grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Are you alive?

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Congratulations.
If you are reading this post, you are alive.
Do you feel alive? Truly alive? Do you wake each morning excited, wondering what amazing things the day will bring, or do you merely go through the motions with no passion and zero enjoyment? While days disappear, do you wait for your life to begin?
Things will be better next year…when I get married or buy my dream house or publish a book.

We aren’t guaranteed five more seconds.
If you knew you only had one year to live, what would you do?
Still reading?
Guess what? You’re still alive.
talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life
Musical Pairing:
Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven
This was written for the Write Tribe 100 Words on Saturday. (Write exactly 100 words on the prompt – a story, a poem, a mini-essay). This week’s prompt: Truly Alive. 


Reflections on Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged!

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When was the last time you went to camp? As a kid, Momma packed me up and sent me off to various camps during the summer including basketball camp in Conway, church camp in Ravenden Springs, and cheerleading camp at Arkansas State. 
Except for the basketball practice, preaching and constant “we’ve got spirit, yes we do…” part, I liked camp.
Last weekend I attended AWBU, a blogger camp for Arkansas women bloggers, quite possibly some of the same ladies who attended basketball, church and cheerleading camps with me in the seventies…
AWBU was held at Ferncliff, a 1,200 acre camp nestled in the forest near Little Rock. With a bunkhouse and cafeteria, it was not unlike my memory of beautiful Ravenden Springs.
The whole ‘face with a name’ thing was exhilarating. I met bloggers I’ve been fans of for two years—Delta Moxie, Porkchop Tuesday, Desperately Seeking Gina, Dining with Debbie, Pink Heels Pink Truck, The Park Wife, and Ramblings of a Little Wife to name a few. When people said to me Oh, you’re Grace Grits?, I felt validated.
Meeting Gregg Patterson from Arkansas Farm Bureau was also a highlight. Yes, I follow Farm Bureau around like most follow sports teams…
The conference was fast paced with educational sessions throughout the day involving SEO, branding, and coding. Being able to talk blogging all day and night with like-minded ladies without getting that oh-no-here-she-goes-again-glazed-look was as delicious as the Petit Jean bacon served for breakfast each morning. 
I left the conference feeling more focused and excited about my writing. The weekend included just enough cheerleading to make us energized and just enough exercise (a 5-K instead of basketball) to work off some of that bacon. Plus, the serene setting was downright spiritual.
talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.


Arkansas River – Dreaming from Dorothy’s Ridge

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(written from Dorothy’s Ridge, Little Rock, Arkansas)

Grace Grits and Gardening, Arkansas River
my view from Dorothy’s Ridge
From my spot high atop Dorothy’s Ridge, the Arkansas River appears calm and unmoving, yet I know her water churns from Rocky Mountain headwaters. Winding across our country’s mid-section, she flows through Kansas and Oklahoma before slipping past me.
Although I can’t see the next bend of the river, I know she empties into the mighty Mississippi River.
Although I don’t know where life will lead, I recognize that’s part of the journey. 
Arkansas River headwaters at Leadville, Colorado

Dream of sunrise high atop a ridge
Overlooking the Arkansas
River. Worries seem faint,
Obscured by a veil of morning mist,
Tranquil and
Hazy.
Yesterday fades. My
Summer wanes.

Reflect on this moment as sunlight casts its
Image of tomorrow and
Daylight brightens,
Growing
Endless.

“A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself.” 
― Laura Gilpin

talya

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

Be sure to follow my friend Dorothy’s blog – Reflections from Dorothy’s Ridge. 

Dorothy and Me

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!