Having made it back to the Kilrush Farmer’s Market, I made a point to bring my camera along and was happy to find that the chickens I was so delighted to see there a couple of weeks ago were back! And, although I again controlled the urge to buy a hen, I came a bit closer this time and bought some fresh eggs from a boy who appeared to be about the same age as Eoin. As professional and businesslike as this young man was, he was still a boy, and I watched as he eagerly pushed forward a particular half-dozen carton, which he seemed to favor, trying to sell it to an elderly man who was ahead of me at the stand. I noticed that the carton contained an oddly shaped egg prominently perched at one end. However, the man didn’t acknowledge the boy’s hints and instead took the carton closest to him. When my turn came I couldn’t resist the boy’s enthusiasm for this particular half-dozen. He inched the carton toward me and though he didn’t guarantee it, he told me that the oddly shaped egg might contain a double-yolk! He said this with the bright-eyed enthusiasm of a child who is not yet bored with the subject of double-yolk fresh eggs, in spite of having to sell eggs at a farmer’s market stand – and probably help gather them in the morning.
Well, as I had promised Eoin earlier in the day, for dinner that evening I made him a bit of an Irish breakfast of eggs and black and white pudding. Of course we had to use the egg with the potential double-yolk and as I got ready to crack it open Eoin stood watching hopefully – and with the same enthusiasm that his peer exhibited when selling it to me. Unfortunately, all this anticipation was rewarded with only a single yolk.
11 comments
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July 26, 2012 at 5:35 pm
afcobb
I love this story! I would not have eaten that weird looking egg though. Actually, who am I kidding…for a chance at a double-yolk I definitely would have been standing right there next to Eoin. Though I may have had to seperate out one of the yolks before eating it – I am an adult afterall!
July 26, 2012 at 5:56 pm
bloggingfromthebog
You would have fought Eoin for the egg! By the way, we have duck eggs in the refrigerator too – and these I bought at the grocery store!
July 26, 2012 at 7:07 pm
lifeonthecutoff
I would have nabbed that half dozen just for the oddly shaped egg in a heartbeat, Janet. One oddball it would be for an oddball egg. What a wonderful story. I probably don’t have to tell you how much I would like a market like Kilrush.
I really like your photos, especially with a chance to see your blue pottery.
If we hadn’t already had dinner, I would be tempted to make an Irish breakfast supper tonight.
July 27, 2012 at 6:34 am
bloggingfromthebog
Thanks Penny!I know you would love the market in Kilrush, and the friendly man who struck up a conversation there and the smiling vender who said he’s a nice man but he could “talk the hind legs off a donkey!” when the man walked on! Also, I wrote about that particular bit of pottery a long time ago – here’s the link so you can have a better look at it:
July 27, 2012 at 7:47 am
lifeonthecutoff
I do remember you writing about it, Janet. It is so nice to see it settled in and being used. I love kitchen scenes such as yours, with your misshapen egg and traveling butter dish.
July 26, 2012 at 7:45 pm
Declan Burke
Better luck next time Eoin
July 27, 2012 at 6:35 am
bloggingfromthebog
Now I don’t think he’ll be satisfied in life until he gets to see a double-yolk egg!
July 27, 2012 at 1:10 am
Janice Whelan
A great story, beautifully told.Your posts are making me bring forward a trip to see my brother in Clogheen, Co.Tipperary…..and making me wonder why I leave so long between visits. J.
July 27, 2012 at 6:37 am
bloggingfromthebog
Thank you Janice! Make haste to Tipperary – the weather appears to be improving!
July 29, 2012 at 10:32 am
Patricia
Enjoyed the suspense waiting for the egg to be cracked open. Being free range, I thought the outcome might be the remains of an unhatched chick inside but thankfully it was nothing traumatic. That happened to my mother when she was a little girl and she never again ate an egg. I’ve only seen a double yolked egg twice in my life so while hopefully Eoin will encounter one at some stage, I don’t think upping his intake will increase his chances. Nice to see a vegetarian mom would cook even a ‘partial Irish’ for her son though.
July 29, 2012 at 12:54 pm
bloggingfromthebog
Patricia, that is exactly what I was afraid of with that egg! If there had been an unhatched chick in it I would have had an egg cracking phobia for the rest of my life! All this boy wants to eat is eggs, sausage, white pudding, chicken goujons and cheeseburgers… I have to force him to take bites of my “potato and veg’ sides or a taste of my vegetable soup. And he’s the one I was going to raise vegetarian!