About once a year, I’ll see an albino or a leucistic bird in my yard. Last week, I saw a white sparrow. At least I’m pretty sure he was a sparrow because he was flying with a small flock of other sparrows. The flock of 7 or 8 flew to the fence at my garden, then something spooked them, and they flew off to the back hedge. I thought that maybe since they had found food and water, they’d stay a … [Read more...]
Decent ‘Maters
My garden did okay this year. Several weeks of 90 degree-plus weather and no rain sure slowed things down, but overall, my tomatoes were decent. If a back yard gardener can only get a few good tomatoes, all is not lost. Last year, my tomatoes were almost perfect, only 1 or 2 had end rot. I had a bumper crop, but I didn’t particularly care for the tomatoes. The skins were tough, and the inside … [Read more...]
Guns of My Life
A 410 Single Barrel Shotgun The week after Daddy took me squirrel hunting with my newly gifted 12-gauge single barrel shotgun that kicked like a mule on steroids, I set out on my own one afternoon when school let out. I put a handful of 12-gauge, hi-power shells in my pocket and walked to the nearest patch of woods. Suddenlly, I saw a squirrel, and my pulse raced, and my arms … [Read more...]
Pimento Cheese with “Soul”
It’s funny how tastes remain with you for long periods of time. It seems like just last week that I was on a church picnic at Beaver Creek Lake just outside Beckley, WV. I was 9 or 10. Boy, what a spread those Beckley Presbyterian Church ladies set before us. Fried chicken, ham biscuits, yeast rolls, homemade pies and cakes, but the one thing I remember to this day were the pimento cheese … [Read more...]
Catching a Virginia Bass Slam
By Dr. Peter Brookes I’m always up for a challenge and decided to try for a Virginia Bass Slam. The Bass Slam requires the angler to net three species of Virginia bass in a year. The eligible fish include the largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, and/or a hybrid striped bass. While a full year is allotted for completing the Virginia Bass Slam Challenge, netting three bass … [Read more...]
Italian Pork Chops
I found a recipe for pork loins that is so easy and so good, fellow cooks should keep it a secret. If our guests and family knew how little trouble this was to put together, we would lose all respect. So, keep this recipe for Italian Pork Chops under wraps. I bought a half pork lion because it was on sale. I figured at least 3 meals and got to work. I cut four ¾-inch loins for the two of us, … [Read more...]
Catching Ribbonfish
For the past 4 or 5 years, ribbonfish have been finding their way into more and more coolers. Once considered a trash fish (except for use as bait for king mackerel), anglers have discovered their value as a food fish. They are pretty fish as well - if you disregard their mouths full of sharp dentures. Their tiny scales are bright silver, almost reflective. They have … [Read more...]
Guns of My Life
A 12-gauge Single Barrel Shotgun Daddy said I could go hunting with him when I was 13 and how I looked forward to that date. For years, I had watched in awe as Daddy came home from his hunts and emptied his coat of quail and rabbits. I sat beside him as he cleaned them and admired his skill in dressing his kill. Then, one day, he said that I may be able to go hunting sooner if I … [Read more...]
Delicious Fried Panko Chicken
I cooked some fried chicken breasts last week that would rival Chick-fil-A. It was crunchy, juicy, and delicious and it all started with split chicken breasts, skin-on, bone-in. Those neatly trimmed, pre-packaged chicken breast loins are expensive, and they can be fairly tasteless. A far better buy – and a better cut, I think – is a package of two split chicken breasts with skin-on and bone-in. … [Read more...]
Old Businesses of Charlottesville
Leggett’s Barracks Road Lots of great businesses have come and gone in the 50-plus years I have lived in Charlottesville. Bear with me as I recall a few of them in the coming weeks. First up – Leggett’s Barracks Road. At one time, Leggett was an old, downtown department store chain. They chose middle-size cities like Lynchburg, Waynesboro and Danville and offered inexpensive … [Read more...]
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