We did an unexpected cool thing on vacation in the OBX. It was Alicia's grand plan. She's a little master mind when it comes to fun kid friendly things to do. When she first mentioned crabbing our honey's weren't too excited about the concept. Turns out they were wrong! And we were so right to make the time;)
BTW look at these little buggars. They are clamping onto each other, fighting to the death. They ripped each others claws off! YES they did that:/ Ewwwww I know.
Okay so apparently to catch those nasty bottom dwelling crabs all you need is a line with string, a nasty chicken neck and a net. Some gloves would have come in handy too. Didn't know that:(
You throw your string in...tied to your finger and wait for a little tug and then slowly bring those bad boys up. You can't do it too fast or they'll let go. Sophia was seriously the crab whisperer. That little girl just lazily sat back and brought in one after the other, after the other. It was so cute!
You should have seen the excitement when all the kids practically at once were screaming "I got one...I GOT ONE"!! I'm not sure if that's normal or not, but we caught a lot! We were semi-pro's. People were stopping and snapping pics. We looked like we really knew what we were doing;)
Jarrod was breaking a sweat running from one kid to the next.
I grew up with avid hunter/fisherman brothers. I mean they are serious. REALLY serious about their sport. There are at least a dozen deer heads on my brother Rick's walls and a bear rug and a stuffed fox and and and...I could go on. Somewhere in the mix as a child it turned me off, and I vowed not to marry a hunter.
At some point during the crabfest it occurred to me what my brothers see in going after their meal. We were seeing this crabbing thing through from the very beginning...going to the store and buying the nasty necks and net, to pulling them out one by one, to cooking and cleaning those poor things. Then the best part...crab dip:) It was a full circle moment. I got it. The challenge...the connection with living off the land.
Not to mention the beauty...
and pure fun!
This part I could have done without. At least those delicious little critters didn't squeal. That definitely made it easier. Thank you little blue crabs for filling our bellies and giving us memories to last a lifetime.
Have a blessed day.
763. crab dip
764. sunsets that make me feel like i'm in church
765. faces aglow with adventure and fun
766. honey's that go along even when they don't want to
767. pictures that tell a story
Such fun and BEAUTIFUL pictures to remember your adventure! Made me smile.
ReplyDeleteAwesome pictures! We lived in Florida for a few years and my husband went crabbing all the time. My kids ate them from a very young age. Now we don't live anywhere near the ocean and my kids still want to eat crab. They are out of luck! ;-)
ReplyDeleteGlad you all had fun. Happy Monday!
~FringeGirl
i do love crabs. but just like fishing... it's a lot of work. and sometimes i barf while kelly is filleting the fish. LOL. love seeing pics of you and alicia... it's fun watching your friendship unfold. and to think you met in blogland. God is so good like that!
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite childhood memories revolve around crabs: catching them in just this way, and picking and eating them for hours. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I've never done this but how awesome!!!! I am just so sad we haven't done a real vacation like this! Thank you for sharing...it might just be the kick in the pants I need to get one planned! LOVE the photos, Becky! :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like such a fun thing to do! That smile picture is PRICELESS! She is the best.
ReplyDeleteSome of my best childhood memories revolve around crabbing with my dad and picking crabs with friends and family! Glad you all had so much fun crabbing!
ReplyDeleteKat
i have to speed by these quick. i can still kinda smell 'em. ish. but it was definately a super fun time!!
ReplyDeleteholy yum! get in mahhhhh belly.
ReplyDeletemichele
Sweet sweet memories being made here Becky. My Dad was a hunter too and I am so glad that all Trev does is fish!!
ReplyDeleteI have never caught crabs...but it sure does look like a fun experience;)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, Becky, of what must have been some really sweet moments for your family & friends!
Yum. We live near the scallop capital of the world, so we have abundant seafood, clams, quahogs, cod, etc...not crabs though! How cool! I agree with the cooking part....just can't be the one to put in the pot. I think it has something to do with C's little fish, Ruby. We have bonded ;) I feed her at night, and she swims to the side of the bowl and does a little "hello"...or maybe just "give me food" dance. It made me think about eating fish. Stop laughing. (P.S. Started my healthy eating today...struggled a little, but feel good about saying no to chic cake with choc frosting someone had brought for a b-day at work-my fav!....and I'm not so sure how to do that hashtag stuff....)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great day you had all the hard work paid off in the end with the dip yum!
ReplyDeleteThe music playing while viewing your photos was fun and fantastic. Wish Id been doing this with yall. Looks like fun. :)
ReplyDeleteI used to do that as a kid growing up in North Carolina. Now that I have moved back it is fun to watch my kids do the same thing :)
ReplyDeleteWe love crabs but we have never tried catching our own! I have to say that growing up i. Montana i had the exact same thiught as you about hunting. Lol oh i have to talk to u today about Friday after i had time to think about it. Will call you later.
ReplyDeletei don't thin k i would wanna touch them myself but it looks like fun. my kids would love that!
ReplyDeleteHello Becky~
ReplyDeleteYour photos have perfectly captured your beautiful day catching crabs! I can tell you were all having a blast! :) I have never tried to catch crabs, but now that I know how, well, you never know! :)
I hope you are having a lovely week! :)
Blessings,
Jenni
absolutely beautiful pictures..I love the one at sunset....
ReplyDeleteThat picture of the crab in the net that the guy is holding up is ah-mazing.
ReplyDeletegreat photos... and what a great time!
ReplyDeleteWe had our family reunion
ReplyDelete{Dad's side} in Nags Head
three years ago and I swear
we picnicked right by that
same spot where you crabbed!
Was that a little park on the
sound? My aunt and uncle
{Dr. Steve's parents/Campbell's
grandparents} have a beach
house down there, so it's a
popular place for us to gather.
We used to visit OBX when I
was little and the crabbing
brings back so many memories.
I always hated the part where
the crabs went in the pot : (
You really captured the experience,
B and your pics are priceless!
xo Suzanne