Chris Hardie

Photos from the aftermath of a recent massive storm that flattened cornfields across Iowa and into Illinois and Indiana took me back 22 years.

No summer is complete without foraging for wild blackberries, but this year’s blackberry plants have taken a hit from the recent dry spell.

Growing up on a farm allowed for adventure, including the time Chris Hardie and his brother blew up the biggest ant hill they’ve ever seen.

Recently, I encountered a slender fellow. I had just started to cut grass near the house with a string-trimmer when there was sudden movement. Sure enough, out slithered a slightly annoyed snake about 24 inches long.

Living in the country without the municipal services provided to our urban friends can be a blessing or a curse. Recently, we encountered a mysterious issue with our water well.

One silver lining in the COVID-19 pandemic storm cloud that caused massive disruptions to the nation’s meat supply is the awareness it created about where our food comes from.

Recently, I joined the estimated 300,000 people each year who are diagnosed with Lyme disease — an infectious ailment caused by a bacterial infection carried by the deer tick.

It’s been a week since I watched Dad take his last breath. I selfishly tried to keep him with us a little longer but my life-saving attempts fell short.

We never forget the sorrow but it’s how we move on that lifts our spirit. From the ashes of anguish arises the determination to carry on.

Freedom of speech and protests are not always easy. They are sometimes divisive. But they remain an essential part of our democracy as an avenue for change.