Right before Gretel shoved the Wicked Witch in the oven so she and Hansel could escape from the Gingerbread House, the witch got even with all children of the last century. She invented Mercurochrome and convinced parents of that era that when any child had an open wound, they should pour this red/orange colored fireball medicine directly on the wound and burn the hell out of their offspring. … [Read more...]
Escape To the Land of the Amish
It’s now permanently etched on our calendar. So long as we’re able, each spring Nancy and I will make the trip up the Shenandoah Valley and into the heart of Pennsylvania for an escape to the Land of the Amish. It’s a land of beauty, of hard-working farmers in straw hats and suspenders, and herds of Holstein cattle begging to be milked. It’s a place where massive fields of alfalfa cover the ground … [Read more...]
An Amish Smorgasbord at Miller’s
One mandatory requirement while in the Land of the Amish is a visit to one of the many restaurants offering a Smorgasbord-style buffet. Though Smorgasbord is a Swedish term describing one of their buffet-style meal the Amish have it down to a science. This year, we took in that Amish feast three times in three days. We suffered afterwards in pure pleasure. We had immensely enjoyed one of the … [Read more...]
The Amish People
I am a great admirer of the Amish people. They find joy in a simpler lifestyle, they are an honor to their faith, they are quick to help and serve others and they are hard-working people. A typical Amish farm features a herd of 60 or 70 Holstein milk cows. The Amish farmer is on call twice a day, 365 days a year to milk his cows. From 4 to 7 in the morning and again from 4 to 7 in the evening, … [Read more...]
Beef Barbeque, Crockpot Style
We eat a lot of Barbeque, mainly pork and chicken. Recently, I had a craving for some beef barbeque. Not sure about what kind or how, I made a visit to my local Food Lion from whence come many of my culinary inspirations. Sure enough, I saw some boneless chuck rib meat. It appeared to be beef short ribs with the bones removed. Problem solved. I suppose most any cut of chuck roast or steaks would … [Read more...]
Squirrel Proof: Grackle Proof
I’m knocking on wood here, but I may have solved my birdfeeder problems for good. Squirrels and grackles are my mortal enemies, stealing my expensive bird seed meant for songbirds only. The grackles come in swarms, and they can empty a feeder in minutes. And squirrels? It’s like the 100 Years War – never ending. But two things are turning the tide in my favor. Hearts on Fire sunflower hearts … [Read more...]
Signs of Our Times
VMRC: Dereliction of Duty
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission says that we need a 50% reduction in the East Coast Menhaden harvest in order to sustain striped bass, ospreys, bluefish and – indirectly – every creature in the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Legal Alliance and Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization have petitioned for an immediate moratorium in reduction fishing for menhaden within the … [Read more...]
Return of the Blues
The last several years have seen ever improving catches of nice bluefish and 2026 looks to continue that trend. Big bluefish up to 10 pounds are currently ravaging schools of bait in the lower Bay, in the Virginia surf and from piers. No reports of those 15- and 20-pound gator-sized blues from the past, but an 8- or 10-pounder is certainly no slouch Croakers are spreading throughout the bay, … [Read more...]
When Cars Were Hot
I was sitting in traffic this week and looked at the cars surrounding me. One word came to mind. Ugly. There were all sorts of hatchbacks ranging from tiny to huge and a few squatty sedans leftover from the rental car lots. There were lots of Mom cars - boxy vans that would hold a baseball team. There were trucks approaching the size of school busses, some so high off the ground you’d need a … [Read more...]
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