We have a gizmo in our Whirlpool refrigerator called a Meat and Cheese Tray. It’s pretty handy and a convenient storage spot for – yes – meat and cheese. It can also slide sideways on the shelf to create room, where needed. The other day, I attempted to slide it to the right, but a pot I didn’t see in the back was in the way and the little bracket at the top snapped. No problem. I can fix that. … [Read more...]

  I made a drive down to Eltzroth & Thompson last Sunday because I figured they were the only nursey in town that carried Abraham Lincoln Tomatoes. I was right. They had ‘em and I bought ‘em. This variety is unbelievably productive, beginning in mid-summer and continuing till the first frost. Three or four plants will keep you in fresh tomatoes for up to four months. Eltzroth & … [Read more...]

  There are two types of plumbing products. Those that don’t work now and those that soon won’t work. Plumbing is a group of inanimate objects waiting to fall apart. Sink faucets drip, commode seals leak, hot water heaters die violent deaths, dishwashers go belly up during the rinse cycle, pipes spring leaks, washing machines commit suicide and garbage disposals go to pot. It’s just a … [Read more...]

  We have some very nice grocery stores in Charlottesville – Harris Teeter, Kroger’s, Giant, Food Lion, Whole Foods, Wegmans and Wal-Mart, but we are missing one: Publix, and I wish we had one. Anytime I’m out of town, I’ll find the closest grocery store. If I’m not in a grocery store at least every other day fondling the cantaloupes and checking out the T-bone steaks, I sink into a … [Read more...]

  Distilleries are popping up everywhere. We have a number of them now in Virginia and one is pretty close to Charlottesville. Last weekend Nancy and I drove out to nearby Ivy to check out Ragged Branch Distillery. “They make their own bourbon and raise their own cattle for steaks,” Nancy explained on the drive out. Bourbon and steaks? How can you go wrong? Bourbon has always been … [Read more...]

Well-meaning humans often buy pets without realizing the amount of care and attention that will be required. Birds and parrots, in fact, can be more labor intensive than dogs and cats. They require special treatment. Birds can also be loud and messy.  Therefore, when people purchase birds from exotic pet stores without knowing what’s required, they will often mistreat the birds or give them up for … [Read more...]

    Everybody loves an award. I remember those little blue and red stars my fourth-grade teacher put on my report card for good work or perfect attendance. Everybody loves an honor. And trophies or awards don’t have to be expensive. In fact, they are downright cheap at Rangeland Trophies, Awards and Archery in Ruckersville. Last weekend, our golfing group staged the equivalent … [Read more...]

About 15 years ago, we decided to break down and get a shed. Nancy was tired of seeing all my tools and lawn mower stacked on our tiny back deck and in our basement. We had worried that the wrong shed would make our yard look like a redneck trailer park, so we went shopping. We by-passed the shed company that does lots of local advertising because their prices seemed high. But just south of … [Read more...]

I enjoy going grocery shopping. I like to poke around and see what looks good, what motivates me to cook a particular dish and I especially like to run across good deals. But recently, my trips to the grocery store have stimulated more than a few “Grrrs”. They are starting to tick me off. One of the biggest gripes I now have is that with all the people calling in their orders, the aisles … [Read more...]

I went to Kroger’s last Sunday morning at 7:30 am, needing some bacon, pancake mix and melons for a Mother’s Day Breakfast I was preparing for Nancy. Even at that early hour, when I pulled in the parking lot, there were several men out picking up trash and litter. They were the maintenance employees of one of the great local Cville businesses – Unique Services, owned and operated  by Lawrence … [Read more...]