More Tales of Poultry

We loved “In This Case, the Chicken Came First” (March 27). In 1974, we were either much behind, or way ahead, of the times. We gave our children two “sexed” chicks at Easter.

One turned out to be something that was white and crowed, the other one was a Rhode Island Red, dubbed Henny Penny.

I’m not sure anything can be a “perfect pet” but Henny Penny certainly had a better personality than a cat. Our daughter, who dressed all her stuffed animals, always put Henny Penny in a proper dress before taking her out to the front lawn to greet the neighbors. What a traffic stopper.

Henny Penny cooperated during kindergarten through second-grade show and tell, enjoyed two customized apartments at upgraded locations in our backyard, rode on the Big Wheel handlebars, laid enough eggs to share with cowboy relatives (in exchange for Santa Maria strawberries) and finally had to accept a couple of upstarts that were provided because she was getting old.

On top of all that, my older son, who was quite timid with Henny Penny, determined that the new chicks could be trained as falcons. He and his friend would climb to the top of a couple of tall ladders and, wearing protective garden gloves, command “Fly!” Those two were never good pets. Finally, all three went to the feed store, where we were assured good, adoptive parents awaited.

MAUREEN DIDOMENICO

Costa Mesa

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Thank you for the wax paper story (“75 Years of Wax Paper,” March 27). I have always wondered whether it was “wax” or “waxed,” thanks for clearing up the mystery.

AMY VINEYARD

Via e-mail

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I was delighted with the article about celery (“Forklore,” March 20). When my mother died several years ago, I inherited a great deal of milk and Depression glass.

I rambled through antique stores to add to the things I inherited and became fascinated with the number of celery jars--celery servers with little salt dishes. I asked in every store why celery was so important as to rate jars and special plates and no one knew.

MARGE BOELMAN

Placentia