The dog days of summer are here, my friends. Yes, it’s hot out, but there are still some days where a cool morning or evening breeze makes me close my eyes, take a deep breath, and be thankful to be a resident on this big, blue planet we call home. I have several summertime traditions, built over a lifetime of experiences. These are “highlights” that I like to enjoy each year, and the list is ever-changing and growing. To me,…
The summer months are upon us. Now is the time to get out on that grill! If you’re like me, you use the grill all year round, but the summer months are a special time for cooking outside. How can you beat a juicy steak, burger, chicken thigh, or sausage – flame-kissed and beautifully browned with those distinguishing grill marks? Grilling is also a fast and easy way to make a delicious lunch or dinner, and also helps to cut…
As the weather begins to turn warmer, I am again dreaming of a beautiful summer garden. In my mind, there are several raised beds, neatly arranged with lettuces, spinach, spring onions, and radishes. Trellises support the young, sweet peas, cucumbers, and beans. Ordered hoops support the peppers and tomatoes. There’s a small section of herbs, so I can dash out and snip fresh sprigs of thyme, basil, or chives. All that glorious bounty will be at my fingertips, just waiting…
As the weather continues to warm up, I realize that I’ve been missing something over the winter that will soon be back in season – the front porch. Front porches are traditional, very “old school” Americana, and are one of things that I think makes a house a home. If you don’t have one, you’re really missing out. Sure, you can have a fantastic back patio with a pool, fire-pit, and even a canopy with lots of twinkling lights, but…
I case you didn’t know it yet (and by now you do, seeing as you’ve been an hour late to all your appointments for the past 24 hours), this past Sunday morning marked the beginning of yet another season of Daylight Savings Time. You now have until November 5th, 2017 to fool yourself into believing you have an “extra” hour of daylight every day from now until then. Daylight Savings Time (DST) is a practice that was suggested as early…
As I’ve mentioned in a previous article, the bounty from that backyard or patio summer garden is at its peak, and everyone is looking for ideas on what to do with all of those beautiful, fresh vegetables. A homemade pico de gallo is an easy and tasty way to get some great use out of all those “extra” tomatoes and bell peppers. Pico de gallo (also known as salsa fresca) is basically a homemade salsa – the difference being is…
All over the four-state area, summer means it’s time for the local carnival, an annual tradition that exemplifies small town, family entertainment. Throughout the region, each community has its own “carnival week”, a time when the local community gets together to eat, play, raise money for various civic organizations, and mingle. This week marks the annual Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company Carnival, a local entertainment institution that’s been going for over 75 years. Generations of families have experienced what is…
The return of hot, summer weather to Maryland means many things to me, but one of my favorite summer traditions is sitting down to eat some delicious Maryland Blue crabs. Pounding crabs is as Maryland as one can get. It’s more identifiable with the state than the Preakness, the Orioles, Ocean City, or National Bohemian beer (or “Natty –Boh” for those of you not in the know). Don’t get me wrong, I like all types of seafood. Mussels? Sure. Oysters? …