Trader Joe’s is an interesting grocery store, but I rarely go. First, Stonefield Shopping Center is a pain - difficult to get in and out of and screwy parking. I also get claustrophobia in Trader Joe’s as hundreds of customers squeeze into a not very large grocery store. But last week, Nancy and I went. A friend had given us a bottle of wine from Trader Joe’s called MoonX, a black … [Read more...]
A Potato Farmer
The upper part of my small vegetable garden only gets partial sun; therefore I am limited in what I can plant. I always want a few spring onions, they do well most anywhere and can go in the ground in March or even before. Black Simpson leaf lettuce is another one of my early spring favorites. Is there anything better than freshly picked lettuce along with a glop of Duke’s … [Read more...]
Violets are Blue
I have a weed in my yard that I’m quite fond of. It is blooming now. It’s a common wild blue violet. I never planted violets and have no idea how they made it to my yard, but I’m glad they did. There is no flower more lovely. Wild violets have heart-shaped leaves with purple-blue flowers. Though they are classified as annuals, they often self-seed, coming back each year in different … [Read more...]
Houston, We Have Frogs
Well, not exactly frogs – yet. We have two bullfrog tadpoles that should become frogs in a few weeks. Got them at Springdale Gardens near Greenville and now we’re considering a genuine pond for our potential frogs and existing pet goldfish. I have always wanted an underground or partially underground goldfish pond, but to date, Nancy has vetoed my pond legislation. Wives have that … [Read more...]
Fried Cabbage
By Sherman Shifflett I was thinking about what to have for dinner Saturday night, and I decided to try something different. I had a small steak, but wanted some different sides. I had picked up a cabbage yesterday, thinking coleslaw. Instead of coleslaw, however, I decided to fry some cabbage; I had not done that in years. I shredded half a cabbage, added a sliced onion … [Read more...]
Plant Milkweed, Now
If you love butterflies, monarch butterflies, get some milkweed seed and start it indoors right now. If you don’t have the opportunity to start the seeds, wait a few more weeks and buy plants from most any nursery. Butterflies have plenty of sources for nectar, but without milkweed, monarch butterflies cannot survive. They need that type of plant on which to lay their eggs and … [Read more...]
Tautog at The Bridge Tunnel
Tautog catches at the CBBT, on near-shore wrecks and artificial reefs has been outstanding. These tasty fish can’t resist a hook baited with fresh crab. Large schools of drum were encountered off Cape Point near Buxton, NC this week. Captain Rom Whitaker says the town of Buxton itself is a ghost town these days. Dare County is only allowing residents in right now. He hasn’t run a … [Read more...]
Remembering Boomer Pets
I suppose the lives of most Boomers can be measured by the pets we owned, and my family had some doozies. At Easter, I recall getting baby chickens and baby ducks – dyed in pastel colors – in our Easter baskets. It was a right of passage and there was no such thing as PETA. We just had pet birds for a spell. With ducks, when they lost their dyed colors and the cute factor, it was … [Read more...]
Baked Frogmore
“Frogmore Stew” is one of those great company dishes – it’s filling, fairly easy and inexpensive. And everybody loves Frogmore Stew, sometimes called “Low Country Boil.” Basically, you put everything in one big pot, boil it, then dump it out in a big bowl and dig in. Last week, I had the urge for some Frogmore, but I decided to bake it, and it was just as good if not … [Read more...]
Catbirds: Missing In Action
Roll call: Robins? We’re here. Bluebirds? Present Goldfinches? Yep, we’re here. Catbirds?..... Catbirds?..... Where are my catbirds? Foe the past 4 or 5 years, I have had one family of catbirds that nested in the rear of my yard. This year. – so far – I haven’t seen them They usually arrive in early April, and I’m getting a little worried. Catbirds are lovely, … [Read more...]
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