Clambake Saturday

Lake Erie

The Bake Master, My Brother In Law, Rich

Evie And Anna

The Siblings

Evie And Niece, Julia

Linda, Rich, And Hampton

I am sitting in my sister's living room, overlooking a vast Lake Erie compared to our Chautauqua Lake.  Four of us are up, my two sisters and brother-in-law, but Evie's still sleeping. We are waiting for the Virginia family to arrive for our big breakfast, sausage, eggs, pancakes and bacon, always made by my brother-in-law, Rich, a great way to start out Sunday.

Yea

With Harrison And Julia

Loving The Treasure Box

My Sister Ellen And Grandaughter Anna

Anna, Molly, And Luke

Yesterday began with my usual paddle for 35 minutes, then breakfast and a blog. We were leaving for Ohio by 11:00, so we were busy getting the trash, and then packing for our overnight. I left for the Transfer Station just after 9:00, which was a good time because few were there that early. When I got home, Evie had showered and packed, so I showered as well and we were on our way by 11:15. It's an easy drive, just under two hours. We stopped at Azman's meat market to get Slovenian sausages. They had just come out of the smoker but we got a couple of dozen, We had a great talk with the owner, a distant relative of Evie's who remembers Evie's Dad well. It was a fun talk.

Richie And Dan Serving The Clams

Father And Son Shucking Chautauqua Corn

Tradition: Pregnant Meg Pours Beer Into The Bake

Adding The Sweet Potatoes

We arrived by 1:15 and were lucky to have some quiet time with my sisters and brother-in-law before the crowd arrived. We helped some with the set up for the bake but most was done with the help of grandchildren who live nearby. We were excited to see my sister Ellen's daughter and her family from Virginia as well as our our nieces and nephews and their kids. Family, friends, grandkids, girlfriends, and others started arriving at 4:00 when the appetizers were pulled out. The four youngest were excited when I brought in the Treasure Box and they spent a good half hour taking it apart, grabbing one toy or gift after another. Evie had a hard time limiting Luke, Anna, and Molly to two or three presents and finally gave up as they kept pulling something new out and playing with it and getting something else. Who cares, they loved it. 

The Gals And Harrison

Dinner For The Guys

Helping Mom Shuck Corn

Enjoying A Libation

Matt, Meg, And Kevin

Sally, Richie, And Girl Friend

With My Sister And Her Daughter, Julia

We sat down around 6:00, filled out plates first with chicken, corn, sweet potatoes, and a bite of crab legs, then walked outside to get a bag of clams from the pot. The clams were great, tender and tasty and we went through 55 dozen, a record. We were lucky with weather, hardly a drizzle, and after the bake, we enjoyed dessert, the Mayor's cheesecake topped with blueberries or strawberries or peanut butter brownies. Most stayed until 9:30, either going for a swim, sitting around the fire, enjoying another libation or two before slowly saying goodbye and heading home, The five us then sat in the living room, talking about what a lovely and lucky evening we had, no rain, lots of friends and grandkids. It's such fun to see how much the grandkids enjoy coming over to their grandparent's house, not just for the clambake. How lucky Linda and Rich are to have a family so close. 

Son In Laws

Brother In Laws

Pat And Grandson Harrison

Body Surfing

Dusk On The Dock