I may lament not having a good Mexican meal, but as long as we're in Nova Scotia, we'll enjoy the sea food! As the season is underway, many fishermen are selling the lobsters for $5-$6 #! This is a two pounder (and the meat in those claws is almost better than the tail!) Ken received a call from another fisherman who said they have lobsters up to 7#s currently! Wow! This was all I could eat at one sitting!
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While we're still in Lunenburg, many of you know our home is in California, and our daughter and her family live in the center of the fire area. Ashley left with the boys on Tuesday as the air was so bad, and John was able to follow later to set up for Christmas at our house, far from the fire danger. Their evacuation area is mandatory, but the firemen have a staging area on their school grounds, complete with bulldozers and helicopters! It's heartbreaking to see the beautiful hillsides devastated, and more so to know so many are losing their homes. Just letting you know that my family is safe, though they left without the boys Christmas presents...and so much more. They're only one of many; please keep everyone in your prayers. Truly it's devastation beyond comprehension.
(I've added an additional note in the comments below...Good News!)
It breaks my heart to hear about the fires in CA and seeing on TV all the devastation! Thank god Ashley and family are safe at your home! I just hope and pray they don’t loose their home!
It’s that lobster again - such a shame I couldn’t get a flight out to join you! Lol! Fav!
So sorry that your daughter had to evacuate. I hope that her home is fine when she is able to return! It is good that her family at least had your home to go to, and didn't have to try to find a hotel.
glad to know the family is safe. praying for their continued safety.
and i'm surprised you're still in lunenburg. if i wasn't busy, i could take a joy ride to NS and stuff meself with all the lobster i could manage to get into my body and bring home loads to sell around here. oh, who am i kidding, i will just eat them all!
Yes, you are lucky you are not at home. I live about 3 hours north of the fires and the smoke is thick here. I just posted a pic of what it looks like here.
Enjoy the clean air there!! and all those lobsters:-))
Glad to hear that your family is safe. I hope that they are not effected any further by the fire. Always sad to hear of the devastation caused by fires.
@pamknowler You've been so sweet to share your concern. I decided to just snag a photo so I could let people know how we're doing out west with regard to the fire. I feel like Nero, eating lobster while the fires rage!
@inthecloud5 Thank you Christine. There's a small amount of comfort to have our family members safe and accounted for, but we know that burn area intimately and it's painful to read of the destruction and to see photos.
@dsp2 Thanks for liking the picture...it was such a nice evening with friends, I was glad to have a good representative photo of that delicious dinner! Re: The Fire, Ashley said the firemen have saved one of the faculty houses on campus, but that means it's too close for comfort. If the winds would die down and the cooler air off the ocean returns, the firemen would be helped greatly.
@summerfield Ha! I would have guessed you'd smell that lobster on the table! Irresistible, isn't it? I'd be game to have it another time or two before we go...if I don't have to cook it! We plan to spend Christmas in MA with #1 daughter and family, but everything changes if the fire personally affects our other daughter's family... Stressful times (and worse) for Southern Californians!
@catwhiskers Indeed, we ARE relishing the clean, moist air. What a Christmas gift it would be if I could somehow send it to rest over the fire zone!
@quietpurplehaze No pheasants to go with the lobster!!! That's our friend's Golden retriever who is hopeful for a buttery handout...
@salza Our hearts and prayers were with you when the fires were affecting your area so badly. You know first hand the tragedy of it all. Thanks for your thoughts.
TO EVERYONE: Noon, Sunday, in California. The news has reported that this morning the firemen weren't sure they could save the school grounds where our daughter's family lives on campus and John teaches. They've now said that it has been spared, and for that, we're SO grateful! Thank you for the thoughts and prayers.
@Weezilou - you know me and lobster, we're buddies! :-D here's hoping the fires will die down; i feel sorry for the kids if they don't get their presents; also for all the displaced families.
@summerfield More than our always-fortunate grandchildren, I feel terribly for those who've lost homes and can never retrieve their presents... It sounds like they will still be there after the first of the year when they decide to return. One CA neighbour asked me if she could buy the boys a fancy gingerbread house (of course! Thank You!), and Ken told the kids to go to brunch at our favourite restaurant and the meal was on him. Ashley just wrote that the manager (whom we chat with every time we go) picked up their tab for them! My kids are going to be just fine. I was also pleased that they bought toys the other day to deliver to the fire station for Toys for Tots...it's all a new learning experience this year. The firemen told them two of their trucks had just headed out to go to Ashley's town to help with the fire! They may have had a hand in saving the campus today! Lots of angels at work!
So wish I could help you eat that lobster!!!! They are $80-100 over here!! my heart goes out you you and family and the rest of California with these devastating fires - such destruction on such a huge scale. I hope the weather conditions soon change to help the firefighters contain this monster.
So very happy to hear that your family is safe and out of California. The fires are devastating for so many people. I hope that the hard-working firemen and volunteers can get the fires under control soon. Those lobsters look mighty good :).
@Weezilou - we have a fundraising at work, apart from the local food and clothes drive. i will make another contribution for the not so fortunate kids. good thing i don't know how to knit, otherwise... enjoy your lobster, my dear. and my love to you and ken both. ♥
@summerfield Thank you for your always kind and thoughtful words, m'friend... Like you, I'm making another donation tomorrow to a group I know assist people in need of this sort of disaster relief. At times like this, I think people sincerely feel the need to help in some way...
@gilbertwood Wow! What prices! And that's probably just for a lobster tail! Say way in California...we won't be eating lobster! Thanks for your kind thoughts...I know too well that Australia has suffered devastating fires on as grand a scale. It's always so tragic...
@seattlite Thanks, Gloria. The family is safe and south of Los Angeles at our home there in Orange Cty. The headmaster at the school where John teaches wrote that a tri-tip dinner was made for the firemen who've been staged on the campus, so it feels good to know they're being looked after. I saw on FB that a former student suggested a nice gift from the alumn assn be given to the firemen. People are VERY appreciative for their great effort!
So glad that you checked in, Louise! I've been thinking of you and yours and wondering how you were coping. You must have been beside yourself with worry!
My heart goes out to all who have been affected by these terrible fires. So much devastation and sadness. Glad to hear your family is safe.
Enjoy your lobsters. They are very expensive here.
@joansmor There you are, also in the heart of Lobster territory, and I do recall you're not a fan. As you do Lobster, I'll leave oysters to all who love them! Plenty to go around...or not!
@elkereturns That's so sweet of you, Elke. As Tunia @tunia says, we care for one another around here, and knowing this is making news everywhere, I felt I should check in and let my friends know how we're doing. Late todayt the news was sounding better for my daughter's territory, but I have friends in Summerland and Santa Barbara, up the coast, and now they're preparing to evacuate! Firemen are a very special breed!
@littleconnie Thank you, Connie. Those of us who have any connection with others along the coast are in constant touch and sharing any news we receive. This Christmas will be a sobering holiday, but in spite of all, many of us feel greatly blessed.and are mindful to assist those who are less so at this time.
Thanks for the fire update. I'd been wondering. Checked 365 yesterday but didn't see anything. Thankful your family is safe and they have your home as a respit. Such an awful situation!
@danette I saw you'd commented on both photos, so I knew you saw my update! You're like so many friends here I've felt close to, and I thought I ought to take the time to come by and let everyone know we're okay. We'd decided to enjoy Lunenburg up to the final hours, so it's been a tense situation back home. While we're grateful to all be safe, our hearts are with so many who have lost much and those dedicated firemen working to save everything possible. We members of 365 have been tested this year! Thanks for caring, Danette.
What a heartbreaking and heartwarming thread to read. The ups and downs are quite extreme. Hope your kids stay well, and they have their home for the long run. And that lobster! Wow!
@taffy Over time, we've all had our trials, haven't we! This is *our* trial by fire. Since Ashley's first photos of the smoke in the distance, we haven't known if we were packing for Boston or LA! Worse was that we couldn't get started on either and the texts were coming in at all hours..no one has slept well! I'll send you an uplifting letter I shared with Pam...it couldn't be more "on site" and up to the minute...for now...
So hard to read about the devastation in California. This has been such a year of natural disasters, it certainly makes it quite clear that, despite all our technological advances, Man is definitely not in charge. I have read that the fire fighters are reaching burnout. How could they not? It is a job of both physical and mental stress. I hope they can get relief for the residents and themselves.
Very glad, by the way, that your home is ok and that your family are too. Here's hoping that they fires get under control very soon. So sad to see the devastation that fire can bring. :-(
@Cherrill Thanks for your note! I only came to the computer to convert a recipe to grams...got sidetracked! My most current news (still) is above in my caption. Hate to sound rushed, but wanted to reply to you (and your thoughtfulness, always). Merry Christmas, dear friend ♥
I'm glad that your family is ok. Bush fires are so devastating.
I'm hoping to tuck into some more of our lobsters over the next few days. My husband and son have amateur rock lobster fishing licenses and four pots. This means that they can bring in up to 8 lobsters each, when they pull the pots.
@golftragic We seem to be world-wide, and yes, it is that devastating! I left a message here when I posted this first. It's been over a week and there are still mandatory evacuations. The firemen have a staging area on the campus where SIL John teaches & the headmaster sends daily updates as the students come from around the world! Everyone had to return home a week early. I have friends up the coast from Carpinteria as well, so we wait for word from them and where they've gone to evacuate. It's going to be a very different Christmas. I've spent two days compiling photos from all the times we've visited there, and at some point we've covered all the region that's on fire. I used to think I might have "too many pictures", but I've covered pictorially every point of interest and the beauty that was. I even have pictures of a half dozen fire departments and engines as I take them for the grandsons! It's well documented in the "before" phase! Enjoy your vacation...sounds wonderful!
It’s that lobster again - such a shame I couldn’t get a flight out to join you! Lol! Fav!
That lobster looks wonderful!
So sorry that your daughter had to evacuate. I hope that her home is fine when she is able to return! It is good that her family at least had your home to go to, and didn't have to try to find a hotel.
and i'm surprised you're still in lunenburg. if i wasn't busy, i could take a joy ride to NS and stuff meself with all the lobster i could manage to get into my body and bring home loads to sell around here. oh, who am i kidding, i will just eat them all!
Yes, you are lucky you are not at home. I live about 3 hours north of the fires and the smoke is thick here. I just posted a pic of what it looks like here.
Enjoy the clean air there!! and all those lobsters:-))
@inthecloud5 Thank you Christine. There's a small amount of comfort to have our family members safe and accounted for, but we know that burn area intimately and it's painful to read of the destruction and to see photos.
@dsp2 Thanks for liking the picture...it was such a nice evening with friends, I was glad to have a good representative photo of that delicious dinner! Re: The Fire, Ashley said the firemen have saved one of the faculty houses on campus, but that means it's too close for comfort. If the winds would die down and the cooler air off the ocean returns, the firemen would be helped greatly.
@summerfield Ha! I would have guessed you'd smell that lobster on the table! Irresistible, isn't it? I'd be game to have it another time or two before we go...if I don't have to cook it! We plan to spend Christmas in MA with #1 daughter and family, but everything changes if the fire personally affects our other daughter's family... Stressful times (and worse) for Southern Californians!
@catwhiskers Indeed, we ARE relishing the clean, moist air. What a Christmas gift it would be if I could somehow send it to rest over the fire zone!
@quietpurplehaze No pheasants to go with the lobster!!! That's our friend's Golden retriever who is hopeful for a buttery handout...
@salza Our hearts and prayers were with you when the fires were affecting your area so badly. You know first hand the tragedy of it all. Thanks for your thoughts.
@gilbertwood Wow! What prices! And that's probably just for a lobster tail! Say way in California...we won't be eating lobster! Thanks for your kind thoughts...I know too well that Australia has suffered devastating fires on as grand a scale. It's always so tragic...
@seattlite Thanks, Gloria. The family is safe and south of Los Angeles at our home there in Orange Cty. The headmaster at the school where John teaches wrote that a tri-tip dinner was made for the firemen who've been staged on the campus, so it feels good to know they're being looked after. I saw on FB that a former student suggested a nice gift from the alumn assn be given to the firemen. People are VERY appreciative for their great effort!
Enjoy your lobsters. They are very expensive here.
@elkereturns That's so sweet of you, Elke. As Tunia @tunia says, we care for one another around here, and knowing this is making news everywhere, I felt I should check in and let my friends know how we're doing. Late todayt the news was sounding better for my daughter's territory, but I have friends in Summerland and Santa Barbara, up the coast, and now they're preparing to evacuate! Firemen are a very special breed!
@littleconnie Thank you, Connie. Those of us who have any connection with others along the coast are in constant touch and sharing any news we receive. This Christmas will be a sobering holiday, but in spite of all, many of us feel greatly blessed.and are mindful to assist those who are less so at this time.
I'm hoping to tuck into some more of our lobsters over the next few days. My husband and son have amateur rock lobster fishing licenses and four pots. This means that they can bring in up to 8 lobsters each, when they pull the pots.