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New house. Crazy busy.

August 25, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

This is an exciting and busy time for John and me. We close on our new (old) Fayetteville house today which I know we will love, love, love. I say old because it was built in 1876! We are fortunate to have found it thanks to our amazing realtor-friend, Paula Larson of Crye-Leike, who has our back, knows what we like and is willing to put up with us. (If you have real estate needs in NW Arkansas, I highly recommend Paula!)

our new house in Fayetteville!

Also, we have a contract on our beloved Dallas house. I don’t want to jinx it (knock-on-wood), so that’s all I will say about that.

And I have an editor! I will be working with a professional editor in December (she’s in high demand and has edited books for one of my favorite authors). My manuscript is in her hands. This makes me nervous-excited.

Everything seems to be falling into place.

The next few weeks will be crazy busy with Arkansas Women Blogger University coming up in Rogers. (I’m in charge of Instagram, so be expecting a flurry of IG-ing. And, if you aren’t following me on Instagram, I hope you will.) Then I’ll be back in Dallas packing up Worth Street to move our belongings to Fayetteville. By the time this all happens, it will officially be Fall. Football. Tailgating. I have a few Razorback football tickets. WPS!

I’ve joined both Ozark Writers League and Ozark Creative Writers and look forward to getting involved.

Lots going on. All good things:)

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

 

Things we find. Things we keep.

August 21, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

Decluttering a house to sell and move is time consuming work. It is also entertaining, like signing on for an unintentional treasure hunt.

Here are a few of the interesting (to me) things I’ve found while cleaning and packing.

My original Cinderella watch.

my Cinderella watch

I’ve had this watch since I was about six years old, but I haven’t seen it in years and years. It came with a porcelain Cinderella figurine (long gone). I found this in Kelsey’s jewelry box. Somehow it migrated from the Bat Cave.

And what a landslide of memories.

While cleaning out Kelsey’s closet (which was originally Tate’s until Kelsey left for college), I had completely forgotten we marked height inside on the door frame. Tate’s height dated 10/06/2003 was 4’4″. He was ten years old. I showed this to him a couple of weeks ago, and of course we measured him again for old time’s sake. Now at age twenty-one, his mark is way above Kelsey’s highest mark (taken in 2006).

The new owner will have to paint over this because I can’t.

growth chart

I also found these photo strips. John and I never pass up silly photo booths. These go back to before we were married.

our photos through the years

Left-to-right from younger days to most recent. My favorite is the one that includes Tate.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

“Change is like that: you are no longer where you were; you are not yet where you will get; you are nowhere exactly.”
― Lionel Shriver

Musical Pairing:

Fleetwood Mac – Landslide

 

a rare august storm

August 17, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

On this Sunday morning, we are in the midst of an amazing, unusual August storm. Rolling thunder moves from one side of the house to the other. The air is electrified. I feel the couch tremble as another wave begins.

Flashes of lightening brighten the dimly lit room where I sit. John, Lucy and Annabelle sleep extra late, lulled by the glorious storm.

I write. But mostly I listen.

stormy morning

via lunamom58 morgueFile

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

P.S. and now we have no electricity…

Musical Pairing:

The Weather Girls, It’s Raining Men

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: February 22, 2026
  • Our Garden Mission Statement
  • Goodbye, 2025. Hello, 2026.
  • Sunday Letter: 11.23.25
  • Maggie and Miss Ladybug: My New Children’s Nature Book

Novels:

Coloring Books:

Fiction-Themed Coloring Books

Backyard Phenology:

Children’s Nature Book:

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