I have many stories and photos to share from the blissed out holiday that just keeps on giving, but it's going to take some time to sift through them all. I'll kick it off with our lobster trip on Christmas Eve.
I work with a wonderful girl who just married a lobsterman. They live and fish off Tancook Island, a 50 minute ferry ride from the town of Chester on the south shore. The population on Tancook is roughly 150 year-round residents and they still have a one room schoolhouse. The first ferry ride over every morning brings the teacher to the island and picks Christen up to take her the first leg of her long commute. I love to hear her stories of the island... their magical Christmas pageant where they use cardboard cutouts for many of the characters as there simply aren't enough kids to fill the roles. She's a great writer and I hope that she one day writes them all down, it's a life quite different from what most of us are living.
I arranged to get our lobster from Vincent her husband and so on the big day my dad, Olan and I headed off to meet the Tancook Ferry. The snow started falling and by the time we got there it was the thick, drifty stuff that Christmas cards are made of. Christen met us, as scheduled, with a big tub of huge, beautiful lobster, 2.25 pounds average!!! Olan was so excited to see them and we had to keep cracking the container open for him to take a look. Christen offered to take us on the ferry before they made their way back, so much to Olan's delight we climbed on. The magic didn't stop there, we got to go up to the bridge (or whatever it's called) and Olan got to sit right in the Captain's chair and pretend to steer the boat!!! When they were readying to go we found our way onto solid ground and watched the crane lift the big boxes of groceries and supplies for the island, though Olan was quite sure that they were full of presents!
It was a wonderful morning and we'll remember it always. I couldn't have planned a better day for Olan if I'd tried! As for the lobster? Let me just say that it was the best lobster of my life... the meat exploded from the shells, not a drop of water on anyone's plate.
Boarding the ferry
In the Captain's chair
Watching the crane load the hold
Watching the crane load the hold
"I want the crane to pick me up and put me on the boat" says the small fearless boy
Headed back with the blast of a horn
A small Santa entertains as we drive home through the storm
The lobsters, obligingly lining up in front of the pot
