Cooking Fish at the Beach

We have been talking all summer about cooking the fish that Herbert had in his freezer.  Well, it finally happened this weekend and it was so good.  There was dolphin, wahoo and spanish mackeral.  There was cole slaw, pasta salad, hot blue collard dip, and Barbara's mexican cornbread.  What a Feast!!!

The first batch is in the fryer.

Herbert and his son Adam caught the mackeral, the wahoo and the dolphin are courtesy of one of his neighbors.

The Millers have a perfect place to have a fish fry.  It is outside with plenty of shade and there seems to always be a cool breeze.  

Herbert.  When are we going to do it again?

Labor Day

Most of us seniors have paid our dues and are entitled to celebrate Labor Day. When I was growing up, Labor Day meant that you were probably in the tobacco field priming tips, getting in the last of the crop so that you could go back to school. There certainly was no celebrating. I'm not complaining. That was the way it was and that was all we knew. I had to work in the fields because my parents worked in the fields. When I was old enough to touch the peddles of that old Ford 8N tractor, I was helping with the farming. I didn't necessary like it, but now I am glad that I had to do it.

Today, many high schoolers don't know what labor is. They don't know what it is like to do backbreaking labor in the hot sun for very little pay. Now all of that is done by migrant laborers. Though farming has changed tremendously in the past 50 years there is still quite a bit of manual labor involved as it is in other occupations. 

My hat is off to those who harvest our food, build our houses, flip our hamburgers, or do the jobs that we can no longer do. Hard work didn't hurt us and hard work will not hurt them. Maybe when they get to be 69 or 70 years old, they can look back and say that they have paid their dues.

   

Slogans to Live By

While browsing the storefronts in Beaufort this weekend, I spotted a couple of signs that I thought rang true.

Sorry, but that is the best I can do. What can I say, it was a slow weekend. Maybe some better posts later. 

Herbert is in the Mountains

Fellow classmate Herbert and his wife Barbara were in the mountains this weekend. He has been sending me a few photographs of their trip. No explanation, just photos. Hope you enjoy. 

They were in Gatlingburg and Pigeon Forge where they saw Ronnie McDowell and Billy Joe Royal. 

I told him that Sunday was topless day in Ashville and thought I would get some photographs, but I didn't. 

If any other classmates have photos of something interesting they did this summer and would like to share with others, please send to my attention. 

Guess Who Came to Dinner

Old classmate Herbert and his beautiful wife Barbara came over to dinner last night. We had a great time talking about our high school days and how life had been for the past 51 years.

Time has a way of slipping up on you. Herbert and I will both turn 70 next summer. (I'm a couple of weeks older than Herbert.)  We all feel like we did when we were 18 in our minds, but our bodies and the following photographs may tell a different story. 

This one reminds me of our high school days. 

Herbert and Barbara are doing fine and spending most of their time in Atlantic beach. I think a trip to the mountains is planned for the end of the month. 

And of course, a selfie. Having fun just like we did 51 years ago.  Keep in touch with your classmates and take time to visit when you can. You will enjoy it so much. Do this while you can. 

New Bern for Lunch

Stopped in New Bern today for lunch on our way to Morehead City. A friend had recommended a resturant there so we thought we would give it a try. 

It was a beautiful day so we opted for the outside seating. Morgan's is a nice place  and the food was very good. Becky and I both had the chipotle chicken tacos which was their Friday luncheon special. Pretty good for $5.99. 

If you are ever in New Bern, give them a try.  We will certainly be back. 

By the way, New Bern is a neat place. If you like history and being near the water, you should like New Bern. 

Birthday Week-Party Number Four

Friday is the day we are celebrating Brendan's birthday. He will actually be 10 on September 3rd. He enjoys going to Starbucks for hot chocolate and a cookie with his grandmother so that is part of his gift. He also likes to go to GameStop which is next door. 

Actually, I think that he likes Starbucks only because GameStop is next door. 

Last night he and his brother blew out the candles on another pan of brownies. 

Birthday Week-Party Number Three

Eamons's birthday is actually August 16, but we are celebrating it today. He will be twelve. 

His birthday cake is a cupcake from Happycakes Cupcakery in MHC but his grandmother baked some brownies for all to share. 

Six adults, three grandsons and two dogs on the boat, then back home for shrimp and fish tacos. 

Now the presents. 

These boys are really into Mario and Louigi video games. 

Busy day today!

Birthday Number Two for Birthday Week

Lindsay's birthday is actually today. We celebrated this morning with gifts and a single candle in a sticky roll. 

Lindsay is our youngest daughter with Levi who is the youngest grandson. 

Everyone gets to blow out a candle and make a wish. 

Levi helped to open the gifts. 

Tomorrow we will celebrate someone else's birthday. Check back later to see who it is. 

Birthday Week

Both of our girls were born in August. Our oldest grandson was also born in August. The middle grandson was born September the 3rd and Becky's birthday is September 8th. With so many birthdays falling within a 30 day period, we have started having a birthday week when we celebrate birthdays.

Our family usually gets together at the the beach in August where we have our birthday week. During this time each person celebrates their birthday. They choose the day that they will celebrate their birthday and they receive their gifts and usually a cake or a cookie with candles. This is their day and they get to choose what they would like to do. So basically, there is a party every day. 

This year all of our brood are here at the beach, two daughters, two sons in law, three grandsons, two grand dogs and Becky and me. 

The first Birthday was son in law Matt.  He was born on July 25. 

Matt blowing out the candles on his red velvet birthday cake. 

Opening the gifts. Matt's wife Lindsay's birthday will be on Sunday which is her actual Birthday. 

More Birthday postings will follow.