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Sunday Letter: 11.11.18

November 11, 2018 By Talya Tate Boerner

Sunday Letter

Dear Sunday Letter friends:

Hello again! Didn’t I just write you a letter, what, like yesterday? The closer we get to the end of the year, the faster time seems to buzz by. Why is that?

Today marks the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the agreement that ended World War I. Take a moment toย honor veterans, past and present, for their service and sacrifice. ย 

Prelude to Winter

There I was, happily lulled by our perfect sweater weather, not too cold and ideal for strolls through the fallen leaves. Ideal for soup cooking and cornbread baking. Then, boom! A forecasted low of 17 degrees?

I went into panic mode as surely as if a button had been pushed. Snipping plants, moving succulents and dragging ferns from the porch, cutting rosebuds that would otherwise never have had a chance to flower.ย Now our house is filled with the last of the blossoms, my summer friends that will soon go dormant or vanish altogether.

I can’t be the only one who does this pre-winter panic dance? I can’t be the only one who feels a little melancholy about it either.

Roses

coleus cuttings

Bargaining with Myself

Since I broke my wrist (sixteen months ago!), I’ve been completely uninspired to go to the gym. It was as though that splintered bone directly controlled my motivation. How many times over the past six months have I said, I need to go to the gym again?

A bunch.

Finally, last week I went. It felt good! And the entire time, while the miles began to add up on the elliptical machine, I thought about the fried chicken I planned to eat for supper.

That chicken kept my feet moving.

I wondered how many miles I would need to ellipticize (just made that word up) each day to justify daily fried chicken?

fried chicken

Baby steps, y’all, baby steps.

This week I plan to return but forego the chicken. No promises.

1.5-Inch Accumulation!

By Friday, the yellow, confetti-like leaves had dried out, and John spent several hours mowing and mulching the yard. But we woke on a frigidย Saturday morning to at least a 1.5-inch leaf fall accumulation. Bright, pea-green leaves spread evenly like snow over every surface covering brick pathways and stone borders, steps and shrubs. It even formed drifts beside the garage.

Leaf-fall!

It was as though John’s mowing had never happened.

Look at our driveway…

It will make a nice, protective bottom layer for the real snow headed our way.

Fall

Leapfrogging into Falala

Tis the season for Gift House Antiques’ย Holiday Open House.ย Every nook and cranny, from baseboards to rafters, is filled with Christmas. Yesterday, walking through, I felt completely overwhelmed. It’s as though we leapfrogged from mid-fall over Thanksgiving and landed smack in the middle of Santa’s very cool workshop.

Gift House Antiques

Do you remember playing leapfrog during school recess? I wonder if kids even know what it is today?ย It’s up to us to keep these important thingsโ€”leapfrog and hopscotch and cake walksโ€”alive…

I didn’t buy anything because I simply couldn’t get into the early Christmas spirit, nor do I need a single thing. (Not yet, anyway.) I drank a cup of belly-warming cider and went on my dazed way in denial that Santa Claus will soon be coming to town.

In 43 days to be precise.

If you’re in the Christmas spirit or need a boost, head over to Gift House Antiques. It’s truly magical.

What Momma Said

I tell you what, being a star is hard.

Momma

 

See you next week, Sunday Letter friends.

Thank you veterans!

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

P.S. A gigantic THANK YOU to this entertaining Rogers, Arkansas book club for inviting me to talk about Gracie Lee!

book club

Musical Pairing:

Filed Under: Sunday Letter Tagged With: Fall, Gift House Antiques

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Comments

  1. Cathy Voight says

    November 11, 2018 at 9:10 am

    I am definitely not ready for Christmas. I have thoroughly enjoyed our gorgeous autumn season. I am going to miss the leaves. Your driveway looks fantastic.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      November 12, 2018 at 1:15 pm

      I will miss fall too. I’ve especially enjoyed your daily IG pictures!

  2. Colene/Tom Chebuhar says

    November 11, 2018 at 11:25 am

    Great Sunday letter as usual. It is fun and uplifting.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      November 12, 2018 at 1:16 pm

      Thanks Colene/Tom!

  3. Jenny Young says

    November 11, 2018 at 2:58 pm

    I always have a frost day bouquet….until this year. I was so sick that day I barely peaked out the window let alone actually stepped outside. Now that I’m better I sure do miss those last blooms.

    We had the big blast of green leaves too. I don’t think I ever remember seeing that before.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      November 12, 2018 at 1:14 pm

      Frost Day Bouquet. Love that!!!

  4. Sharon Collins says

    November 11, 2018 at 3:57 pm

    I did the dance yesterday myself, but I forgot several things. Oh well, it is nobody’s fault but my own. Right now I have a huge pot of black eyed peas, a pan of stewed tomatoes on stove top, a sweet potato baking in the oven and a pan of cornbread ready to stick in the oven. Sadly, filling my tummy is more important today than saving my poor plants was yesterday. Thanks for the Sunday letter. I needed it.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      November 12, 2018 at 1:15 pm

      Oh that’s my kind of supper!

  5. Melissa Ennis says

    November 11, 2018 at 7:32 pm

    Beautiful Sunday letter,Talya!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      November 12, 2018 at 1:16 pm

      Thanks, Melissa!

  6. patsypridgen says

    November 12, 2018 at 6:27 am

    I brought in bunches of still-blooming marigolds and created a centerpiece for my kitchen table and filled small vases around the house. We haven’t yet had a hard freeze here in eastern North Carolina, but we’re getting close. Love your blog!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      November 12, 2018 at 1:17 pm

      Thank you! I should have brought marigolds in too. It’s snowing now…

  7. Dorothy Johnson says

    November 12, 2018 at 8:37 am

    I feel your pain about the leaves, but I wouldn’t want a yard without their sheltering cover and fall colors. I agree that it’s too soon for Christmas. I have to–no want to–do Thanksgiving before getting out one Christmas decoration. And, yes, your mama is a star!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      November 12, 2018 at 1:18 pm

      Yes, one holiday at a time for me.


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 4, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition
  • Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship
  • Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: March 16, 2025

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