grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Fall is my favorite color…

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Fall is my favorite color.
       Ozark is my favorite shade.

Fayetteville, Arkansas
Berryville, Arkansas

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life. –― Hermann Hesse, Bäume. Betrachtungen ind Gedichte

talya

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

Musical Pairing:

Danny Wright, Autumn Dreams

Canoeing the Mississippi River at Helena

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(Note: Helena Advertising and Promotions Commission sponsored this blogger trip. Opinions are my own.)

Mississippi River, Osceola River Port

Never swim in the Mississippi River. EVER.

My sister and I heard this warning over and over again from Momma and Daddy and Papa Creecy. Although the Mississippi River was our very own natural wonder, we knew better than to dip one toe into his churning current.
Please, can we go see the river?

After a trip to the grocery store, Momma often drove us over the levee to make sure he was still there. We always took out-of town visitors to see our river at the Osceola River Port. And crossing into Memphis, we held our breath on the bridge spanning the water, a game we played in route to the Zoo or Goldsmith’s or the Mid-South Fair. It was a l-o-n-g way over.

The Mississippi River flowed through our veins,  yet we never swam in it. EVER.

When a classmate drowned, we understood and respected his power.
I recently stepped a toe into the Mississippi River. Both feet in fact. The cool water felt marvelous, yet forbidden. As I pulled my life jacket tight, I felt Papa Creecy shudder from the heavens…

I was part of a small group of Arkansas Women Bloggers invited by the Helena Advertising and Promotions Commission to spend a few days in their delta town overlooking the Mississippi River. Although Helena is directly downstream from our farm near Osceola, this was my first visit.

And a cram-packed, entertaining visit it was. One of my favorite activities—canoeing on the Mississippi River.
Led by the Quapaw Canoe Company, we canoed to Buck Island (also known as Island 63). And for those of you from Mississippi County, Island 63 is NOTHING like our infamous Island 35… not in the least…
Canoeing the Mississippi River at Helena
The spectacular autumn air held a freshness I’d yet to feel in Dallas since the prolonged, hot summer. A sense of nervous excitement grew, for me anyway—being on the river, feeling the tug of water against the oar. We laughed and talked and row, row, rowed, landing on the island just before sunset.

Buck Island was remote.

Mississippi River at Helena, Island 63, Buck Island
Arriving at Buck Island

Uninhabited, the only signs of life were animal tracks stamped in the sand.

Buck Island, Island 63, Helena, Mississippi River
beautiful white sand

In only moments, our guides built an impressive fire from sticks and driftwood gathered from the nearby woods. As the sun sank into the riverbank, we ate dinner by bonfire glow, debated the perfect way to roast a marshmallow, and drank the finest boxed wine from hefty coffee mugs.

Buck Island, Island 63, Mississippi River at Helena
Kyran Pittman demonstrating marshmallow perfection

 

I wanted to stay on that island forever.
Canoeing back in silence, Venus shone brightly above the tree line, and the Milky Way cut a bright swath in the night. Like a great whale, a barge slipped by moving the black water. I imagined rafting the river at a different time, in a different world, one without lights from the nearby bridge or the hum of soybeans being loaded onto nearby barges.
Mississippi River at Helena
Mississippi River barge

 

Underneath an endless sky surrounded by the mighty river, I returned to shore awestruck.
It is not a commonplace river, but on the contrary is in all ways remarkable. –Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi
talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

 

Musical Pairing:

Ol Man River, Paul Robeson

 

Another Halloween

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Another Halloween - creative writing prompt



I am a scarecrow
Wielding two thousand pieces of candy,
One by one, to make it last.
Really? Yes, really. Two thousand…
Kids queue from curb to porch, an
Exceptional sunflower costume—
Xtra piece for you. Por Favor
Chocolate? Yes,
Everyone’s favorite. The
Line squirms and snakes
Longer, as the sugared-up and
Eager clamor for more, more.
Now wait—haven’t you already been here
Tonight? The hour grows
Late.
You refill my wine glass
Up to the rim. Even scarecrows
Need Pinot. Leftover lentil soup for
Dinner? What dinner? No time to 
Eat. I’ll feast on Milk Duds.
Really it’s allowed tonight,
Practically expected.
Required even. 
Enhanced excitement. Big 
Sister reminding little brother—
Say ‘Trick or Treat’, don’t forget…
Underneath an almost full moon
Reawakened memories mold my thoughts,
Envelop me.
Really? You aren’t wearing a costume…
Even adults scam for sugar
Parading infants, holding them high, a
Lion King offering
Into the air as justification.
Eastward, clouds 
Dance around the black treeline. 
Quietly I creep from my post
Undetected during a lull in the sweet-
Eating throngs. This scarecrow is
Entirely out of goodies, down to one
Nasty, sticky piece lodged
In the bottom of her plastic cauldron. 
Empty.Sorry, no mas.

Another Halloween - creative writing prompt - Munger Place
Munger Place Halloween


talya

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

This was written especially for FEARLESS FRIDAY PRACTICE –An acrostic off the following phrase… “I work excellently under pressure,” replied Queenie.

Plus, include the following words: restless, lentil, sunflower, glass, overcast, air and mold.
 

P.S. If you are reading this post from your phone, the acrostic phrase may not line up correctly…Oh well.


Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!