A Surprise Party for my Birthday - a New England Clam & Lobster Boil

My husband Meakin threw a surprise party for me for my birthday over the weekend and I never had a clue! He managed to assemble our entire family from Texas, Florida, Tennessee, & North Carolina to celebrate one those “milestone” birthdays for me. He had live lobsters and clams flown in from Maine and everyone hid at my brother & sister-in-law’s house here in the mountains of North Carolina in the same small town where we live and where the New England Clam and Lobster Boil party was held, all in a cloud of secrecy.

Meakin and I are practically joined at the hip and how he pulled this off without my even having a clue is still a big mystery to me, but he did it, along with the help of our family, and it was a huge success.

Big caldrons were brought from Florida to cook the lobsters and clams, corn was shucked and cleaned, beer and wine was chilled, the table was set, and the feast was devoured in no time, followed of course by a birthday cake and much visiting.

I want to say that my brother-in-law Stuart and his wife Sandy deserve big accolades as the actual burden of the details in planning and implementation of the party fell on their shoulders. You guys are the best and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Here they are along with Meakin's youngest brother, who kindly brought his big pots from Florida for the lobsters and clams, sharing a beer while cooking.

I thought you might enjoy some of the pictures.

Meakin having fun with the lobster.

My sister-in-law had never met my sister. Here they are with me getting to know each other.

Our host with his lobster.

Meakin's handsome son and his pretty wife. They got up early and drove all morning to get here on time.

And of course the finale, a birthday cake.

Here we all are together as a group for the first time in years.

I am truly blessed. Meakin asked me to marry him on my birthday forty-five years ago. Time flies when you're having fun.

Have a great weekend everyone.