relax and since Mother Nature is over here by me...you should
be safe for this trip!

I'm Baackk !

8 days of a very uneventful, relaxing, out-of-touch (mainly)vacation. Not too hot (mid 80's) except for the 1st, 2 days.

Spent time on the beach, ate at 3 very fine restaurants, had
'take-out' of steamed crabs one night (unless you're from around here,
you don't know what a delicacy that is), but practically had to take out a loan, first .
One place wanted $65 a dozen for mediums, & $80/dz for large ! - that's ridiculous! On a good nite, I can eat 10-12, by myself (But usually 6 or 7). At home, we usually order an xtra 1/2 doz small, and I make a darned good, restaurant quality (or better) crab soup.
MD Crab Soup is served all over the country, but you ain't had real Eastern Shore, MD Crab Soup - til you've tasted mine! But I didn't make the soup, this time around.

We took a chance on a new steamed crab carry-out only place (opened only 3 weeks earlier), and were very pleasantly surprised
at the quality, taste & prices.

Did some outlet mall shopping, gifts for the grandkids, etc.
Had to buy new Adirondack deck chairs (the older wooden ones had rusted out fittings) for the deck/balcony (ocean front) - practically had to take out a much larger loan!
But these new ones are really nice. 20 yr warranty. Heavy for the winter winds (they're out all year round, so we don't want them blowing around in a 'nor-easter') .... that took up 1/2 day of shopping and another 1/2 day waiting for the delivery.
Our fix-it guy, came & replaced the ice-maker in the fridge (another a.m. waiting around), so I got in some banjo practice to use up the times.

My PN feet only kept me 'down-time' for one day out of the 8 (good odds at 8 to 1, for me)- so again, I got in some snoozing & banjo practice.
Our rescued-Beagle, came with us & had no problems, either. She was on 'good behavior', too.

I was sorry to have to leave & come back home.
Coulda/Shoulda/Woulda - stayed all summer
But our condo was rented, & booked solid until Sept
(so the mortgage is covered, .... at least).
I'll go back for a coupla long weekends in the fall, and in Nov,
before we close it up for the winter.
So, it was a good vacation for me, this summer.
No 'Chinese Fire-Drills" or accidents. No big problems.
Just relaxed and enjoyed 8 days off work, and away from the city.

Hi Bob.

Welcome back.

I have no idea what steamed crabs are (how BIG are these things?) Do you take the shells off before you eat them??

I haven't had a vacation in over 15 years. Sounds lovely.

Perhaps when Alan and I are 80, we shall be on a beach some where (with our canes) and eating steamed crabs. Alan wouldn't go near a crab if his life depended on it.

Yesterday I bought a can of Red Lobster Sauce. He said "You are not buying this for me, right?" I said: God Forbid.

He doesn't like crabs, clams, oysters, anything with shells.

He doesn't know what he's missing.

I must look into these steamed crabs things. Why are they so expensive??

Melody

It all sounds absolutely lovely and I'm so glad you were able to go and enjoy yourself. Maybe moving there should be in your future??

I also appreciate you sharing the fun with us.
Billye

Mel, in NY- they have boiled crabs (Like Lobster), not steamed.
Makes the meat watery & mushy.
Steaming the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab (yes, the claws are a bright blue before steaming) is a specialty thing indigenous to MD/Va.
(Also, the spicings are kept easch chef's secret.)
The best crab-cakes are made with Blue Backfin Lump meat.
Price has to do with availability- time of year, rain (water salinity), and harvest yield.
Its a labor intensive job, not dangerous like the Alaskan King Crab harvest, but still - cost of gas for boats, waterman's wages, etc.
At home, we get them from a family that goes out crabbin' in the a.m. and opens up the carry-out, steamed-crab-store in the afternoon, with that morning's catch.
Ya gotta come here to get the real thing - or import them, iced down after cooking, from here. But they're best hot, right out of the steam-pot.
And you just eat the meat out of the shells.
Pickin' crabs is an art form and a skill.... and arguments as to best technique always are heard around the picnic table, covered with newspaper, crabs, bowls of vinegar (for dippin'), beer, & paper towels.

Steamed crabs, corn on the cob, and 'Natty Boh'
(National Bohemian- used to be brewed, right here here in Balto), beer.
Made for steamed crabs, just the perfect compliment. (and quite inexpensive) Budweiser just don't make the grade.

In years past, we would get a bushel or two .... alive, steam them ourselves.... a keg of beer, a coupla bushels of corn, Md beefsteak tomatoes, grill dogs & burgers, and have a family, summer get-together at someone's home & big back yard.

Haven't put a get-together .... together - in a coupla years. Mebbe have one this summer. Late in the crab harvest season when they're plentiful, and not as expensive. Late Aug to mid Sept is a good time, usually. Labor day is more expensive cause they're in such demand - they can charge whatever the traffic will bear, but just after - prices are reasonable. A bushel is about 13 dozen, if I remember correctly.
Used to get live crabs cheaper than already steamed, about $75 a bushel for mediums. Dunno what the current prices are, could be double that, now.
But reasonable for steamed, ready to be picked & eaten, is $25 for smalls, $35-40 for heavy mediums, $55-60 for large, & upwards $$ for jumbo double "A's" (1 to 2 lbs apiece)- if you can get them.
Crab dissertation over. I'm making myself hungry

I'm drooling - wheres my crabs???????

Sounds like you had a wonderful time!!!!!!!!!! So glad - you deserve it

Sounds like a fabulous time!

I am glad you had some fun and relaxation. And food too!
yum yum....

I always steam my lobster. You put a few rocks in the bottom
of a stock pot, to raise it up, and only put the water below the rocks... then the steam only rises, and your lobster is perfect.
(not mushy)

I learned this from a trip to Maine one summer.

I sometimes get frozen lobster tails here, and steam those also in my steamer.

That crab sounds divine!

Welcome back!

I believe you said " You gotta come here to get the real thing". I'm coming. Is tomorrow too early for you?

Just teasing, I love crab and I've never had crab the way you are describing it. Sounds just wonderful! Eat one for me, please....

Billye

Bob:

The other day I had the scare of my life. I was in my local fish store, where I buy my Turbo Fillet. I was in the aisle talking to the proprietor, Lam, who I have a very nice relationship with. He tells me what is fresh, what is frozen, what is a good piece of fish, etc.

All of a sudden I feel something moving behind me. and I turn and jumped out of my skin. There was a barrel of MOVING THINGS IN THEM. And they were moving. They were some kind of crabs jumping all over each other. Then some guy came with big tongs or something similar and he had a devil of a time choosing a dozen of these things and putting them in a bag. I just looked.

Believe me I have never seen live things in a barrel jumping on top of each other. Reminds me of years ago when I was in my local Waldbaums and I went over to the fish department where the Lobsters were. I knew NOTHING about lobsters at that time.

Well, I'm standing next to Alan, when the Lobsters started walking across the counter.

You DO NOT WANT TO KNOW HOW LOUD I SCREAMED.

Gave Alan a good laugh, that I will tell you.

Melody

Mmmm. You guys are making me sooo hungry and I am trying so hard to drop some weight...

Boy, those things are expensive, aren't they? I bet my husband could eat 2 full orders of those crabs... Me? I would prefer lobster, but the days of eating lobster out are few and far between right now, since our vehicles have to eat too...

Glad you had a nice time, Bob.

Cathie