Jill Smith of Fluvanna County said that she has had a special visitor at her feeder for five days in a row – a Red-headed Woodpecker. That’s like seeing Elvis at the mall five trips in a row. Many confuse Red-headed Woodpeckers with the far more common, Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Red-bellied Woodpeckers indeed have a red head, but only partially. A Red-headed Woodpecker has a fire … [Read more...]
Burn, Baby, Burn!
There is a good reason why there are fewer whitetail deer in the National Forests west of the Blue Ridge. Fire, or the lack thereof. It’s the same reason California endures horrendous wildfires each year – it’s due to the lack of controlled burning. According to the biologists of Virginia Division of. Wildlife Resources, we’ve been conditioned to think of fire as solely a destructive force, … [Read more...]
Super Duper Mahi Action
Last Saturday was an exceptional day for boats patrolling the Gulf Stream out of Oregon Inlet. The Mahi Mahi fishing was on fire. One boat returned with 50 of these spectacular fighters. In addition to the dolphin catch, there were also yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, lots of king mackerel, wahoo and albacore gaffed and a sailfish release. At Nags Head, nearshore trips had catches of sea bass … [Read more...]
EGO Electric Lawnmower
My lawnmower was on its last leg, wheel, actually. The back right wheel was cracked and about to come loose and there was no way to repair it. It was a terrific Sears lawnmower. I had it for ten or 12 years. It cranked every time. But I needed a new one. My kids found out and chipped in to give me one for Christmas. It’s a EGO electric lawnmower. I used it yesterday for the first … [Read more...]
Back To School
Back to school? Kids today may never go back to school. It all depends on the generosity of the teachers’ union and the intestinal fortitude of our governor. But Boomers remember Back To School. It happened every September, even when the polio epidemic was in progress. Back to school was an event, almost a holiday. Going back to school meant a new wardrobe. For boys, that was … [Read more...]
Froggy Went’A Courting
We installed a small fishpond last year. Nancy had 8 goldfish that had outgrown their 35 gallon tank. The new pond, about 350 gallons, was perfect for the fish, but I really wanted it not because of the goldfish, but because I love frogs. Each year, I had either caught a tadpole or two or bought some and put them in the small pond. And each year, they became frogs and then left. I had hoped that … [Read more...]
Mr. Magoo Golf
Remember Mr. Magoo? J. Quincy Magoo - the elderly, wealthy, cartoon character who got into a series of comical situations as a result of his extreme near-sightedness? I’m a little like Mr. Magoo, other than the wealthy part. I wear tri-focal glasses. Blind, blinder and blindest are my lenses. I can see pretty well at distances, however, but not so much up close. I wear glasses most all the … [Read more...]
Ravioli Lasagna
I made a fun dish this week – Ravioli Lasagna. It turned out well, but how could it not? If you put ground sirloin, pasta sauce, onions, garlic, Italian cheeses and seasonings and ricotta cheese in a casserole dish and then add cheese filled ravioli? Heck yes, it was good. The nice thing about this recipe is you don’t have to fool with the lasagna noodles. I know they make oven-ready lasagna … [Read more...]
Free Band Concerts
Like the commercial for TurboTax says,” It’s free. Free, free, free, free.” And so are the band concerts. Steve Layman, Music Director of the Charlottesville Municipal Band, notes that the band is offering FREE outdoor concerts this spring and summer. Why? The band likes to play music. That’s what bands do and this is a way these talented folks can play again in front of a … [Read more...]
All Aflutter
I saw something this morning I had never seen before – or at least I had never noticed. There was an adult robin in the dogwood tree in the front yard fluttering its wings. I have seen bluebird adults do this to keep in touch and I have often seen baby birds flutter their wings to be fed, but never an adult robin. I believe it was a female trying to attract a male or at least say, … [Read more...]
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