“The more I practice, the luckier I get.” Ben Hogan. Hogan would have liked the Highlands Golf Park in Ruckersville. One of the most dedicated golf pros of all time, Hogan knew that spending time on the range would improve his game. And great as he was, Hogan never stopped trying to improve. As certified “duffers”, we need practice more than anyone and highland is a great place to hone our … [Read more...]
Grackle Attack
They come in swarms, just as spring arrives. Only this year they came early. The grackles, that is. And they’ll eat you out of house and home. Throughout the winter, I feed my birds sunflower seed hearts. Because it has already been shelled, birds such as robins, mockingbirds and my beloved bluebirds can eat and digest the hearts. But sunflower seed hearts and chips are expensive, about twenty … [Read more...]
That First Best Friend
His name was Freddie Arnold. He was sent by heaven to save a young Boomer from a life dominated by girls. He was my first, best friend. The summer before I would start third grade in Beckley, WV, my family moved across town. I would be in a new school and in a new neighborhood. The day the movers were unloading our furniture, a bolt of lightning hit the refrigerator one of the men was … [Read more...]
Braces in Fourth Grade?
Ever wonder why you see so many elementary school children in braces? As a parent do you feel you are missing something? The answer is, “probably not.” It is true the number of young children getting orthodontic treatment has grown significantly over the past decade according to the American Association of Orthodontists, but, there are only a small number of orthodontic problems where early … [Read more...]
Scenic (and Delicious) Rt. 460
Living in central Virginia and making frequent trips to the Eastern Shore as well as to Nags Head, travelers like myself are faced with the big decision – I-64 or Rt. 460. It’s shorter, as the crow flies, to go 64, but when there is a speck of traffic at Hampton or around Norfolk, agonizing delays occur for the Interstate traveler. Plus, there is this mysterious place on I-64 below Richmond and … [Read more...]
Pendants: Just for Fun
Whether your space allows for a single pendant as a solo style statement or a grouping for a sizable impact, pendants are a great go-to for decorative task lighting. Keep in mind that when placed in an area where people tend to gather, such as a kitchen island, that pendants should be installed high enough that people can see one another, but not so high that they are blinded by the glare of the … [Read more...]
Catching Worms
Boomers had numerous ways to entertain themselves and none involved cell phones or video games. We made the most of whatever was available. If there was a barn around, with hay, that was good for at least a week’s entertainment – hide and seek, springing from one loft to the next, using the stacked bales as a make believe fortress and numerous other amusements. We rode bikes - everywhere. We … [Read more...]
Oculoplastics and Orbital Consultants, PLC
Eyelids don’t lie. They know how old you are and they show it, by drooping, sagging and looking - well - old. Dr. Sara A. Kaltreider with Oculoplastics and Orbital Consultants, PLC understands eyelids. They are here specialty. “My surgical practice involves reconstructing eyelids, cosmetic eyelid work, repair of tearing problems, removal of eyelid lesions,” she said. Recently I have added CO2 … [Read more...]
Beer Wenches and Other Distractions
There are plenty of distractions on a golf course: Your golf partner clicking around a pocket of tees while you’re lining up a five-footer, for example, or a left to right gale when you, a chronic slicer, are teeing it up. That can be a distraction. Teeing it up on the first hole requiring a long drive over water, while you hear the four-some behind you taking odds-on bets that you’ll plunk it in … [Read more...]
Cooking The Perfect Hamburger
Anybody can cook a hamburger. Take a piece of ground meat, throw it on a grill, put it in under the broiler or on a griddle and cook away. When done, top it off with your favorite combination of condiments and you’ve got yourself a hamburger. If you’re totally satisfied with your burgers, read no further. But if you’d like to serve what I believe is the perfect hamburger at your next cookout, … [Read more...]