Forget warm summer evenings as the best time to catch catfish. Now is the time to catch the big ‘uns. The Rappahannock River below Fredericksburg has been giving up lots of 20-pound class fish. On the James, near Hopewell, fishing is hot for blue cats to 50 pounds. The best baits have been cut gizzard shad and cut eel. The Mattaponi and Pamunkey rivers have been producing lots of … [Read more...]
Saved By Mr. Faucet
If you own a house, you’re going to need a plumber, eventually, unless you’re handy with one of those weird looking wrenches and can replace valves, faucets, tubes, shower heads, garbage disposals, water heaters, and can unplug nasty stuff when it gets clogged up. I happen not to be one of those handy-with-a-weird-looking-wrench fellows, so I frequently need a plumber. But plumbers … [Read more...]
Standing Rib Roast
If the warden asked me what I wanted for my “last meal”, I suppose it would be a Standing Rib Roast. Few cuts of beef have more flavor and it’s a special cut, since you rarely serve a rib roast for just two. There is usually company involved, which adds to the enjoyment. It just so happened we were having company last weekend and Nancy suggested a standing rib. She didn’t have to ask … [Read more...]
The Snowbirds Have Returned
I saw them last week. Snowbirds. And then I realized I had not seen them since, well, last winter. They had vamoosed. But there they were, 4 or 5 black and gray snowbirds, scratching on the ground for spilled seeds from the feeder. The official name for snowbirds is Dark-Eyed Junco – Junco hyemalis, to be exact. Snowbirds often spend their springs, summers and falls to the north, then … [Read more...]
Born This Day
While Shepherds Watched, Part IV by Jim Brewer Amos was now alone, a sole shepherd guarding the sheep, as the others departed hastily towards Bethlehem in search of the newborn King, the Anointed One of God. The Angels had come and gone, leaving the shepherds with amazement and joy. The Messiah, promised from the beginning of time, had been born that night in Bethlehem. But someone … [Read more...]
Road Trip to Machu Picchu
By Sherman Shifflett Do you like wild and exotic places? Places shrouded in mystery? How about rugged and outdoor adventures? Well, American explorer, Hiram Bingham, discovered such a place in 1911. Until then, it was unknown to the outside world. Several weeks ago, one of my brothers, Ralph, invited me to join him on an excursion to Machu Picchu, Peru. I really couldn't afford … [Read more...]
Some Assembly Required
This Boomer looks back on Christmases Past like Ebenezer Scrooge encountering one of his ghosts. Three words come to mind. Some Assembly Required. You see, I was a young parent in the early 1970s and had a daughter, Angelin, who asked Santa for a complete kitchen set. Stove, refrigerator, sink and cabinets. Santa didn’t have the good sense to tell her this was impossible since Santa’s … [Read more...]
Lefty Kreh Belt Buckle Fund Raiser
Stripers Forever is an organization dedicated to keeping our ocean and bay waters teeming with stripers for now and always. As a special fundraiser, Taf Schaefer Design, in concert with fly fishing legend Lefty Kreh along with Stripers Forever, has announced a fund-raising project with the issuance of a bronze belt buckle featuring a sculpted version of the world renowned “Lefty’s … [Read more...]
While Shepherds Watched, Part III
The Glory of the Lord Amos, a young shepherd from Judaea was guarding the gate of the sheepfold while his father, Benjamin, and Shimron, his uncle, were asleep. The three shepherds had 98 sheep in their flock, intended to be sold as sacrificial lambs to the worshippers in the temple in Jerusalem at Passover. The flock had just been moved to pastures outside Bethlehem where … [Read more...]
Eatin’ Out: Signature Dishes?
When guests came from out of town, there are any number of great restaurants in Charlottesville you could suggest. But is there one signature dish in all of Mr. Jefferson’s fine town that stands out? One single dish? Not that I’m aware of. There is lots of great food, but no signature dish that you would “have to try” when in Charlottesville. I enjoy watching the Travel Channel as … [Read more...]
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