Wild oats will get sown some time, and one of the arts of life is to sow them at the right time.

Meem's Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups oatmeal
2 cups flour
1 cup shortening
6 tablespoons milk, soured
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg, sour milk, and soda. Add oatmeal. Let stand one hour. Then add flour and spices. Mix well.

(To sour milk, put 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice in a cup measure and fill to 1 cup with milk. Let stand for five minutes.)

Drop from spoon onto cookie sheets. Back for 12 minutes at 350°F.

* This recipe makes - hands down - the best oatmeal cookies ever. If you can get around the sour milk smell while you're putting them together that is. Don't forget to open a window!

** One good substitution is putting in dried cranberries rather than raisins.