grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Archives for 2012

Walking Distance

By

TateFarmGirl
Cotton
Mississippi County, Arkansas

I am a homebody. My idea of a vacation is driving through the state of Arkansas in my own vehicle. With the pillow from my bed, as much luggage as I want and a case of good wine. For later of course. 

Seeing the sights at my own pace is peaceful. Stopping to smell the flowers. Buying fruit at a roadside stand. Breathing fresh air. Relaxing.

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Dealing with airports is stressful. Traffic. Crowds. Delays. Rental Cars.

According to the FAA, I have too many gels and liquids to travel easily through the airport without a visit to dreaded baggage claim. At 50 years of age I’ve grown attached to my gels and liquids. 

My first ex-husband’s second wife had her tweezers confiscated at the security gate. Having a cool pair of Tweezerman tweezers impounded by a uni-browed security guard can start a trip off badly. If there is a way to make a viable bomb out of contact lens cleaner, perfume and tweezers, someone should certainly be able to make a cheaper, greener source of fuel for our SUVs.

I will be visiting my daughter and her boyfriend soon. Too far for me to drive…. If an unimaginative security guard wants to peek at my cellulite and panty lines in the x-ray equipment, fine by me. Just get me to the gate more quickly. It’s worth it to visit Kelsey and Andy. 
Kelsey & Andy
talya
Musical Pairings:
Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time. Stephen Wright

Spam A Lot!

By

Soon I will be so busy counting my money, there will be no time to write blog posts. According to Mr. Simon Yi, Chief Risk Officer of Industrial Commercial Bank of China in Hong Kong, I have been identified as the only surviving beneficiary of a wealthy Hong Kong businessman. Into the account of my choice, I shall receive 40% of $22,300,000 U.S. Dollars. 
All I need do is confirm my interest in the funds. He is craving my participation. 
Yeah, I bet he is.
As a leading international financial center, Hong Kong apparently handles dormant bank accounts a bit differently than we did at State Bank & Trust. Oh and I should probably give State Bank the heads up about my incoming $9Million…
I almost went to Hong Kong in 1983. While at summer school in Tokyo a group of students went for cheap electronics and jewelry. I didn’t want either. That’s my only connection to the place.
Until my newly found windfall magically appears, I will keep writing. And reading my amusing spam.
talya
Musical Pairings:
We dine well here in Camelot. We eat ham and jam and spam a lot. – The Holy Grail – The Knights of the Round Table.

Imagine

By

This morning I am enjoying my first cup of coffee outside. Two days after the city aerial bombed us with poison, there are no mosquitoes. I am skeptical, still waiting for a sting, and worried the war on mosquitoes has destroyed all life in my back yard.


Thankfully I see a dragon fly buzzing around the pool seemingly unaffected.

The temperature, still warm, has a hint of fall tucked within the slight breeze. Is it my imagination? I watch the clouds overhead. They watch me.

As kids, we spent hours flat on our backs in the front yard studying the clouds. Our grass blanket itched and stuck to our sweaty legs, but we didn’t mind. Cloud gazing, an impromptu cool down from cartwheels or freeze tag, wasn’t planned in advance, so a quilt was never considered. 

We called out the shapes of animals and objects like a game of I Spy. A dog. A rabbit. A donut. A boat. White and fluffy, the clouds adding color to sunset. I wondered where the clouds ended up after drifting over Mississippi County. 

Overhead, thin airplane vapors were always exciting to see. At the top of the sky, curving, never stopping in Arkansas. I imagined where the lucky people were going. I imagined where I would go.


Today I see the remains of jet vapor – a straight line with hash marks. A white picket fence. A railroad track. I imagine where the busy people are going. I am content to be drinking coffee. I imagine I am not the only one. Just watching.

talya

Musical Pairings:

Imagine – John Lennon

You must not blame me if I do talk to the clouds. Henry Thoreau

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!