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Sunday Letter: 05.09.21

May 9, 2021 By Talya Tate Boerner 6 Comments

Sunday Letter

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Happy Mother’s Day to all those who mother! Mothers have all the essential jobs. They dry tears, provide motivation, feather nests (and later push us from the nest)—teaching, encouraging, scolding, doing all the things that keep the world spinning.

Y’all know how special my Momma is. Even within the space of my short Sunday Letters, she keeps all of us laughing. (You should be with her in person.)

😂

Dirty Birds

Last week, our pink flamingoes got a long overdue bath.

We purchased these two vintage flamingoes years ago at Curiosities in Dallas. They migrated with us to Fayetteville where they have made their home beside our small water feature. (I often wonder if they miss their Dallas pool?)

Pink Flamingos

The past year was tough on everyone.

The before and after bath pics are shocking. I was embarrassed for them—what dirty birds they had become!

Now, clean again, they are happily watching over the back yard, no longer covered in pollen and gunk. Maybe I’ll give their feathers a paint refresh soon. Goodness knows, they deserve it.

flamingo

Re-bloomer!

One of my orchids will soon be re-blooming. I don’t know about you, but in my world, this is a cause for celebration. I am especially happy about this after having repotted my orchids in January. (Sometimes simply not causing harm is reason enough to celebrate.)

My orchid rebloom tips HERE.

orchid rebloom

Also this week, the first spring bud of our knockout roses is about to open. Just in time for Mother’s Day.

first rosebud

There were several other noteworthy firsts this week. First rose-breasted grosbeaks and orioles at our feeders this spring. First time I’ve heard an owl in our backyard since we moved to Fayetteville. Exciting!

Speaking of birds, today is Global Big Day, an annual celebration of World Migratory Bird Day. I’ll be participating by observing and reporting the birds at our feeders this afternoon. I hope the grosbeaks and orioles stick around for today’s counting. You can join in the fun at ebird.com.

Sunday Lunch

Today for our Mother’s Day lunch, I’m making old-fashioned chicken and dumplings with lemon pie for dessert. Chicken and dumplings always remind me of my Mammaw Ruby. She made the best chicken and dumplings EVER. And pie reminds me of Nana. Nana was a big believer in dessert.

I’m lucky to have grown up with two sets of grandparents who lived nearby. And I had lots of aunts who provided plenty of mothering to me. Although most of these lovely women have been gone for decades, the older I get the more obvious it becomes that they never truly leave. They become part of us in subtle ways, through memories that manifest into habit, into mannerisms and passions and baking pie on Mother’s Day.

Crushed Oyster Shell

I learned something interesting last week from an online class at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. Certain herbs and leafy greens will grow more vigorously if “mulched” with crushed oyster shell. Oyster shell provides calcium and micronutrients, balances the soil pH levels, and keeps the soil from becoming compacted.

Sooooo, I purchased a small box of crushed oyster shell from Down to Earth All Natural Fertilizers and added it around my rosemary, sage, and lavender. These plants don’t like soggy feet and I’m hoping the shell will help keep the lower foliage happy. If you’ve ever used diatomaceous earth in your garden, crushed oyster shell is much like that—a fine, dry powder.

crushed oyster shells

Have you ever used crushed oyster shell in your garden?

I’m expecting great things from my herbs this year!

Things Momma Said:

things Momma Says

I just won a crossword tournament that I didn’t know I was in.

***

As always, thanks for reading another Sunday Letter. I cannot believe how fast this year is passing. I’m pretty sure if I didn’t write these weekly letters, I would lose all track of time.

Let’s all try to do something this week that would make our Mommas proud.

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

Filed Under: Sunday Letter Tagged With: comfort food, herbs, Mother's Day

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Comments

  1. Jo Ann says

    May 9, 2021 at 9:47 am

    What a wonderful letter, Talya…full of fun, sentiment, thoughts to ponder, advice, beauty, humor. I love your flamingoes exactly where they are…perfect!

    And, I have thought so much this morning of my Mom…but when I read your last sentence about doing something this week that would make our Mommas proud, I teared up, thinking of my momma and the kind, generous person she was. I am contemplating all kinds of ideas…and I also might share your idea on Facebook if it’s ok with you. ???

    Have a wonderful day…your lunch sounds awesome!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      May 9, 2021 at 11:59 am

      Absolutely, share away!! I’m pretty sure you regularly do thing that would make your mom proud.

      Reply
  2. Cathyv says

    May 9, 2021 at 10:02 am

    Happy Mother’s Day to you Talya. We are going to have a quiet dinner with James, Emily and her family!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      May 9, 2021 at 11:59 am

      Have a wonderful time!

      Reply
  3. Julie says

    May 10, 2021 at 7:00 am

    I’m going to make pillowcase borders for all my grand nieces and nephews, following your “make your Mom proud”. My Mom was always sewing for her grandchildren. We have older flamingos in need of a little refreshing via paint…will have to get on that too! Good suggestions to start the week, Thanks

    Reply
  4. Dorothy Johnson says

    May 10, 2021 at 10:29 am

    Happy Mother’s Day! I loved your pictures. Also, I’m glad all the Tate girls are in Fayetteville now. I’m sure it makes your gatherings extra fun. Being farther south, our knockout roses are a little ahead of yours, and one of my orchids is blooming.
    I’m grateful for my mother’s love and wisdom. I was also fortunate to receive lots of extra mothering from her sisters. I wish everyone could have had the kind of nurturing we had.

    Reply

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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 (Now Available!)

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