It’s now permanently etched on our calendar. So long as we’re able, each spring Nancy and I will make the trip up the Shenandoah Valley and into the heart of Pennsylvania for an escape to the Land of the Amish. It’s a land of beauty, of hard-working farmers in straw hats and suspenders, and herds of Holstein cattle begging to be milked. It’s a place where massive fields of alfalfa cover the ground … [Read more...]

I am a great admirer of the Amish people. They find joy in a simpler lifestyle, they are an honor to their faith, they are quick to help and serve others and they are hard-working people. A typical Amish farm features a herd of 60 or 70 Holstein milk cows. The Amish farmer is on call twice a day, 365 days a year to milk his cows. From 4 to 7 in the morning and again from 4 to 7 in the evening, … [Read more...]

By Angelin Brewer My husband and I will celebrate 30 years of marriage this year, and we’ve decided to take our first European vacation. Actually, I decided. My husband, Brent, doesn’t like to fly.  Okay, he hates to fly. But I am on a mission to ensure he loves this trip, so I’ve researched the heck out of it, doing my best to choose places and excursions I think he will love. My dad … [Read more...]

Wanna have some fun? In the next few weeks, stripers from Buggs Island Lake will head up the Dan and Staunton rivers to spawn. Buggs Island stripers are among only a few freshwater stripers will actually pull off a spawn. But the rivers are packed with these feisty fish and there is one guide I know of who can put you on a pile of fish. Matt Miles. Matt is an Orvis-endorsed guide. His … [Read more...]

There are all sorts of Festivals. There are Strawberry Festivals, Wine Festivals, Garlic Festivals, Oyster Festivals, Crab Festivals, and the list goes on. One festival I have always wanted to attend, but never have, is the Lexington BBQ Festival. This event is held annually in the small town of Lexington, NC, the self-proclaimed BBQ Capital of the World. Held the last Saturday of October, the … [Read more...]

There are now over 300 wineries in Virginia with a new one opening seemingly every week. The experts say that our Commonwealth has the perfect soil and climate for growing quality grapes. I’ll leave that to the pros since I thought Boone’s Farm was pretty good if you got it cold enough. But I do enjoy visiting Virginia’s wineries. It’s a good way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon, especially when … [Read more...]

We went out to eat with my daughter, Angelin, and her husband Brent, near their new home on High Rock Lake in Denton, NC. This is in the heart of Carolina, the original home of classic Southern cuisine and we had it in spades. We went to the afternoon buffet at a place called Classic Family Restaurant. The food was outstanding – Fried Okra, perfectly Fried Chicken, Fried Salt Pork, Homemade … [Read more...]

We got a bill in the mail yesterday saying we owed the state of Maryland $21.49 for having the audacity to drive on one of their roads. Back in May, we drove to Lancaster County in Pennsylvania to see the play, Noah’s Ark. Our GPS Lady – who is now on double secret probation - suggested a route that took us through most of Northern Virginia, half of D.C. and then through Maryland by way of … [Read more...]

Mark your calendars for the first couple weeks in April 2026. That’s when Holland comes to Virginia. A few weeks back, Nancy said she had a “spring surprise” for me. We hopped in the car and headed for Nokesville, VA. Nokesville? What could possibly be in Nokesville, I wondered? A world of stunning tulips, that’s what. We made a visit to Burnside Farms, which plants 2 million tulip … [Read more...]

Boy, have kayaks taken off. You see cars and vans hauling them down the road all the time. Kayaks, unlike jon boats and canoes, can easily be handled by one person, making most any body of water accessible. To all you kayakers out there, here’s a tip for a fun float. The Jackson River below Gathright Dam. Even though it’s August and 90 degrees in the shade, the water here is cold. It comes … [Read more...]