Memories of Arkansas Shopher's

Greenfield Memories-1st installment, Debbie Cregar

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Greenfield is a little country junction that was little more than a country store, a church, and some family homes. Gravel roads that were more dirt than gravel were so dusty that you could not even see in your rear view mirror. James and Maggie Shopher lived on one of these gravel roads with Milt and Eva living across the street next door to Charlie and Mabel Shopher Rice. Grandma Maggie had an old wood cooking stove that I would not even begin to be able to cook on, but she knew how to do it right. In the back room sat a long table covered with a table cloth. Under that table cloth was the best food you will ever eat. She always had plenty of baked goods hid under there, but the best was her fried apple pies. I can still remember her calling me over and saying child come and see what I have. I think my sweet tooth came from her.

Poinsett County is rich with farm land. Everywhere you look is either rice or cotton fields. The rice is covered in water except for the tops and is a prime breeding ground for some of the meanest mosquitoes you have ever been bit by. My blood was very sweet and tasty from all the treats I ate from Grandma Maggie's, so they really liked me. They could literally carry you off they are so big and mean.

The squirrel are also plentiful in Poinsett County and I can remember my Dad James Vertice Shopher, my Brother Randall, and Uncle Burley Ray Shopher would go hunting and take huge sacks to carry all the squirrel they would kill. Aunt Mabel Shopher's Granddaughter Lisa Rice, my Sister Sheilah, and myself would fight over the squirrel heads so we could eat squirrel brain. Yes, you read it right. I would not eat it now for any amount of money. Back then they sure were good though.

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