grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Planting Bulbs, Planting Hope

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Digging in the dirt is a favorite pastime of mine, but lately I’ve had no time to do it. Correction, I hadn’t made the time to do it. And I’d been moaning about how when spring arrives our yard will be so sad without our sprightly pink and orange tulip blossoms. Last summer after they bloomed, I dug them up and stored them in the garage. Nicely labeled and all. Last week, I saw them staring at me when I hoisted the tubs of Christmas decorations from the shelf.

Planting Bulbs, Planting Hope

Finally, I stopped moaning and started digging. Planting bulbs, planting hope. It felt good. So good that the next day, my whole body ached. I had to rake five bags of leaves to even get to the dirt.Continue Reading

What I’m Giving Up for Advent

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What I'm giving up for Advent

Wow. Can you believe we’re already in the second week of Advent? This year, more so than any other I can remember, I’ve been sitting with Advent, thinking about it, needing it. As I reflect on the past year and prepare for the next, I’m determined to make these days before Christmas simple and easy. To do that, I’m giving up things for Advent.

In case you think this “giving up of things” sounds more like Lent than Advent, let me elaborate.

Yes, Lent is about giving up things or taking on tasks as a form of sacrifice or penance, and Advent is a time of waiting. Waiting for the birth of Christ. Waiting for the second coming.

Waiting and reflecting and resting is difficult when I feel weighted down with items on my to-do list. Items that really, in the scheme of thing, don’t add up to a hill of beans. Continue Reading

Oh my word, it’s Thanksgiving Week!

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Buttermilk Pie - It's Thanksgiving Week!Oh.My.Word. It’s Thanksgiving week, y’all! I know I say it all the time and odds are good this won’t be the last. This year has flown by. And what a unique one it’s been. 2016 was the year I published my first book—something by the very definition can never, ever be repeated. And yes, I’m already talking about 2016 in past tense because if we round up, it’s over. Stick a fork in it.

Ov-er. Well, except for the flurry of activity ahead of us for Christmas.

So Thanksgiving week. We think about family and food and football and no, don’t you dare step on the stupid bathroom scale because during Thanksgiving week, all bets are off about calories. Who cares! And while we’re at it, let’s not talk politics, just this once. Instead let’s watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade(!), an old movie or two, play Monopoly, drink champagne. Celebrate every teeny tiny thing because, yes, some of the most remarkable goodness is doled out in teaspoons and snippets and slivers of time.  Continue Reading

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

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