Cool and Changing Morning Sky After The Clambake

My Dad, Bake Master, 1985

7:20

7:55

One of the Bake Essentials, Cases of Beer

Getting Ready for Thirty

A nice morning, a mostly sunny Sunday to look forward to.  It's 42 degrees outside, smooth lake, clouds but also some pink and orange, as the sun peaks in and out of the gray.  I walked outside to get the paper, to take some photos and the cool air felt refreshing, made me want to hike or walk or kayak.

Yesterday, the rains held off, allowing us to get some things done outside,. Evie cut the lawn, and I started putting things up in my garage, clearing the dock, the usual fall sort of things.  But, about 4:00, just as the Fox/Kinney clambake was to begin, it started to rain.  And around 3:00, Evie started frying potato chips for the party, so that took her over an hour but I have to say, it was worth it.  I was the tester, as she fried.

Ah, Evie's homemade chips

Watching the Bake Boil

I had forgotten how much work a clambake involves, as the guys and gals started in the morning, clearing out the garage, getting the tables and chairs for thirty ready, icing the beer, getting the bake ready chickens and sweet potatoes, all those sorts of things.  It's much easier to attend then put on, no doubt.  It did bring make good memories, of clambakes at my house in Euclid when I was young, at my sister Linda's house when we lived in Hudson.  And the best thing, rain does not seem to matter.  Everyone just enjoyed the afternoon and evening, drinking beer or sipping wine, occasionally stepping out side to talk with Jim Fox, the bake master who, fortunately, had a canopy over the bake, making is easy enough for four or five people to stand and wait for the bake to come to a boil.  Both Barb and Jim Fox grew up in the Cleveland area and their families always had clambakes, from Euclid Fish, where else.  So they brought the bake and boiler from Cleveland on Friday, on ice.  And the bake included the usual, sweet potatoes, chicken halves and, of course the broth, so hot that if you are not careful, you will burn your tongue.  I did my best to help Jim out with the bake, and Bud Kinney with barbecuing the chicken but they pretty much had things in hand.  I know I always like having some around to talk to if I am  outside barbecuing.

Enjoying the Bake in Kinney's Garage

Chris, Susan, Ted and Jackie Riek

The group was made up of mostly neighbors, Barb and Jim Fox, his sisters Diane and Sue and their husbands, John and Chris, Bud and Debi Kinney and their three sons with girl friends, Joe and Betsy Bergen, and her cousin, Michael, and the Lauer/Riek/ Dempsey house, Jackie, Lynn. Ted, and Flip. A few other friends of the group were also invited, like Julie Lescynskii, our late neighbor, Doc Landon's daughter.  We had a great time catching up. Jim's sister Diane and her husband, John, get the award for driving the farthest, from near Berkeley Springs,  West Virginia.  John also made these amazing sculptures out of gourds, various shapes, even a duck, with lights inside to create neat table decorations.  I am sorry I don't have a good picture of one.

Michael, John and Betsy

What a Great Clam Bake (Possible screen saver Barb?)

We had desserts compliments of Joe Bergen and Betsy's cousin, Michael,  to top off the evening.  We sat around till about 9:30, just enjoying the night, the conversation, as it's always fun to gather with our neighbors. We feel very lucky to be included in this group.  It was also fun to have all ages included,  the Kinney's kids as well as us older folks.