Lake Orange, one of Virginia’s most productive lakes, is now open for business. Actually, the lake is always open throughout the year, but the marina, Angler’s Landing, opened their doors for the spring season last weekend and fish are starting to bite. Angler’s Landing sells lures, live bait and snacks and rents 14-foot jon boats and electric trolling motors, giving anglers access to … [Read more...]
That First Best Friend
His name was Freddie Arnold. He was sent by heaven to save a young Boomer from a life dominated by girls. He was my first, best friend. The summer before I would start third grade in Beckley, WV, my family moved across town. I would be in a new school and in a new neighborhood. The day the movers were unloading our furniture, a bolt of lightning hit the refrigerator one of the men was … [Read more...]
Bodo’s Comes Through Again
It is no accident that Bodo’s is a leader in their field. They have not only survived any and all competition, they have prospered. And here is one clear example why. Last Sunday, Nancy and I were meeting our daughter Laura in Farmville to pick up a new laptop for Nancy that Laura was helping program. Since we knew that Laura loves Bodo’s we stopped by the Emmet Street store before we … [Read more...]
(Almost) Gold Finches
After being a drab olive for six months, my male goldfinches are beginning to put on the Ritz, molting into a new suit of bright gold feathers. I always thought the birds’ feathers changed colors, but they don’t. Many birds grow new and entirely differently colored feathers. The goldfinch is the only one in its family to undergo a complete, not a partial molt. Even the females get a … [Read more...]
Pepperoni Pockets, Not Rolls
Pepperoni Rolls are a unique West Virginia creation, inspired from the lunch pails of coal miners. Relegated to the depths of the mines, a Pepperoni Roll for lunch was a welcomed respite for a hungry miner. First created in Marion County in the 1920s, the classic Pepperoni Roll consists of a soft white yeast bread roll with pepperoni baked in the middle. Since the pepperoni was cured, … [Read more...]
Weeds and Wildflowers
(Creasy greens growing wild beside the road) Last summer as I was driving north on Rt. 29, I saw a flowering weed beside the road so stunning that I went back to see it again. To the best of my weed-identification abilities, it was a butterfly weed – adorned in the most incredible orange I have ever seen. Since that time, I have been on the lookout for beautiful weeds and … [Read more...]
Remembering Bob Hope
Bob Hope lived to be 100. He died 15 years ago, but he will be remembered as a man who really made a difference, entertaining our troops on foreign soil for over 50 years. Below are some of Bob’s memorable one-liners. On his deathbed they asked him where he wanted to be buried. He replied: "Surprise me." On Turning 70 - "I still chase women, but only … [Read more...]
Playing Sanitary Golf
My golfing buddy, Greg Leffler, and I decided to take advantage of a pleasant Wednesday afternoon and tee it up. But we had to check around first. Two courses that I know of - Lake Monticello and Meadow Creek – are closed for the flu season. We checked with Old Trail and got a tee time with a few stipulations. First, it was cart path only – which had nothing to do with the virus but … [Read more...]
Game On for Speckled Trout
Speckled trout have been biting in Virginia rivers for a couple of weeks. Connie Barbour at Long Bay Pointe Bait & Tackle says they’re available inside Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets now. The mild winter should bring terrific trout fishing for the foreseeable future – plus an early arrival for most saltwater species. Tautog are already at the CBBT and on nearly all near-shore … [Read more...]
Haircuts and Coupons
A number of years ago, I discovered coupons. The grocery stores began putting the coupons in their ads and one day I cut out a few. It was like the first roll of dice to an addicted gambler in Las Vegas. I was hooked – saving 10 cents here and 20 cents there. Our limited shelf space became overloaded. “What are these three boxes of Meow Mix doing in the cabinet,” my wife, Nancy, asked. “I … [Read more...]
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