During the World War II, rubber and plastics were simply not available to consumers. But after the war, things changed. Needing to keep assembly lines open, manufacturers developed tens of thousands of new rubber, plastic, and fiberglass products. Among them was the rubber squeeze change purse. Every Boomer kid had one. It’s where we put the 10 cents for admission to the movies. It’s … [Read more...]
Great Venison BBQ
My late friend Bev Kokatos loved Venison BBQ. Back when I owned Jim’s Fly & Tackle, we would occasionally put a venison roast in a crock pot and dish out sandwiches for our customers. One day, Bev stopped by for something and smelled the BBQ and asked what I was cooking. I gave her a sandwich and she was smitten. She said anytime I ever cooked BBQ to call her, she was quite taken … [Read more...]
Dwarf Okra?
I bought dwarf okra seeds last spring because I was tired of trying to fetch ripe okra pods that had grown to Jack and the Beanstalk heights. It would be nice, I thought, to actually bend down and pick the delicious okra pods. Bend down my rear end. All seven of Snow White’s Dwarfs could stand on each other’s shoulders and still not be able to reach the top blooms. My dwarf okra … [Read more...]
A Sad Note
Gayle’s Market has closed. A month ago, I passed by their store on Spotswood Trail in Penn Laird, just outside of Harrisonburg, and they looked closed. We travelled that way again last Sunday and they are indeed closed. I was crushed. For years, as I drove back and forth from Mossy Creek to fish, I would take advantage of every opportunity to stop in and pick up a couple country ham … [Read more...]
Massanutten Exxon for Great Food
If you find yourself hungry and on Rt. 33 between Elkton and Harrisonburg, stop at the Exxon station at the base of Massanutten Resort. It’s one of the best gas station/food joints in Virginia. Their chicken is out of sight. It rivals Wayside Deli Fried Chicken, and they have a dazzling array of sandwiches, sides, and finger foods. And they are nice folks – they act like they’re glad to … [Read more...]
Birds of a Feather…
Flock together. You know the saying, and this is the time of year that many birds seek out the company of their buddies and form big flocks. Crows, for example. Recently, I have seen more and more crows in medium size flocks of 20 or 30, soon to become hundreds and hundreds. They do this each fall as a means of protection. If I were a hawk, I’d certainly have nothing to do … [Read more...]
Hatteras Style Clam Chowder
By James Friend Dickerson On a recent visit to Manteo, North Carolina, a commercial fisherman friend gave us a bag of clams frozen in the shell. What to cook with clams? We love Hatteras Style Clam Chowder, so I decided to create a batch. After calling several friends to get tips and recipes, I started prepping and cooking. Ingredients: 25 Frozen Clams in the Shell 5 Peeled Small … [Read more...]
Drum, Drum and More Drum
Virginia fishermen are pounding the red drum as they exit the Chesapeake Bay. Big reds are being pulled up on the beaches from Virginia Beach down to Sandridge. It’s all catch and release, though, for the big drum. Some puppy drum, however, are in the mix along with some nice speckled trout. Rockfish season is now in and good numbers of keeper size fish are coming from the James, … [Read more...]
Oh Nuts!
According to Katie Martin DWR Biologist, over 200,000 hunters will take to the woods this fall and most with deer on their minds. That said, the availability of mast – acorns mainly – will have a lot to do with hunter success. Lots of nuts mean the deer won’t have to travel far for their meals and will expose themselves less to a 30:06 cartridge. When mast is poor, it’s a different story. Deer … [Read more...]
AB(Don’t)C Stores
Running out of toilet paper and paper towels is a minor inconvenience. But when you see empty shelves in the liquor store, that’s a serious problem. There are now lots of “Sorry, Out of Stock” signs in ABC stores throughout the country. Fortunately for me, I’m not a picky drinker. If it’s in the liquor store, it’s fair game, though I clearly have my favorite brands and I hate Scotch. I … [Read more...]
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