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OSYKA ELEMENTARY NEWS-- India Warshauer and Kayla Hunter from Pike National Bank in McComb presented students at Osyka Elementary School the program “A Banker in Every Classroom” which is affiliated with the Mississippi Bakers Association. The program was held in the Character Education Classes, taught by Takeshia Jefferson-Pickens, counselor. Pictured from left to right are India Warshauer, Takeshia Jefferson-Pickens, Kayla Hunter, Karmello Stewart, first grade, sorting and counting money. . . .

Old Man Winter just landed an early first blow, a light punch to the senses to remind us that yes, cold weather and darker nights are here. There have been a lot of gardeners running in circles on the Mississippi Gardening and other Facebook pages, moaning and groaning and pouting over what is gone, or soon to be.

Not me, I see it as just another season of gardening, with its own easy opportunities and delights and other rewards. Gonna miss the big foliage elephant ears and cannas, and blous . . .

Several weeks have passed without a Ponderings contribution. One of my friends asked if it was because of the loss of my muse. My wife of sixty-six years and I frequently discussed my column, generally it was after the fact. She has always been a positive force over the eight-hundred or so columns during twenty-five years, however I have considered myself an independent thinker. Maybe subconsciously she had more to do with my inspiration than she was given credit for. (Never end a sentence with . . .

Using the first letter of the all-too-brief season, fall is filled with festivals, football, family time and fun activities in the span between six months of searing heat and the cold, rainy weather that accompanies winter. Finding time for preparing food can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be a chore, especially when so many one-pan, intriguing and minimal-ingredient recipe are as near as the latest cookbook or the internet.

Without further ado – after all, you’ve got FUN fall activit . . .

Like a stout defensive unit making a goal line stand late in a tense football clash, Gov. Tate Reeves repelled formidable opponent Brandon Presley and national Democrats in winning his second term.

Reeves’ victory strengthened Mississippi Republicans’ hold on the governorship, despite Presley’s aggressive offensive push that saw him spend about $11 million trying to topple the incumbent from atop the state government standings.

The last Democrat to serve as Mississippi’s governor was Ronnie . . .

PULLED PORK NACHOS--- Who wouldn’t want Pulled Pork Nachos for dinner? I can’t think of anyone, including myself!

It’s the small things for me that trigger new ideas. Seeing “steak bites” on the appetizers’ menu of a restaurant I visited last week caused me to order the entrée-sized version for lunch. As expected, it cost more due to being accompanied by a salad and side dish. I wasn’t overly hungry and later realized I would have been happy with the appetizer version. And a few dollars richer . . .

Yep, it’s that time of year again and I do not mean football season. People all around me have been dropping like flies with flu, Covid-19, sinus infections and various other upper respiratory ailments. Several friends at church and around town have been diagnosed with Covid (again).

It seems like every few months a ‘new’ variant comes along and everyone goes into panic-mode. I find myself trying to avoid them without seeming to be uncaring. However, I don’t want anything to do with sickness . . .

I sense an opportunity for a cultural and ecological sea-change: A new approach to lawns.

Lawns are in dire straits from a cumulative effect of back to back unfavorable weather and the inability or unwillingness of most folks to do what it takes to help their lawns survive. In my neighborhood, where it was over 100 for weeks with no real rainfall for months, it seems, as a friend put it, “like we’re walking on dried cornflakes.” Entire swaths of grass sprigs are so devoid of carbohydrate rese . . .

Worship service was a blessing as we gathered at our Lord’s House last Sunday. Special music was by Dennis Lea, “Let The Blood of Calvary Speak for Me.” Bro. LaVerne Summerlin’s message was from Psalm 121 “How Will We Make It?”

The children are practicing the hand bells at 5:00 pm each Sunday and we will hear them when our Christmas program is presented.

Our annual fish fry will be this Saturday night at 6:00 pm.

The Golden Agers met last Friday for their monthly meeting. Brent Robinson . . .

OSYKA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HOMECOMING COURT-- Osyka Elementary School has announced the Homecoming Court for 2023-24. Pictured above from left to right on the 1st row Maid Royal McElveen and Escort Dawson Green; Maid Dakota Gardner and Escort Caleb Cook; Maid Ra’Niya Barnes and Escort Azariah Simpson; Maid Kenzee Monclair and Escort Brayden Grady; Maid Paris Hall and Escort John Thompson, Jr; Maid A’Zharia Taylor and Escort Kelton Todd; Maid Jacelyn Jackson and Escort Shuwianncko Felder, Jr; 2nd ro . . .

OSYKA ELEMENTARY STUDENTS OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER-- Osyka Elementary School has chosen our Students of the Month for October. We are very proud to announce the following: pictured above on row 1 from left to right, Huey Williams, Braylan Washington, Harmoni Smith, Aaliyah Spiers, Ja’kaleii-Ann Cleveland, Ab’Igail Tolliver; Row 2 Kaedyn Allen, Sa’Miiyah Johnson, Londyn Green, Mi’Kell Smith, Lydia Boudreaux; Row 3 Kedarrius Cooper, Nicalaus Wells, Jaxxon Lee, Johnny Johnson, Jr.; not pictured - A . . .

I just accidently killed the new fish in my favorite water garden, to my sad chagrin.

Over the years I have created several water gardens, from mom’s huge one to my home-made birdbaths which I consider water features because they shine in the sun and reflect moonlight at night and attract all sorts of wildlife. And they require the same basic cleaning and filling as larger traditional kinds.

But then anyone who has ever let a cup of coffee sit out for too long until it started growing col . . .