Every year it’s the same. Within the same week, sometimes within a day or two, my snowbirds leave and my catbirds return. They must both get the same weather report or whatever it is that makes birds come and go. I had a large flock of snowbirds this year - maybe 20 in all and they practically camped out beneath my feeders. I made sure to toss them some extra seeds on the ground since they … [Read more...]
Rubbish Works Junk Removal
What do you do with an old hot tub that is no longer in workable condition? You can’t put it out on the curb for trash pick-up on Monday mornings. You don’t have enough friends to help drag it to a truck if you could find one big enough to hold a huge six-seater. I had such a hot tub and it looked like we were stuck with it. Then Nancy called an outfit known as Rubbish Works Junk Removal. No … [Read more...]
The Shad Run Continues
Mark Scott, formerly from Charlottesville, returned to his home state from North Carolina and found lots of willing hickory shad biting in the Rappahannock. Mark was able to fish from the shore at the city park without having to wade and had nice catches, like the one above. Crappie and bass have mostly finished their spawn but are still cruising in shallow water. Stripers are on their way up … [Read more...]
Yellow Perch
I don’t know why, but I’ve always been fascinated by yellow perch. Maybe it’s because they are beautiful or perhaps it’s because they are among the first fish to bite each spring or maybe it has to do that there is no finer eating fish that swims – I’m just a big fan. Yellow perch, sometimes called ring perch, are cousins of walleye – considered the finest eating of all freshwater fish. They … [Read more...]
Post Cards
When is the last time you got a post card – other than a notice from your eye doctor? We’re talking post cards from Florida or Old Faithful or the Caribbean. Boomers remember when post cards were not only common, but essentially a requirement when folks went on vacation. Today, instead of post cards, our in-boxes are filled with e-mails sporting pictures of the vacations taken … [Read more...]
Crispy Wings from the Oven
It’s hard to beat a platter of fried chicken wings dredged in your favorite sauce, but you can have crispy chicken wings without all the oil and frying. And it’s easy. Start with 2 or 3 pounds of wings, remove the tips and split each wing. Pat the wings dry with paper towels and set aside. Put a couple wire racks on a sheet pan lined with parchment or foil (for easy cleaning). Melt a half … [Read more...]
Phlox Beauties
How do you spell beauty? P-h-l-o-x. Phlox, not flox. Phlox may be hard to spell, but they sure are pretty, and they are easy to grow. I remember when I first moved to Charlottesville, I made many trips to Sugar Hollow to engage the trout in the Moorman’s River with assorted flies. I also vividly remember that in early April, lawns all along Garth Road and Sugar Hollow Road were teeming with … [Read more...]
American Shad Found Above Old Ashland Mill Dam
Here is some really good news about the endangered American Shad. The dam at the Ashland Mill site on the South Anna River in Ashland, Virginia, was removed in September 2024, restoring more than 400 miles of historical spawning habitat for seven species of migratory fishes, including American shad. During post-removal assessment by DWR and partners at Randolph-Macon College, a healthy American … [Read more...]
Garden Patience
“Lord, give me patience. And give it to me right now!” Every backyard gardener should hang that plaque on their garden fence. If you don’t have a garden fence, there’s no need for the sign because the deer will eat everything you plant and you won’t need patience. Every early spring, Mother Nature teases us with a few days in the 80s. The birds are singing, and flowers and trees are … [Read more...]
Tuna Action Closed at Nags Head
Looks like no more tuna fishing from Jennette’s Pier. An organization called NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) called a halt to any form of tuna fishing from the pier or shore because the bluefin recreational quota had been reached in federal waters. But Jennette’s Pier and the shoreline of Nags Head aren’t in federal waters, so the NOAA had no jurisdiction, but when does that … [Read more...]
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