood shop when he was in grade school. I remember washing the dishes with my Grandmother and of course washing Mr Pig. This was before wood was deemed not safe for kitchens and glass and plastics became popular. Who knew – we washed it and then my Grandmother would pour boiling water over the dishes and silverware in the drainer. Most of time Mr Pig and the pots were allowed to be air dried.
When my Grandmother moved from the home she and my Grandfather had lived in since I was born I found Mr Pig in the toss box. UGH!! I much to my mothers dismay grabbed Mr Pig and stored him in my car. My family so does not do the save anything for posterity thing. Mr Pig has been with me ever since.
Yes I use him and abuse him chopping onions, celery, mushrooms . … and I wash and rinse him just like my Granny did. Nothing is to good for Mr Pig so I give him a dose of chopping board oil once in awhile.
What does this have to do with Christmas Presents?
Well, a few weeks ago my mother brought out her collection of cutting boards while we were preparing something. They were all either too small for me to manage any control of what I was cutting and have the chopped pieces remain on the board. So I asked for a larger one. My mom says that is the onion board. Eh? Ok. I was very thankful when KRP saved me realizing that there was no way I was gonna chop that onion on that dinky board and keep all my fingers attached to my hands.
Mom – what about this board? NO that is for other vegetables I don’t cut onions on it because the odor stays on these plastic boards so I do not use that one for onions. OK what about this one? No it dulls the knifes I only use it for apples and oranges. Eh? See where this is going – what the heck – mom why don’t you use wood. Well that is not as sanitary. Mom so you have all these little boards (five or six) you have to drag out . … somewhere in mid conversation she mentioned she was thinking about getting a bamboo one.
So yes I picked up a mid sized bamboo cutting board that will soon be wrapped and placed under her tree LOL you see my mom will have to use it – if for no other reason as to not hurt my feelings and the board is big enough that just maybe I might be able to use it. 🙂
Meanwhile, I use Mr Pig. Mr Pig has earned all his scars honestly. He has survived my Grandmother using it for both meat and vegetables before the world knew better. He survived years of boiling water, Grand-kids, and accidentally being left outside on the patio.
Mr Pig resides happily with me where onions and vegetables are chopped and sliced upon him. Best estimate is he is in his early 70’s maybe very late 60’s. He has a few friends Miss Bamboo and Mr plastic meat boy. Mr Pig wonders if Mr Plastic hates Clorox as he is always soaking in it.
The history of cutting boards includes periods where once used they were thrown into the fire. Later on practices evolved to having many smaller cutting boards that doubled as dishes. These were called a trencher. There are lots of pigs out there too but none of them are as special to me as Mr Pig.