We position the cage of our pet parakeet, Foster, beside the window in the den. She enjoys seeing and hearing the birds outside. Sometimes she fusses at them and sometimes she chirps and tweets, but it keeps her occupied and entertained. The feeder I use to attract the birds is a glass bowl, fly-through feeder. Birds can eat from the rim or hop inside during bad weather. The largest … [Read more...]
Signs of Our Times
The Amazing Whitetop Laurel
It is Virginia’s finest trout stream. Period. Not only is the stream heavily and frequently stocked, but it also has a large population of native and holdover fish including some alligator sized browns. So, it’s probably difficult to access with all those trout? Not in the least. In fact, it is one of the most easy-to-fish streams in the Commonwealth with miles and miles of fishable … [Read more...]
A 3-Pack Pot Roast
I’m thinking about publishing a cookbook called “If It Ain’t Easy.” That’s because, if it ain’t easy, I don’t cook it. There are too many easy and simple foods to cook and enjoy without going off the deep end. And if a recipe calls for weird or exotic ingredients, I’ll let the chefs at Ivy Inn handle those recipes. Simple foods are usually best. One of my recent “If It Ain’t Easy” experiments … [Read more...]
Apple Pines
We well remember the funny words our children said as they learned to talk. Angelin said, “bisticks” instead of “biscuits. Laura said “grips” instead of “grits” and my son Jimmie had an extensive dialect. He called buzzards “bustards”, he referred to roosters as “doodle-o’s” He referred to fish as “sous” and he called pineapples, “apple pines”. Nancy and I still use those words in … [Read more...]
I Love My Chicken Fryer
Sometimes (actually often), I’ll buy gizmos for the kitchen, use them a time or two, then relegate them to the basement shelves to never again see the light of day. But my new chicken fryer has earned a permanent spot in my upstairs cabinets. I love it. The chicken fryer is a cast iron pot, but it has high sides. Overall, it’s 10 ½ b 3 ½. The downside is that you can only get 4 … [Read more...]
Drum On the OBX
If you are fortunate enough to have planned a fall escape to the Outer Banks, your timing could hardly be better. The fishing has been sensational. The big red drum that have abandoned northern waters are feeding along the OBX coast and surf fishermen and pier fishermen are both taking advantage. Pier fishing has been good the past couple of days with a handful of big drum pulled … [Read more...]
Trusty BASS Weejuns
For years, the only shoes I would put on my feet (other than wingtips for dressy occasions) were BASS Weejuns. They were the official shoes of Boomer-hood and I loved them. During WWII, leather was in short supply, much of it going to the war effort as boots, belts, and slings for soldiers. Shoes were rationed and recycled. The shoe repairman was the most popular guy in town. After the war, … [Read more...]
Celia’s Mock Toffee
Celia Branch, our one-time across-the-street neighbor, was one of the sweetest humans who ever lived. She was good-natured to a fault, always had a smile on her face and left this earth entirely too soon. And could she ever cook! Celia did elaborate cakes for weddings and would often share her kitchen concoctions with us. One of her special treats, and one of the best tasting things you can put … [Read more...]
Remembering School Lunches
By Sherman Shifflett (ed. Note: My good friend, the late Sherman Shifflett, sent me this article back in 2019, and it’s worth reprinting) There were 11 children in my family and mom said I was the only one who did not like peanut butter and grape jelly sandwiches. It didn’t make sense because I like peanuts and I like grape jelly. Go figure. But Mom mixed things up and we seldom … [Read more...]
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