In 1955, Lewisburg, WV was a painted city by Norman Rockwell or could have been. Main Street was pretty much it – three blocks or so with a half dozen businesses per block. There were the usual stores – a five and dime, a barbershop, a bank, a savings and loan, some clothing stores, a jewelry store, two pharmacies, a couple small department stores, a record shop, a doughnut shop and Zelda’s … [Read more...]
Blessed Rain
We take rain for granted and often we are disappointed when it comes and rains out our golf match or family picnic. But when we don’t get rain for a while, that’s when we know how much we need it. Last year it rained a bunch and our yards and gardens prospered. This year, however, we had like one inch of rain during the entire month of April. Gardens and lawns suffered. Last year I was mowing … [Read more...]
Signs of our Times
How To Barbeque Chicken
It’s Barbeque season. Time to wield the tongs over hot coals or gas burners and chickens are historically the most popular barbeque-ees. I have been barbequing chicken on the grill to various degrees of edibility for over 50 years. It is one of the first things I learned – or attempted to learn - to cook. Some of it has been really good, while other attempts turned out more like … [Read more...]
A Rose-breasted Grosbeak: My Lucky Day
I love having strangers visit my yard – bird strangers, that is, not humans. One such bird that comes by on occasion is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. One stopped by this week, and I considered that my lucky day. There is an old saying, in fact, that simply seeing this lovely bird is associated with hope, joy and good fortune. It is a sign of positive changes on the horizon and who couldn’t use a … [Read more...]
Goodness “Snakes” Alive at Lake Orange
They were first discovered in Virginia back in 2004, and it was thought at that time that Northern Snakeheads might seriously harm the native fish populations. As it turned out, the strange looking fish with serious dentures have not affected our native species and they have proven to be a blast to catch at the end of a rod and reel. Fact is, they are now established in Lake Orange despite all … [Read more...]
Monster Sheepshead
Most all the fish have returned to the Chesapeake Bay – spot, croakers, whiting, blues, Spanish Macs, flounder, spadefish and especially sheepshead. Monster sheepshead are now patrolling the pilings of the Bridge Tunnel and are fond of sand fleas and chunks of blue crab. Citation fish over 11 pounds were weighed this week. Water temperatures are now sitting in the high 60s to low 70s throughout … [Read more...]
Oh no! Not Mercurochrome!
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...]
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