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The weather is turning cooler. Good Golly!  The low temperature on Thursday is to be 41 degrees. Autumn is truly on its way.

With the chill in the air comes a hankering for chili. Yes, chili … that delectable concoction of meat, tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers. Serve it with crunchy chips, crisp crackers, or some tasty cornbread. Top it off with cheese or sour cream and you have a meal that is simplistic in its composition, yet complex in its satisfaction. It tickles the tongue and fills both the belly and soul with delight. The aroma of a big, steaming pot of chili on the stove brings the anticipation of cozy comfort and contentment to the home.

Traditional chili is a beef-based dish, but chicken, turkey, and even more exotic meats such bison or wild boar can spiff it up. Meatless chili tempts the palate of vegetarians. A variety of beans are often added for a hearty touch. The tomatoes may be omitted to produce a creamy “white” chili. Jalapeno, poblano, or even the over-the-top habanero peppers are infused to fire up your taste buds. Some chefs create unique signature chili by using honey, fruit, corn, chocolate, or even bourbon. Toss it all in there. It’s all good!

So, do you make great chili? Have you ever wondered how your recipe stacks up against other chili aficionados? Do you like to have fun? Don’t give away your secrets, but you might want to consider entering the 3rd Annual Bridge Day Chili and Cornbread Cook-off. Chili tasting and voting will be from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on October 15, 2011 in downtown Fayetteville. Live music will begin at 2:00 p.m. and the Awards Ceremony will be at 6:00 p.m. There are categories for professional and amateur chili cooks, and traditional and non-traditional cornbread bakers. Don’t wait too long because the deadline to enter the competition is September 30th. For additional details about the cook-off and how to enter the competition, contact the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau at 304-574-1500.

It\’s almost time for chili in chilly Fayetteville, West Virginia. Don’t miss the fun!

Fayetteville,West Virginia sits right on the edge of the New River Gorge. With its forests, cliffs, and open pastured habitats, this area is prime time for birding. It has been identified by the Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology as a vital migratory stopover for many bird species. Experts and other bird enthusiasts come from around the country to observe our warblers, eagles, hummingbirds, and falcons, to name just a few. The beautiful scenery of our West Virginia hills is a special bonus.

Birding opportunities are always present in the New River Gorge, especially when piggy-backed with other outdoor activities such as whitewater rafting, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and rock climbing, but you can always make a totally relaxing weekend of just watching the birds in our beautiful New River backyard. Birders will be especially interested in the opportunity to hone their bird watching skills at the New River Birding and Nature Festival in the springtime.

You can find additional details about birding in West Virginia on these web sites:

 http://www.fatbirder.com/links_geo/america_united_states/west_virginia.html  (Birding …West Virginia)

 http://www.nps.gov/neri/naturescience/birdlist.htm  (New River Gorge National River)

 http://www.birdzilla.com/state-based-information/west_virginia-2141.html  (Birdzilla)

 http://www.birding-wv.com/  (New River Birding and Nature Festival)

 

 

Cornhole may be new to many folks, but it is gaining in popularity of late. For some reason if there is a gathering of people, such as a family reunion, church picnic, backyard barbeque, town carnival, or holiday celebration, cornhole also shows up. There are cornhole clubs, state and national cornhole associations, and a huge bunch of cornhole enthusiasts that keeps growing all the time.

So, what is cornhole and why do peeps like it so much?

Cornhole is a game played with dried corn-filled cotton sacs and raised wooden boxes that have a hole in them. Some say it had its origin in Germany, but it seems to have come alive again in the American South. It is kind of like horseshoes, but without the shoes and the stakes. The idea of the game is uncomplicated. You set up the cornhole boxes about 30 feet apart with single or double teams standing beside each box. The teams take turns tossing the corn-filled bags at the boxes at the opposite end of the playing field and try to get them in the hole. Scoring is accrued when the bag hits the box or goes in the hole.

Sounds pretty simple, right? It can be, but don’t get the wrong impression. Some corn tossing folks take their cornhole very seriously. There are strict regulations and rules when you enter the realm of competitive cornhole. Some people have simple homemade bags and boxes, while others customize their boxes with their company logo or the mascot of their favorite sports team. You can purchase special scoreboards and nifty drink holders. The holders come in very handy, as you just know you are going to get thirsty in the heat of cornhole competition and won’t want to break your stride to go get a cold one.

What makes cornhole so attractive is that you can play it pretty much anywhere you have a flat surface, it is safe and fun for all skill levels and ages of folks, and it can be relatively inexpensive.

Are you now thinking about where you can play some cornhole locally? Get this! A cornhole tournament will be held during the Bridge Day Chili Cook-off in Fayetteville on October 15, 2011. This particular event will be conducted by the Mountain State Cornhole Association. Everyone is welcome to watch, learn, and/or compete as an amateur and pro. You still have plenty of time to practice up before the Fayetteville Tournament.

<Shout it all together now, in your best, deep, sports announcer voice.>

LET’S GET READY TO CORNNNNNNNN-HOOOOOOOOOOOOLE!

The name of Captain Thurmond is well known around Fayette County. Captain William Dabney Thurmond moved from Amherst, Virginia in the 1840’s to settle in what is now Fayette County, West Virginia. He was a Confederate leader during the Civil War, surveyor, landowner, and builder/owner of the landmark Dunglen Hotel in Thurmond, West Virginia. You can read more about this prestigious figure at http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvhs1403.html

In more recent times, the name of Captain Thurmond has come to represent the high adventure and challenge of an extreme outdoor triathlon. The annual Captain Thurmond’s Challenge Extreme Triathlon combines 12 miles of mountain biking along the ridge lines of the New River Gorge, 8 miles of kayaking Class III and IV whitewater rapids, and 8.5 miles of running up out of the gorge. It is definitely enough adventure to challenge any competitor and it is absolutely extreme!

The sunshine and blue skies were right on the mark for the August 20, 2011 Captain Thurmond’s Challenge and the 90 competitors in this year’s event. Youth races, inflatable bouncers for the kiddies, live music, and the presentation of awards added to the fun and excitement of the day. No matter if you were a triathlete or a spectator, it was a great way to spend the day in Fayetteville,West Virginia.