Monday, August 20, 2012

Taking up a taste for crab and other goodies!

We decided while in Washington we mine as well obtain our fishing and crabbing license. The biggest thing is gathering the materials for the crab pots and making sure you know what you are doing. The crabs out here are definitely bigger and different from the ones of the Eastern Seaboard. With the help of some new friends and their advice, we succeeded in our first crabbing adventure.

In addition to crabbing we have enjoyed spending time with new friends and faces in the area. I, Shannon, was able to spend time with the one connection I had to the small town of Oak Harbor, WA. The wonderful new family and friend, Kathryn, is a woman Nana babysat back in Portsmouth, VA. She also happens to be the music teacher at Oak Harbor Elementary where I will be teaching second grade this year! Her girls are adorable and know stories about Nana. Nana's ceramics are all around her house here in Oak Harbor and she has told me stories of Nana from their times spent together in Virginia. There is NO doubt in all of our minds that Nana has been looking down with a smile on us and watching over us here on Whidbey Island.

Robert spent this past Saturday evening at a men's Poker night and I am happy to report he won some $$$. While he was at poker I popped over to our neighbor's house and spent time meeting their friends and family at their "Italian Dinner" party. They certainly are warm and welcoming people here on the island. Lastly, Bentley had his first play date with an 11 week old German Shepherd puppy who is absolutely adorable. Unfortunately, Bentley can be a little intimidating and overly outgoing which made befriending the smaller puppy more difficult. He is still learning how to interact with other puppies and we enjoyed spending time with some new friends over a delicious steak and salmon dinner. We are certainly starting to feel at home in Oak Harbor, WA.
A small view at the beginning preparation of my
new second grade classroom
The desks are certainly smaller than my old
fourth grade classrooms, but I still overlook the
playground and am across from the bathrooms!


I grabbed tea at the local tea room downtown with Kathryn
and her beautiful girls!

Preparing our first crab pot
Bentley and Koda at their play date!

The adorable town of Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands.

Robert did a fantastic job docking the boat at the marina. We had to
travel over rough waters to arrive at the San Juan Islands, but it was
well worth it and only took 45 minutes.

We were able to see many sea lions and even some dolphins
on our trip back home!

Bentley was a trooper through the rough waters!

Preparing for crab pot #2 and hoping no one steals the second pot!

Excited and eager to see what our crab pot has brought in! We waited and watched for any poachers.

The pot certainly weighed more and we were sure we caught some crabs before
even seeing into the pot. We had to quickly figure out what to do with all the crabs.

Time to pull them out, size them up, and either throw them back or keep them!

We were able to take home three large Dungeness crabs!




3 comments:

  1. Looks like you've done it before. I guess being an Eagle Scout and having been on the Bay in Virginia helped. Now to cook and eat the crabs! We love you both and Bentley too. dad c

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  2. How exciting to sea all the wildlife and have a wildlife all at once

    Looks like ya'll are having a good time in your new surroundings and exploring all the facets of your new surroundings.

    Never knew Robert to have a poker face....bt they were really playing "go fish" :)

    Shannon you look great in the hat Send pics of the kids when school starts

    Dad T

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  3. Wow! The crabbing trip looks fantastic! I'm glad to hear that Nana is watching out for you! We knew that already, but what a small world!!!! Your room is looking great! I love all of the windows. Hugs! S

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