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Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 11/29/12

Riding a Piece of History

My restored 1939 Allis-Chalmers B tractor gives me a fleet of two, going on three

In June 2007, I wrote a Bay Gardener column about restoring a 1949 John Deere B tractor. A Bay Weekly reader called to offer me an old tractor, which had belonged to his father-in-law. When I visited, I found a neglected Allis-Chalmers B parked at the edge of a woods. It had not been operated for at least 10 years. It would no doubt be a real challenge to restore to operating condition. Since the word can’t is not in my vocabulary, I accepted the...

Article - The Dish; by Lisa Knoll - 11/29/12

Run, Run Rudolph

It’s venison season

The deer hunt is on, for firearms at least, until December 8. Bow season follows from the 10th to the 14th. Hope the hunters steer clear of Santa’s sleigh. With its dark, earthy flavor, venison can be used as steak, stew meat, sausage or as a replacement in any protein recipe. It is a lean meat and certainly sustainable. Novices, prepare for a gamey taste. Chad Wells, newly appointed executive chef at The Rockfish in Eastport, is well known for his...

Article - Sky Watch by J. Alex Knoll; by J. Alex Knoll - 11/22/12

Tracking the Beaver Moon

November’s full moon reminds us to prepare for winter

As the evening sky darkens, Mars appears briefly, low in the southwest, a red-orange glimmer as bright as any star. This is the best view of the red planet we’ll have for many weeks. As Mars sinks from view, Jupiter rises in the northeast, far brighter than any star. Jupiter is surrounded by the stars of Taurus, midway between the bull’s glaring red eye, Aldebaran, and its horns, El Nath and Al Hecka. Surrounding Aldebaran are the stars of the Hyades cluster, the...

Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 11/22/12

Want Onions for Spring?

There’s still time to plant short-day onions

Short-day onions generate their bulbs when daylight hours are less than 12. If you are going to plant onion plants this fall, make certain that you purchase only short-day varieties. Short-day varieties can be successfully transplanted as late as mid-December and still produce a normal crop. Many of us will be planting almost that late, as Dixon Dale onion farm, one of the nation’s largest producers of onion plants, did not have plants ready to ship until mid-November...

Article - Sporting Life by Dennis Doyle; by Dennis Doyle - 11/22/12

The Fish Are Big

But the catching’s strenuous

From all indications, the last quarter of 2012 isn’t going to set any fishing records before rockfishing closes December 15. There have been very few days when being on the water was anything other than an ordeal. Fishfinder Pick your days and be patient. Those are the two rules to follow in the latter part of our rockfish season. Big fish as well as those in the 20- to 28-inch range have been caught. But it takes long days and persistent effort to get the job done. Trolling,...

Article - The Dish; by Lisa Knoll - 11/22/12

Calling All Gingerbread Architects

Help build a sweet village for Annapolis

Looking for a creative outlet this holiday season? Or perhaps a great bonding exercise for the family or office? Get your ovens preheated and architectural plans drawn for this year’s Historic Annapolis gingerbread contest. Entries will be on exhibit in local businesses in Historic Annapolis December 6 thru January 1. Register by Monday, November 26, in professional or amateur categories. Pick up a registration form at the Historic Annapolis Museum at 99 Main Street or...

Article - Sky Watch by J. Alex Knoll; by J. Alex Knoll - 11/15/12

What Some Tourists Leave Behind

You won’t mind picking up after comet Tempel-Tuttle

The young crescent moon appears in the southwest at twilight Thursday and Friday, with ruddy Mars a half-dozen degrees to the east the first night and to the southwest the next. Through the weekend the waxing moon sets well before midnight, providing a dark backdrop for the annual Leonid meteor shower. This year’s Leonids should be most active before dawn Saturday, November 17, but you might well see meteors a couple days before and after. The meteors look as if they...

Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 11/15/12

From the Bay Garden to the Thanksgiving Table

We didn’t grow our own celery, olives or turkey

This year, our garden will be providing butternut squash, onions, garlic, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots and red and green peppers for the Thanksgiving table. We might include sauerkraut that was made and canned in 2010. If needed we could also include Siberian kale and collard greens, but I prefer roasted Brussels sprouts. Wife Clara always buys the largest turkey that will fit in the oven. As in previous years, I will first brine the turkey starting on Wednesday...

Article - The Dish; by Lisa Knoll - 11/15/12

Make a Run for Thanksgiving Pie

No exertion involved, though you can wear sweats

The clock is ticking down to turkey day, with its frenetic menu planning and shopping to prepare the annual feast. When it comes to dessert, no other meal screams pie! like Thanksgiving. For something unique and fun, try a pie run. Not to be confused with a turkey trot, this run involves no physical exertion (though you can still wear sweatpants, if that’s your thing). South County Café in Deale is hosting its 18th pie run this Thanksgiving. The brainchild of classic...

Article - Sporting Life by Dennis Doyle; by Dennis Doyle - 11/15/12

The Bounty of the Chesapeake

Enrich your Thanksgiving menu with fish, fowl and venison

The tradition of Thanksgiving dinner was first attributed to the Plymouth Bay Colony in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. But the practice of a harvest or a thanksgiving dinner was widespread throughout the early colonies and especially around the Chesapeake. The Chesapeake was by far the richest colony in America in terms of fish, waterfowl and wild game. Capt. John Smith, who first explored the Bay, spoke of being able to “walk across the water” on the...