Articles by Shannon Bardwell
Possumhaw: Time to get outside
Overnight we stepped into Spring with all her splendor. It was just a week or so before we were huddled in an interior closet with bike helmets trying to avoid tornadoes, severe winds, and trees falling. It seems as if the trees popped their leaves out while we weren’t looking.
Possumhaw: A bit of Serendipity
Living here in the Prairie and spending a lot of time outdoors, especially after winter moving into spring, there’s much cleaning up and planting to do.
Possumhaw: Live, learn, love
Here in the Prairie there’s nothing like the coming of Spring to bring out the critters that live or temporarily visit the Prairie land.
Possumhaw: Spring has sprung
The weather does not always pay attention to the calendar marking March 20 as the beginning of spring. I’m looking outside the sunroom window where it looks like spring is creeping near.
Possumhaw: Do you know who you are?
I met a young woman when she and her family moved to the Prairie a few years ago. I don’t see her often but it’s always a lovely visit when I do. She raises chickens and sells eggs in season.
Possumhaw: Back to birds & bugs
According to “All About Birds” the Dark-eyed Junco birds visit our sunny south in hopes of warmer winters by spring they should be leaving northward. There are other Juncos besides the “Dark-eyed” variety also “Yellow-eyed,” “Guadalupe” and “Volcano” Juncos.
Possumhaw: Cold feet, Warm heart
It took a good bit of time dealing with the weather in the past few weeks. Cold temperatures dropped into the teens after having a week of 70 degrees.
Possumhaw: The Cat’s Meow
Middle of last week I stayed mostly inside, as did Wilhelmina. The rain was torrential, and the ground was full of slippery mud and very large puddles.
Possumhaw: A man’s gotta fish
It looked like it was going to be a good day for fishing. The temperature felt comfortable; water levels were right where he wanted it. The ramp was clear. Sam and his buddy headed to Grenada Lake early in the morning between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.
Possumhaw: Winter wonder
Last week was indeed a wonder due to the cold temperatures. Any temperature below 32 degrees means a lot of preparation for keeping the house warm.
Possumhaw: History & Politics
The cold weather left as fast as it came. Not wanting to sit around while it snowed, Sam did home repairs. While he was busy, I dusted.
Possumhaw: Not our first rodeo
As I write this the weather people say cold, rainy, possibly ice and snow will greet us later in the week. We’ve done what we can to protect the homestead.
Possumhaw: Choose your word
It wasn’t until late Friday after New Year’s Day that life seemed to slow down at the Bardwells from Christmas parties, plays, pageants, cooking and planning, entertaining family members, receiving Christmas cards and sending out digital cards, a little gift shopping and decorating, not to forget Christmas movies.
Possumhaw: What in the world
That evening the Apollo 8 astronauts read from the Bible in the book of Genesis during a television broadcast. Astronauts Bill Anders read verses 1-4, Jim Lovell read verses 5-8 and Frank Borman finished out with verses 9-10. Reports say approximately one billion people in 64 countries watched the broadcast.
Possumhaw: Dark night of Christmas
The young woman sitting next to me answered her phone. When she put down the phone she was crying. I waited awhile then asked, “Are you okay?” She said she just learned her aunt died.
Possumhaw: Bells will be ringing
During the years of the 1980s slipping over into the 90s I spent a good part of those years with the Salvation Army in Oktibbeha County where I lived at the time.
Possumhaw: Days of Christmas Past
Of all the holidays I think Christmases would be the most remembered at any age.
Possumhaw: Life on the Prairie
Last week the weather changed quickly here on the Prairie. A bit of overnight rain was welcomed. The next morning the ground under the bird feeders had turned into mud.
Possumhaw: Fox and flying squirrels
We’ve been watching our old man fox squirrel for some years now. He looks large and in charge; there’s just something about him. He’s always alone and still fast on his feet.
