grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Sunday Letter: 09.19.21

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Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Fall officially begins on Wednesday, and I am oh-so-ready for cooler temperatures! We desperately need a rain in Northwest Arkansas. Our plants are tired and thirsty in a way the garden hose can’t quench.

Even though the heavens have been stingy with rain, the trees are beginning to show fall color in our neighborhood. When you live in a place long enough (and walk dogs 3-4 times a day), you learn which trees are the first to turn, which sidewalks will soon be covered in yellow leaves, which canopies become bright orange and flaming red. I’ve been studying those trees every day. And each day brings us closer to that magic time of year.Continue Reading

Sunday Letter: 09.05.21

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Sunday Letter

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

September is here, and I’m glad about it. I look forward to harvest time on the farm, the promise of cooler temperatures and turning leaves, twisty-stemmed pumpkins, and, yay, college football. With my favorite holidays waiting on the horizon so close we begin to count down—oh yeah, I’m a happy camper.

Of course, we still have a few days of summer left, but once school starts back it’s as though a switch flips in my mind. My focus turns from vacation and roasted marshmallows to tailgates and chili.

And even during a week of 90° temperatures, there’s already a touch of fall in the air.Continue Reading

Book Reviews: August 2021

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August 2021 Book Reviews

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When I look back over the books I read in August, I know each of these stories enriched my life in some way. In fact, as a group, this may be my favorite collection of five books I’ve read in a row. And that’s saying something.

The Girl With The Louding Voice is a debut novel with a brave young protagonist. This was my “mystery date with a book” selection chosen at Barnes & Noble Fayetteville. (If you don’t remember this fun experience, read about it HERE.)

Two of the books I read in August are older ones—The Poisonwood Bible (published in 1998) and The Paris Wife (published in 2012). Can you believe I just got around to reading The Poisonwood Bible? I know I’m not the very last person on earth to read it because a slew of people NEVER read anything longer than a tweet. BUT, I may be the last of my reader friends to read it. The great takeaway here is that there are a bazillion fabulous books out there still waiting for me. Also, just because a book is a new release or on the best seller list, doesn’t necessarily make it half as good as some of those found on the shelves of a used bookstore. With respect to The Paris Wife , it has been on my list for some time. The day I found it in a neighborhood Little Free Library was a lucky day for me!

Klara and The Sun? Oh my… It was such a different read for me, one that got me thinking, for sure.

Salt to the Sea is classified as young reader. As C. S. Lewis said—No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally—and often far more—worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond. I absolutely agree!

Alright, here we go to my reviews…Continue Reading

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