Earlier this year, Sherman Shifflett from Louisa sent me a bottle of Koss BBQ Sauce. Sherman’s friend, John Koss, had begun production of his own creation, Koss Sauce. I tried some on some ribs and it was very good, not gooey sweet like most store-bought sauces. However, a week ago, I did an eye of round roast and sliced it thinly for sandwich leftovers. I had a couple packets of … [Read more...]

  I like an occasional hard-boiled egg in a tossed salad and I dearly love deviled eggs. What I do not love is trying to get a hard-boiled egg out of the shell in something resembling one piece. Not long ago I had hard-boiled a dozen eggs and set about the task of shell removal. One of the eggs – a unique talking egg – said there was no way in hell he was coming out without a … [Read more...]

A year or so ago we remodeled our kitchen and bought new appliances. We wanted them white to match the cabinets. I also insisted on a ceramic stovetop to replace the outdated burner tops. Bad move. As we would quickly discover, white ceramic stovetops show everything – black, ugly marks appeared if the heat got even a little high and it was a pain to scrub and clean the tops – my job, since … [Read more...]

The Outer Banks is pirate country and the site of the Lost Colony. Thus, there is lots of history and places to visit and a trip to the NC Aquarium at Manteo is always a family favorite. The aquarium tanks hold hundreds of species of fresh and saltwater fish – plus a fan favorite, a pair of frolicking otters. It’s a nice place to visit on a rainy day. The historic town of Manteo is another popular … [Read more...]

I caught my first fish on a cane pole. It was a 10-foot stalk of ordinary bamboo that had been aged on the side of a tobacco barn. At the tip of the rod, my great aunt, Sister Wall, had attached about 15 feet of ten-pound test, a cork bobber, two split shot and a size 6, long shanked hook. This simple piece of equipment was a fishing machine. The reason? For children, especially, it’s much … [Read more...]

I was born in Raleigh, NC and I was raised on country ham. Often, country ham or fat back was the only meat on the table. Sometimes Uncle Sidney would come back from the coast with a bushel of oysters – he tonged them himself - and sometimes we’d have a roasting hen for Sunday dinner, but it was often country ham. Eastern North Carolina was hog country. Many families in the country or outskirts … [Read more...]

One drawback of being a high handicap golfer such as yours truly is the propensity to spend lots of time in the high grass and along wood edges looking for wayward balls. Two weeks ago, I was doing just that when my left forearm came in contact with a three-leaf monster called poison ivy. I usually don’t get poison ivy, or if I do it’s a mild case. But I had been scratching at that arm for several … [Read more...]

Many do not know that I have a medical degree from Duke University (total BS). The reason I am not practicing today is that right after I became a doctor, I developed a unique patch, which helped people who had stopped smoking to start back up again. The tobacco companies thought it was a great idea, but my fellow docs kicked me out of the profession. Jealous of my ingenuity, I … [Read more...]

Nancy and I are blessed with a sprawling, tree-shaded patio in our backyard. Since the grass wouldn’t grow among all the tree roots, we poured concrete and created a nice outdoor room, which we thoroughly enjoy. But! Here comes summer and 90 degree weather, which makes sitting outside – even in the shade – not so enjoyable. Last Christmas, Nancy had the good sense to put an outdoor fan on … [Read more...]

  Not all ocean liners offer smooth sailing. The first cruise we took in the Bahamas was non-eventful as far as rocking and swaying. You really couldn’t tell you were on a boat at sea. But when you go to Hawaii in the winter season – now – the winds and seas are against you. Our ship, Pride of America, sent pedestrian passengers bouncing off the walls as they approached their rooms. It was … [Read more...]