Duncan Yo-Yos If you look closely at the middle finger on the right hand of an average Boomer, you may see the feint shape of a ring imprint deeply embedded in the skin. That likely came from the ever-tightening string of a Duncan Yo-Yo, one of the most popular toys of Boomer-hood. But yo-yos were more than just toys, they were instruments of wonder, so much so that … [Read more...]
It’s Snowing Again
A saw a familiar bird in the yard this week, one I had not seen in a while. It was a snowbird. They left last year around mid-March, and like clockwork, they returned in mid-November. Each year I have a small flock of snowbirds, Dark-Eyed Juncos. The 10 or 12 small gray birds shelter in our thick bushes, making occasional and regular darts beneath our feeder to scratch for dislodged seeds. … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving and Old Timey Football
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and for many of us Boomers, Thanksgiving meant more than just turkey and dressing. It meant Old Timey football games on television. Go way back with me, if you will, to the early days of the National Football League. Typically, my family made the long drive from Beckley, West Virginia to Raleigh, North Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with my grandmother, … [Read more...]
Making KFC Cole Slaw
Cole slaw happens to be one of my favorite sides. It pairs perfectly with dishes like Fish, BBQ, Fried Chicken and Hot Dogs. Unfortunately, many stores and restaurants consider cole slaw to be an afterthought and it turns out like blah-shredded cabbage. But not at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Their cole slaw is amazing. It is so tasty that I often make a special trip to the restaurant and order a … [Read more...]
It’s Time for Collard Greens
Finally, it has frosted. It was halfway through November, but at last there was frost on the pumpkins, and on the collard patch as well. As every Southerner knows, you never eat collards until after the first frost. In a fall vegetable garden, the first frost sweetens the collards, turning starches into sugars and improving the flavor of vegetables. They are easily the best tasting greens on … [Read more...]
George Rennick: The Sharpest Pencil in Town
George Rennick was the PT Barnum of the Charlottesville car world, and he sold a lot of cars. A Kansas native, Rennick worked for a Buick dealership in Wichita and excelled. He loved the automobile business and worked his way up the ranks at General Motors, eventually settling in as District Manager in DC. In the early 1980’s, George decided he wanted his own franchise and bought the local … [Read more...]
A Whopper Sheepshead
A sheepshead can be one of the most difficult fish to catch. They are very picky about their baits and have an affinity for fiddler crabs. Their bite is very light as they snuggle up to pilings and structure. But they are one of the best easting fish in saltwater. The angler pictured above is certainly in for some fine dining with a citation 10-pounder. The sheeps will hang around for a few more … [Read more...]
Toys of My Life
A Genuine Radio Flyer One of the greatest toys ever made was a red wagon – a genuine Radio Flyer to be exact. Only one was needed, because they were built to last forever and for kids in the 50’s and 60’s, they were in the must-have category. Radio Flyers were perhaps the most versatile toy of all. You could haul stuff around, naturally, but you could also sit in one, use the handle as a … [Read more...]
November 11th: A Really Special Day
There was a time when November 11th was my favorite day of the year. More so than Christmas, more than Thanksgiving, even more than my birthday was November 11th – Veteran’s Day. Veteran’s Day was always a special day for me because my father, James E. Brewer, was a veteran who lost his life in WW II. My stepdad, Daddy George, was also a Veteran, serving in the Pacific with the U.S. … [Read more...]
Awesome Fall Tomatoes
I have three tomato plants that are still producing. I went out this morning and plucked about 15 from the vines. Several were near perfect, while the others had a bit of black at the tops. For lunch, I sliced up two of the smaller ones and ate them with a dab of mayonnaise and lots of salt and pepper. They were amazing. Plump, ripe, juicy, and exploding with flavor. I don’t know what it is about … [Read more...]
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