Any time I see a product advertised as “squirrel proof” I have my doubts. These industrious pests spend their entire squirrelly lives trying to figure out ways to confound humans, and they generally succeed. Baffles on a pole can prevent squirrels from climbing up, but not from jumping down. Sometimes squirrels will take gigantic leaps from far away limbs or overhangs to land on top of a … [Read more...]
Sugar Kiss Melons: A Sweet Deal
Freight is one of the main factors in rising food costs. Because of high gasoline prices and supply chain difficulties, heavier foods, especially, have increased dramatically. Melons, for one. Whereas cantaloupes and honeydew melons had been running $2.99 and $3.99 respectively, they are now $3.99 and $4.99 each, an increase of 25% to 33%. Since buying a melon is crap shoot anyway - … [Read more...]
Why Update Outdated Light Fixtures?
I met Randall Whitehead years ago and often read his funny play on words. He is a brilliant lighting designer and spares no expense in telling it like it is. In a recent article he mentioned homeowners are looking to refresh their spaces, following the pandemic. “Changing outdated light fixtures can update a home in subtle, yet meaningful ways. Why hold onto those fixtures from the … [Read more...]
Great Bottom Fishing on the Eastern Shore
Angelin and Brent Ham from Greensboro (who happen to be my daughter and son-in-law) spent 6 glorious days dunking Fish Bites and squid at the mouth of Cape Charles on Virginia’s Eastern Shore and caught literally hundreds of fish. “No whoppers,” Angelin said, “but lots of fish.” Included in their catch were some very nice whiting and stud-sized croakers, plus flounder, sea bass, … [Read more...]
59c Shrimp
I bought some Texas Gulf Shrimp from Kroger’s this week, on special at $9.99 a pound. They were large and sweet and juicy, and we really enjoyed them on a bed of lettuce as a seafood salad. However, I happen to remember shrimp priced at 59c a pound, and my dad thought that was outrageous. I was about 11 or 12 and we were on vacation in Morehead City, NC where my Aunt Anne had a cottage on … [Read more...]
Tenderloin and Eggs
About once a month or so, I’ll buy a package of pork tenderloins - the little guys that come two in a pack. They weigh about a pound each. We like to marinate them and cook them in the oven at 400 for about 30 minutes, or until the inside reaches 145, then let it rest. Well and good, but one of those two tenderloins is more than enough for just the two of us. So, you can either freeze … [Read more...]
Winton Farm Golf Course
We are blessed to have a number of nice golf courses in and near Charlottesville, with lots of options to tee it up. But many don’t consider a really nice course available to us just 40 miles south. Winton Farm Golf Course in Amherst. I had played it once, 5 or 6 years ago, and played it again last week. I remember the course as being pretty long for me, so I moved up in tee boxes and … [Read more...]
Bye, Bye Catbirds
Pack up all my cares and woe, here I go, winging low Bye, bye, catbirds Yep. Catbirds. They’ve skipped town. I feel used in a way. They show up in March, two pair every year. They sing beautiful songs, then camp out at my suet feeder and peck away at my C & S Peanut logs. They eat lots themselves and they especially enjoy feeding the rich suet to their young. With a … [Read more...]
No Mo’ Corn Silk
Loyal reader and ace Realtor in Rappahannock Country, Nancy Jackson (nancy@michaelmarketingand realestate.com), wrote last week that there is more than one was to skin a cat – and an ear of corn. I wrote that one expert said to pull the husk and silk off from the top, then use a toothbrush and scrub the ears up and down to remove the silk. Nancy does this: Cut the tail end of the corn off- wrap … [Read more...]
What a Boost!
Covid. Don’t worry. Our fearless leaders have it under control. In fact, the President of Pfizer who has had all the possible shots and boosters there could possibly be, was pleased to announce that he had only contracted Covid four times. Imagine, if he hadn’t had all his doses, he might have got Covid 5 or 6 times! It’s important to get all those shots and boosters, even though you … [Read more...]
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