Sunday Letter: 09-21-25

Dear Sunday Letter Readers,

Look at me—two Sunday Letters in a row! I know, shocking, right? Ha.

Tomorrow marks the first day of fall here in the northern hemisphere. Yes, even though we live in the southern United States, we’re still in the northern hemisphere. (The last time I mentioned this, a lady from Colorado insisted the Ozarks were in the southern hemisphere. Good grief. Some things really are facts.)

Another fact—yesterday, we finally received a lovely, much-needed rainfall. There was even rolling thunder, a sound I find incredibly soothing.

Something that wasn’t soothing = my college football watching experience. The Heartbreak Hogs managed to lose yet another close game. (I’m not an authority, but I bet that routinely happens when a team completely forgets to play in the second half.) And, my Baylor Bears lost by three points in the last few seconds to Arizona State. This loss felt different though, because both teams actually showed up and played hard for an entire four quarters.

Of course, in the big picture, none of this amounts to a hill of beans.🫘

What I really want to say is happy Last Day of Summer—and welcome to today’s Sunday Letter.

A Big Thank You

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who read my recent piece in Front Porch Magazine and then hopped over to Amazon to purchase The Third Act of Theo Gruene. I’ve been writing for Arkansas Farm Bureau for nearly a decade, and I’m so grateful for the support of my Front Porch readers. (I’m grateful for farmers too!)

I’ve linked the article [HERE] if you’d like to read it.

And—drumroll—I’m celebrating The Third Act being named a Runner-Up (Top Six!) in the 2025 Paris Book Festival for General Fiction. No, not Paris, Texas or Paris, Arkansas (though I’d happily celebrate those too). While I didn’t win overall, being recognized among such a large field feels pretty wonderful.

A few other things I celebrated this week:

A gentle reminder: it’s good to celebrate every small victory.

The Fall Garden

For me, standing at the door of autumn is like taking a deep cleansing breath.

Tomorrow’s equinox marks the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator (#fact), tipping us toward shorter days and longer nights. This will continue until winter solstice. Our soil has begun cooling too—this is another sign that it’s time to start tucking in the garden.

Here are twelve simple ways to prepare your beds for a cozy winter’s rest:

• • Clean up the veggie patch. Pull out spent plants, cages, and stakes, then disinfect before storing so you don’t carry diseases into spring.

  • Keep watering. Roots still need moisture—even when the air is crisp.

  • Divide perennials. More room for roots means stronger plants and better blooms.

  • Add fall color. Asters, mums, violas, kale, and, of course, pumpkins bring instant cheer.

  • Plant trees and shrubs. Cool soil encourages root growth before winter.

  • Overwinter potted plants. Clean them up, check for bugs, and bring them inside before frost.

  • Rake with care. Monarch chrysalides may be tucked into leaves or mulch—step lightly.

  • Inspect insect hotels. Replace decayed materials and safely store sealed tubes until spring.

  • Plant spring bulbs. Aim for soil temps of 40–60°F, and don’t wait too long.

  • Take cuttings. Coleus, begonias, and other tender plants root easily in water.

  • Lift tender bulbs. Protect elephant ears, caladiums, dahlias, and gladiolus from freezing.

  • Consult the persimmons. Folklore says their seeds predict winter weather—fun and free entertainment.

Let’s think of this list as twelve gardening “opportunities” rather than “chores”. After all, by doing these things, we will be investing in next spring’s grand encore. 🌱✨

(Also, frost changes everything. Check your average first frost date HERE.)

Fiction-Themed Coloring Books

Last week I mentioned my new fiction-inspired coloring books—but in case you missed that blog post, you can catch up on all the fun details [HERE]. I’m super excited about this, and I hope you will join me in regular coloring breaks:))

Two thoughts about coloring:

1. Coloring is for kids and adults.

2. A box of crayons = an incredible portal to childhood nostalgia. Just open the lid, breathe them in, and see for yourself.

Okra

We’ve had a bumper crop of okra all summer and that has been a fantastic thing.

• Okra is packed with nutrients including Vitamin C, A, and K.
• Biologically, okra is classified as a fruit. (Who knew!? I didn’t.)
• The slimy stringy inside part of okra is the magic part—that goo is rich in soluble fiber, meaning it is very good for your gut!
• Okra may interfere with certain diabetes medication, but since I am not a doctor, check with yours if this is a concern.

I can eat okra prepared any old way, but this summer our favorite way has been grilled. It’s such an easy and delicious way to cook it! Slice it longways, drizzle it with oil, sprinkle on a little salt and pepper, and plop it on the griddle. The smoke adds next level flavor.

(If you don’t have a griddle, you’ll probably want to use a grill basket or make a foil packet to keep it from falling through the grill.)

Of course, not everyone shares my love of okra. Some people loathe it, and that’s a-okay. We are allowed to have different tastes. But thinking about this had me considering opinions, and how they work:

• Saying “okra is the worst food in all the land” = opinion.

• Saying “okra lovers are low IQ idiots” = bullying.

• Saying “no one should eat okra because I don’t like it” = oppression.

• Saying “okra eaters must be controlled” = fascism.

• Saying “okra defenders should be silenced or jailed” = the end of free speech, democracy, and possibly gumbo. 😭

I came across a similar analogy on Threads (thanks, R. Macy) and swapped in okra. The point? We can disagree—even passionately—and still respect each other’s freedom. You’re free to love okra, I’m free to be a pod-denier, and democracy is safe as long as nobody ends up in handcuffs at the supper table.

See?

Things Momma Says:

I try to get people to act right, but no one will listen to me.

***

Oops, I didn’t intend to write such a long post. Thanks, as always, for spending a bit of your Sunday with me.

Cheers to a peaceful week ahead. I hope you find time to take a walk, read a book, or color. Maybe work in a nap this afternoon, or watch a Robert Redford movie (#RIP). Life is good, especially when we remember to be kind and celebrate the little things.

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

P.S. If you ordered copies of my phenology workbook and journal package—I promise to mail them to you as soon as I receive my inventory order. Hopefully before the end of September. Thanks so much for your patience and your support.