OCTOBER 22, 2004 BRITISH FRIENDS ARRIVE AND CRABS, CRABS, CRABS
Never let it be said that this coastal Georgia man doesn't like Atlantic Blue Crabs. No way Jose. Boiled, salad, deviled, sauted, dip..just anyway is fine with me, but there is the dilema of catching them, cleaning them, cooking them and then meticulously picking the meat from the shell. Doing this after they have been boiled in perfectly seasoned water makes for a good fare, however, in order to make the other desired dishes, for me, an impossibility. Two lumps for me, one in the bowl. Two more lumps..ah heck, five more lumps for me, one in the bowl. As you can see, this would take an inordinate amount of crabs to make one serving of deviled crab or any of the other delicous dishes. Now there is a solution to this dilema, which increases efficiency and the yield while reducing the work involved. DA DA...enter the Crab Master! A wonderful patented device that removes the meat from RAW Atlantic Blue Crab. After properly dressing the crabs (removing the claws from the body..these are boiled in the seasoned water) and allowing them to remain on ice for 24 hours, the meat is quickly and easily removed from the body. Surprising that there is little to no shell in the meat! Then the meat can be seasoned and prepared in any recipe. It also can be frozen in zip lock bags for over a year which is 2 times the length of freezing the cooked meat. I can not verify the length personally, as it never remains in my freezer for that length of time...I truly enjoy crab meat! Really!
The dilema this time regarding the crabs was that my guests were expected to arrive today from England. I was to fetch them from the airport at 6:30 pm. I had a bushel of crabs that needed immediate attention, and traps to check today. These crabs had to be attended as well. This takes time..and time was short as other things needed to be done...i.e. house cleaning, linen changes, and all the other things you do when guests are due to arrive just to make them feel like you live in reasonably clean surroundings...yeah, right! So, up early, fill the crock pot with succulent beef bits and other things...yep, red wine was one! I tasted the wine before adding..if I wouldn't drink it, it won't go in the dish...This one passed the test..and 2 cups..in you go. Ah yes..the aroma! But sheets to change, wash, dry. bed to remake, bathroom to clean, floor to vacuum, floor to mop, kithcen to clean, oven self cleaned over night (man I love that) and was ready to be wiped out. All that going, off to dress yesterday's crabs. One hour later, time to check the traps again. More crabs...iced down. By now, I'm running out of time. The sheets are dry, the bed is made...I'm smelling a bit crabby myself..so into the shower and out fresh as the morning sun..at least outwardly. Inside as anxious .....well, I don't know...but anxious to see my friends.
Off I go to Savannah which is about an hour away from home. Had a bit of time, so I took in some shopping for things to avoid washing dishes (paper plates, plastic cups) you know, the sort of things you use when you vacation or camp..because this house would soon become “Camp Blake”...meals and beverages included! Arrived at the airport, and true to form, took a wrong turn had to circle back to get into the short term parking. Again, it figures, the one available spot was all the way at the other end of the lot. I am thankful that the Savannah Airport is quite small. By the time I got inside the airport, their plane had landed and the passengers were disembarking.
As I was waiting in the main lobby at the entrance/exit for all gates, I was standing beside a woman that was anxiously awaiting her husband. As I was looking down the long corridor, a young man carrying a case over his shoulder was approaching and I noticed a wonderful smile lighten his face. Then two of the most beautiful toddler girls as I've ever seen, doing what toddlers do best, came toddling up from behind me, lifting their arms up to this man. He scooped them both up in his arms at the same time...and kissed each of them on their cheeks..mom coming up behind got her kiss too...and off they went still joyous from the reunion. This one incident...well, it was priceless! I even commented to the lady beside me, that I woulnd't have missed that for anything...that it had made my day! She agreed whole-heartedly..saying “isn't it great to see something so sweet and precious”. There was no doubt that they were “daddy's girls”.
My friends came up right behind them..and we all embraced and made our way to baggage claim. All bags in tow, the guys went to arrange the rental car and I made my way to the far end of the airport to collect my car and come back for the girls (was there any doubt?). Planning to meet outside the airport..once out of the airport I would pull over and wait for the guys. After an extremely long wait, we decided they had passed us unknowlingly and headed for home. So off we go. The girls thinking they would feel bad when we got home if the guys weren't there. I disagreed..I wouldn't feel bad because nothing was going to make me feel bad today..besides they know the way home..We always do!
Once home, we unloaded the cars and stashed things to allow room for us to move about. The dog was happy to see all of us...of course he is always happy to see us, so we were expecting the wagging tail and the cold wet nose. Nothing more comforting than that is there? No..well, mayby, the girls seeing their dad at the airport was not only comforting..but quite moving as well. My friends were tired. They left England at 11:30 pm Oct 21, 2004 our time. Arrived here at 6:30pm Oct 22nd our time. That's a long day for anyone, but keeping the 4 adults together and two children..well, remarkable. More remarkable still that all were in good spirits when they arrived as well.
Dinner time..we arrived home at 8:30ish. Opened the door and the aromas from the crock pot were intoxicating (hard to believe with only 2...uh..3 cups of wine). That plus the smell of a freshly baked loaf of bread set the “grumbellies” in motion. The rice still had to cook. It had been soaking for 4 hours, so it took a short time to get it right..and then we joined around the table and chased the grumbellies away. Somehow we managed to find time for a cocktail before dinner.. don't know how, but where there is a will there's a way.
The children were the first to sucuumb to their exhaustion, dad not far behind. The rest of us endured for a walk to the dock. The 1/2 moon reflected on the water like a million or more little sparkles..almost matching the stars in the sky. The smell of the salt marsh...and the fresh air...the perfect ending for what I must consider to be a perfect day. The dog, hesitant at first, enjoyed the outing with us..but was pleased to return to claim his postion for the night..just as were the rest of us. One by one..coffee pot set, lights off...doors close..sleep...except for me...I'm sitting here typing this..eyes cross..enough..enough.. Good night!
The dilema this time regarding the crabs was that my guests were expected to arrive today from England. I was to fetch them from the airport at 6:30 pm. I had a bushel of crabs that needed immediate attention, and traps to check today. These crabs had to be attended as well. This takes time..and time was short as other things needed to be done...i.e. house cleaning, linen changes, and all the other things you do when guests are due to arrive just to make them feel like you live in reasonably clean surroundings...yeah, right! So, up early, fill the crock pot with succulent beef bits and other things...yep, red wine was one! I tasted the wine before adding..if I wouldn't drink it, it won't go in the dish...This one passed the test..and 2 cups..in you go. Ah yes..the aroma! But sheets to change, wash, dry. bed to remake, bathroom to clean, floor to vacuum, floor to mop, kithcen to clean, oven self cleaned over night (man I love that) and was ready to be wiped out. All that going, off to dress yesterday's crabs. One hour later, time to check the traps again. More crabs...iced down. By now, I'm running out of time. The sheets are dry, the bed is made...I'm smelling a bit crabby myself..so into the shower and out fresh as the morning sun..at least outwardly. Inside as anxious .....well, I don't know...but anxious to see my friends.
Off I go to Savannah which is about an hour away from home. Had a bit of time, so I took in some shopping for things to avoid washing dishes (paper plates, plastic cups) you know, the sort of things you use when you vacation or camp..because this house would soon become “Camp Blake”...meals and beverages included! Arrived at the airport, and true to form, took a wrong turn had to circle back to get into the short term parking. Again, it figures, the one available spot was all the way at the other end of the lot. I am thankful that the Savannah Airport is quite small. By the time I got inside the airport, their plane had landed and the passengers were disembarking.
As I was waiting in the main lobby at the entrance/exit for all gates, I was standing beside a woman that was anxiously awaiting her husband. As I was looking down the long corridor, a young man carrying a case over his shoulder was approaching and I noticed a wonderful smile lighten his face. Then two of the most beautiful toddler girls as I've ever seen, doing what toddlers do best, came toddling up from behind me, lifting their arms up to this man. He scooped them both up in his arms at the same time...and kissed each of them on their cheeks..mom coming up behind got her kiss too...and off they went still joyous from the reunion. This one incident...well, it was priceless! I even commented to the lady beside me, that I woulnd't have missed that for anything...that it had made my day! She agreed whole-heartedly..saying “isn't it great to see something so sweet and precious”. There was no doubt that they were “daddy's girls”.
My friends came up right behind them..and we all embraced and made our way to baggage claim. All bags in tow, the guys went to arrange the rental car and I made my way to the far end of the airport to collect my car and come back for the girls (was there any doubt?). Planning to meet outside the airport..once out of the airport I would pull over and wait for the guys. After an extremely long wait, we decided they had passed us unknowlingly and headed for home. So off we go. The girls thinking they would feel bad when we got home if the guys weren't there. I disagreed..I wouldn't feel bad because nothing was going to make me feel bad today..besides they know the way home..We always do!
Once home, we unloaded the cars and stashed things to allow room for us to move about. The dog was happy to see all of us...of course he is always happy to see us, so we were expecting the wagging tail and the cold wet nose. Nothing more comforting than that is there? No..well, mayby, the girls seeing their dad at the airport was not only comforting..but quite moving as well. My friends were tired. They left England at 11:30 pm Oct 21, 2004 our time. Arrived here at 6:30pm Oct 22nd our time. That's a long day for anyone, but keeping the 4 adults together and two children..well, remarkable. More remarkable still that all were in good spirits when they arrived as well.
Dinner time..we arrived home at 8:30ish. Opened the door and the aromas from the crock pot were intoxicating (hard to believe with only 2...uh..3 cups of wine). That plus the smell of a freshly baked loaf of bread set the “grumbellies” in motion. The rice still had to cook. It had been soaking for 4 hours, so it took a short time to get it right..and then we joined around the table and chased the grumbellies away. Somehow we managed to find time for a cocktail before dinner.. don't know how, but where there is a will there's a way.
The children were the first to sucuumb to their exhaustion, dad not far behind. The rest of us endured for a walk to the dock. The 1/2 moon reflected on the water like a million or more little sparkles..almost matching the stars in the sky. The smell of the salt marsh...and the fresh air...the perfect ending for what I must consider to be a perfect day. The dog, hesitant at first, enjoyed the outing with us..but was pleased to return to claim his postion for the night..just as were the rest of us. One by one..coffee pot set, lights off...doors close..sleep...except for me...I'm sitting here typing this..eyes cross..enough..enough.. Good night!
posted by blake at 4:00 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home