by elizabeth evans
Member since:
January 6, 2006

New England Clambake

August 16, 2009 08:27 AM UTC (Updated: August 16, 2009 09:47 PM UTC)
views: 0 | comments: 62

Every year our little New England town has a big party in the summertime...it's called "Old Home Day".  And what would a party be without a feast...a New England Feast.  But it is not November, so turkey is not on the menu.  No, not turkey...but clams, yummy, delicious melt in your mouth clams and onions, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, and sausages.http://media-files.gather.com/images/d91/d892/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

The clambake takes place in Shurtleff Park, across the street from our Town Hall.  All kinds of activities are offered on this day.

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d90/d892/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

As people greet old and new friends, our Town Fathers are busy preparing for the feast.

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d86/d892/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

 

 

 

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d92/d892/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

Around 1 o'clock, it's time to eat.  From out of the flames come

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d93/d892/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

sausages and hot dogs

 

 

 

 

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d94/d892/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

white potatoes

 

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d95/d892/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

 

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d99/d892/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

and sweet potatoes

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d98/d892/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

as well as buckets of clams....

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d96/d892/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

At the end of the day when tummies are full....

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d105/d892/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

and the fires are dampen

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d104/d892/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

we smile at each other and say "This was the best Old Home Day, yet. See ya' next year."

Comments: 62

R B Aug 16, 2009, 8:49am UTC
I'll take some corn and hot dogs.
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:12pm UTC
No clams, RB?
Tim T. Aug 16, 2009, 8:57am UTC
looks like fun and good food
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:12pm UTC
The food was scrumptious....the conversations even better.
Bridget M. Aug 16, 2009, 9:29am UTC
I love your photos of old home day. It is so amazing how they cook all that food with fire and seaweed. And that shot of town hall with all the ?Black eyed susans? in front is beautiful.
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:13pm UTC
Truly amazing...our clambake. This year I got to see classmates from afar that I grew up with, Bridget.
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Aug 16, 2009, 9:35am UTC
I wish they had something like this down here, what a fun event and the food looks wonderful.
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:14pm UTC
It's really a nice time...all kinds of people make theirway back to Town for this celebration.
Scrooge P Aug 16, 2009, 9:49am UTC
I would likes to go to that clambake. They gots LOTS of meats!
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:14pm UTC
Scrooge, you would have a ball.
flit . Aug 16, 2009, 9:49am UTC
That looks like a whole lot of fun - I love clams
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:15pm UTC
Steamers are my favorite.
Katharyne T. Aug 16, 2009, 10:27am UTC
that looks so yummy
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:15pm UTC
It twas...
Kathryn Flynn Aug 16, 2009, 10:30am UTC
Wow, what a great event. We don't have one in my town. Too many people on the Cape this time of year. The name Shurtleff is a very old name in your parts, one of the earliest names.


Still thinking a lot about Montreal.

Featured in the Triple Name Club.
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:18pm UTC
Shurtleff is a real old name in our town from the earliest day. During Old Home Day I was looking at a statue in the park...on each side was different battles of the Civil War and the name Shurtleff was on each side. The same with Weston's, Saverys and Shaws.
lynn a. Aug 16, 2009, 11:31am UTC
What fun! Now that is the way to get dinner ready. Does everyone for the most part come for this? Reminds me of our barbecues. I don't think I've ever eaten a clam.
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:21pm UTC
What I find strange is that the "men still cook" and the "ladies still serve" just like when I was a little kid. And last year I noticed that the "baton" passed from my generation to the next....my generation now gets to socialize and enjoy the day and sit down and eat.
☃ Shannon K. Wendt Aug 16, 2009, 11:49am UTC
You made this look so good, I think I would even try the clams. Maybe ;)
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:22pm UTC
The clams are really yummy. Try some.
Linda T. Aug 16, 2009, 11:52am UTC
Being from New England I am ashamed to say I have never been to a clam bake. Clam boils yes but never a bake.
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:22pm UTC
You should really attend one some day....they are really fun.
Karen E. Aug 16, 2009, 3:25pm UTC
A wonderful and yummy event. Now I am hungry for steamers.
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:23pm UTC
Next year, Karen, why don't you come to Old Home Day.
Karen E. Aug 16, 2009, 9:28pm UTC
That would be perfect for me as I love home and am old.
Elizabeth, I sent you an invite for my new group http://yourtown.gather.com/
I would be honored if you would be the first to post there. This story is perfect.
Carolion Grailbear Aug 20, 2009, 7:46am UTC
Lol, Karen, me too! I love home & I'm "old!"
Roy ☯ Hilbinger Aug 16, 2009, 6:50pm UTC
Yum! That reminds me that McGrath's Clambakes is celebrating their umpty-umpth anniversary with a public clambake somewhere in town - I need to go look that up.
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:24pm UTC
Go look it up, Roy....all you can eat...you can't find a better deal.
Oh, what a grand idea! I wish we had that tradition!
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:25pm UTC
Maybe next summer, if you are around, you can go to your first clambake.

It's definitely not a Crackerful Time.
I'd enjoy that!
j - Frugal Mom - r. Aug 16, 2009, 9:35pm UTC
What a fantastic feast Bob, I could almost taste it.
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:57pm UTC
It was delicious.
Karen E. Aug 16, 2009, 9:49pm UTC
Hooray Elizabeth, you are the first to post to the group. This is absolutely perfect for our theme. Happy, happy, happy Karen
elizabeth evans Aug 16, 2009, 9:58pm UTC
I'm glad I made you happy!
Ellie !. Aug 16, 2009, 10:45pm UTC
I enjoyed this so much I came back...the first time I viewed it on my cell phone...makes me want to come visit next year!
elizabeth evans Aug 18, 2009, 6:28am UTC
It's usually the last Saturday in July.
Alison H. Aug 16, 2009, 10:58pm UTC
What a great community food fest! Thanks for sharing. We have clambakes here, too. And chili contests, and salmon bakes, and even crawfish boils. Seafood is the best!
Kushal Poddar Aug 16, 2009, 11:15pm UTC
I agree. Just returned after having lots of sea in me.
Thank you Alison for the mail.
elizabeth evans Aug 18, 2009, 6:27am UTC
I would love to go to a salmon bake, Alison.
Kushal Poddar Aug 16, 2009, 11:16pm UTC
A beautiful Essay.
sea and other blues
elizabeth evans Aug 18, 2009, 6:15am UTC
Thanks Poddar!
Granny Janny Aug 17, 2009, 1:33am UTC
I'd like to come too. It looks like we'll be coming out your way next year. One of our friends wants to celebrate his birthday at Cape Cod. Maybe the timing will work. His birthday is August nineteenth.
elizabeth evans Aug 18, 2009, 6:16am UTC
What a wild time we will have, Jan.
William Dotani Aug 17, 2009, 11:55am UTC
Wonderful pictorial essay. This looks like a great time for all.
elizabeth evans Aug 18, 2009, 6:17am UTC
You know it really is fun, William.
August Lady Aug 18, 2009, 2:10pm UTC
Your photos really capture the essence of the day!
elizabeth evans Aug 22, 2009, 11:17am UTC
Thanks Mari for stopping by....I love Old Home Day.
Marge H. Aug 18, 2009, 2:25pm UTC
What a fabulous celebration of life and food.
elizabeth evans Aug 22, 2009, 11:20am UTC
It's a wonderful time to meet old friends from the past...schoolmates who have moved away...and catch up on their lives. There is also a time when everyone gathers and the names of those who have made their "passage" are read and people comment. This year of course Mom was spoken about.
Rose Hill Aug 19, 2009, 2:37pm UTC
That looks like a food lovers dream, except I'll pass on the clams, well, I might try one:)

Great essay, Elizabeth. Yesterday I had my first ever - all organic - sweet potato (oven?)fries. It was to die for.
elizabeth evans Aug 22, 2009, 11:20am UTC
Clams are really yummy!
Wilma M. Aug 19, 2009, 4:46pm UTC
Sounds like a fun celebration for your town. I'll skip the clams though.
elizabeth evans Aug 19, 2009, 5:02pm UTC
The clams are the best part.
Renda B. Aug 19, 2009, 9:48pm UTC
Oh my gosh! All of it looks so good. I can not believe the amount of sweet "taters" and clams. Yummy! This is a "good ol' gathering"! I am glad you allowed me a glimpse at this, Bob.
elizabeth evans Aug 22, 2009, 11:22am UTC
Not only was the food great at the feast but I got a big bucket to take home with me...shhhhhh....some of the guys were former students of mine and so they asked if I wanted some for home.
Renda B. Aug 27, 2009, 4:55pm UTC
I won't tell anyone if you will share...
Carolion Grailbear Aug 20, 2009, 7:48am UTC
I'm told I was conceived on Cape Cod. Maybe a clambake was part of my make-up, who knows? I've always had a romantic feeling about clambakes, when I read of them.....Smiling. Thanks for this article!
elizabeth evans Aug 22, 2009, 11:24am UTC
You little ole clam, carolion. Perhaps you were conceived on a Cape Cod beach under a full moon and right whales were singing at your conception. There's so much about this wonderful world we know little about.
Marilyn (PaintsOnSlate) S. Aug 22, 2009, 11:13am UTC
I want some of all of it - what a good time it must have been and great food!
elizabeth evans Aug 22, 2009, 11:25am UTC
The food is just divine...I think because it's cooked outside under seaweed and corn husks.
Nancy S. Aug 28, 2009, 8:25am UTC
That looks just as good as your post last year. Sure makes me hungry.

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