Winter reminds us that everyone and everything needs some quiet time – Katrina Mayer, author, keynote speaker, artist

I love winter, but only when it’s a picture on the internet – unknown

This column will be rather random since we spent the last few weeks being homebodies. We pulled out comforters, added warmer clothing, and covered large areas of glass windows with afghan blankets to help keep the cold out. We went back and forth between using the heater and the propane fireplace. We were grateful we never lost power. It was really a quiet and enjoyable time watching sports on TV and reading. After listening to the weather reports several of the men folks checked in at the church to make sure the heating was working and the faucets were dripping. On the first Sunday of the predicted ice storm our church shut down. Being way out here in the Prairie no one needed to be out on icy roads. Fortunately, the pastor was able to send out devotions on Facebook. Times have truly changed. Sometimes I like change and sometimes I don’t. Ahead of the ice storm we purchased foodstuff like bread, chicken salad, potato salad, greens, pimento cheese just in case we did lose power. No sugar treats, we’re trying to quit.

Sitting out on the porch was a cooler full of birdseed. It was put out every morning for the birds to eat and for us to enjoy watching them. They were truly birds of feathers of all kinds. They didn’t fight, everyone fed: cardinals, tufted titmouse, variety of sparrows, chickadees, mourning doves, a few bluebirds, American goldfinch, American robin, and woodpeckers.

The deer feeder was getting low, so we chopped up several apples and a few carrots to toss under the feeder. Checking each night the sweets would be gone though they seemed to like deer corn more for a regular meal.

AI Overview posted that deer and birds survive the snow through natural insulation, behavioral changes, and physiological adaptations. Deer use hollow-haired, thick winter coats to trap body heat, while birds fluff their feathers to create insulating air pockets. Both animals conserve energy, deer bedding in sheltered, wooded areas while birds often huddling together.

Wilhelmina, our cat – ok rather my cat – stayed inside mostly. Occasionally she wanted to go outside, usually to lay down on the doormat and watch the birds feed. After a short visit she’d turn around and stand on two legs at the glass door until we let her back inside. During the ice storm season, she had taken to sleeping on the ottoman upstairs. I crowned her “Queen of Ottoman.”

It looks like by this Tuesday perhaps the weather reports will show days of highs in the 50s, and the lows will be in the thirties. Should that happen, it will be quite nice if temperatures don’t dip into the teens and single digits as they have been. In any case take care, check on your neighbors, friends, and your loved ones. Bundle up, if need be, it won’t last forever.

Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].