There was a cornbread recipe on the back of the bag of corn meal we had ground at the Readyville Mill in Cannon County this morning. Lucky for me it calls for at least 3 tablespoons of bacon grease, so Vince whipped up a batch in the skillet.

I talked with Tomm Brady (pictured in the blue shirt) about providing the Short Mountain Distillery with milled grain. He’s done an awesome job with the Mill which is about 10 miles from Murfreesboro toward Woodbury. Tomm has also gone out of his way to have the mill USDA certified organic.

Tomm told me if I wanted to hear great stories about the history of Cannon County to come out any Saturday. As we talked about the history of the Mill, Tomm introduced me to 89 year old Rachel Wood (pictured in the green shirt) who was there with her son to get some corn meal like she did when she was a girl.

Rachel’s husband was the great-grand nephew of Uncle Dave Macon who grew up in Readyville. Rachel is a descendant of the Readys, who the town is named for, and remembers Uncle Dave Macon and his sister. She recounted them staying with her family briefly.

Rachel shared all kinds of wonderful stories with me of when she was a little girl and used to swim with all the kids near the dam that fed the Mill water. She was Baptized there and remembers when families would come to the Mill to get their flour and talk just like we did today.

Tomm told me out on the porch there was an old black man that used to work at the Mill that taught Uncle Dave Macon this song Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy.

I’LL KEEP MY SKILLET GOOD AND GREASY

I’se gwine down town for to buy me a sack of flour
Gwine cook it every hour
Keep my skillet good and greasy all the time, time, time
Keep my skillet good and greasy all the time

I’se chickens in my sack, bloodhounds on my track
I’m pullin’ for my shanty home, home, home
I’m pullin’ for my shanty home

If they beat me to the door, I’ll put ‘em under the floor
Keep my skillet good and greasy all the time, time, time
Keep my skillet good and greasy all the time

I’se a-walking down the street and I stoled a ham of meat
Got my skillet good and greasy all the time, time, time
Got my skillet good and greasy all the time

I’se gwine to the hills for to buy me a jug of brandy
Gwine give it all to Mandy
Keep her good and drunk and boozy all the time, time, time
Keep her good and drunk and boozy all the time

Honey, if you say so, I’ll never work-a no more
I’ll lay round your shanty all the time, time, time
I’ll lay round your shanty all the time

There’s a man on the log, finger on the trigger and eye on the hog
Gun it went blip and the bullet it went zip
Fell on the hog with all of his grip
Got my skillet good and greasy all the time, time, time
Got my skillet good and greasy all the time