The Great Lobster Feast - July 19,2007

One of the wonderful family traditions at Murray Corner is the lobster boil on the beach. It doesn't happen every year but over the past 30 years, Jim and I have been present for a good many of them. We have pictures of many varied collections of people gathered around the bonfire on the beach, and around the table at the farmhouse, and we were anxious to introduce our friends to this tradition.

The day began with overcast skies, and threats of showers. Mary and Blair were expected to arrive in Cape Tormentine in the afternoon; Mary Beth and Michael (with our dogs, Georgia and Princess, were coming from Moncton and we were keeping our fingers crossed that the bonfire would happen. The alternative would be pots on the stove in the kitchen - quite acceptable but not as much fun!

Michael and Mary Beth (assisted by Catherine and Oliver) arranged the fire pit, got the fire going, and the pot of seawater on to boil while Jim went to fetch the Strathspey crew. Margaret and Mary Jean picked flowers, dug out the extra leaves for the big old kitchen table, and set it to look "Martha Stewart perfect". Biscuits were baked and strawberries sliced for the shortcake (I helped out with this bit!); Mary Jean and I drove down the road to Simpson's Lobster Pound to pick up the main course and we were ready for the boil!

The kids - big and little - gave the lobsters a chance to race over the big rocks, and a couple of them got an opportunity for one last swim courtesy of Catherine's warm heart. Blair played a "Lament for the Lobster" on the bagpipes and we had a marvelous time on the beach around the fire. Jim presided over the cooking, and once all the lobsters were bright red and cooked to perfection, we headed up to the house where Blair piped the feast into the Kitchen - with a more celebratory air!

Mary's broccoli salad, Mary Beth's potato salad and Mary Jean's cabbage salad rounded out the meal, and we luxuriated in eating all the lobster we could possibly manage. Mary pronounced it to be the best lobster she had ever eaten! As glasses were raised in toasts to friends and family, we truly celebrated the opportunity to be together, sent loving wishes to those who are in other parts of the country right now and could not be with us, and remembered with warmth and affection, those who had been present at feasts in the past.

Yeah for the lobster! Yeah for family gatherings! Yeah for sailing to the Maritimes!

PS - we stayed put in Cape T. on Friday. Weather permitting, we'll set off for Pugwash on Saturday and stay for a couple of days. If you're in the neighbourhood, come on by!!