With the holiday gift-giving season in full swing, many are scrambling to find the perfect item for that special person on the receiving end. As the old saying goes, good things come in small packages. Well, most of the time. There are always gift cards to preferred retailers, the 21st Century equivalent of cash, or…Read more
It is a situation which has been repeated countless time over the course of recorded history in countries and continents across the globe. In all likelihood the scenario occurred, albeit on a much smaller scale, in the days which predated the written accountings of the destruction. An assemblage gathered with the sole objective to pillage…Read more
It has been a refrain heard throughout the centuries and likely originating during the Neolithic epoch. “Eat your vegetables,” is the anthem of almost every parent during mealtime when juveniles are involved. While there are many green substances on the plate which are perceived as offensive by the progeny, peas are known for their repulsive…Read more
The middle of summer, late July and August, is the time north Florida residents see the largest numbers of adult eastern lubber grasshoppers. The females are seeking appropriate places to lay their eggs, and their large size and distinctive markings make them easily visible. The eggs from which these grasshoppers hatched were deposited in the…Read more
During this period of returning “social distancing”, leisure activity options have the potential to be reduced again. Crowded venues are being discouraged, whether wearing a mask or not. As such, the lesser utilized sites in the great outdoors are now being considered as ideal vacation get-a-ways, even by those who do not normally venture far…Read more
Insects generally are viewed by the public-at-large as pest species which are tolerated in moderate numbers and eradicated when reaching the nuisance level. A prime example is the housefly, Musca domestica, the most common domestic fly in the panhandle and just about everywhere else on the planet. It accounts for about 90 percent of all…Read more
The recent stormy weather, with all its potential problems, has focused many panhandle Florida residents on alternate tools for a variety of uses to keep civilization at hand. In some cases, gasoline powered engines are necessary to achieve a level of 21st century comfort. Internal combustion engines fueled by gasoline require more attention and present…Read more
The winter of 2020/21 was the one for which most people had been wishing. The refrain “I want a cold winter to kill all the bugs,” had been a frequently express preference during the hot humid days of August and September 2020. Still, it was nowhere near cold enough to deplete panhandle Florida’s insect population…Read more
Having things “in the bag” is usually an indication of a good situation. According to the saying, the project or objective is collected in a manageable environment and under control. The phrase actually originates with bird and small game hunters who literally had their quarry in a bag as they headed home to prepare a…Read more
“The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,” so wrote the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare in his classic play the Merchant of Venice. Rains in Florida’s 2020 warm season have been gentle, and not so gentle at times, but at least there has been enough of them. …Read more
