Jerry-

We usually used a couple of big wash baskets, rather than a handbasket, when we were getting serious about working at the kitchen table. The washbaskets were full of peapods, or some such vegetable, and those assembled were responsible for shelling them pods and extracting the peas, generally for freezing but a few were popped into mouths. This was always a good time to sing sings as well, everything from the latest country western hit to old music halls songs, teerjerkers from the 1890's, calypso songs, and a few old ballads. We never came up with a shelling shanty, or created our own songs. But we sure did a lot of singing while we worked. The wash baskets were made out of woven wood, not plastic, and they're still in use for Mother's laundry.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble