Dear Sunday Letter Readers,
Today’s Sunday Letter is a wonder, not because it’s exceptionally marvelous or anything. Not at all. The fact that it exists is the small miracle. All throughout the past week, I’ve been overly confused about the day. Tuesday felt like Wednesday. Wednesday was Thursday in my mind. On Friday morning, John asked me, “Is today Wednesday or Thursday.” See? It wasn’t just me. Our whole week was weird.
For the most part, I’ve been tied to my desk working on my book. Maybe that’s the reason for my confused state. Or maybe it’s the horrid humidity.
Yesterday, I did spend a few hours in Bentonville at Megaphone Summit (an influencer conference). The highlight for me was seeing some of the original Arkansas blogger ladies I met when I first began this blogging adventure. And by the way, I heard someone refer to me as “one of the old bloggers”—LOL—that’s true in more ways than one.
Writing Space
Wanna see where I do my serious editing?
My desk is a mess with my manuscript divided into several stacks. Teetering on the corner—journals and books.
This is one of my favorite rooms because it has two walls of bookshelves. When I was a little girl, I would have lived in a library if I could have. Now, in a way, I do. I like to imagine each book in our collection provides a tiny bit of inspiration as I string together my own words.
When we first moved into our house, I wrote a blog post about how I organized the shelves in this room. If you’d like to see the before and after pics, and read my non-expert decorating advice, click HERE.
Water Bowl
Yes, the humidity returned like a boss last week which makes dog walking during the day miserable. To provide a little relief to all the dogs (and other critters) in our neighborhood, we added a water bowl at our Little Free Library. Annabelle has used it. Hopefully other furry friends have too. Now I just have to remember to add fresh water every day.
Do deer drink from water bowls? I wonder.
Fresh Peaches
When I spoke at Nightbird Books a couple of weeks ago, a friend brought in a bucket of fresh peaches to share with the group. What a nice surprise! I don’t often buy peaches because I don’t like to peel them. Silly, I suppose.
These were wonderful.
When summer ends, the thing I will miss most is fresh fruit.
Well, fruit and flowers—I will miss them both equally I think.
Okay, and garden vegetables. It’s a three-way tie for the things I will miss most.
It’s hard to believe we will soon be dealing with piles of autumn leaves and no watermelon ???…
Not Over Yet
But it’s not over yet!
Isn’t it strange how early-August seems like the end of summer? That’s how August is marketed to us now, with all the Back to School displays at every store and in ads and commercials.
In Northwest Arkansas (and probably where you live), most kids have already returned to school. Although I don’t have kids at home, those back to school days trigger memories for me—shopping for supplies and clothes, getting everyone back on a respectable sleep schedule.
This past week when all the Fayetteville kids headed to the schoolhouse, I’m pretty sure I heard one gigantic, parental sigh of relief.
I think I’ll buy a package of Number 2 pencils to mark the occasion.
Labor Day signifies the end of summer to me. So I still have time to check off a few summer bucket list items. But I need to get busy.
Things Momma Says:
Momma’s at the farm spreading her wisdom around Mississippi County, and I’ve not talked to her long enough to get a brilliant quote. Instead, I thought I’d show you her boat bib.
This handy dandy plastic bib frees her hands for boat driving, keeps her snacks within easy reach, and helps keep the floor of the boat (and her bathing suit) tidy.
Yes, Momma’s on point in the boat.
Now that I think about it, I could probably use one of these for those couch-sitting, Netflix-watching, snacking times.
***
Before I go, tell me, what will you miss most when summer is gone?
See you next time, Sunday Letter friends,
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
P.S.
I’m curious if you received the newsletter I emailed last week? It’s the first newsletter I’ve sent in some time, and I want to make sure those who want to read it, are actually receiving it.
If you didn’t get it (or just want to read it again ?) click HERE to take a look at it. If you aren’t subscribing, I hope you will. (You can unsubscribe at any time, I swear.)
Subscribe:
Bye again!
The humidity is so overbearing! I forget summer to summer how humidity just covers a person like a wool coat!
It’s stifling right now! I won’t miss that.
Your daddy always did his bookkeeping for the farm with a Number 2 pencil. I have often wondered how he would have adjusted to computers, iPads, and smart phones. He died 25 years ago this September. A lot of things have changed since then. (By the way, where is my handy dandy boat bib? I hope someone has it.)
I think Staci has it.
Happy Sunday to you! Back to school in Iowa does not start until after the Iowa State Fair! I will miss fresh fruits and vegetables the most when summer ends. I will also miss butterflies. Not the heat and humidity! I did receive your newsletter and as always I enjoyed seeing it in my inbox. Deer and other wildlife drink water from our birdbath. Have a good week and stay cool.
You too, Colene. I would love to visit the Iowa State Fair someday! The Washington County Fair is next week and I’ll be working there as part of my Master Gardener training:))
What does the handy dandy bib say? Love
It! Yes, the humidity is almost debilitating! I knew my daddy and Uncle Tom died pretty close together. Daddy’s been gone 26 years on August 7th, last Wednesday. 🙁
I will miss summer fruits and veggies, especially garden tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh corn, and strawberries, blueberries and peaches. We had LOTS of peaches this year. There are several orchards around here. Courtney had some huge ones and made I don’t how many dozens of canned peaches, jams, butter, etc. she is quite the little homemaker! They’ve been on the east coast for 10 days and I miss Creed!
I love to look at flowers and always wanted a pretty yard. Then I married Rick and he mowed down my flowers and that was the end of that. If I were able, I’d have a pretty yard full of luscious blooming flowers and plants.
Thinking of ‘back to school’ right now is heartbreaking bc I think of the evil that struck those El Paso patrons trying to do good for their kids by taking advantage of the tax-free week-end on back to school items. I never liked late summer bc I hated the end of vacation, coming home from the lake and having to go back to school. Back then, we didn’t go back until after Labor Day.
Exciting news about your book. And your desk and office isn’t messy at all! I could show you messy!
Love you! Happy Sunday! ♥️
Haha great to hear from you! I would love to see Creed. I know you are enjoying him tremendously. That Rick! I can’t believe he would mow down your flowers. The bib says, “I’m on point!” (reference to the unicorn LOL). Hope you see you soon.
I’ll miss the fresh fruits and vegetables and the long hours of daylight. I did receive your newsletter – loved it! I adore your library/office and I can’t wait for your new book to come out.
Thank you so much! I appreciate you.
I honestly don’t miss summer much when it’s gone. I enjoy winter more than anything & I love when fall comes giving me three glorious seasons to enjoy before the death rays of summer come. I usually let the weeds & deer take over in August.
I don’t follow the school schedule anymore but my sweetheart bought me a Pentel GraphGear 1000 retractable pencil with extra lead & erasers. I love pencils & this may be the coolest one I’ve ever owned. It doesn’t take much to make me happy.
I’ve decided to try the cake recipe from your newsletter with a few tweaks….I rarely follow directions.
I’m a fan of winter too! And fall may actually be my favorite season, especially here in Northwest Arkansas. I love school supplies too so your pencil sounds wonderful to me. I hope you enjoy the cake! I always have to tweak the time and temperature of recipes because my oven is regulated right. Took me some time to figure it out.
That would be awesome!