A Flock of Robins
I was sitting by the fire pit last week, enjoying a great cigar, when I saw a huge flock of birds, literally hundreds. Maybe starlings, I thought. On closer observation they were robins, a gazillion robins. They lit in several trees on the horizon, catching their collective breaths. They were likely heading north as the days get lighter. I have had a few robins just hang around our yard all … [Read more...]
Big Game Harvest Results
It was mixed results for big game hunters during the past season. The bear hunters scored big with a total kill of 2,892 bruins, up almost 30% from the previous year. The deer hunters checked in 206,586 animals, an increase of 12% over 2022/23. The results of the fall turkey season proved disappointing as the kill of just 1,443 birds was down by 11% The bear and deer hunters fared better … [Read more...]
OBX Happenings
The inshore trout bite has been pretty “speck’tacular”, says TW’s Tackle in Nags Head. Lots of trout - and nice fish at that - are smashing baits back in the sounds along with stripers and puppy drum. As the water begins to warm, it’s about 50 now, there should be no lull in the action if you’re heading that way. Boats nudging up to the Bonner Bridge at Oregon Inlet are finding some black drum and … [Read more...]
A Visit to the Principal’s Office
Report to the principal’s office! For young Boomers, those words were the equivalent of “Uncle Sam really wants you!†Or “Is it contagious?†An invitation to the principal’s office in the 1950’s and 60’s was not for discussing world events or even for a chat about your future pursuit of higher education. It was not to find out your thoughts on the Homecoming Dance, … [Read more...]
Signs of Our Times
BBQ Ground Pork Patties
I really enjoy ground pork – not ground sausage, ground pork. I may even prefer it to pork chops because unlike chops, you really don’t have to worry about ground pork being dry or tough, and it’s not time sensitive with temperature. It is also absurdly inexpensive - under $5 a pound and zero waste. I bought some this week and decided to experiment a bit. I decided to make some BBQ Ground … [Read more...]
Getting Ready for the Grackles
My enemies are coming. They’ve wintered in Texas but will soon be on the way to Virginia where they will set up operations in my backyard. But they won’t catch me by surprise. These black pests drive me crazy. As I try to keep my bluebirds and other songbirds fed and happy in advance of the nesting season, the grackles arrive, usually in March and they stay until July, eating me out of … [Read more...]
The Evil Eye
Women have an almost extra-terrestrial ability to transmit neurological signals through space with a single piercing look. It’s called the Evil Eye, and both children and grown men live in fear of it. My wife, Nancy, has perfected the use of her Evil Eye, which can deliver up to 500 volts of “You better watch your ass†with a range of up to 300 yards in clear weather. She used it … [Read more...]
Comparison Shopping
Aldi’s had rack of lamb on sale at $9.99 a pound. I immediately penciled it in for dinner that night. But I knew Aldi’s wouldn’t have mint jelly, so I first went to Kroger’s, but Kroger’s didn’t have mint jelly. Damn! Now I’d have to go to Food Lion and hope they had mint jelly. Nancy had asked a for a bag of mandarins (I think they call them Halo’s). They were $4.48 a bag a … [Read more...]
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