Farewell Summer of 2011

I know that the majority consider Labor Day the last day of summer but here in Maryland, my girls go back to school on August 23rd. I know, it's awful! I feel like we are being robbed of the last two weeks. So, for our one last hoorah we had my parents over to celebrate summer the way most Marylanders do...with locally caught & steamed crabs and locally grown watermelon and corn on the cob!

 

Maryland Steamed Crab

 

Locally Grown Sugar Baby Watermelon

The day started out hot and humid (typical for us). Then as time got closer for the big hoorah, it became darker and darker. We began to hear the rumble of thunder and the air was heavy. My parents arrived with a half bushel of crabs (depending on the size of the crabs it could be 25-35 them). Chris began to grill the corn and I cut the watermelon into slices. This celebration was all about eating with our hands. We all sat down in our screened in porch at the table covered with Trader Joe's and Whole Foods paper bags made into a tablecloth and began to crack open our crabs. Well, not Ash, she is picky and thinks seafood is "gross". She ate corn dogs...which I think are "gross"! It was mid afternoon but it was so dark we were all beginning to yawn while getting every nook and cranny we could out of the crabs. It's funny how a grey sky can fool your body like that! We were taking guesses on the time and we were off by about 4 hours! Finally, after we each had about two crabs down, the sky let loose. Thankfully, my husband worked his bum off in the 100 degree heat and just finished replacing the entire roof on our screened in porch!! (Way to go, honey!!)Otherwise we would've had to move the party indoors (and let me just tell you, I am not a fan of crab shells flying all through my house as every pounds down with their mallets in search of that yummy meat). The thunder was earth shaking...the kind where you duck because you are waiting for something to fall on top of you. As Bean put it, "I felt that in my chest." The rain was coming down in sheets. Just as my Mom said, "It doesn't seem to be cooling off at all.", the cooler temps came in with the wind. We finished eating the steamed crabs, corn on the cob, watermelon, corn dogs and I forgot to mention...Cool Ranch Doritos (yes, our breath was just fabulous after this gathering!) while watching the storm around us. 



This is my Dad's pile of crab shells, corn on the cob and watermelon rinds. That is quite the accomplishment in Maryland!

It wasn't the beautiful day that everyone hopes for on their last day of summer but it was a memorable day. Great food, great company, great conversation and great laughs!!


How will you celebrate your last day of summer this year?

P.S. Did you notice that I uploaded pictures from our camera instead of using my phone? I'm moving on up ;-)