I was headed to the Rappahannock River last September hoping to get into the spot – those big yellow bellies that show up each fall. For this, I needed bloodworms. As soon as I saw the first bait shop in West Point, I stopped. No bloodworms, they said. Nobody’s got them. Again and again, I stopped and there were indeed no bloodworms to be had. But on my last stop, a lady said she did … [Read more...]
Steak Knives and Other Freebies
We have a single steak knife in our kitchen that moved with me to Charlottesville when I set up my apartment in 1967. It’s not much of a knife, but it does have serrated edges, which I suppose makes it a steak knife. It sits alone, proudly among other very good steak knives. Even though it’s worthless except for maybe carving out a patty of warm butter, I can’t just toss it. It brings … [Read more...]
Uncle Bud’s Garden
Every summer, Mom shipped me off to Clemmons, NC to spend a week with my Brewer relatives. Several times, they put me on a Greyhound bus and shoved me off solo, sometimes seated next to a soldier on leave. I’d spend a couple nights with Aunt Lena, a night or two with my cousin, Bob, and several nights with my cousin Steve. Steve’s dad, Uncle Bud, had married my father’s sister, Aunt Mary. Mary and … [Read more...]
Hand Fed Frogs
As I have mentioned, almost every night I toss meal worms to my assorted frogs in the goldfish pond. Some land on the lily pads and the others fall in the water to awaiting goldfish. Nancy, however, goes one better. She hand feeds a certain frog that perches up on the stones. He’s a little fellow, a leopard frog, and cute as a button. For kicks, one afternoon, I challenged Nancy to … [Read more...]
C’mon Cukes
I put in four cucumber plants this spring. I went with Burpless Hybrid English cucumbers. I had done well with these longer cucumbers (they grow to almost a foot) several years ago but couldn’t find them again until this spring. I was excited - at first. Then my vines looked like they had petered out in mid-summer, and I was most disappointed. I had counted on at least a few fresh cukes from my … [Read more...]
Hobe’s Country Hams
One of my favorite ways to start the day is with a thin slice of country ham on a toasted potato slider roll, but it’s hard to find good country ham at many of the local grocery stores. Kroger’s has none at all. I was in Food Lion recently and happened to stop by their Deli and asked about salt cured country ham. They had some, Hobe’s, a name I was familiar with. Based in North Wilkesboro, NC. … [Read more...]
Table For Two (At Wawa)
Dinner at Wawa? A gas station? With week-old hot dogs spinning on the counter display? No, dinner at Wawa with some of the best hand cut sandwiches in town. I didn’t know much about Wawa, except they had a weird name. I figured the first born of one of the owners cried, “wah-wah” and they used that name instead of Shell or Amoco. But when Wawa came to town a few months ago, they … [Read more...]
The Golf Fly
He follows me no matter where I go. Old Trail, The Homestead, Trump National, Stony Creek, no matter the course, he’s always there. He’s a Golf Fly and his favorite perch is on one of my white golf balls. My Golf Fly is particular, though. He won’t land on a green golf ball, just a white one. I don’t know how he does it, but no matter where I hit my drive, he zeroes in and settles on top of the … [Read more...]
Laying Tile(fish) on the Docks
All summer, boats venturing out in deeper water have returned to the docks with nice Blue Line Tilefish. These colorful bottom dwellers hang out in deep water, really deep water, like 250 feet and more. They hang in the same kind of habitat with groupers and snappers and prefer sandy bottoms. James Friend Dickerson and buddies chartered The Doghouse out of Manteo last week and caught … [Read more...]
Meal Worm Tossing
A new sport is sweeping the nation, so popular that the International Olympic Committee is considering it as an event. It is Meal Worm Tossing. Tens of thousands are now honing their skills by tossing meal worms in mid-air to awaiting frogs in goldfish ponds. I stand corrected. Snopes, the friendly fact checker, says my numbers aren’t exactly right. Instead of tens of thousands, it’s more like … [Read more...]
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