A Flock of Cowbirds
I had some unusual visitors at my feeder this week. It was a small flock of blackbirds, and they were small – not nearly the size of a grackle and smaller still than a starling. They were brown headed cowbirds, but their heads weren’t dull brown as I remember from spring, but almost a burgundy. Their jet-black feathers shimmered with streaks of neon purple. They were quite lovely. I don’t … [Read more...]
Bulk Up to Fight Inflation
Chips that were $2.99 a bag are now $4.49. Eggs are precious commodities, approaching $2.50 a dozen. That’s 20 cents for a single egg! But we’re not going to take this lying down. The Inflation Fighter is on the job. We may not be able to buy a package of Lay’s Chips for a reasonable price, but we can offset some of these absurd price increases by buying in bulk – like at Costco and Sam’s Club. … [Read more...]
Frost on the Collard Patch
Finally, a good frost. It was halfway through November, but at last there was frost on the pumpkins, and on the collard patches as well. As every Southerner knows, you never eat collards until after the first frost. It’s something about that frost that brings out the sweetness in what are easily the best tasting greens on the planet. I once went through the line at Food Lion with a … [Read more...]
More Specks and More to Come
In Virginia saltwater, speckled trout are inside all the local inlets, creeks, and tidal rivers near the bay. Fishing on the Eastern Shore bay-side and on the Peninsula has been especially good. Captain Todd Beck, Knot Wish’n Charters says the water temperature in Rudee Inlet is a little above normal. So far the trout are small with very few gators available. Quality should improve as … [Read more...]
The Gingerbread Man
I’ve read a few of the children’s books recently and they are Pablum. Vanilla pudding. “Can’t we all get along?” “I feel your pain”. “Don’t hurt anybody’s feelings.” Bull. I remember when children’s books were exciting, and they didn’t always turn out peaches and cream. Hansel and Gretel got kicked out of their own house and ended up cooking a witch in her own oven. Little Black Sambo … [Read more...]
A Return to Mossy Creek
My daughter, Laura, has a big-time case of fly-fishing fever. My oldest daughter, Angelin, loves to dunk squid in saltwater and my son, Jimmie, enjoys tormenting largemouth bass with a buzz bait, but Laura is drawn to the gurgling creeks and the trout lurking within. Creeks like Mossy Creek in Augusta County. Mossy Creek is hallowed ground for Virginia fly fishermen. It was here that I landed … [Read more...]
Signs of Our Times
Pizza Lasagna
I made a fun dish last week. Pizza Lasagna. It’s a genuine kid pleaser and as Tony the Tiger says, it tastes “Great”. But really, how can you go wrong? Lasagna? Pizza? Both winners and this combination is as well. You make it as you would lasagna, just switch a few ingredients. Start by boiling the lasagna to al dente. I much prefer original rather than oven-ready lasagna. I can better … [Read more...]
Welcome Back Snowbirds
They come and they go, birds that is. The catbirds are gone, the hummers are headed for Mexico and the robins – well, who knows where the robins are. But I saw three snowbirds – Dark-eyed jucos – below the feeder this morning. I hadn’t seen them since last March. Juncos are common over much of the country – in winter. During the warm months, they head north, even up into Canada. Juncos are … [Read more...]
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