Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
Although the American eels are often described as “snake-like,” they are actually fish. Their faded yellow sides compliment their dark brown look, with the females having a lighter look. While the males measure 1.5 feet in length, the females can get as large as 4 feet. Eels live for an average of 5 to 20 years in freshwater and brackish waters such as rivers, coastal lagoons and lakes. After this time, they return to the sea to spawn once and then die.
Eels can be easily distinguished from snakes in the water by the way they move; water snakes look like ropes when they swim, but eels look more like ribbons.
Eels can be very aggressive if hooked while fishing; however, they are harmless and nonvenomous if they bite.
For eel-gigging, conditions have to be just right: clear, shallow water, low tide, dark, and no wind. Even a slight breeze ripples the surface and greatly reduces visibility.
Gigging requires no special skills and just a few basic pieces of equipment. In this community, the river is where eels will be found. Wade into the river, knee to thigh deep and peer intently down at the lit-up circles made by the lamps. Eels often hide under the river moss or grass. One needs to poise the gig (which is a spear with prongs at the end) and spear with a decisive blow above it. Stow the slimy and slithering eel in a bucket or container of some sort. They can bite so be careful when landing them.
Much needed equipment for giggin’ includes water shoes, headlamp, bug spray, headlamp or flashlight, gig, net, rag for picking up eels and container.
How to cook eel:
Though they can be fried, broiled, grilled, sautéed, even braised in sauerkraut (“Polish style”), smoking is usually the preferred method. First dry-rub or brine them, then smoke them the same way as bluefish filets, though for proportionally less time since they are thinner.
Life’s instructions to make one’s day brighter include the following:
- Compliment three people every day
- Leave everything better than one found it.
- Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
- Be kinder than necessary.
- Keep one’s promises.
Mornings have been rather brisk with temperatures dipping in the 40s. It is that time of the year when frost can be expected. Sunday night’s thunderstorm brought showers. Some farmers have been making some hay to better embrace the cow feeders this winter.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“Putting a little time aside for clean fun and good humor is very necessary to relieve the tensions of our time.” — Hattie McDaniel
“If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.” — Pearl S. Buck
“Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” — Jack Benny
“Artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons.” — Al Hirschfeld
“Good work is good work, wherever it’s done.” — Parker Stevenson
Peace and quiet is found on the front porch to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Ken Roberts finished second place in his age class at the GFNY 92 bike race in Cambridge, Maryland. Without stopping, he completed the race in 5 hours 40 minutes. Competing bicyclists were from around the world with the first place winner in his class hailing from Sweden.
Saturday evening was a glittery time for the middle and high school students in the county. Beautiful pictures were snapped and portrayed on social media.
Wesley and Becky Puffenbarger’s niece of Lorton, Virginia, spent Saturday night with them. She helped Emma Puffenbarger get ready for her first homecoming dance. Sunday, Nathan Puffenbarger celebrated his seventh birthday. Attending were his grandparents, Robert and Nancy Hodges, “Butch” Puffenbarger, Matt and Robby Hodges, Drew and Natalie Hodges of Lorton, Virginia, Carl Larry of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Carter Brahm and Wyatt Ruddle, his classmates.
St. John’s potpie fundraiser was very successful. So many commented on the tasty vittles. The donations are planned for a local individual who is in great need of medical assistance.
Willard and Judy Rader enjoyed visiting Sunday in the home of Benny and Linda Custer.
This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
Dolphins call each other by name using unique whistle sounds.
In 1770, Captain James Cook discovered the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia when his ship, HHS Endeavour, collided with the coral.
A 10-gallon hat barely holds six pints.
Macadamia nuts were first commercially planted in Hawaii. The nut is native to Australia
Forrest Mars, the creator of Peanut M&Ms, was allergic to peanuts.
Concerns are for Bob Adamson, Dyer Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Richard Bennett, “Bo” Boggs, Marie Cole, Christian Dasher, Phil Downs, Benny Evick, Isaac Eye, Linda Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Thelma Fleisher, Carl Gant, David Gillespie, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Marlene Harman, Adam and Jennifer Harper, Missy Harrison, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Starr Hedrick, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, George Hevener, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Adalbert Hoover, Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Tim L. Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, Lisa and Mike Jamison, Jessica Janney, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Ruthlene Judy; Marsha Keller, Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, O’Dell Lambert, Robert Lambert, Ronnie Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, John Morford, Bill Mullenax, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Andy Pond, Janice Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, Jason Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Mike Roberts, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, Mary Sawyers, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Judy Waggy, Estelle Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams and Ann and Ed Wimer.
