Nature & Seasons - grace grits and gardening

Garden in Summer

July 9, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

Summer has arrived in Dallas. As we flirt with 100 degrees, the air lays blanket thick over my garden. Yet even with hot, hot temperatures, bright colors and fresh smells fill Promise of Peace Community Garden. Cucumbers and okra are taking over my bed. I harvest tomatoes, eggplant, ginormous basil, spinach, and swiss chard. In my neighbors’ plots, pumpkins, cantaloupe and honeydew grow heavy on the vine.

Here are a few pictures I snapped this week.

A beautiful, hot place.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Frozen, In Summer

Wild Side of the Road

July 7, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

Driving to Hana. Maui, Hawaii

Warm sunshine, the glare brilliant. Cannonball! My toes plunge to an icy spot deep beneath the surface of the lake. Relief on a hot July day.

Pressing seeds into the damp earth, I inhale the freshness of soil. The beginning of life.

Wading in the ocean, the tide yearns, pulls. The moon watches.

Alone in the woods, the black forest encircles me. What if I get lost?

Pen to paper, I release thoughts buried inside my mind. Memories stir.

Only one footstep from normal, the wild side of the road awakens the soul.

“And now let the wild rumpus start!”
― Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:

Take a Walk on the Wild Side, Lou Reed

How to make a clover bracelet

June 17, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

A few weeks ago I posted a photo of clover on my Facebook page. It was a popular picture, bringing lots of comments about playing in clover patches and making clover bracelets and necklaces. But I was surprised to learn there were people who had never heard of this childhood ritual.

Last week at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer writer retreat, our conversation turned to the importance of telling our stories. Stories that will soon be lost if left untold. Things that today’s kids may not know.

Like making homemade ice cream. Pouring ice and salt around the canister. Turning the crank until it wouldn’t churn. Covering the freezer with a thick towel. Waiting and waiting for fresh peach ice cream. The process was one of the best parts of summer.

And making clover necklaces and bracelets? I decided I’d better write about it. It’s worth remembering.

Step One. On a sunny spring day, gather clover.

Step Two. Press a small slit in the stem of the first clover about an inch from the flower. The stems are tender, so this can easily be done with your fingernail. Ideally, clover necklaces are made on the school playground surrounded by best friends, laughter and daydreams. No utensils required…

Step Three. Thread the stem of a second clover through the slit of the first stem. Repeat this process, making your next slit on the second clover. Weave the third clover through the slit on the second clover. Don’t overthink. Remember, this is a fun, easy, imperfect activity.

Step Four. Continue until your clover rope has reached the size you want for a bracelet, necklace or crown. Yes, clover crowns were all the rage on the Keiser Elementary School fourth grade playground…

Step Five. Connect the last clover to the first stem the same way, with a small slit. Now your clover ring is connected. Snip the long pieces of stem if you prefer.