On several occasions, Nancy and I have hopped in the car and headed for Liberty Mills Farm near Somerset in Orange County. It’s a lovely drive and we find many interesting things to do – like wind our way through a sprawling Corn Maze or pick a pint of two of fresh strawberries. Liberty Farms now has their annual Sunflower Festival underway with lots of food and fun and things to see and do. … [Read more...]

This spring, Nancy and I drove to Burnside Farms in Nokesville for their Tulip Festival. The flowers were beautiful, the food delicious and it was a wonderful experience. Burnside Farms plants millions of tulips in dazzling colors and the lovely flowers are in display for just a couple weeks. After the tulips bloom, Burnside turns their attention to sunflowers and that season is now underway. … [Read more...]

I had never eaten a morel until my old friend Carl Oakes asked if I wanted a few. Not wanting to offend, I said, “Sure”, but I had no idea what they were or what to do with the strange looking spores. Later I found out that morels, wild mushrooms, were mountain delicacies and highly desirable. On several occasions since then, I have taken to the hills and picked them myself. Morels, though, … [Read more...]

Just like the song goes, “I get by with a little help from my friends”. I could use a little help from my friends. I’d love to increase the readership of my CvilleBuzz, and maybe you folks can help. If everyone who enjoys my weekly ramblings on food, birds, Boomer memories, gardens and other foolishness would send out suggestions to their friends, maybe more people would sign up. It’s really … [Read more...]

This year, the World Series is likely to extend into November, but for sure through October 30.  It’s almost Halloween and that’s scary. Baseball should be over in early October, but money rules, especially with TV advertising. But who’s watching? The games don’t start until 9 and they often run through midnight. Even most bars close then. I love the Dodgers, but I’ll watch a few innings … [Read more...]

Kent and Evie Woods have opened their Liberty Mills Farm in Somerset to all those who might want to wander through a corn maze. This year’s 34-acre maze theme is “Into the Deep”. There are three different mazes – easy, middle, and you-might-not-ever-get-out. Pick your poison. To go with a wonderful fall outing is a Farmer’s Market, a Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Patch and lots of goodies including … [Read more...]

Hey, if you know where you can find some kids, I know a place to take them fishing. Lake Orange is having a Youth Fishing Day this Saturday from noon till 4 pm, enough time for them to get wet and muddy and maybe even catch a fish or two. Crappie and bluegills are near the shore now and a meal worm or a bit of earthworm on a small hook will trigger a bite. A chunk of chicken liver will entice a … [Read more...]

Nancy and I don’t often go to movies. That’s because they don’t make movies I would like to see. One movie, however, came out last week that I wanted to see. Reagan - basically, a biography of Ronald Reagan, our 40th president. The liberal Hollywood critics panned the movie. They vigorously oppose any film with a hint of religion or patriotism, but the movie they despised grossed $10 million for … [Read more...]

For years, Scottsville has been receiving lots of attention from fishermen, most particularly smallmouth bass fishermen. But another species has popped up on the Scottsville fishing radar screen. Catfish. Big catfish. In years past, serious catfish anglers in Virginia –assuming they didn’t travel down to Santee Cooper in South Carolina – have been prowling the waters of such … [Read more...]

  By Gerald Almy   When redbuds bloom on hillsides and winter loosens its icy grip on the land, Virginia anglers face a rich dilemma. Which species shall I try for? Bass are feeding in the shallows, crappie are schooling near flooded brush piles, and trout streams beckon with the first hatches of spring. But for many fishermen, the list of spring fishing adventures is topped … [Read more...]