Yes, this is another post about our move. I promise there will come a day (soon) when I will stop with the incessant talk about moving to Arkansas. I will return to blogging about FoodFarmGarden&Life or whatever pops into my head.
Today is not that day.
(I do have a post coming up soon on mayonnaise. See how I worked in a little teaser to keep you hanging?)
Today I’m still blabbing about the move. How can I not? After almost thirty years in Texas, more than half my life, I am headed home to Arkansas. That’s huge. Plus, we’ve been in our Worth Street house twelve years. In twelve years the kids grew up and moved to college. So many meals and parties and conversations occurred around the dining room table. We planted trees and shrubs that now shade the yard.
Yesterday I loaded my car with things the moving truck wouldn’t carry.
Plants.
Plants riding shotgun.
When I pulled from the driveway, I looked at the backyard with a different eye. Soon the Japanese Maples we planted and nurtured will belong to someone else. (sigh)
And then I drove away.
Everything I passed took on a different, bittersweet meaning.
Other than a traffic jam in Atoka (for real), my drive through Oklahoma was uneventful. (In case you don’t realize, driving from Dallas to Fayetteville is mostly spent in Oklahoma…)
I snapped yet another blurry picture of the Welcome To Arkansas sign through my bug-splattered window, because that’s what I do. This time it felt different.
Driving the final stretch into Fayetteville, I watched for turning trees. A hint of fall colored the landscape, but it’s still early.
This year I will see it. Live it. Experience fall from beginning to end.
Look what greeted me at our back door! I planted this coneflower two weeks ago when we closed on the house. It was sad and scraggly and hidden on the clearance rack at Lowe’s. I expected to wait a year to see blooms.
This pop of color made me dizzy happy. What a perfect ending to my drive.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
P.S. Fair warning—today the moving truck arrives. I’m sure there will be a blog somewhere in there.
“Reality isn‘t round, it‘s flat. There are edges where you can fall off and this October when I moved to Maine, I fell off one.”
― Carrie Jones, Captivate
Musical Pairing:
Uncle Kracker – Smile
We moved to NW Ar a little over a year ago as well. I took almost the same pics including my plants riding shotgun 🙂
The blooming coneflower is probably a welcoming omen of good times to come. Welcome back, Talya & John. Welcome home!!
Welcome to Arkansas. I can feel the poignancy of leaving a place where you spent so many happy years. And with my Texas roots I say, “How can you leave TEXAS.” LOL I love how you make the drudge of moving (I hate it) an adventure.
I will leave a piece of me in Texas, that’s for sure. And I know I will visit often. So many good times, memories, friends there. And my daughter is in Austin so I always have the perfect excuse to visit!
I, for one, am thrilled to have you HOME! And I’m one of those crazy people who love the adventure of a move too. Enjoy your day!!
Moving is a fun adventure Laurie. I’m excited about being back in Arkansas.
Don’t stop blogging about the move, the house, the flowers, and the trees. It is all very interesting.
Thank you Colene & Tom. I’m glad you still think so:)
I just know your going to love Fayetteville .
I thought about you all day yesterday, knowing driving away would be bittersweet, but I think you’re going to love this next chapter of your life and your new-old house. The coneflower is a lovely sign of good times to come. Welcome home. Prayers for easy move-in and unpacking. Hope it all feels fun.
Thanks Dorothy! Things are going well, but what an undertaking.
Yes, the coneflowers must be a good omen. Passing thought, though. States need signs for those that are leaving, that say, “Y’all come back.” or “We’ll miss you”, “Till we meet again” or some such.
I’m with Dot, I have a place in my heart for both states, too. But still, welcome home, Talya.
Thanks Gayle! Good idea on the state signs.
I’m loving reading all about this move–especially the coming home to Arkansas part! I’m looking forward to lunches & get togethers. And Fall. And Beaver Lake. And so much more. Are you prepared for Bikes Blues and BBQ?!!!
Debbie, everyone we meet warns us about Bikes Blues and BBQ and the noise level. I’m planning to check it out. I’m sure there will be a blog post in there! I’m looking forward to those lunches too.
A traffic jam in Atoka???? Seriously??? I traveled northeast OK and northwest AR for years and passed through Atoka many times and believe me, no traffic jams there. Maybe there was a wreck. But, Fayetteville, that’s another story, at least, until they built the bypass. I believe I would move to Eureka Springs if I had the chance.
Yes Hugh, a traffic jam in Atoka. There was a multiple car pileup in the middle of town and only one lane was open. Hopefully no one was hurt. The whole town seemed to come out to take a gander. I love Eureka Springs too.