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Alone and Lonely

January 13, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

wine

“White wine, please.” She sits at the end of the bar and blends in with the other faceless people. She is alone. Alone and lonely yet surrounded by laughter and dancing and music so loud the wine vibrates in her glass. Everything feels forced—the energy in this place, the smiles plastered all around, even her breathing—inhale, exhale. She takes a sip, feels the coolness slip down her throat and silently toasts the New Year. Things can only get better…

“Bourbon rocks.” He claims the next stool. The faint smell of his cologne almost invokes a memory, but not quite.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

This post was written especially for Write Tribe – 100 Words on Saturday, Prompt: Strangers in the Night.

Musical Pairing:

Frank Sinatra, Strangers in the Night

getting organized in the new year!

January 10, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

Yesterday I spent the entire day getting my home office organized while my blog migrated from Blogger to WordPress.  (Most of you won’t care about this, but you bloggers will… It was like waiting for my child’s fever to break. IAmNoComputerProgramer, and this whole process has been nerve-wracking for me…)

Since I was tied to my computer anyway, I sorted stacks and stacks of paperwork organizing everything into my new cool files. They make me happy.

getting organized - desk for 2014

I cleaned my chalkboard wall and erased  last year’s completed lists or abandoned ideas in favor of a fresh slate. This is where I write story and blog ideas, lists, inspirational quotes, etc. (It is still wet in the picture and looks a bit strange…)

getting organized - chalkboard paint wall

 

And I shredded tons of paper—pages and pages of my book rough draft, thousands of words written last year.

And I worked on taxes.

This morning my blog is up and running (although it no doubt needs tweaking), and my desk is organized. 

Whew!

Happy Weekend.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

 

Ladybug

January 1, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

for Andie…


Maybe she was simply needed
In another place, too perfect for this one. The
Raw reality of her
Absence still fresh years later. Taken just after
Christmas—the sheer timing cruel. A
Loss so incomprehensible
Especially in
One so young. Life unrolls in delicate,
Fragile waves, ridden but not understood. We
Trust 
He has a plan
Even while we
Languish, gasping for air. And then
A reminder. Hope, love, beauty touches the
Depths of a mother’s heart.
Yellow, raw pain soothed as hundreds of ladybugs—
Brilliant red dots of joy—
Uproot 
Grief. If only for a moment.

Miracle of the Ladybug
morgueFile

talya

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

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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: 11.23.25
  • Maggie and Miss Ladybug: My New Children’s Nature Book
  • Sunday Letter: November 9, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Oct 26, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Oct 5, 2025

Novels:

Coloring Books:

Fiction-Themed Coloring Books

Backyard Phenology:

Children’s Nature Book:

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