The temps have dropped, the fish can sense it and the fall bite is on in Virginia’s saltwater. Bluefish continue to be a prime target. Nice 5- to 8-pound fish have been caught well up into the bay and along Virginia’s coast. Mixed in with the blues are Spanish Macs, though a slower troll speed is recommended for the Spaniards. … [Read more...]
Pogo Sticks and Other Foolishness
The 50s and 60s will likely go down as the Era of Fads, when Americans would buy anything, try anything and do it in mass. We had Hippies. And there were also Pogo Sticks, perhaps the dumbest fad of with a handle at the top and footrests at the bottom with a spring surrounding the pole, joining two sections. The pogo jumper placed his feet on the footpads while keeping balance on the pole, then … [Read more...]
Big Boys Come Through
Early this spring, Nancy was headed to the Corner Store were heavy and round, perfect for a sandwich and were the best tasting tomatoes I have ever eaten – even better than Heirloom Tomatoes which I love. Big Boys are called “indeterminates”, which means they continue to grow and have fruit until the first frost. They can grow to heights exceeding 7 feet and they say it’s best to prune them and … [Read more...]
Door Knob Peppers
There is a variety of peppers that was cultivated and established in a small nursery in Clemmons, NC. They are called Door Knob Peppers because they are about the same size and shape as an actual door knob. They are mild peppers, sometimes red and sometimes green as they ripen, and were a staple in many Brewer kitchens as the Brewer Family had its beginnings in Clemmons. My Aunt Lena grew her … [Read more...]
Saved Again by Mr. Faucet
We have one of those newer toilets in our bathroom that flushes quickly and uses very little water. It’s been a real money saver, but about a month ago, it began acting up. We had to hold the handle down every now and then to get it to completely flush. Then the commode began to require this more frequently until one day, it simply refused to flush all the water from the bowl When I was much … [Read more...]
Blackened Bluefish
I often suggest recipes. This time I am suggesting a recipe that you should not – under any circumstance – try. It’s Blackened Bluefish in the kitchen. Years ago, we belonged to a group called the Broccoli Bridge Club – so named because one night, at a potluck dinner, everyone brought a broccoli dish. We may have even had a Broccoli Pie, I don’t remember, but the name stuck. One evening … [Read more...]
Piers Seafood Boil and Grill: A Disappointment
A few weeks back, I saw a sign on the old Plaza Azteca Mexican Restaurant in the Seminole Square Shopping Center advising that a new seafood restaurant was on the way. Charlottesville really needs a traditional seafood restaurant. My suspicions were that this would be another of the Low Country Boil restaurants that are springing up everywhere. I prefer my fresh seafood either fried or broiled, … [Read more...]
Big Spanish Mac Attack
Rough weather early this week put a damper on saltwater fishing, but mild weather starting Wednesday has improved the catches. Particularly, Spanish Mackerel. I remember about 30 years ago when Spanish Mackerel first began to enter the Bay. Previously they stayed offshore but gradually worked their way as far as Stingray Point. Currently, they are prolific both off the coast at Virginia Beach … [Read more...]
Remembering P.J. Morris
Looking back on my younger days, I went through a period in life when I felt I needed more abuse, more heckling and questions about my ancestry. I became an umpire and got my share of deleted expletives – some deserved and some not. One of the deserved moments in my umpire career when my judgement was rightfully questioned came when I first called a fastpitch softball game from behind the plate … [Read more...]
Swallowtails and Butterfly Bushes
Nancy took this shot of a lovely Swallowtail Butterfly enjoying the sweet nectar of our butterfly bush. We have had many visitors to this pollinator-attracting plant, even a few Monarchs, but by far, the most common is the Swallowtail Butterfly. Swallowtails look almost exactly like a monarch, except for its forked tail-like protrusions. That’s the easiest way to distinguish the two. There are … [Read more...]
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