Articles by Shannon Bardwell
Possumhaw: As Christmases come and go
It wasn’t until the middle of the 1800s that Christmas was celebrated by most of the people living in America with typical Dutch, English and German traditions of yule logs, caroling, evergreen decorations, church services and a feast on Christmas day.
Possumhaw: Shake up your space
Here at the Prairie house we’ve been sheltering for about nine months now. It’s not particularly hard when you enjoy being a homebody. Some days pass slowly, but not many.
Possumhaw: What’s your hobby?
This would seem to be a good time to discuss hobbies, perhaps even start a new hobby.
Possumhaw: Let’s talk turkey
This Thanksgiving will probably be different for most of us as some people will be able to gather with family and some will not.
Possumhaw: Lazy days of carp
Life’s activities have slowed down and fall has come in all its glory. The weather is mild and the colors are vivid. Late evenings often warrant sitting on the dock of the lake and watching as the day fades away.
Possumhaw: This little light of mine
Everyone loves a holiday, and if ever there was a time we could use more holidays and more celebrations perhaps it would be now. Fortunately, Nov. 11 was declared a holiday in Western Europe during the Middle Ages, known as Martinmas or the Mass of St. Martin.
Possumhaw: One mistake can be fatal
It was a cool morning, perfect for sipping coffee and watching the world awaken from the front porch. Bluebirds flitted from phone wire to electric pole and back. Woodpeckers hammered a-rat-a-tat-tat.
Possumhaw: Parent of plants
Last week for three days I took on the task of sweeping leaves off the porches, the deck leading to the lake, and the bridge over the spillway. Piles of leaves fell in batches every night.
Possumhaw: Goldenrod gets a bad rap
I was pleased to see three tall stems of goldenrod full of their golden flowers swaying in the wind behind the fence of the perennial garden. Prairie fields that remain wild are full of wildflowers — blue, white and gold.
Possumhaw: For the love of plants
The past week the weather could not have been more beautiful. With the cool nights Harry and Wilhelmina, the cats, choose to stay out all night and chase little critters.
Possumhaw: Nightfall in the Prairie
Two weeks into fall and the weather changed. After a long drought with cracks in the ground looking like a road map and the grass crunching like potato chips, the rains came on three occasions. It was more than welcomed.
Possumhaw: Nature all around us
Outside the kitchen window the wild cherry trees grow with leaves of red, the harbingers of fall. Our trees are freckled with green and red in a variety of shades.
Possumhaw: Well, well, all is well
The well ran dry. Actually, the 40-year-old pump just quit. Sam called the well man and asked if it might be still under warranty. Of course, Sam was joking.
Possumhaw: Just being neighborly
Years ago, a neighbor fashioned a loop and hook from a metal coat hanger and affixed it to our gate. The coat hanger has long since rusted. Routinely over the summer, a bag appeared attached to the hanger filled with the best tomatoes you have ever put in your mouth.
Possumhaw: Six Saturdays and a Sunday
Things have settled into some kind of normal around here. Sheltering has been going on six months now, allowing us to develop new routines. Routines that put some framework into our days but are also extremely flexible.
Possumhaw: The eastern horse lubber
It seemed a long time since we’d seen rain falling across the fields or raindrops dimpling the surface of the lakes. Watching the hurricanes and tropical storms develop we were hoping we might get a slow gentle rain while not causing harm anywhere else. The misting started last Tuesday.
Possumhaw: A light bulb moment
It was daunting standing inside one of the yellow box stores and looking for a light bulb. It used to be so easy — choose a 40, 60 or 100-watt bulb that looked like a light bulb and not like a curlicue. Not so anymore.
Possumhaw: Beware of the ivies
Years back the homestead needed foundation work. Living in the Prairie where ground-shifting is a regular occurrence, foundation work is not unusual. Since the contractors would be moving dirt around the perimeter of the house, I needed to salvage as many shrubs, flowers and plants as possible.
Possumhaw: Plan, list, check it off
Last week I received a Wall Street Journal article written by Ellen Byron from a friend. The article reported an increase in sales of calendars and personal planners, day-timers, notebooks and other means of keeping a schedule. Cell phones have calendars enabling users to rely on phones for reminders.
Possumhaw: Splish splash, takin’ a bath
Finally, a much-needed rain. The ground is deep with cracks, wide as a quarter. Until recently the trees were lush with leaves, the grass was healthy and flowers were blooming, nurtured by morning dew and evening rains. But lately the ground cracks and furling leaves prove dry.
