grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Porch People

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I love walking in our new Fayetteville neighborhood. So much to see. Rolling hills, stone walls, old trees, yard art. Flowers barely glimpsed in Dallas’ early short spring are still blooming here… A row of pale pink geraniums(!) flourishing beside autumn sedum and spider lilies stretches my mind beyond normal. One of these things just doesn’t belong… 

In Dallas by the 4th of July, I pull up burnt geraniums and plant plastic American flags… They are amazingly drought tolerant, completely disease resistant and provide a burst of color throughout summer. Xeriscaping at its finest.

The houses in Fayetteville are historical and charming, much like our Dallas neighborhood, but the porches are not perfectly aligned nor are the yards evenly edged. It takes me a day or so to breathe it in and unwind. Natural and peaceful expands my boundaries as well.

As I stroll I think I am completely incognito. Invisible. But probably not. They likely know we are those people from Texas… only here part-time…. who let their yard grow up between mowings…. probably Republicans.… Longhorns?! 
It is very strange to be the ‘new people’. I don’t know which vehicle goes with which neighbor. We don’t even know the dogs’ names yet! 
Yesterday I walked pass a lady, and we exchanged hellos as I restrained an over-exuberant Annabelle. I wondered if we would become friends?

I can’t imagine another neighborhood as cool as Munger Place, with wine walks, New Year’s crawls, Harry’s porch. But I do think this could be porch party community. Maybe they just need someone to be the first host. Plus I need to buy a Razorback flag immediately.

talya

Musical Pairings:

Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds



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Comments

  1. I love walking the streets of Fayetteville! We had a second home for over 20 years and more than once we were called those A-holes from Des Moines. Ha ha

  2. And…..don’t forget the cool Annual Talya & John’s Hallween Party. I bet you and John will be having wine porch parties before long in Fayetteville. Mom

  8. If I can move from Southern California to Plano, Iowa and make friends (right, Coleen?) you’ll have no problem at all! Once they get to know you they’ll love you!

  10. Munger Place sounds like a really cool place, and I think, a great subject for a movie or television series!…hint, hint!!!=) All it needs is a talented writer to spread the word!…double hint, hint!!!=) But, as I’m sure you know, it’s not the place, but the people who live there that makes a neighborhood, special. Reading about your awesome neighborly neighbors through your blog here makes me want to meet them for myself!!!=) Also, I know you’ll have no trouble making friends in Fayetteville…especially if you’ll just be yourself, and I know you will. With your Mississippi County Farm girl raising combined with your Munger Place neighborliness, you’ll do great in Fayetteville!!! And by the way, WPS!!!=)

  11. Just turn Barbara loose, Talya. If she’s anything like MY mother (and I’m guessing she is), she’ll know all the neighbors, their dogs, and their life stories before the end of the first week. 🙂

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