First Clam Dig in 2009-2010 Season

This weekend was the first time we could go clamming. Even though the weather was predicted as being wintry and stormy, almost nothing can keep us off the beach to get our dig in. So we set out on Friday morning, meeting the Doels for breakfast in Woodland, WA. Then on to Clatskanie for a stop at the Quilt Garden. Finally our destination of Jack's to pick up licenses and a clam gun.
While we waited for the Johnsons to arrive and the trek to the clamming fields (aka "the Beach"), we set up our projects of wool applique. I was teaching Donna and Becky my technique of making a candle mat. The mittens are another project that Becky had to get ready as well - we were prepared in case the weather was too bad to go out. While we set up our table with our projects, Phil and Bill practiced on the Wii - archery, bowling, and frisbee.

Check out that form of archer Phil.

It was finally time to get ready to go out. We all wore rain gear not only for the obvious rain coming down but also so the waves wouldn't get into our boots. A fashion statement -- well, maybe not - after all, I didn't have on my pink/black/gray polka dot boots on yet. :-)

When we got to the beach area, there were hardly any people out (we found out the next day that they had actually closed clamming due to strong waves) and with the rain and wind, it was too hard to figure out what to do with the camera, so there were no pictures of the clamming itself. But we trekked out there, braving the weather to get some clams. Unfortunately, I got just a little too anxious so I waited in the car for them to finish. This next pic is the clams that we dug on Friday night.

Phil asked for part of his Christmas presents early and he purchased a lantern and a clam gun. Well, the mantle fell off about three times, somehow we found it twice, but it is still out in the ocean somewhere. Because of instability, Phil's lantern tipped over and so he had to get new socks to put in it and a new base so that, hopefully, it wouldn't fall over again. This is where duct tape came to the rescue. All three men taped their bases to the lantern. Worked well.

While the men were doing their projects in the garage, we were busy with our projects in the house.

Before we went out to clam on Saturday night, we had a seafood feast. We had oysters and shrimp cooked on the grill, cole slaw, clam fritters and rosemary flavored baked potatoes. Yummy!!!

The weather was more cooperative on Saturday night and the clamming was good. Well for some of us. I had a flash light that the battery was ok in the beginning but kept getting dimmer and dimmer. The waves came in occasionally and chased us back - they were still a bit scary but we could predict them a little better. Well, I moved out further toward the water and saw a clam squirting at me, just daring me to get him. Well, I did - just before the next wave came in. I am happy to report, he was my only one and is now minced meat!!! I also picked up a sand dollar (special project need) but that was it for me. However, as you can see the rest of them did well and we had about 60 clams between us.

We rinsed them and then placed them in water for cleaning on Sunday - it was 10:30 when we got back in so a little too late to begin that part of the process.

But we - well, Phil, Bill and Dan - cleaned up the gear and rinsed the sand and salt water from our boots, rain pants, etc., before going in to play a game of 10,000. Donna won - again!!!

This is the guys having a great time cleaning clams. Bill wanted me to help but I told him that Phil had already cleaned the clam with the "T" on it for me. :-)

Look at all the clam meat we got on the second dig. Oh that was hard work!!!

Thanks, Bill and Becky for having us up to your home for a great time. Thanks to Donna and Dan for sharing that weekend with us as well. Looking forward to another dig soon.