Sunday Letter: 01.12.20

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Good morning, friends. Here in Northwest Arkansas, we’ve had a mixed bag of weekend weather. A tornado here, a flash flood there. A little wintry mix.

Wintry mix is all the rage these days. What happened to an old-fashioned, six-inch snowfall? I’d be thrilled with 3 or 4 inches to completely cover the brittle grass.

Winter, if you are listening, so far this season I’ve been a little disappointed. You still have time to make me happy.

Snow Day

Yes, I dream of a real snowfall, one that begins with huge fluffy flakes and ends with snow drifts. Am I imagining those snowfalls of my childhood? Deep ones that allowed for snowman-building, and later, massive bowls of snow cream made at the kitchen table?

Snowfalls that included no ice.

I know they were real. Momma has pictures to prove it.

Obviously my snow door hanger has lost its charm…

For those of you who ate snow cream when you were kids, did your Momma insist on waiting until the second snowfall to make it, saying the first snowfall was full of toxic chemicals and acid rain and stuff?

Mommas always bestowed bits of life-saving wisdom upon us.

Things such as…

• You can’t swim until thirty minutes after eating.
• We can’t decorate the Christmas tree until the branches fall.
• If you crack your knuckles, you’ll get arthritis.
• If you swallow that piece of gum, it will sit in your stomach for seven years.
• If you swallow a watermelon seed, a watermelon will grow inside you.
• If you sit too close to the television, you’ll go blind.

Back then, it was so easy to make things up. Everyone believed everything they heard. Oh wait… 

After Epiphany

The house is back to normal after Epiphany. Our method for de-Christmasing is to first gather everything into the kitchen, leave it there for a day while hoping a few elves will magically return everything to the appropriate storage containers, and when that doesn’t happen, do it ourselves. In the meantime, during that messy kitchen day/night, we go out to eat because who wants to cook surrounded by such an explosion of after-Christmas mess?

Even the bowls of apples and onions and potatoes look mighty uncomfortable.

I actually enjoy the process of putting away Christmas. There’s a memory attached to each ornament and decoration. Forgive the cliche, but the process is definitely a walk down memory lane for me. And the best part—after everything is stored away, there is no clean like the clean of the new year.

At first, the house looks eerily empty. I can never quite remember what went where. For me, this is the perfect time to move things around. It’s amazing how relocating a chair or a table to a different spot can make an entire room breathe better.

Sweet Grapefruit

Are you a fan of grapefruit? They are absolutely delicious this time of year. We bought a whole big bag at Sam’s Club, and I’ve been eating one a day. They came from the Rio Grande Valley where the best grapefruits are grown, hands down!

When I was a kid, Momma had these awesome grapefruit spoons that were serrated on the tips and perfect for separating the fruit from the membrane. I imagine they are still in the silverware drawer at the Bat Cave, (probably wondering why no one uses them anymore), but I can’t say I’ve seen them in years.

(Did anyone’s mother go on the grapefruit diet?)

I am putting grapefruit spoons on my Christmas list for 2020. See how ahead of the game I am?

Work +  Play

If you read my most recent newsletter, you know I have officially launched my publishing company, One Mississippi Press. I have to say, I’ve been going full steam ahead since the first of the year.

Doing something new and different feels a bit unsettling, like climbing to the top of a tree where the branches are thinner and may not be strong enough. It’s exciting too, new views in every direction, fresh air to breathe, and a completely different perspective. Here’s the thing friends—it’s important to climb, to push ourselves, do the new thing, dare to think new thoughts. That’s how we grow and learn. It’s what makes life fun.

I have lots to learn and my brain may explode. And yes, I’ve been a bit MIA on social media (probably not a bad thing).

Bottom line = work + play is a powerful combination. I’m amazed at how much I can accomplish if I chip away at the looming goal, a little bit every day. I’m amazed at how absorbed I can become.

I apologize in advance if my Sunday Letters become sporadic in the next few weeks as I focus on a few deadlines. If you don’t hear from me within, say, two weeks, send good vibes and pizza.

Coming soon—lots of news about my next book, Gene, Everywhere, fun changes to the 2nd Edition of Gracie Lee, and more!

Things Momma Says:

I don’t have the energy to swat a fly this morning.

***

Until next time, Sunday Letter friends.

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