grace grits and gardening - ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition

April 6, 2025 By Talya Tate Boerner 17 Comments

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Today I bring you a Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition. Here in Northwest Arkansas, we went from bone dry March to flash flood April. There doesn’t seem to be a balance to anything lately, especially when it comes to the weather.

But here we are. Rain for four straight days. (Maybe five; I’ve lost count.) And, as I write this, it’s 39° with a 70% chance of sleet. Booooooo!

When it’s cold and rainy and I can’t go out to play, I start to go a little stir-crazy after a while. Feel a little crazy too.

Here’s a peek at how I’ve been spending my time…Continue Reading

Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship

April 5, 2025 By Talya Tate Boerner 3 Comments

During the spring, I am constantly reminded of my love-hate relationship with spiderwort. Bear with me as I try to embrace a more positive attitude about this herbaceous perennial that grows all willy nilly in our flowerbeds. Really, it’s sort of a flowerbed-hog, but I’m trying to tip the scale in favor of love, because who wants to spend so much time living on the hate side?

I sure don’t.

Spiderwort (Tradescantia) does have several good qualities. And today, in the spirit of looking on the bright side, I’m concentrating on those.Continue Reading

Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025

March 23, 2025 By Talya Tate Boerner 20 Comments

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Good morning and happy spring! I just returned home after a trip to the farm with my mother and sister, and that’s always an adventure. It’s mostly fun, except for the times when it isn’t. Occasionally, we have a broken water pipe, and we are regularly forced to deal with the various critters that have take up residence. But all in all, being able to go back to our childhood home is a special thing.

In many ways, the area has changed dramatically since we left for college all those years ago. At the same time, some things never change, like the view from the carport, the distinctive call of the red-winged blackbirds, and the board games lining our closet shelf.

Inspiration is always waiting for me on the farm. Then, after only a few days away, I return home to find spring everywhere! Blooming tulips. Candytuft. Cherry blossoms. It seems I was away for much, much longer.

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.