Monday, November 7, 2016

Crabbers, Trees and Mantle

Hello there!  Well, my husband Dayle, son Travis, grandson Caleb and my son's work friend Ernie had a successful crabbing trip on Friday and Saturday.  They drove over 2 hours to Garibaldi on the Oregon Coast, and launched our boat in Tillamook Bay.  Each of them were allowed 12 crabs and they got 25 "keepers" on that first day.  They actually caught several hundred but you have to measure them and can only keep ones that are 5 3/4s inches across, so they had to toss back most of them.  Here is one happy crabber with a big one.


7 year old Caleb is a natural at this!  Here he is measuring one and as you can see it is much bigger than the legal size!  Look at that face.  :-)



They filled our big cooler with sea water and put the keepers in there until they could clean and boil them.  The guys brought a large stock pot with them, and bought a propane burner there at the coast and cleaned and cooked all 25 of the crabs in the hotel parking lot that night.. LOL!!  They were the center of attention there, that's for sure.



The first day was fair and sunny and warm but they spent the night there and were back on the water early on Saturday - here is our little deck hand - he's all warm in a coat and waterproof slicker - his life jacket is under there too.  He kind of looks like an Eskimo, doesn't he?


I asked Dayle to have Travis drop him off at the dock and get some photos of the boat on the water.. which he did.  :-)



This was all of their first time of crabbing on our boat, I was very proud of our son Travis who got the crab pots and figured out how to do it all.  They used 6 crab pots (traps) and used them all to great advantage.



They caught 7 crabs on the second day - they tried a different spot - putting in at Netarts on the Nehalem Bay and found that it wasn't nearly as good a place for catching as Tillamook Bay.  Live and learn!


Our boy at the helm of Sea Wolf.



When it was time to wrap it up Caleb got to toss out the leftover bait which was chicken parts and the sea gulls were loving that!



I made some Continental Cocktail Sauce for the crab and it was tasty.  Here are the last 7 crabs after being cleaned and steamed.  Kristi fixed up a bowl of fresh salad greens and put out bowls of olives, mini corn, tomatoes and dressing for us to have crab salad.  My sweet husband picked (shelled) a few crabs for my salad for me.. and I had a perfectly ripe avocado on mine, too.  She also got some bake-and-serve scissor rolls which we had hot with the meal.  It was divine!



Yesterday my blog friend Kathy texted me to ask me if I wanted to drive over and pick up a couple green leaf Japanese Maples that she didn't want any longer -- so off we went.  She had this big huge Jade plant on her deck.. covered with flower buds!  


Her husband was in his airplane hangar working on his new plane.. a piper.  While we were visiting a couple small airplanes took off from the grass runway behind their house, very exciting for me.. I love planes.


Here is the large maple tree in her front yard, the mother of the small trees she gave us.  It was quite a feat to get those two trees in my Ford Flex.  And even harder to get them out.. lol.  



I put the one glass fishing float on the mantel so I thought I'd show you a photo.  I have 2 vintage brass ships lanterns there and a print of 2 tall ships in a race by Captain Lars.  I actually traded website work for this print and picked it up at Captain Lars house in California and had a nice chat with him and his wife.


Our living room doesn't have much natural light, that's why we "live" in the family room with a nice bay window at our backs.. :-)



I'm off to swim this afternoon.. you won't believe this.. I was informed when I swam there on Friday that the facility was closing for a month and a half for remodeling, not to open until after the first of the year.  Are you ready for that?  Now what?  Harumph.  We're having a sunny day today which is lovely.  

Tomorrow is election day.  I voted by mail.  I hope she wins.  :-)  Back on Wednesday with a report on that front.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

22 comments:

  1. What? A vacation from our swimming! I have my gear packed ready to go today. I loved learning about the crabbing venture...and the yummy results :) This Saylor loves your nautical mantel decorations! Everywhere I traveled folks around me were moaning about the election, and eager to have it over...but ultimately grateful for the freedom to vote. Hope to see you soon! xx

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  2. Oh what fun! I can just taste those crabs. I'll bet they were delicious. Your mantle looks so pretty. Those glass floats are lovely as they catch the light (natural or candle).

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  3. What a great experience for the boys!
    I hope my jade plant blooms:)

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  4. The crabbing excursion looks like quite the adventure! Maybe too cold for me! lol

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  5. So jealous of those who get to go on water excursions! Great pics!:)

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  6. A huge thank you for the lovely cooked crab in exchange for a couple of overgrown patio trees. I forgot to mention it in my hasty blog post this morning. I served it simple with my homemade cocktail sauce. Yummy.
    Sorry to hear about the pool - is there another pool in the vicinity that you can use?

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  7. Oh, I can almost taste that crab. Mmmmm! And "Tillamook Bay" sounds so delightfully adventurous and historic! (And cheese-y, but in a good way.) What a fun post. How cool that you were able to trade web work for a wonderful piece of art.

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  8. WOW all those crabs and so lucky eating em Teresa!! Had a wonderful visit here relaxing and catching up with you xoxoxo

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  9. I was impressed by the haul of crabs from the boys, what a great adventure they had. Loved the mantel, it looks amazing. You are certainly blessed with a beautiful home. Take care.

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  10. Lots of crabs...that's great! Glad you had a delicious meal! I'm happy your men and boys had a good trip. I enjoyed the photos. I'm glad you can still go swimming after the first of the year.....that part isn't going away after all...good thing, even though you have to wait for it! Happy night, Becky

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  11. The crabbing photos were wonderful and I love how you displayed the beautiful glass float on your mantle. I hope she wins too!

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  12. The guys did great. Sorry about not commenting on posts, etc. very much. It's been a miserable weekend and still not a lot better. Enough of that. I'm tired of it. But...the boys look like they had a wonderful time. I'm so happy they had a good haul for their first time in the Pacific. :-). Your mantle is lovely. You definitely have an eye for decorating. I see a definite them...ocean. Sorry you and Gracie will lose your pool. Are you going to try somewhere else? Have a lovely day my friend.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  13. Fireman and I LOVE your photos your views of TIllamook and Mutlnomah! Thanks Teresa

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  14. OH gosh Teresa..someone is keeping you from your swimming! The crab looks fabulous...what a fun trip your boys enjoyed xx

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  15. Yummy crab. I haven't been swimming in ages - very naughty of me but it just hasn't worked out of late :-( The float looks beautiful on your mantel - it all looks very cosy there. Not meaning to be rude but thank goodness your Election will soon be over :-) so fed up of it on our news all the time. Also hope she wins :-) Hugs Anne x

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  16. Enjoyed your bay photos! As you probably have guessed, it is one of my favorite places on the northern coast! A crab salad sounds most yummy:) Beautiful glass float on your mantle and I like the lanterns you have there also!
    We are finally back from our trip to the Deep South and elsewhere. I would be more than happy to be able to go again as I LOVED it there:)
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  17. Hi, Teresa! Was nice to see your comment the other day. Thought I'd come by and say hi. I've not read blogs in a loooooong while! Glad to see things seem great there. What a wonderful experience for those boys to go crabbing like that on a boat!! They will always remember it. I bet they were delish! Nom-nom-nom. ♥♥♥

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  18. Those crabs look amazing! Wow!!! Love that you are loving your new boat!! The cookies looked so yummy. I would love to have a couple right now!!
    And the autumn shawl you made is beautiful! Love the colors!!!
    XO Kris

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  19. The boat pictures were so interesting to see.....and the meal looked so delicious! Your home looks so lovely and cosy. Wonderful ship painting! Enjoy your weekend dear Teresa.
    Hugs Helen xox

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  20. Woohoo for free trees. Brrr ... looks like it was cold out on the water. I'd rather be cozied up in your living room with some crochet. Sorry to hear about the renovation work messing up your swim dates.

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  21. Caleb must have had such a great time on the boat Teresa...wonderful pics on the sea!...and your living room is looking gorgeously cosy ;-)
    Happy New Week,
    Susan x

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