grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

  • Home
  • Bio
  • Publishing
  • SHOP!
  • Garden
  • Food
  • Reading & Books
  • Sunday Letter

Storybook Journal

November 5, 2012 By Talya Tate Boerner

jourยทnal a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use. (Merriam-Webster definition 1c)


On the afternoon of my last full day at Dairy Hollow, I opened the middle section of an antique bookcase to reveal a drop-down desk. Inside, I found journals provided to guests when the property was a bed-and-breakfast. For an hour (or more) I became lost in the entries dated 1988-1995. Hundreds of thoughts and reflections, along with detailed sketches and poems.

The stories were similar. This peaceful spot in the Ozarks affected each guest in the same manner. People were drawn from across the country, all with different circumstancesโ€“newlyweds, lost souls, stressed out families. Some folks were simply passing through. Each with different issues and lives, all leaving with a common bond.

Connecting randomly selected sentences from five journalsโ€“a letter to Dairy Hollow…

Dear Dairy Hollowโ€” 

My bride and I arrived late on January 4 all decked out in glorious wedding attire. She was beautiful… I didn’t know a woman could change so much from one night to the next morning! Just kidding! (1992). This can’t be real life…we have stepped into the pages of a storybook and like Goldilocks, everything was “just right.” (1988) 
I have traveled many miles visiting hundreds of inns…fine, stately mansions with exquisite furnishings….others are cute little places. Each is a reflection of the innkeeper’s soul. Some have no soul…Dairy Hollow stands out…there is a mystical quality.  (1990) Our last night in particular I felt and understood the power of this place. (1993)

This has been a pleasant way to start a life together. (1991)  No phones, no television. It is so sweet to remember how less is always more. (1988) We love this place. (1995)

Home Sweet Home (1988)

Love… 

talya

More than a Feeling, Boston

โ€œAnd above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.โ€ 
โ€• Roald Dahl

Filed Under: Arkansas Tagged With: Dairy Hollow, Eureka Springs, Northwest Arkansas, Ozark Mountains

Wanna receive posts via email? Sign up here!

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    November 5, 2012 at 7:02 am

    Very interesting. So glad you found that treasure. Did you leave an entry in the Storybook Journal? OR, was it just for travelers staying at the bed and breakfast? Barbara

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      November 5, 2012 at 11:53 am

      I left some red and yellow leaves between the pages.

  2. Kathy says

    November 5, 2012 at 7:18 am

    This is great Talya! Very clever spin on the treasures you happened upon …

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      November 5, 2012 at 11:53 am

      Thanks Kathy. A creative writing assignment of sorts:)

  3. Colene says

    November 5, 2012 at 7:34 am

    What a great way to wind up your week!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      November 5, 2012 at 11:53 am

      It was a nice ending…

  4. Anonymous says

    November 5, 2012 at 8:05 am

    thanks,,great read,,,i love journals,,,great to write down thoughts,happening, kids and grands…wonderful…keep up your good writings ..love them all… there is peace and quiteness in Arkansas.those special places of the heart…thanks again,love gail

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      November 5, 2012 at 11:53 am

      Thanks Linda Gail:)

  5. Anonymous says

    November 5, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    Another winner, as if we ever get tired of good, thought-provoking writing. Love the journal entries and that’s an awesome quote at the end.

  6. TimH says

    November 5, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    Awesome read, Talya! Journals are like time capsules for us and others to read and share the snap-shot thoughts and emotions of the writer. Your blog is amazing in how well it is written and how well it brings up great memories from the past. Also, great choices for the musical pairing (Boston is my all-time favorite band), and quote!


Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: May 25, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: May 4, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition
  • Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship
  • Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025

Never miss a blog post! Subscribe via email:

Looking for something?

Categories

All the Things!

A to Z April Blog Challenge Autumn BAT Book Reviews childhood Christmas creative writing prompt Dallas Desserts Fall Fayetteville Food Gracie Lee Halloween Hemingway-Pfeiffer holiday recipes home humor Johnson Family Keiser Lake Norfork Lucy and Annabelle Mississippi County Mississippi Delta Monarch butterflies Munger Place Nana nature Northeast Arkansas Northwest Arkansas Osceola poem Reading Schnauzer simple living simple things spring spring gardening Summer Talya Tate Boerner novel Thanksgiving The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee Thomas Tate Winter Wordless Wednesday

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!

All content and photos Copyright Grace, Grits and Gardening © 2025 ยท Web Hosting By StrataByte