We were down the Cape again visiting the in-laws and attending an annual family get-together with just about the cutest bunch of kids you’d ever want to see. You know, if you like that sort of thing.
Just a few snapshots:
The bay side is where it’s at for little kids. Tidal pools with hermit crabs and snails to play with at low tide. Fine-grained sand perfect for building drip castles. And lots of open space for running.
Anna, a 12-year-old marine expert (her dad is a Chatham fisherman), tracked down this horseshoe crab, which I snapped before we sent him on his merry way (yes, it was a boy—she checked). The last time we were down here, we saw a fisherman collecting horseshoe crabs, scanning the shallows in his boat and using a pole to lift them out of the water. I thought it was strange because I’d never heard of anyone eating horseshoe crabs. But it’s not the meat they’re after, it’s their blood. Here’s why.
Husband has lots of artists in the family. Here, I’m looking through
Aunt Kathy’s stack of watercolors inspired by her Colorado home: a
strikingly different landscape.
As the tide was coming in on First Encounter Beach, we saw a woman clamming. She explained that you look for small holes in the sand from where the clams are filtering and spitting out water. Then, you use a special rake to get deep enough to dig them out. The rusty ring you see on the bucket lets you know if the clams are big enough to keep.
A fisherman’s platter from Arnold’s in Eastham, where fried fish is an art form. Clams, calamari, shrimp, scallops, oysters, and cod. My lack of self-control came in handy once again.
Cape Cod, I never seem to get sick of you.
Good God, you are making me crazy...thank goodness we are headed to Orleans on Friday night--for just over a week. Hope the weather is like what you had!
Posted by: Bumblebutton | June 23, 2008 at 09:14 PM
That fried clam photo just made the involuntary drool mechanism kick in. Those look luscious.
Posted by: Lisa Peet | June 23, 2008 at 09:56 PM
Ah, the good old Limulus Amebocyte Lysate test (better known as the Pyrogen or Endotoxin Test). If I only had a dollar...... Even did a podium presentation on an industry wide entotoxin survey we did for the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) back in 1990 or 91 when I was a callow youth of 4.....32.
Posted by: Dad | June 23, 2008 at 09:59 PM
Interesting with the horseshoe crab! Hope the scientists can make it artificially soon so the crabs may survive.
Also, I like Aunt Kathy's watercolor very much!
Posted by: Marianne | June 24, 2008 at 03:05 AM
What? Another visit to the Cape and you didn't even stop by to say hello?
I know I haven't been commenting as much as I used to, but I can change. Really, I can.
Posted by: andrea | June 24, 2008 at 09:32 AM
Andrea: Well, in that case, we're coming down again in mid-July. Shall we meet up?
Marianne: She's very talented. I love her style. As for the crabs, they actually set them free again after the blood donation.
Dad: And here I had no idea.
Lisapeet: Words cannot express, but luscious is a good start.
Bumblebutton: Enjoy! Have a sour cream doughnut from The Hole for me.
Posted by: Tammy | June 24, 2008 at 02:48 PM
Went to the website. Arnold's looks like a place I would LOVE. I wish I was there right now. Glad you had a nice time!
Posted by: melissa | June 24, 2008 at 06:05 PM
Ahh, the Cap'n's Basket. Is there no better frutti di mare?
Interesting about the horseshoe crab blood. We humans always tinker too much.
Posted by: Heather | June 25, 2008 at 01:00 AM