This was in response to a remark I made on the Mullis emal list asking if the Mullis women were very strong willed.

Yes, I think the Mullis women can be characterized as very strong with a wide streak of stubborness thrown in, definitely. I also think they had to be strong in order to raise all the kids they did while living on a farm. The work they did was phenomenal, when I think about it. My grandmother Stella also had a temper pertaining to certain subjects. But she was quick to laugh, too. Her sisters were the same. Each had a personality that was constantly bubbling just under the surface of some quite devilish (at times) smiles.

I will also say that every Mullis I have ever known has been an outstanding cook. I simply don't know of very many people whose skills can match theirs. Oh my, but my grandmother could take every day vegetables and turn them into "gourmet sensations" so to speak.

And she could fry chicken that would put to shame anything I could ever attempt. Oh- and her fried pies were to die for. Not to mention her pear preserves and homemade biscuits. And she seemed to do her kitchen miracles so effortlessly. Nothing ever ruffled her, it seemed, where her work was concerned. I could tell that she took pride in her cooking skills, as well she should have. But she never went fishing for compliments (come to think of it, she never had to). I'll never forget the Christmas time I went to her house as a little girl and there sat a batch of homemade divinity candy on waxed paper on her kitchen counter. It looked like the kind you'd buy today in some fancy bakery.

My mother learned from her, of course, and I learned what I could from Mama. But I will never be able to duplicate the kitchen masterpieces I grew up eating. I use my grandmother's ancient and deep cast iron frying pan every day, but my summer squash and onions don't come out nearly like my grandmother's and mother's did. Isn't it funny, the things you end up treasuring in life like this?

Suzanne