grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Fayetteville Find: Dirty Apron Bakehouse

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Dirty Apron Bakehouse

Ooooh! We know dreamy things come in small packages and that’s certainly the case with Fayetteville’s newest bakery. Dirty Apron Bakehouse opened in April, and I finally got around to visiting a few days ago. This tiny spot is located off Dickson behind Nightbird Books.

Dirty Apron Bakehouse

Dirty Apron bakes small batch naturally leavened sourdough using a French, mid-nineteenth century fermentation process. This process is said to result in more digestible and flavorful bread. In addition to freshly baked loaves, the bakehouse also offers a daily menu that includes pastries, breakfast sandwiches, salads, coffee, beer, and hot tea.Continue Reading

Little Custom Homes in Mississippi County, Arkansas

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Little Custom Homes, Bassett, Ar

It’s no secret I love to share all the interesting things happening in Mississippi County, Arkansas. That’s where I grew up and where my Momma still farms. Now we can add Little Custom Homes, LLC to the coolness.

How cute are these? The only thing missing is a puppy on each porch.

Am I right?

I’ve not officially toured these homes, but I’ve driven by them, stalked them from afar, and memorized the photos on the website. And while I’m not (yet) a tiny house dweller, these Little Custom Homes (company owned by Bill Denton) make me believe I could pare down my stuff to those can’t-live-without books belongings. So often, I feel stifled by stuff. Don’t you?Continue Reading

Dogbranch School (and the journey of the curved line)

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a side trip to Dogbranch School

I was never much of a math person (sorry Mrs. Meadows, Mr. Mason, Mr. Howard, Bob Irby), yet I do respect the truth of the straight line. Yes, I know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But straight lines can be boring. And  sometimes the shortest distance doesn’t interest me. Most times, I prefer the more entertaining journey offered by the curved line.

I’m easily entertained.

Point A to Point B nearly always takes me longer than GPS estimates, because GPS has no reasoning skills. We have a sort of love-hate relationship, GPS and me. He can’t see detours into the woods marked by faded hand-lettered signs. He doesn’t notice cows posing roadside waiting to have their picture taken. He can’t feel the tug of history represented by a graveyard or roadside historical marker.

Yes, GPS is a man who never stops for lookout points or wildflowers growing in clumps at abandoned homesites.

Overlooking Cotter Bridge

His is an obtuse world of right angles painted pitch black or bright white. Right, left, yes, no. Loops exist as u-turns. Mistakes. And even as long as we’ve been together, GPS still doesn’t recognize my craving for the side trip.

Recently I took one such side trip to Dogbranch School (Carroll County, Arkansas). I’d been tempted to veer onto this gravel road before. I pass it each time I drive to Eureka Springs or Mountain Home.Continue Reading

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