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yet another post about our move

September 19, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 17 Comments

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.

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)

last look at the backyard

And then I drove away.

Everything I passed took on a different, bittersweet meaning.

leaving Dallas

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.

welcome to arkansas sign

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.

driving to fayetteville

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.

Arkansas coneflowers at my back door.

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

Filed Under: Arkansas, Home, Life Tagged With: Fayetteville, moving

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Comments

  1. Susan says

    September 19, 2014 at 7:44 am

    We moved to NW Ar a little over a year ago as well. I took almost the same pics including my plants riding shotgun 🙂

    Reply
  2. Barbara Tate says

    September 19, 2014 at 8:02 am

    The blooming coneflower is probably a welcoming omen of good times to come. Welcome back, Talya & John. Welcome home!!

    Reply
  3. Dot says

    September 19, 2014 at 8:43 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      September 24, 2014 at 5:57 am

      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!

      Reply
  4. Laurie says

    September 19, 2014 at 9:08 am

    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!!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      September 24, 2014 at 5:56 am

      Moving is a fun adventure Laurie. I’m excited about being back in Arkansas.

      Reply
  5. Colene and Tom says

    September 19, 2014 at 10:11 am

    Don’t stop blogging about the move, the house, the flowers, and the trees. It is all very interesting.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      September 24, 2014 at 5:58 am

      Thank you Colene & Tom. I’m glad you still think so:)

      Reply
  6. Edwina says

    September 19, 2014 at 3:35 pm

    I just know your going to love Fayetteville .

    Reply
  7. Dorothy Johnson says

    September 20, 2014 at 11:01 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      September 24, 2014 at 5:56 am

      Thanks Dorothy! Things are going well, but what an undertaking.

      Reply
  8. gayle says

    September 20, 2014 at 12:09 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      September 24, 2014 at 5:58 am

      Thanks Gayle! Good idea on the state signs.

      Reply
  9. Debbie says

    September 20, 2014 at 3:11 pm

    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?!!!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      September 24, 2014 at 5:59 am

      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.

      Reply
  10. Hugh Phillips says

    October 25, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 26, 2014 at 6:19 pm

      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.

      Reply

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Talya Tate Boerner


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

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE

and

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


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