I’m knocking on wood here, but I may have solved my birdfeeder problems for good. Squirrels and grackles are my mortal enemies, stealing my expensive bird seed meant for songbirds only. The grackles come in swarms, and they can empty a feeder in minutes. And squirrels? It’s like the 100 Years War – never ending. But two things are turning the tide in my favor. Hearts on Fire sunflower hearts … [Read more...]
Signs of Our Times
VMRC: Dereliction of Duty
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission says that we need a 50% reduction in the East Coast Menhaden harvest in order to sustain striped bass, ospreys, bluefish and – indirectly – every creature in the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Legal Alliance and Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization have petitioned for an immediate moratorium in reduction fishing for menhaden within the … [Read more...]
Return of the Blues
The last several years have seen ever improving catches of nice bluefish and 2026 looks to continue that trend. Big bluefish up to 10 pounds are currently ravaging schools of bait in the lower Bay, in the Virginia surf and from piers. No reports of those 15- and 20-pound gator-sized blues from the past, but an 8- or 10-pounder is certainly no slouch Croakers are spreading throughout the bay, … [Read more...]
When Cars Were Hot
I was sitting in traffic this week and looked at the cars surrounding me. One word came to mind. Ugly. There were all sorts of hatchbacks ranging from tiny to huge and a few squatty sedans leftover from the rental car lots. There were lots of Mom cars - boxy vans that would hold a baseball team. There were trucks approaching the size of school busses, some so high off the ground you’d need a … [Read more...]
How Sweet It Is!
Funny, but there are still a handful of smells that I can distinctly remember from my youth. One was the smell of a new baseball mitt, a strong leather scent that lasted until you left your glove out in the rain just once. Another smell was that of a new pair of blue jeans, the aroma of the strong indigo dye was tantalizing. Another unforgettable scent I recall was from Grandma Brewer’s kitchen … [Read more...]
Cville Buzz
For reasons unknown, sometimes the server for Cville Buzz will drop a subscriber. It has dropped me on several occasions. If that happens, simply go to CvilleBuzz.com and re-subscribe. I always send out a Buzz, every Friday, so if you don’t get your copy, assume they dropped you and go to CvilleBuzz.com. By the way, if you ever want to go back and reread an old article, everything I have done … [Read more...]
Ritz Cracker Pankos
I found myself without Panko crumbs this week and I needed something to hold my ground chicken patties together. No problem. I had a whole box of Ritz Crackers ready to get in the ballgame. I also had my Food Saver bags to make the job easy. I put a sleeve of the crackers in the bag and pounded them down to an appropriate consistency, then used them in my chicken mixture. Ritz Crackers add a … [Read more...]
My Pet Crow
I think I have a pet crow. Then again, maybe the crow in my back yard has a pet human. Whatever the case, it’s strange. I have always had a few crows around. Sometime three, sometimes four. They stop by periodically to see if there are any seeds or corn kernels left over after the squirrels have finished, and sometimes they will dunk a piece of bread in our bird bath. I like having crows … [Read more...]
Nancy’s Cole Slaw
My wife Nancy makes the best Cole Saw in North America – maybe South America, too, assuming they make Cole Slaw. I had a request recently to print her recipe and she agreed. As with all good cooks, Nancy uses the taste test when making her Cole Slaw, adding stuff as needed and she recommends that others do the same. Some may like slaw a little sweeter, for example. Taste and see. Start with a … [Read more...]
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