Today's Opinions

This is the time of year when we are attending functions celebrating the holiday season. This usually means sampling many different kinds of foods set out on a buffet table including appetizers. These are best described as a variety of tasty finger foods.

For more intimate settings, such as your own living room in front of a warm glowing fire, something as simple as a plate of sliced cheese (or container of cheese spread) and a few tasty crackers and a glass of your favorite wine (or non-alcoholic beverage) and a good book will make for a cozy and entertaining evening.

Is this October or December?

The sun sets like it is December, but the daytime highs feel much more like fall than midwinter.

And it seems as though the fish are confused as well. Normally by this time, the trout and redfish have become well established in the area rivers and deeper tidal creeks, but many trout are still out front on the edge of the flats as if it were march already.

My guess is that the next cold front (which has not been forecast at this writing) will be the "coupe de grace" that finally persuades them to head for their usual winter haunts.

I prepared and served my first complete holiday meal for Thanksgiving, 1961 when I was a mere 19 years old. I had the help of a couple of my younger sisters but, for the most part, I could take credit, or blame, for most of it.

Fortunately, it turned out to be a delicious dinner. The only thing missing were our parents who had both passed away earlier that year. I was among those fortunate enough to have been taught the basics of cooking, baking and setting a pretty table, as my mother called it.