By Bruce Ingram   Angling for Virginia’s wintertime rivers smallmouth  is a paradox. The cold weather period is perhaps both the best time to catch trophy bronze-backs and the most likely time for fishermen not to even receive one bite. Here are tips from three well-known state anglers on how to experience more of the former and less of the latter. Willis' Mike Smith offers this … [Read more...]

Celia Branch, our one-time across-the-street neighbor, was one of the sweetest humans who ever lived. She was good-natured to a fault, always had a smile on her face and left this earth entirely too soon. And could she ever cook! Celia did elaborate cakes for weddings and would often share her kitchen concoctions with us. One of her special treats, and one of the best tasting things you can put … [Read more...]

  My son, Jimmie, knowing that I am always ranting and raving about “unborn cantaloupes” that are unripe and have no flavor, sent me some information about how to pick out a good watermelon. Good timing. Watermelon season is here. My Daddy used to “thump” watermelons to pick the ripest one. I asked him once what he was listening for and he said that if he hears a muffled, hollow sound, … [Read more...]

Do you suppose there is even one person among the 43 million in Ukraine who is now the least bit concerned about the magazine capacity of weapons for sale in their country? Is gun control high on their political priorities? To the contrary, every single soul in Ukraine now wishes for effective weapons with which to defend themselves against Russian tyranny. The 2nd Amendment has nothing to … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Norford   In days of yore, folks “went visiting,” usually on Sunday afternoons.  Rarely did anyone pre-arrange these visits; they just showed up.  If it happened around mealtime, of course, they were fed, per the rules of southern hospitality. One Sunday afternoon . . . I guess I was about 12, a couple with two children came to visit.  I didn’t recognize them, but that … [Read more...]

  By Sherman Shifflett   (Ed. Note: This was the last article Sherman sent me before he passed away) During the fall of 1956 I was a freshman at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville and was enrolled in Agriculture I. I was also a member of the FFA (Future Farmers of America) club. The very first day of school our teacher informed us about the opportunity to purchase FFA … [Read more...]

  Donald Taylor sent me this picture of an albino deer near his home in North Garden. By some miracle, the pure white animal made it through the hunting season, and also avoided a deadly encounter with a natural enemy, such as a coyote or bobcat. White deer lack natural camouflage and stand out (except in the snow) and are easily identified by hunters and predators. Albinism is … [Read more...]

By Dr. Peter Brookes   When Jack Frost blows into Virginia in the winter every year, a lot of anglers get off the water, put down the ol’ rod and reel, pick up a trusty rifle or bow, and head to the hunting grounds to chase game. Nothing wrong with that—winter brings hunting season after all. But if you’re looking for a way to beat cabin fever, there are good fishing opportunities in … [Read more...]

Marilynn Norford in Allegheny County, NC was able to capture this shot of a rare “piebald” deer. Here is her account: “I'm excited to share this one, and yes, it was exciting to photograph because it's such a rare sight and some people will never get to see something like this!  So, yay me, (even if I haven't got my photo of a bear), yet.......ha. I had been hoping to get a shot like this … [Read more...]