Native Texans who met and married in Texas, then settled in Virginia after retiring from the Navy, Lynn and Sue Gage have lived in the Moon area of Mathews County for 20 years. According to Lynn, “this area is very much like the area I lived in Texas.” They love it.

Lynn says she is not cooking as much as she once did when their five children (two boys and three girls) were at home. It was sort of hard to cut back, readjust her thinking and cook for just the two of them. But when the grown-up children come home, it’s back to cooking what they like best. 

“One of their favorites is cream peas (a southern pea similar to purple peas) cooked with a little bit of fatback and served with cornbread. We have a son who is with the police force so when he comes down, I always bake several cakes for his return trip,” said Sue. “But I have good help. Lynn is a very good cook and we work well together in the same kitchen at the same time.” He thinks ...