BEAVER/DUFFY WEDDING MINUS 3 DAYS AND COUNTING

Kayak Fishing and Beauty Treatments



File Photo

On Wednesday, October 11, three days before the wedding;  the Bride and Groom are furiously working to get the last minute details resolved, while family and guests are making a vacation of the Beaver/Duffy nuptials.  The weather is improving and the forecast is still good to very good for the big day.
 
While many others went golfing, his Lordship, Phillip of the House of Rum and Coke, and Mr. Fog went kayak fishing.  The day started out early and rough, but ended much better and nice.

 The trio had to be at the outfitters early Wednesday morning to pick up the kayaks.  Apparently Nurse Sherry's healthy habits are catchin-on with Mario.  His Lordship thought the fish deserved naturally raised, hormone-free gourmet live shrimp.  Unfortunately these sold for $15 a quart out of a little shack, in a hard to find place off the causeway, full of cats, one barking chiguagua, and an old woman with bad circulation in her legs. 

Not having bought live shrimp before, Mr. FOG was agast at the price.   He had recently purchased freshly caught shrimp from a local seafood wholesaler for human consumption at $4.00 a pound.  The shrimp were large and so fresh, that he met the  fisherman delivering the day's catch.  

This seafood wholesaler supplies local restaurants and grocery stores.  These shrimp sell at perhaps $10 a pound for you to cook at home, or $20 for a shrimp and grits dinner, a local favorite restaurants. 

FOG knows that we want to catch the fish, and the gourmet live shrimp should be what the fish want; but why would one spend more for fish food than on human food?  If it is good enough for me, it should be good enough for the fish.  FOG also thought that charging $15 a pound for bait shrimp, the woman should spend some of the money on a better house.

Life always can get complicated, if you let it, and of course gourmet live shrimp had to have an appropriate home.  A trip to Walmart was needed to get a suitable bait bucket that could be dragged behind the kayak.  This would circulate oxygenated water for the prima dona shrimp to stay alive.  Thankfully we did not have to build a custom a home for these high maintenance shrimp. 

They seemed happy enough in the Walmart double-wide trailer bait bucket.  It was a crowded , but an OK home for the expensive shrimp.  Unfortunately the shrimp which were to die anyway, died very quickly after being left in our care.  Only a few made  it alive to the fishing hook.  An altenative theory is that the shrimp died not from bad care, but from homesickness, missing thier fellow shrimp, woman, cats, dog, and shack in the marsh.

The shrimp and such things, make for a good story and a memorable experience.  The kayak fishing was actually very nice after the morning fog lifted and tide started coming in.  We put in on the marsh that separates St. Simons Island from Brunswick.  Phillip caught a small shark and both men caught numerous other fish, plus pesky stingrays. 

Mr. FOG does not have the patience for fishing and skipped the fishing preferring to kayak in the various channels that thread the marsh, while his Lordship and Rum Man fished.  He hoped for a better chest from this exercise.  Cranes and other birds were feasting on the many small fish that thrive in the marsh.  The birds seemed to congregate at the rivulets formed by the tides.  These become small channels during low water (tide), making the fish easy prey for the sea/march birds. 

As the tide came in, the fishing improved considerably, apparently allowing larger fish to enter the rich feeding area.  Mr. FOG searched for free oysters, but did not find any oyster beds he thought worthy.  He was very pleased to see virtually no trash in the marsh.  Coastal Georgia is very fortunate to have preserved much of its coast, rather than having it be developed.

In the meantime, seventy miles to the Ssuth, beauty was becoming even more beautiful .  Maid of the Mist and Nurse Sherry traveled to Jacksonville, Florida to their favorite hair dresser.  Seeing them at dinner, it was well-worth the trip.

More Beavers Arrive

We saw more of the guests and family arriving.  At a dinner family gathering at Craw Daddy's, a favorite local restaurant , the Beavers easily doubled in numbers in just one day.  The BLOG is counting as “Beavers” as family and friends of Bride, regardless of their last name.  About two thirds of the guests at the table were Beavers.

The total Beaver/Duffy wedding guests are said to be about 250, and probably about even in Beavers, Duffys, and friends of the Bride and Groom.  It is estimated that the Beaver/Duffy Wedding will stimulate the sluggish U.S.economy by about $1.25 million dollars.

The BLOG recommends Crab Daddy's.  FOG had the shrimp and grits and it was one of the best he has had.  Others liked the scallops, sea trout, and fried shrimp.  The restaurant has super fresh sea food and the service was good, especially considering the large group.

His Lordship's Tuna dinner with a Crab Daddy's signature.

 

 

Pictured, from left to right, are Sister Momma Jane, Countess Jane and Reverend Randy.   Sister Momma Jane is from Roanoke, Virginia , and is either the sister or mother of Countess Jane, the Bride’s Mother.   Countess Jane and Reverend Randy call beautiful Lexington, North Carolina home.


 

Pictured are Anna's paternal grandparents, Don and Madge.  You may remember Don, Colonel Gary's father,  from the Greensboro Pig Pickin Fun.  He prepared the pig North Carolina style with vinegar sause.  On Thrusday, Jay from the Duffy camp will prepare a South Georgia BBQ.  Likely the two men will compare BBQ techniques.  If there is BBQ competition sometime in the future, all of surely will be the winners.

At a recent family gathering, the Bride-to be, Anna Duchess of Beaver, inspects the silverware to make sure it is clean for her guests.  She is always concerned about the  smallest of details, that when put together make for a perfect event

Influenced by Martha Stewart's latest book, Making a Home for Your Husband, Civil Partner, or significant Other--The Wife's Role , this fork inspection is one of Martha's secret tips.  You have look closely in between the tines of a fork to see if it is really clean.  If the fork passess this test, then a restaurant, caterer, or dishwasher is worthy of the Martha Stewart seal of approval.  It looks as if Anna has got this tip down pat, and in this case, the restaurant also passes Beaver inspection.    Dan is so lucky.

The newlyweds-to-be eagerly listen to marital advice on how to have the perfect marriage.

There is an elephant's graveyard of spoons on the desert plate.  Pictured are the remains of bread pudding dessert after being passed around the Beaver and Duffy diners.  It looked more appetizing in real life. 

Most diners loved it and the carmel syrup.  FOG had a bit of it, but his mother's bread pudding made with stale bread is still his favorite. 

 On Thursday, FOG hopes to have  Susie's famous deviled eggs which are as good or better than his mother's.

Please feel free to share comments on the BLOG for the newly-weds-to-be and gossipy secrets  should be sent artesiano@yahoo.com