My pole beans have been reaching for the stars for two months, vines on top of vines, but no pole beans. Blooms, yes, beans, no. Fellow gardener Sherman Shifflett said he was having the same problem and an agriculture agent said others were wondering where the beans were. I read recently that if the ground temperature reaches 90 degrees, the beans say, “Forget it. We’re not … [Read more...]
My Pet Skink
I have a pet skink. He shares my office here at Lights Out in Ruckersville. He, or a member of his clan, has been with me with four years. I see him every summer. He sneaks under a small crack below my front door. He stopped by for a visit last week and scooted across the carpet. He was casing the joint, looking for a mid-afternoon snack, maybe an ant or spider. A cricket would qualify as a … [Read more...]
Order of the Thistle
If you’ve ever tried to uproot a thistle in your yard or garden, it’s doubtful you’re a big fan of the lovely weed. How did this thing get in here, you’ll wonder. A single thistle plant, however, can produce up to 4,000 seeds that go airborne and settle wherever they find a fertile spot, like a garden. Roadsides work, too. We played golf at Heritage Oaks in Harrisonburg a week or so … [Read more...]
Skechers Shoes – Ahhh!
When we were packing for Hawaii last year, I discovered my only pair of tennis shoes was falling apart. Literally. One sole came completely off. Since some walking was required on a few of our Aloha State excursions, I went shopping for a pair of casual shoes. I shop for shoes only when an existing pair falls apart. My wife, Nancy, however, likes to shoe-shop on any day of the week ending in … [Read more...]
Outdoor Living With Outdoor Lighting
By Nancy B If by chance you read or subscribe to the Cville Buzz you notice Jim’s articles on our pond. We built a small pond in our backyard in the spring for our 8 goldfish, but mostly for my husband. It has been quite an adventure and now we have an additional 14 baby goldfish. How did that happen? Anyway, I moved my parents’ very old metal glider in front of our pond for better … [Read more...]
Roasted Squash and Tomatoes
When yellow squash comes in, it really comes in. Four squash plants can supply all the IGA stores in Virginia. That is, until the squash borers arrive. Then it’s over, No more squash. The borers were late finding my squash plants this summer, and our lower vegetable drawer in our refrigerator has remained stacked with squash. We have eaten it fried sautéed, grilled, steamed and broiled. … [Read more...]
Big Cobia Hit the OBX
Cobia have begun their migration out of the Chesapeake Bay and some big boys have already found their way down to Nags Head. Capt. Reese Stecher and parties are scoring with cobia to 70 pounds and more. The fishing is terrific now, says Reese. “We are catching ribbonfish, lots of false albacore, some sharks and some big red drum in the ocean. Back in the sounds, we are catching limits of speckled … [Read more...]
The Voice of a Lifetime
Music has played an important part in the lives of Boomers. We have seen it progress from the big band sounds, to jazz, to rock and roll, to rockabilly, folk music, California music, the British Invasion, soul, heavy metal and now rap, if you can call that music. We have also seen and heard some amazing voices, particularly female. There was Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Barbara Streisand, Dionne … [Read more...]
Frog Watching
This is pretty sad, but the highlight of my day comes each afternoon after work as Nancy and I have cocktails beside our goldfish pond. The cocktails are nice, but they aren’t the highlight. The highlight is watching our frogs and hoping they catch a bug in midair. For us, this is exciting , and yes, it’s sad. But frogs are truly amazing creatures. I think we have three now in our … [Read more...]
Really Easy Ribs
Baby back ribs are one of our go-to meals and I have cooked them a hundred ways – wrapped in foil and slow cooked as well as tossed on the grill and basted with a sweet sauce. A week or so again, Nancy said she was I the mood for ribs on a day I was playing golf. I decided to put them in the slow cooker, but for a change, I didn’t use any barbeque sauce. I seasoned them only with salt … [Read more...]
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