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Bat Cave

March 30, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner 18 Comments

I’ve been visiting Northeast Arkansas for the past week and a half. Northeast Arkansas replenishes my soul with peace and quiet, soil and wide open spaces, memories. Northeast Arkansas is a great place to write.
While here I’m staying at my mother’s house, our childhood home, known as the Bat Cave.  We nicknamed the house after my mother, Barbara Ann Tate whose initials spell BAT.

The name is fitting for both the cave and my mother…

Our old farmhouse rambles and meanders much like the nearby mighty Mississippi River. Every seven years or so, when Daddy had a particularly good crop, rooms were added on here and there by local construction workers, who may or may not have been qualified, resulting in oddly placed windows and rooms with no windows at all. Although I’ve not yet noticed a stalactite or a real, live bat, I would not be surprised.
Growling and moaning deep underneath the Bat Cave lies one of the largest seismic zones on the planet. The New Madrid Fault cuts through the middle of the carport, zigzagging under Mississippi County and into Missouri and Illinois. Like a beast, it burps and sighs as everyone in Northeast Arkansas waits for The Big One. 
Bat Cave Car Port…
I’m pretty sure I felt a tremor a few night’s ago. 
The constant earth movement has resulted in wall cracks allowing easy access for mice and squirrels and frogs and giant bull snakes (plural) that slither on the fireplace mantle…
Despite all this, the Bat Cave provides good sleeping with a extra helping of adventure.

The Spanish tile in the back game room is riddled with bullet holes from the hostage shootout. There is an entire wall of cheesy pictures marking the Yellow Corvette Days. And, like Elvis’ Graceland, we have our own jungle room.

Papa Creecy’s wild boar
I’ll be here a bit longer. Stop by if you would like a free tour.

talya

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:

I Feel the Earth Move, Carole King

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: BAT, humor, Mississippi County, Mississippi Delta, Osceola

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Comments

  1. Staci Sandquist says

    March 28, 2013 at 5:02 am

    Greatness! Jim said he felt a tremor also ๐Ÿ™‚ See you soon!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 28, 2013 at 3:48 pm

      ha!

      Reply
  2. Colene says

    March 28, 2013 at 7:36 am

    I feel like I did just have a tour. I love the way you write.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 28, 2013 at 3:48 pm

      Thank you Colene:))

      Reply
  3. TimH says

    March 28, 2013 at 7:39 am

    Awesomeness, Talya! As always!

    Reply
  4. Jessica @ View from River Mountain says

    March 28, 2013 at 8:33 am

    Saw your post at Silo Hill Farm. When I came over to your blog I was immediately intrigued by your Cemetery page. I love visiting cemeteries for both the artwork and the history. I also noticed you are an Arkansas gal too. I’m excited to be a new GFC follower.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 28, 2013 at 3:49 pm

      Thank you Jessica! Yes, I think cemeteries are so interesting:)) I will check out your blog:))

      Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    March 29, 2013 at 12:52 pm

    You know that you guys didn’t have the usual, normal upbringing right? Wonderful!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 29, 2013 at 1:13 pm

      Whatever do you mean? :))

      Reply
  6. Donna Reed says

    February 16, 2016 at 2:11 pm

    Love that house. Some good memories and some not so good but always entertaining! Love Barbara and hope to visit her again some day at the Bat Cave and maybe in Plano.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 17, 2016 at 6:40 am

      Always entertaining, that’s for sure!

      Reply
  7. Gary D. Henderson says

    February 16, 2016 at 3:32 pm

    Well, now I feel dumb. I was there and didn’t get to see the bullet holes! What was I thinking?

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 17, 2016 at 6:39 am

      Guess you’ll have to come back.

      Reply
  8. Linda Gardner says

    February 16, 2016 at 6:23 pm

    I remember that wild boar hanging in Reven and France’s house out in the country. I used to stay with Aunt Waymon when France’s went to town, I loved her so much..

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 17, 2016 at 6:39 am

      I remember where it hung in their country house too. It was a scary thing when we were kids.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Yellow Brick Road New Year - grace grits and gardening says:
    January 11, 2014 at 6:35 am

    […] than New York City.  I could see the moon from my bedroom window. I watched it set and rise behind the pump house in our back yard. I studied the moon phases noting when it grew bright and full before shrinking back to a white […]

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  2. I was a Mexican for Halloween - grace grits and gardening says:
    January 11, 2014 at 6:37 am

    […] Somewhere buried in the BAT CAVE lies a picture of me in my Mexican costume. When I find it, I will share… (If you are […]

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  3. Bat Signal - grace grits and gardening says:
    March 12, 2014 at 8:17 am

    […] Grits and Gardening If you are new to my crazy life, click HERE to read why Momma is the BAT and our home the BAT Cave… Musical […]

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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 (Now Available!)

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