I like to read lots of styles of stitching blogs, and I always enjoy reading about bloggers' kids and even about their pets.
I've just realized that I have UFO's that are older than most of your children. Heck - I have UFO's that are older than MY children! And unless you have one of those crazy exotic birds or maybe a chimpanzee or and elephant, my UFO's are older than all of your pets. Oops. I forgot horses.
Mind you, I'm just commenting about this. It doesn't upset me at all. I refuse to get all self-judging about it.
So if you want to know how old my oldest UFO is, I'll tell you that it's older than a bison, but younger than a hippopotamus.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Busy, busy
On the one hand, I love autumn. There is so much to do. So many choices! It's hard to decide some days.
On the other hand, as the days get shorter and the leaves fall, I get so sad. Winter is so long here, and I know I won't see those leaves again till way into May. Just looking at my porch furniture sitting out there all lonely and wet and grey makes me blue. Ah well, it happens every year and every year I manage to get over it. I guess it means that I just have to move my stitching inside. At least my stuff doesn't blow away when I'm on the couch!
First up - here is my entry to Darling Anna's Swirlygig challenge. I decided to go "big" and stitched it on 11ct. fabric with #5 perle cotton. I was very happy with it! It was fun to use that big fabric, it was just the look I was going for, and the finish was easy-peasy. The more I look at it, the more I'm rethinking that bow. It's simple enough to remove, though.
I stitched a second entry, too, just because I was having fun fooling with the colors. I stitched this on some PTP opalescent pink lugana, using DMC in spring colors. I just couldn't come up with a good finishing idea though, and luckily there was a category for UN finished projects. I know that the photo doesn't look pink. No matter how I tried to edit the photo, the fabric color is still way off. But you get the idea.
I didn't win either of the categories, but the winning entries were pretty darn wonderful, so I don't feel badly about it at all. It was a super exercise and it was rewarding to take a design and make it my own. Sometimes it's fun to do a design exactly as it's presented, but sometimes it's even more fun to use a design as a springboard to something else that's even better!
Last weekend I finished this FUFO that's been around for a while. And by "a while" I mean "a decade". It's finished as a cube, wrapped with a wide black grosgrain ribbon.
Right now I'm working on PS's "Autumn Leaves". I needed something seasonal to stitch, and I've had this kitted for quite a while. It's moving along nicely, and I'll have a picture to show you as soon as the sun comes out.
In non-stitching stuff, life has been very busy. We went to one of Colleen's cross country meets last Saturday. It was just outside Columbus and if either of the kids run within a 3-4 hour drive, we usually go. It was her first 6K (up till now she's only run 5K's), and she ran very well. Came in 11th out of about 150, and looked and felt very good at the finish line.
This Friday she'll run at the All Ohio Championship meet in Delaware Ohio, so we'll go watch the meet and then bring her home for Fall break. I'm SO GLAD to be bringing her home for the long weekend. I miss the brightness she brings to our home.
John's fall break is the following week. He has one of our cars at school, so he drives himself back and forth. But he may not come home, which I understand, although it also makes me a little sad. If he doesn't come home over break, I may decide to drive there and take him to dinner, because he's turning 21 this month. Wow. Now I'm officially old.
All of his cross country meets have been really far away this year. And he has very few of them for some reason. One week he was in Michigan, and this weekend he'll be in Bethlehem PA. But in a couple of weeks both kids will be at a big meet near Cleveland, so we'll get to see him run there.
And I'm back to reffing soccer games again. I took the year off last year, but earlier this month I decided to get re-certified. I'll pick up a game or two at our local rec league each weekend. I'm trying to limit my games though. For a couple of years I was working several games each weekend and just wasn't good for me - physically AND mentally, and that's why I took time off. So now I'm trying it again, but I'm being careful not to take too many games and not to ref any games that are out of my comfort level. As in too difficult or too fast.
Wow...it's the last day of September already! And here comes October! Some folks are talking about going to the Jubilee in October. And the EGA is having its national meeting in Pittsburgh next week and although I'm not a member, I understand that there will be a Merchandise Mart on Wednesday Oct. 7. I'm toying with the idea of going. Vikki Clayton will be there with her magical fabrics and fibres, and The French Needle will be there, too. I don't need any new designs, but I'll bet there will be some wonderful accessories at her table.
Yikes. I think I've just talked myself into going. Well, as long as I'm caught up at work. And speaking of work, I had better get to it.
Have a lovely day, everyone!
On the other hand, as the days get shorter and the leaves fall, I get so sad. Winter is so long here, and I know I won't see those leaves again till way into May. Just looking at my porch furniture sitting out there all lonely and wet and grey makes me blue. Ah well, it happens every year and every year I manage to get over it. I guess it means that I just have to move my stitching inside. At least my stuff doesn't blow away when I'm on the couch!
First up - here is my entry to Darling Anna's Swirlygig challenge. I decided to go "big" and stitched it on 11ct. fabric with #5 perle cotton. I was very happy with it! It was fun to use that big fabric, it was just the look I was going for, and the finish was easy-peasy. The more I look at it, the more I'm rethinking that bow. It's simple enough to remove, though.
I stitched a second entry, too, just because I was having fun fooling with the colors. I stitched this on some PTP opalescent pink lugana, using DMC in spring colors. I just couldn't come up with a good finishing idea though, and luckily there was a category for UN finished projects. I know that the photo doesn't look pink. No matter how I tried to edit the photo, the fabric color is still way off. But you get the idea.
I didn't win either of the categories, but the winning entries were pretty darn wonderful, so I don't feel badly about it at all. It was a super exercise and it was rewarding to take a design and make it my own. Sometimes it's fun to do a design exactly as it's presented, but sometimes it's even more fun to use a design as a springboard to something else that's even better!
Last weekend I finished this FUFO that's been around for a while. And by "a while" I mean "a decade". It's finished as a cube, wrapped with a wide black grosgrain ribbon.
Right now I'm working on PS's "Autumn Leaves". I needed something seasonal to stitch, and I've had this kitted for quite a while. It's moving along nicely, and I'll have a picture to show you as soon as the sun comes out.
In non-stitching stuff, life has been very busy. We went to one of Colleen's cross country meets last Saturday. It was just outside Columbus and if either of the kids run within a 3-4 hour drive, we usually go. It was her first 6K (up till now she's only run 5K's), and she ran very well. Came in 11th out of about 150, and looked and felt very good at the finish line.
This Friday she'll run at the All Ohio Championship meet in Delaware Ohio, so we'll go watch the meet and then bring her home for Fall break. I'm SO GLAD to be bringing her home for the long weekend. I miss the brightness she brings to our home.
John's fall break is the following week. He has one of our cars at school, so he drives himself back and forth. But he may not come home, which I understand, although it also makes me a little sad. If he doesn't come home over break, I may decide to drive there and take him to dinner, because he's turning 21 this month. Wow. Now I'm officially old.
All of his cross country meets have been really far away this year. And he has very few of them for some reason. One week he was in Michigan, and this weekend he'll be in Bethlehem PA. But in a couple of weeks both kids will be at a big meet near Cleveland, so we'll get to see him run there.
And I'm back to reffing soccer games again. I took the year off last year, but earlier this month I decided to get re-certified. I'll pick up a game or two at our local rec league each weekend. I'm trying to limit my games though. For a couple of years I was working several games each weekend and just wasn't good for me - physically AND mentally, and that's why I took time off. So now I'm trying it again, but I'm being careful not to take too many games and not to ref any games that are out of my comfort level. As in too difficult or too fast.
Wow...it's the last day of September already! And here comes October! Some folks are talking about going to the Jubilee in October. And the EGA is having its national meeting in Pittsburgh next week and although I'm not a member, I understand that there will be a Merchandise Mart on Wednesday Oct. 7. I'm toying with the idea of going. Vikki Clayton will be there with her magical fabrics and fibres, and The French Needle will be there, too. I don't need any new designs, but I'll bet there will be some wonderful accessories at her table.
Yikes. I think I've just talked myself into going. Well, as long as I'm caught up at work. And speaking of work, I had better get to it.
Have a lovely day, everyone!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
I got nothin'
That's not exactly true. What I have is one giant mental block when it comes to writing for my blog this week.
I'll blame work drama. There's been an unexpected increase in work load for me. It had nothing at all to do with my particular job. (Which is paying bills, paying taxes, entering sales, balancing accounts and paying employees) That's what I do. In fact, this was totally and completely someone else's job, but no one in any of our drug stores seems to know how to read the freakin' mail and respond to it properly until it becomes a crisis, and now it has landed on my desk. Why my desk? Because it sucks to be so competent.
But that's not why you're here.
Hmm. Stitching? Hmm.
I don't have anything photo worthy. I'm enjoying PS Autumn Leaves right now, but I haven't finished even the center motif yet, so no picture. I'll share my rendition of Bent Creek's Swirlygig once the all of the voting is complete over on Anna's blog. If you haven't seen the variety of interpretations of one chart yet, pop on over and take a look.
That's it. I'm out. I hope I'm more pithy tomorrow.
I'll blame work drama. There's been an unexpected increase in work load for me. It had nothing at all to do with my particular job. (Which is paying bills, paying taxes, entering sales, balancing accounts and paying employees) That's what I do. In fact, this was totally and completely someone else's job, but no one in any of our drug stores seems to know how to read the freakin' mail and respond to it properly until it becomes a crisis, and now it has landed on my desk. Why my desk? Because it sucks to be so competent.
But that's not why you're here.
Hmm. Stitching? Hmm.
I don't have anything photo worthy. I'm enjoying PS Autumn Leaves right now, but I haven't finished even the center motif yet, so no picture. I'll share my rendition of Bent Creek's Swirlygig once the all of the voting is complete over on Anna's blog. If you haven't seen the variety of interpretations of one chart yet, pop on over and take a look.
That's it. I'm out. I hope I'm more pithy tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Ocean City 2010??
I know I said that I'd look more into an Ocean City, Maryland getaway at the end of the year, but I couldn't get the idea of a simple stitching getaway out of my mind. So I decided to just run with it.
Are any of you truly interested? I'm looking at March 25-26-27 (Thurs - Sun) 2010, and after only a brief search, I think we can get a beautiful, bright, beachfront condo to sleep four or six or eight (depending on your preferences) that would cost us only $245 a night. So that's $60 or $40 or $30 (approx) per night per person. That price includes bed linens and the cleaning service. There are no hidden fees, as far as I can tell.
If you think this is something you'd really like to do, email me (address is in my profile) so we can talk some more.
Are any of you truly interested? I'm looking at March 25-26-27 (Thurs - Sun) 2010, and after only a brief search, I think we can get a beautiful, bright, beachfront condo to sleep four or six or eight (depending on your preferences) that would cost us only $245 a night. So that's $60 or $40 or $30 (approx) per night per person. That price includes bed linens and the cleaning service. There are no hidden fees, as far as I can tell.
If you think this is something you'd really like to do, email me (address is in my profile) so we can talk some more.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Something ELSE you should never write in a your blog
Why do I always learn these lessons the hard way??
Yesterday I wrote that I was going to finish a Winter bellpull. I had learned my lessons (again) with the fall bellpull, and I was going to have a nice, shiny, perfectly-cornered bellpull to show you today.
Yes...I wrote this in my blog. Committed it to the screen, and hit "Publish Post".
Except that the winter sampler has disappeared. Evidently it saw my fall bellpull finish and got scared and grew a set of legs and walked away.
Or else it got tired of listening to my crazy, screaming, banging and otherwise completely nuts neighbors, who were in rare form all weekend, and decided to move to a house down the road a bit more. (Did I mention that my neighbors are completely annoying?)
I hunted for it all day yesterday and I'll be dog-gone if I can find it. Sheesh.
Yesterday I wrote that I was going to finish a Winter bellpull. I had learned my lessons (again) with the fall bellpull, and I was going to have a nice, shiny, perfectly-cornered bellpull to show you today.
Yes...I wrote this in my blog. Committed it to the screen, and hit "Publish Post".
Except that the winter sampler has disappeared. Evidently it saw my fall bellpull finish and got scared and grew a set of legs and walked away.
Or else it got tired of listening to my crazy, screaming, banging and otherwise completely nuts neighbors, who were in rare form all weekend, and decided to move to a house down the road a bit more. (Did I mention that my neighbors are completely annoying?)
I hunted for it all day yesterday and I'll be dog-gone if I can find it. Sheesh.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Thank you, thank you!
I appreciated everyone's advice to fix my messy bellpull corners. This morning I flipped the bellpull inside out again and really examined my work.
First of all, I had left pretty generous seam allowances. Like near to 3/4", so I trimmed those back to a scant 1/2". The linen I used was quite stiff, and between that stiffness and the extra fabric in the seam allowance, my corners were doomed from the start.
As lots of you mentioned, I had trimmed the corners on the diagnonal, but I trimmed them even closer.
Then I turned it to right side out again, used my smaller knitting needle to push the corners a bit, and now they're still a little "dull", but worlds better than they were before.
I tried pulling the corners from the front with a thick needle, but either I'm a spaz or a chicken, because I just couldn't see any different results. I think that's a skill that I need to see in person.
NOW...I have a winter bellpull to finish and even though my house has turned into one giant dust bunny (trust me...that's not as cute as it sounds), I think I'm going to strike while the iron is hot and finish it.
And now I'm going to head off to the sewing machine, where I must repeat in my head:
Right sides together.....Right sides together.....Right sides together
First of all, I had left pretty generous seam allowances. Like near to 3/4", so I trimmed those back to a scant 1/2". The linen I used was quite stiff, and between that stiffness and the extra fabric in the seam allowance, my corners were doomed from the start.
As lots of you mentioned, I had trimmed the corners on the diagnonal, but I trimmed them even closer.
Then I turned it to right side out again, used my smaller knitting needle to push the corners a bit, and now they're still a little "dull", but worlds better than they were before.
I tried pulling the corners from the front with a thick needle, but either I'm a spaz or a chicken, because I just couldn't see any different results. I think that's a skill that I need to see in person.
NOW...I have a winter bellpull to finish and even though my house has turned into one giant dust bunny (trust me...that's not as cute as it sounds), I think I'm going to strike while the iron is hot and finish it.
And now I'm going to head off to the sewing machine, where I must repeat in my head:
Right sides together.....Right sides together.....Right sides together
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Help with my wonky bottom
Today I finally finish-finished the autumn bell pull from 200.....mfff.
(I thought it was a only a few years ago, but turns out it was 2002. How embarrassing.)
The photo is below, but good grief am I ever disappointed with the bottom corners. Especially the one on the left.
Does anyone have a trick to making nice corners? I trimmed the fabric, and I used a the pointy end of a paint brush to try to push the corner out, but ewwwww.
Anyway, if you have a trick or method, please let me know. I haven't closed the tippy-top of the bellpull yet, so I can easily take it down and play with the corners.
Because otherwise, I'm pleased with the finish!
(I thought it was a only a few years ago, but turns out it was 2002. How embarrassing.)
The photo is below, but good grief am I ever disappointed with the bottom corners. Especially the one on the left.
Does anyone have a trick to making nice corners? I trimmed the fabric, and I used a the pointy end of a paint brush to try to push the corner out, but ewwwww.
Anyway, if you have a trick or method, please let me know. I haven't closed the tippy-top of the bellpull yet, so I can easily take it down and play with the corners.
Because otherwise, I'm pleased with the finish!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Some Finishing
It's a real pain when you're trying to finish something and the nearest fabric store is miles and miles away. (I have a cabinet full of quilting fabric, but I'll be darned if I can find that "just right" color for a particular finish!) Sometimes I know I'm going by a JoAnn's or some place similar and I try to make lists and organize and brainstorm about what I need. I don't always find what I wanted, but usually I can make some headway to reduce this pile of UFO's. Other times...it's hopeless. I stumble upon a store and then walk around inside like a zombie.
Happily, last week Dave and I went to C.O.W. to see Colleen run in her first college cross country meet, and there was a JoAnn's nearby. So I took some stitching that I had been itching to finish, and found some nice things and left the store happy.
When I first got back into stitching - maybe 5 or 6 years ago, I was usually stitching for the kids. As Colleen was packing for college, I had her pick one of the UFO's that she might like to take with her. This was the one she wanted. I wish you could see the opalescent fabric and the glitter cording! It's a Waxing Moon design.
Next is one that you've seen quite often, by BBD. Someone sent it to me as a kit with the chart and threads. No rhyme or reason, just a random act of kindness! How sweet is that? Easy and fun to stitch, and although there are lots of ways to finish this, I decided to go with the simple pincushion.
I hope to have one more finish after the weekend. It's a long autumn design that I stitched at least 4 years ago, perfect for a bell pull, but for some reason I've looked at it every year and then put it away. I'm determined to finish it this year. Seriously. No...really.
Oh...and you all think I'm joking about Ocean City 2010? I'm really not. Some of you know me pretty well, and you know that I've been organizing booster organizations for the past...like...eleventy hundred years. And suddenly I find that I'm unwanted at the high school these days. (No....it's NOT creepy that I still want to hang out around the school even though my kids are gone)
Anyway, I must be experiencing Booster Withdrawal, because I find myself thinking that organizing some stitchers for an early Spring beach retreat could be fun. (Crabcake-eating will be optional. We'll have peanut butter for you non-crab eaters).
So I'm truly thinking about it. It could be a blast, whether there are two of us or twenty of us. So IF I do this, I'll probably have more info after the first of the year, when I know more about my kids' Spring breaks and have the dates of Dave's golf trip.
In the meantime, you think about it, and I'll think about it....
Happily, last week Dave and I went to C.O.W. to see Colleen run in her first college cross country meet, and there was a JoAnn's nearby. So I took some stitching that I had been itching to finish, and found some nice things and left the store happy.
When I first got back into stitching - maybe 5 or 6 years ago, I was usually stitching for the kids. As Colleen was packing for college, I had her pick one of the UFO's that she might like to take with her. This was the one she wanted. I wish you could see the opalescent fabric and the glitter cording! It's a Waxing Moon design.
Next is one that you've seen quite often, by BBD. Someone sent it to me as a kit with the chart and threads. No rhyme or reason, just a random act of kindness! How sweet is that? Easy and fun to stitch, and although there are lots of ways to finish this, I decided to go with the simple pincushion.
I hope to have one more finish after the weekend. It's a long autumn design that I stitched at least 4 years ago, perfect for a bell pull, but for some reason I've looked at it every year and then put it away. I'm determined to finish it this year. Seriously. No...really.
Oh...and you all think I'm joking about Ocean City 2010? I'm really not. Some of you know me pretty well, and you know that I've been organizing booster organizations for the past...like...eleventy hundred years. And suddenly I find that I'm unwanted at the high school these days. (No....it's NOT creepy that I still want to hang out around the school even though my kids are gone)
Anyway, I must be experiencing Booster Withdrawal, because I find myself thinking that organizing some stitchers for an early Spring beach retreat could be fun. (Crabcake-eating will be optional. We'll have peanut butter for you non-crab eaters).
So I'm truly thinking about it. It could be a blast, whether there are two of us or twenty of us. So IF I do this, I'll probably have more info after the first of the year, when I know more about my kids' Spring breaks and have the dates of Dave's golf trip.
In the meantime, you think about it, and I'll think about it....
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Beach + LNS = Happiness!
You all are undoubtedly sick of listening to me yammer on about crabcakes.
I was happy to find Salty Yarns in "old" Ocean City. I had been reading the owner's blog for a while, (more about her life and less about her shop, but it's her blog, so it's her prerogative) and you know that if I was only a couple of miles away, I'd absolutely be stopping in!
(Before I get started, please know that I asked permission before I took these pictures.)
The shop is pretty amazing. It's much larger than I would have thought - three good sized rooms. I remember visiting shops in Stone Harbor and Avalon and even in Cape May years ago, and they were very small. Like 1/3 the size of this shop. And it's crammed with stuff. Displays that are full to bursting. Two walls of fabric (7 ct. to 40 ct and lots of colors and hand dyeds) and a room of thread. Cottons, silks, overdyeds, synthetics, beads...it was an impressive collection of fibers.
Accessories and gadgetry out the wazoo. Loads of finishing supplies, including a wall unit stuffed with tons of frames of every size and shape. And another free standing display also stuffed with frames. And let me tell you...this shop had the latest stuff. She certainly has been paying attention to the pulse of the internet.
She also had a large display of Dimensions kits. A medium sized display of punch needle. Some Vera Bradley. Lots of Pine Mountain kits. And the requisite seashore/nautical/local flavor charts. Here are some of them. There is an impressive set of charts of houses and landmarks in Ocean City...I think 51 charts? I didn't photograph those, though.
The trick however, was finding stuff. When you first walk in, it's this mass of STUFF, and you have to work at it and stick with it to see exactly what's in there. I found myself wishing that I was there with a friend or two, because I think that more people would have unearthed interesting things that I know I missed seeing on my own. There's just no way that I saw all of the neat things in there. And even though I went twice, I completely lost track of time during both visits. Luckily, there were several nice comfy rockers on a shaded porch just outside the shop and Dave could sit and people-watch, so it wasn't terribly bad for him. Did I mention that the shop is right on the boardwalk? Lots of people to see!
So, I came home with the new BBD LF chart - the summer sampler. And two fall themed charts - the latest CEC design with the crows and pumpkins, and another simpler fall chart but the designer is escaping me right now. Fabric and threads for all. And some floss drops shaped like flip flops!
Now that I'm home, I've learned that there are three nice shops in that area! Besides Salty Yarns, there is a shop called The Spinning Wheel in Fenwick Island, and another shop in Bethany Beach called Sea Needles.
I think this calls for another trip...Anyone? Anyone?
I was happy to find Salty Yarns in "old" Ocean City. I had been reading the owner's blog for a while, (more about her life and less about her shop, but it's her blog, so it's her prerogative) and you know that if I was only a couple of miles away, I'd absolutely be stopping in!
(Before I get started, please know that I asked permission before I took these pictures.)
The shop is pretty amazing. It's much larger than I would have thought - three good sized rooms. I remember visiting shops in Stone Harbor and Avalon and even in Cape May years ago, and they were very small. Like 1/3 the size of this shop. And it's crammed with stuff. Displays that are full to bursting. Two walls of fabric (7 ct. to 40 ct and lots of colors and hand dyeds) and a room of thread. Cottons, silks, overdyeds, synthetics, beads...it was an impressive collection of fibers.
Accessories and gadgetry out the wazoo. Loads of finishing supplies, including a wall unit stuffed with tons of frames of every size and shape. And another free standing display also stuffed with frames. And let me tell you...this shop had the latest stuff. She certainly has been paying attention to the pulse of the internet.
She also had a large display of Dimensions kits. A medium sized display of punch needle. Some Vera Bradley. Lots of Pine Mountain kits. And the requisite seashore/nautical/local flavor charts. Here are some of them. There is an impressive set of charts of houses and landmarks in Ocean City...I think 51 charts? I didn't photograph those, though.
The trick however, was finding stuff. When you first walk in, it's this mass of STUFF, and you have to work at it and stick with it to see exactly what's in there. I found myself wishing that I was there with a friend or two, because I think that more people would have unearthed interesting things that I know I missed seeing on my own. There's just no way that I saw all of the neat things in there. And even though I went twice, I completely lost track of time during both visits. Luckily, there were several nice comfy rockers on a shaded porch just outside the shop and Dave could sit and people-watch, so it wasn't terribly bad for him. Did I mention that the shop is right on the boardwalk? Lots of people to see!
So, I came home with the new BBD LF chart - the summer sampler. And two fall themed charts - the latest CEC design with the crows and pumpkins, and another simpler fall chart but the designer is escaping me right now. Fabric and threads for all. And some floss drops shaped like flip flops!
Now that I'm home, I've learned that there are three nice shops in that area! Besides Salty Yarns, there is a shop called The Spinning Wheel in Fenwick Island, and another shop in Bethany Beach called Sea Needles.
I think this calls for another trip...Anyone? Anyone?
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
The Great Crabcake Tour of 2009
A/K/A My Trip to Ocean City, Maryland over Labor Day Weekend.
Well gang, I have enough to tell you about my trip to fill way more than one post. This weekend trip was very last-minute and taking a last minute trip over a holiday weekend to a place that you've never been before can be kind of insane.
Just call me crazy.
In a nutshell, we ate our faces off. We found what, in my opinion, is a legendary cross stitch shop. We ran into friends unexpectedly, and we laughed at some college students' drunken antics. (During the daylight hours, anyway. It was a different matter when it happened in the middle of the night)
So today, I'll tell you about how I ate crabcakes from one end (North Ocean City) to the other end of the island (South Ocean City). Seriously, I'm not joking.
All right...we arrived in town early Friday evening, and after a walk on the beach and time to watch the ocean, we went to On the Bay Seafood (4204 Coastal Hwy), where I had...of course, the crabcake platter. Yum! They were filled with lump crabmeat. Slightly sweet, and not a lot of spice. Although I like mine a bit more savory, these were very good. And cheap? My platter of two good sized crabcakes, french fries and coleslaw was only $18. I think the true deal of the day was the All You Can Eat Steamed Crabs for only $20, and lots of people were enjoying their crabs.
Dave and I particularly liked the atmosphere. It's a take-out place, but out front they have several picnic tables where (in good weather) you can hammer and pound crabs to your hearts content. And smaller parties, like Dave and me, share picnic tables with other small parties and so some of the fun is meeting your tablemates. We sat with some locals who steered us in the direction of some other great places to eat and play. They don't have a website, but I'm not surprised. It's a low tech, unfancy kind of place.
Saturday was a non-crabcake day. I had a fantastic meal of sausage encrusted grouper at Macky's Bayside, but let's get back to the crabcakes....
On Sunday we ventured North to The Crabcake Factory for lunch (12000 Coastal Hwy), where I had a Crabcake salad. Basically, some mixed greens with tomatoes and mushrooms and a crabcake plopped on top. But boy-oh-boy, it was a delicious crabcake! I ordered the regular backfin crabcake, not the lump crabmeat cake, and I liked it much more. To my taste, it's more flavorful. And again, not terribly expensive. My single crabcake on a salad was only $11.99, and perfect for a lunch that focused on the star of the show, the crabcake! It was a nice restaurant/sports bar kind of place, with some outside seating. They also will pack flash frozen crabcakes for you to take home with your, or they will ship their crabcakes around the country
Sunday evening we met friends at Fausto's Ristorante Antipasti where I had linguine with..(can you guess?)..lump crabmeat in a light red sauce. Good, but it was no crabcake.
And finally, our last meal before driving home Monday night was at Harrison's Harbor Watch at the far South end of the boardwalk, where I had the crabcake sandwich. I know that I sound like a broken record, but it was wonderful. It's a close call between this one and the Crabcake Factory, but I think Harrison's edged it out slightly. Really perfect with just the right amount of spice and crispyness, along with fries and slaw and our waiter even gave me an extra plate of green beans that were out of this world. (Something about them offering unlimited side dishes? I didn't quite get it.) Peppery and lemony and maybe a touch of vinegar? Delicious. And all the while we watched the sunset and saw the boats and jetskis come and go at the inlet. I imagine that during a non-holiday evening it's a lovely and romantic spot. It was hard to get in the car and drive home after that!
So that's my 2009 Crabcake Tour and now I'm terribly spoiled and will probably turn my nose up at any non-Ocean City crabcakes that are offered to me. Now let's see....where's that order form from The Crabcake Factory??
Well gang, I have enough to tell you about my trip to fill way more than one post. This weekend trip was very last-minute and taking a last minute trip over a holiday weekend to a place that you've never been before can be kind of insane.
Just call me crazy.
In a nutshell, we ate our faces off. We found what, in my opinion, is a legendary cross stitch shop. We ran into friends unexpectedly, and we laughed at some college students' drunken antics. (During the daylight hours, anyway. It was a different matter when it happened in the middle of the night)
So today, I'll tell you about how I ate crabcakes from one end (North Ocean City) to the other end of the island (South Ocean City). Seriously, I'm not joking.
All right...we arrived in town early Friday evening, and after a walk on the beach and time to watch the ocean, we went to On the Bay Seafood (4204 Coastal Hwy), where I had...of course, the crabcake platter. Yum! They were filled with lump crabmeat. Slightly sweet, and not a lot of spice. Although I like mine a bit more savory, these were very good. And cheap? My platter of two good sized crabcakes, french fries and coleslaw was only $18. I think the true deal of the day was the All You Can Eat Steamed Crabs for only $20, and lots of people were enjoying their crabs.
Dave and I particularly liked the atmosphere. It's a take-out place, but out front they have several picnic tables where (in good weather) you can hammer and pound crabs to your hearts content. And smaller parties, like Dave and me, share picnic tables with other small parties and so some of the fun is meeting your tablemates. We sat with some locals who steered us in the direction of some other great places to eat and play. They don't have a website, but I'm not surprised. It's a low tech, unfancy kind of place.
Saturday was a non-crabcake day. I had a fantastic meal of sausage encrusted grouper at Macky's Bayside, but let's get back to the crabcakes....
On Sunday we ventured North to The Crabcake Factory for lunch (12000 Coastal Hwy), where I had a Crabcake salad. Basically, some mixed greens with tomatoes and mushrooms and a crabcake plopped on top. But boy-oh-boy, it was a delicious crabcake! I ordered the regular backfin crabcake, not the lump crabmeat cake, and I liked it much more. To my taste, it's more flavorful. And again, not terribly expensive. My single crabcake on a salad was only $11.99, and perfect for a lunch that focused on the star of the show, the crabcake! It was a nice restaurant/sports bar kind of place, with some outside seating. They also will pack flash frozen crabcakes for you to take home with your, or they will ship their crabcakes around the country
Sunday evening we met friends at Fausto's Ristorante Antipasti where I had linguine with..(can you guess?)..lump crabmeat in a light red sauce. Good, but it was no crabcake.
And finally, our last meal before driving home Monday night was at Harrison's Harbor Watch at the far South end of the boardwalk, where I had the crabcake sandwich. I know that I sound like a broken record, but it was wonderful. It's a close call between this one and the Crabcake Factory, but I think Harrison's edged it out slightly. Really perfect with just the right amount of spice and crispyness, along with fries and slaw and our waiter even gave me an extra plate of green beans that were out of this world. (Something about them offering unlimited side dishes? I didn't quite get it.) Peppery and lemony and maybe a touch of vinegar? Delicious. And all the while we watched the sunset and saw the boats and jetskis come and go at the inlet. I imagine that during a non-holiday evening it's a lovely and romantic spot. It was hard to get in the car and drive home after that!
So that's my 2009 Crabcake Tour and now I'm terribly spoiled and will probably turn my nose up at any non-Ocean City crabcakes that are offered to me. Now let's see....where's that order form from The Crabcake Factory??
Thursday, September 03, 2009
When I'm feeling mean and crass...
I go to the beach
And sit on my.....
chair.
We're headed to Ocean City, MD for a day or two this weekend. I hope to squeeze in a stop at Salty Yarns, and I plan to eat my body weight in crabcakes.
Dave is taking his laptop, and maybe that'll mean a remote post? How geekily exciting is that?
I hope everyone enjoys the last official weekend of summer!
And sit on my.....
chair.We're headed to Ocean City, MD for a day or two this weekend. I hope to squeeze in a stop at Salty Yarns, and I plan to eat my body weight in crabcakes.
Dave is taking his laptop, and maybe that'll mean a remote post? How geekily exciting is that?
I hope everyone enjoys the last official weekend of summer!
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