South Cove Oysterman

Jim Crawford has the 'Dept. of Fisheries Oyster Lease' for the cove where our home is situate on Cape Breton's Loch Bras d'Or. He 'rakes' oysters from the bottom and sorts them on a counter affair laid across the boat. In some coves, he dives for them, using snorkeling equipment. In this painting, he is close to our shoreline. We've become friends over the years and he sometimes steps ashore and walks up the field with a bucketful of oysters for Lauren and me. He taught us how to open them properly with an 'oyster knife' and enjoy them on the 'half-shell'. Here's a recipe I discovered for easy opening. Scrub oysters clean in the sink, then place four oysters on a dinner plate with a small amount of water and cook in the microwave oven for one and a half minutes. The shells open automatically and the oysters are hot! Repeat as necessary! Toast is used to pick up the juice on the plate that you don't sip from the shells! MMMMM! Jim has provided me with lots of oysters, stories and subject matter for paintings.