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# grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

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## Posts

- [Sunday Letter: 06.25.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/06/sunday-letter-06-25-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends~ My family recently spent several days in Santa Fe, and oh my goodness, what a wonderful time we had! For over a week I was unplugged from social media, consumed no news or Netflix, did zero yard work or dog-walking (missed both though), and accomplished no real writing either. Instead, I
- [Why a Rainy Day Is the Best Time to Visit a Botanical Garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2026/06/why-a-rainy-day-is-the-best-time-to-visit-a-botanical-garden.html) - Why visit a botanical garden in the rain? Discover richer colors, peaceful solitude, nature journaling inspiration, & the hidden magic of a rain-soaked garden.
- [Happy Birthday, Theo Gruene!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2026/05/happy-birthday-theo-gruene.html) - Today marks the first book birthday of The Third Act of Theo Gruene. Thank you for celebrating with me!
- [Sunday Letter~ 05.17.26](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2026/05/sunday-letter-05-17-26.html) - Gardens, old libraries, hidden acorns, backyard wildlife, and slow writing—spring reflections from Arkansas author Talya Boerner.
- [Sunday Letter: 03.29.26](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2026/03/sunday-letter-03-29-26.html) - A reflective Sunday Letter on the unpredictability of early spring in Arkansas—featuring wild weather swings, home painting adventures, birdwatching, and more.
- [Sunday Letter: February 22, 2026](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2026/02/sunday-letter-february-22-2026.html) - A cozy Sunday Letter about a grandson’s first birthday, painting a 150-year-old house, a squirrel, early spring blooms, writing life, and small everyday joys.
- [Our Garden Mission Statement](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2026/01/our-garden-mission-statement.html) - A garden mission statement rooted in care, curiosity, and connection—where soil is tended with intention, pollinators are welcomed, & each season is a lesson.
- [Goodbye, 2025. Hello, 2026.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/12/goodbye-2025-hello-2026.html) - Farewell to 2025 and a hopeful welcome to 2026—reflections on lessons learned, one little word, winter phenology, and finding joy in the turning of the year.
- [Sunday Letter: 11.23.25](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/11/sunday-letter-11-23-25.html) - A cozy Thanksgiving-week Sunday Letter about simplifying the holiday, noticing nature’s slowdown, and finding gratitude in small, meaningful ways.
- [Maggie and Miss Ladybug: My New Children’s Nature Book](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/11/maggie-and-miss-ladybug.html) - Discover Maggie and Miss Ladybug, a cheerful children’s story about curiosity, kindness, and friendship—perfect for little nature-loving readers.
- [Sunday Letter:  November 9, 2025](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/11/sunday-letter-november-9-2025.html) - Sunday Letter: Fall color in the Ozarks, Mulberry River magic, Oark Café nostalgia, and a candy confession from Talya Tate Boerner. Plus "What Momma Says".
- [add a little Thanksgiving Decor](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/thanksgiving-decor.html) - Do you decorate for Thanksgiving? I think a lot of folks skip from Halloween to Holiday. Not me. I believe in giving Thanksgiving its proper due. Much of my Halloween decor is fall themed and fall equals Thanksgiving. I remove ghosts, goblins and spiders and leave the pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn. Since I never got around to carving a pumpkin
- [Sunday Letter: Oct 26, 2025](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/10/sunday-letter-oct-26-2025.html) - Enjoy a cozy fall Sunday Letter from Lake Norfork—featuring Aunt Virgie’s pie crust strips, banned books, a persimmon weather forecast for winter, and more!
- [Sunday Letter: Oct 5, 2025](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/10/sunday-letter-oct-5-2025.html) - How did it get so late so soon? Today's Sunday letter is a celebration of October with pumpkins, pie, and a sweet fall bucket list filled with fun traditions.
- [The Magic of Autumn Reading: Cozy Books and Beloved Classics](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/10/the-magic-of-autumn-reading.html) - Looking for cozy fall books? From House of Salt and Sorrows to timeless classics, find your perfect autumn reads and the magic of rereading.
- [How to make a Succulent Pumpkin](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/10/how-to-make-a-succulent-pumpkin.html) - Today I'm going to show you how to make a succulent pumpkin. I predict you will not only love this project, but you will be thrilled with the results. I learned this craft by taking a class at the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks. I don't think the fabulous gardeners at BGO would mind that
- [November Sunday Letter](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/11/november-sunday-letter.html) - Hello, friends! I'm glad you are here for today's November Sunday Letter. I trust everyone survived Halloween with no tricks? I don't know about you, but I'm glad to have all that candy out of our house and into the hands of goblins and princesses. (Okay, we still have a bit of chocolate, but just the
- [Sunday Letter: 09-21-25](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/09/sunday-letter-09-21-25.html) - Fall garden tips, coloring books, award news, and okra humor—Grace Grits and Gardening’s Sunday Letter blends nature, books, and Southern charm.
- [Fiction-Themed Coloring Books!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/09/fiction-themed-coloring-books.html) - Rediscover the joy of coloring with nostalgic memories, Crayola magic, and fiction-themed coloring books that spark creativity, calm, and stress relief.
- [Sunday Letter: September 14, 2025](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/09/sunday-letter-september-14-2025.html) - Celebrate the first signs of fall with backyard phenology, migration wonders, and a special library shout-out—all wrapped up in today's Sunday Letter.
- [Start a Backyard Phenology Practice](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/09/start-a-backyard-phenology-practice.html) - Immerse yourself in the wonder of the seasons with this Backyard Phenology curated set designed to inspire observation, creativity, and connection with nature.
- [Beauty in the Decay](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/08/beauty-in-the-decay.html) - I've been thinking about beauty in the decay and decided to jot down my thoughts. Yes, this is the time of year some flowers begin looking sad and shriveled...
- [The Art of Piddling](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/07/the-art-of-piddling.html) - Today I want to talk about perfecting the art of piddling. This important activity is good for the mind and soul, done in moderation, of course.
- [Sunday Letter: May 25, 2025](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/05/sunday-letter-may-25-2025.html) - Today's Sunday Letter is a toast to good books, cancelled plans, and life's joyous third act. Also, it's a celebration of downtime in an overly busy world.
- [Sunday Letter: May 4, 2025](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/05/sunday-letter-may-4-2025.html) - Today's Sunday Letter is filled to the brim with surprises! Book surprises. Garden Surprises. Momma surprises. Thanks for reading!
- [Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/04/sunday-letter-rainy-day-edition.html) - Today I bring you a Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition. Here in Northwest Arkansas, we went from bone dry March to flash flood April. There's no balance anywhere!
- [Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/04/spiderwort-my-love-hate-relationship.html) - During the spring, I am constantly reminded of my love-hate relationship with spiderwort. Do you have a similar relationship or have you learned to embrace it?
- [Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/03/sunday-letter-march-23-2025.html) - Today's Sunday Letter is short, sweet, and filled with farm dust. Oh, and a little Elvis:)
- [Sunday Letter: March 16, 2025](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/03/sunday-letter-march-16-2025.html) - Today's Sunday Letter is brought to you by the color green. And the number 500. And my soon-to-release next book, The Third Act of Theo Gruene.
- [Meet Theo Gruene!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/03/meet-theo-gruene.html) - Are you ready to meet Theo Gruene? Today you can not only meet him, but you can read the first chapter of The Third Act of Theo Gruene!
- [Sunday Letter: March 2, 2025](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2025/03/sunday-letter-march-2-2025.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends~ Surprise! I'm back. Wow. I can't believe I've not written a Sunday Letter since Christmas. Sometimes when our plates get overloaded, we have to take a step back. That's what happened to me, and really, it was perfect timing, this stepping back I did. The coldest part of winter is my
- [searching for a Boo Radley tree](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/02/searching-boo-radley-tree.html) - I've been searching for the perfect Boo Radley tree. Know what I mean? A tree with a knothole in it, just the right height and size to leave trinkets inside. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Boo Radley hid treasures in a tree knothole for Scout and Jem. I know you love the book as much as
- [How to Make a Terrarium and Survive Winter...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/02/how-to-make-a-terrarium-and-survive-winter.html) - Yes, it may be cold outside, but we shall survive winter and not let our green thumbs get moldy. Can I get an amen? Winter is the perfect time to tend to your house plants, divide/transplant those babies springing up in your pots, and create a terrarium. If you don't have any houseplants (what!?), go buy
- [Merry Christmas Sunday Letter!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/12/merry-christmas-sunday-letter.html) - What's this? A Merry Christmas Sunday Letter! (As an Amazon affiliate, I earn $ from qualifying purchases.) I've been on a blogging sabbatical. It wasn't something I planned; it just happened during this "time is flying part of my life." Seriously, Christmas is three days away, and I'm not sure what happened between Labor Day
- [How to make a Crescent Dough Cornucopia (and slay Thanksgiving)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/11/how-to-make-a-crescent-dough-cornucopia-and-slay-thanksgiving.html) - Can we all take a moment to celebrate my crescent dough cornucopia? 🎉✨ 🎉✨🎉 Isn't it a wonderful thing to create something, anything, that exceeds expectations? Part of the beauty of this crescent dough cornucopia is its simplicity. Yes, I am all about kitchen shortcuts and fun foodie surprises. And, I'm all about sharing
- [Yum Yum Cake - old southern recipe!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/yum-yum-cake.html) - Keiser's Kitchen Cookbook Last week I decided I would begin making recipes from the Keiser's Kitchen cookbook, a cookbook compiled in 1969 by the Keiser Elementary School PTA moms as a Halloween fundraiser. First up: the Yum Yum Cake, a recipe submitted by Cleo Woodard. Mrs. Woodard was a friend of my Nana's. They were both members
- [goodbye to another summer](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/09/goodbye-to-summer.html) - As the shadows grow longer, we prepare to say goodbye to another summer. I'm already mourning the things I'll miss. Okay, maybe mourn is too solemn a word since fall really is my favorite. But summer brings moments and flavors and aromas that only come during the hottest time of year. And those, I will
- [Sunday Letter: September 2024](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/09/sunday-letter-september-2024.html) - Hello, Sunday Letter friends! September is here. Goodness. Weren't we celebrating Memorial Day ten minutes ago? And now, Labor Day is here to close out another summer. Did I do all the things on my summer bucket list? Probably not. (I can't even remember what those things were.) Our family recently spent a fabulous week together
- [Milkweed During World War II](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/10/milkweed-world-war-ii.html) - Did you know milkweed was used during World War II? I learned this bit of American history by reading When Angels Rest, by Donald Harington, one of my favorite Arkansas authors. When Angels Rest is classified as literary fiction. When I read about the characters in the story collecting milkweed pods for the war effort, I suspected
- [Fried Patty Pan Squash](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/07/fried-patty-pan-squash.html) - I swear I don't fry very often, but it may seem like I do since I recently reposted my fried green tomato recipe on Facebook, and now THIS... Fried Patty Pan Squash. I made fried patty pan squash for lunch yesterday because a) well, I had some, and b) who doesn't love fried squash? If you
- [Sunday Letter: August 2024](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/08/sunday-letter-august-2024.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends — It's been a crazy minute since I wrote a Sunday Letter, but I'm still here, and I hope you are too.
- [The Little Pipevine That Could](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/05/the-little-pipevine-that-could.html) - Two days ago, the best thing happened! The Little Pipevine That Could arrived on our doorstep. Let me explain... I'd been looking EVERYWHERE to purchase a pipevine plant. Pipevine is the host plant for the Pipevine Swallowtail, and I want to add it to our butterfly garden. Unfortunately, pipevine plants are difficult to locate. This
- [How to Make Botanical Confetti](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/07/how-to-make-botanical-confetti.html) - I decided to try my hand at making botanical confetti. Since it's my birthday week—yay!—confetti is definitely in order, but really, you don't need a special reason for a confetti-filled day. And what can be better than confetti made from nature? Can you believe all the colors found in our backyard? The small dots of
- [Sunday Letter: July 2024](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/07/sunday-letter-july-2024.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends — Once Independence Day is behind us, I imagine we are coasting on the downhill side of the summer Ferris wheel. That was fast!
- [Nana's Strawberry Cake (the real one)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/05/nanas-strawberry-cake-the-real-one.html) - Nana's Strawberry Cake! Alrighty. After baking the worst strawberry cake ever for my son's 21st birthday (read about it HERE , or we can just pretend it never happened...), I'm going back to our old family recipe. Nana's Strawberry Cake. Straight from her vintage recipe box. You'll want to keep this one. Nana or Momma made this
- [Summertime, and the livin' is joyful.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/06/summertime.html) - With the turn of the calendar page, summertime is here! And I'm dropping in with the happiest of greetings. "Today's the morning you're gonna rise up singing. Spread your wings and take to the sky." Yes, I'm taking liberty with the lyrics of George Gershwin's jazz standard composed in 1934 for Porgy and Bess. It's the perfect
- [Purple and Blue in the Summer Garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/07/purple-blue-summer-garden.html) - I love purple and blue in the summer garden. Blue, especially, is more rare. Don't you think? If you want to attract a variety of pollinators to your garden, it's important to include diverse plantings in a variety of colors. Adding blue and purple will attract certain butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and even bats. Today is
- [Sunday Letter: June 2024](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/06/sunday-letter-june-2024.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends: Oops—my Sunday Letter for June is quite tardy. My goal is to post on the first Sunday of each month, but last Sunday I was traveling back from Austin after a whirlwind weekend. We went to celebrate our daughter, Kelsey, who was an Austin Under 40 Finalist. What an honor to
- [The Magic of Teeny Tiny Things](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/06/the-magic-of-teeny-tiny-things.html) - I noticed the most incredible thing a few days ago, something that literally stopped me as I rushed down the porch steps toward the front yard. A teeny tiny viola was happily growing from the brick walkway in front of the house. A volunteer flower. Truly a wonder to me, volunteer flowers represent amazing determination
- [10 Sun-Loving Perennials and Annuals](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/05/sun-loving-perennials-and-annuals.html) - 10 Sun-Loving Perennials and Annuals Since spring is the best time to work in the garden, now is the perfect time to introduce you to my favorite sun-loving perennials and annuals. I garden in Fayetteville, Arkansas, which is growing zone 7a, recently shifted from zone 6b after an update in the USDA Plant Hardiness Map.
- [The Power of Porch Flowers! (and how I plant mine)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/05/porch-flowers.html) - There's great power in porch flowers, y'all. Last week, I finally planted flowers in the pots around my front porch. As fast as spring seemed to arrive, I waited and waited before filling my front porch containers. Our temperatures kept dipping, and I didn't want tender buds to suffer from cold weather. (And I didn't
- [Sunday Letter ~ May 2024](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/05/sunday-letter-may-2024.html) - Sunday Letter friends—Don't you just love May? If I could, I would spend all of my time crawling on my hands and knees looking for every tiny change in each plant budding and blooming.
- [We Created a Moon Garden!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/04/we-created-a-moon-garden.html) - We created a moon garden, and it happened by accident! I realized this a few nights ago, when half asleep, I trudged outside with the pups.
- [Passalong Plants in the Garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/04/passalong-plants.html) - Passalong plants are the BEST sort of plants to have in your garden! They add both charm and magic wherever they are planted. I started thinking about this last week when my neighbor thinned out her bed of Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum odoratum) and gave us several plants. I've been wanting to grow Solomon's Seal for years but had
- [Sunday Letter ~ April 2024](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/04/sunday-letter-april-2024.html) - Hello Sunday letter friends and happy April to you! April is one of my favorite months for so many reasons. The dogwoods in our neighborhood are in full bloom making a dog walk downright magical. Isn't it incredible how quickly the world greens up when the right time comes? Finally, we can spend lots of
- [If Spring Were a Song](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/03/if-spring-were-a-song.html) - If spring were a song... If spring were a song, the deep base notes would be the thunderstorms that recently rolled over our rooftop. Rainwater makes the spring colors pop even more brilliantly than before. The trees are budding bright and fresh, the tight dogwoods blossoms are beginning to burst open, and even the bearded irises have started blooming.
- [Sunday Letter ~ March 2024](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/03/sunday-letter-march-2024.html) - Today's Sunday Letter includes early Easter, Eclipse Fever, What's Growing and Blooming + rollercoaster weather in March.
- [Sunday Letter: February 2024](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/02/sunday-letter-february-2024.html) - Sunday Letter friends~ Welcoming February feels like a major accomplishment, like we scaled the highest, most difficult month of the year and now can almost see clear through to spring.
- [How to Make Valentine Bird Seed Feeders](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/02/make-valentine-bird-seed-feeders.html) - Got cabin fever? Today I'm making Valentine bird seed feeders—a winter gift to the birds. I worry about birds in winter, especially when the ground is covered in ice and snow. Teaching kids about nature and birding and caring for the creatures of our planet is an important lesson on compassion. Birds need love too. And valentines. There was a little
- [January Sunday Letter](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2024/01/january-sunday-letter.html) - Hey, hey! Welcome to my January Sunday Letter. January represents a new year and a new start (according to the Gregorian calendar anyway).
- [How to Grow a Clematis Vine (as big as a dinner plate)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/04/growing-clematis.html) - I thought since my clematis flowers are as big as a dinner plate, this would be a good time to talk about growing clematis vines. For the beginner gardener, clematis is a great plant to start with because it's a pretty undemanding vine. When it bursts into bloom you'll feel encouraged and believe down deep where you live that your thumb has
- [September Eve and all it brings.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/08/september-eve.html) - Happy September Eve, everyone! I'm always happy to see August come to an end. Are you? Even though we'll no doubt have more hot, humid days, there's just something about flipping the calendar to September that makes me wanna dance. I also feel a little melancholy about the things I never got around to doing. That summer
- [Almost Glamping at the Jonquil Festival!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/03/almost-glamping-jonquil-festival.html) - Jonquil Festival! A couple of weeks ago I shared a booth at the Jonquil Festival with fellow Delta author, Rhonda G. Williams. This was the first time either of us had sold our books at a craft fair. In fact, it was the first time I'd had a vendor booth at any fair. (I've been to
- [Thai Carrot Soup](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/02/thai-carrot-soup.html) - Soup pairs well with wintertime, but so many of my favorite soup recipes are heavy and carb-laden. As much as I'd love to hibernate until spring, I don't have time to feel tired and sluggish. I can't imagine any of us do. Thai Carrot Soup is a winner in my recipe book not only because it's
- [Sunday Letter: 01.15.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/01/sunday-letter-01-15-23.html) - Hiya, Sunday Letter friends! This past week has been a mixed bag of weather here in northwest Arkansas. From 75 degrees to rain and hail to frozen precipitation—I suppose there's always something for everyone. Unless, that is, you prefer your atmospheric conditions served up on a consistent basis. Some of our shrubs look to have
- [5 Easy Christmas Decorating Ideas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/12/5-easy-christmas-decorating-ideas.html) - I hear there's a sleigh soon headed our way. With only three days until Christmas, I imagine everyone who wants to decorate for Christmas has already done so. But if you are still looking for a little inspiration, I have 5 easy Christmas decorating ideas to share—ideas that are as practical as they are festive.
- [Heavenly Coconut Cake](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/03/heavenly-coconut-cake.html) - I made this cake a few days ago inspired by a Pinterest recipe. I tweaked it a bit (because I was at my mother's house and didn't have all the ingredients…) Had the cake been any more delicious, I'd have eaten the plate. So simple and perfect for holiday entertaining! Ingredients 1 white cake mix
- [20 Ways to get into the Holiday Spirit](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/12/20-ways-to-get-into-the-holiday-spirit.html) - Having trouble finding your holiday jingle? I've had trouble this year too! But help is here. Today I have a list of 20 Ways to get into the Holiday Spirit.
- [December Sunday Letter](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/12/december-sunday-letter.html) - Happy December and welcome to today's December Sunday Letter! I'm so glad you are here. If we were sitting together having coffee this morning, I would ask about your Thanksgiving. Who did you spend time with? What did you eat? Thanksgiving is fabulous in its simplicity, and I hope yours exceeded all expectations, beyond a
- [Ode to a Snag Tree](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/11/ode-to-a-snag-tree.html) - Ode to a Snag Tree: True Story I've had a major crush on this snag tree for going on ten years now. Ten years is nothing in the life of a wise old tree, but for me, having only moved to the area in 2014, I count him as one of my first and oldest
- [Roasted Carrots and Parsnips (for all your holiday meals)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/10/roasted-carrots-and-parsnips-for-all-your-holiday-meals.html) - I was making my favorite roasted carrots and parsnips recipe for book club last week and thought I should definitely share it with you before the holidays. This is one of my go-to side dishes, perfect for so many reasons. Not every single side dish must be heavily laden with cream of chicken soup. You
- [5 Halloween Appetizers for your Spooky Soiree](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/10/halloween-appetizers.html) - Sponsored Post: This Halloween appetizers post is sponsored by Tyson Foods. All content and opinions expressed are my own. #WMDeliciousDisguises Hey, friends. I've been working on a few new Halloween appetizers for the spooky soiree my husband and I are planning this weekend. The coolest thing about all of these deliciously disguised recipes is the
- [the Halloween Garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/10/the-halloween-garden.html) - Halloween is one of my favorite times of year. I love the nostalgia of it and dressing in a costume. Halloween provides the perfect excuse to eat a handful of sugary candy I don't otherwise eat. My silver service on the sideboard looks appropriately dark and moody in its currently tarnished state. Even the yard
- [October Sunday Letter](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/10/october-sunday-letter.html) - Welcome to October, friends! With a new month comes today's October Sunday Letter, one devoted to my adoration of October. Don't you just love October with it's sweet light and falling leaves? Soon the temperatures may even cool (or so the weatherman says). 'Tis the season of harvest on the farm, baking in my kitchen, and
- [Decorating my Porch for Fall](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/10/decorating-my-porch-for-fall.html) - I've been decorating my porch for fall, y'all. I waited until the most recent heat wave dissipated. After living in Texas for so many years, I have lots of experience with putting pumpkins on the porch early, only to have them melt and turn grody by Halloween. Especially the carved ones. I want my pumpkins
- [There's Nothing Common about the Common Buttonbush](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/09/common-buttonbush.html) - I’ve been enamored with the Common Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) since I first noticed it growing wild along the shoreline of Lake Norfork. Even when I knew nothing about this plant, it’s fragrant pom-pom flowers fascinated me. Seriously, I love any plant that looks Dr. Seuss-inspired. Now that I understand its importance to wildlife, I’m one
- [September Sunday Letter](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/09/september-sunday-letter.html) - Hello friends! I'm baaaack with a September Sunday Letter. Can you believe September is here? Even though the afternoons are still HOT and HUMID, I find relief in knowing the calendar has flipped from August. Since I was a kid I always considered September to be the beginning of change because it was back to
- [The Worm Moon](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/03/the-worm-moon.html) - I am late in posting about the Worm Moon, but still I wanted to share this fascinating (to me) information. It's never too late to learn something new, right? Besides, next March when the full moon appears, we will know all about it. And knowledge is good any time. The March full moon occurred
- [A Sunday Letter Vacation](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/07/sunday-letter-vacation.html) - Good morning! I'm popping in to officially announce I'm taking a Sunday Letter vacation. Yes, I know there's no need to announce my departure like a flight at La Guardia, after all, I've not been very consistent with posting lately anyway. But I don't want you to think I've gone missing either. Or that my
- [Sunday Letter: 07.16.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/07/sunday-letter-07-16-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends~ Oh, I had a fantastic birthday week. Thank you to all who sent greetings via text or Twitter, face-to-face or Facebook, cards or flowers or lunch dates. I don't know exactly when the spring chicken phase of life ends, but I am well past it. Now, as a seasoned hen, I
- [Sunday Letter: 07.09.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/07/sunday-letter-07-09-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends o' mine, The past week was a good one. The heavens blessed us with a a few glorious rain showers, I managed to choose a sweet watermelon at the grocery store, and John smoked the best ribs I've had since Thomas Tate died. I even went to the gym a few
- [Patriotic Decorating Ideas for Home and Garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/06/patriotic-decorating-ideas.html) - Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite patriotic decorating ideas for the home and garden. While patriotism never goes out of style, the 4th of July calls for extra red, white, and blue flair. And I prefer to think beyond the typical and decorate using things I already have or flea market finds. Like vintage marbles.
- [4th of July: gentle on my mind](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/07/4th-of-july-gentle-on-my-mind.html) - Before we went to the lake for the 4th of July, we drove over to a fireworks stand near Luxora to buy a sackful of Roman candles, bottle rockets, stink bombs, and Black Cats. We carried them with us like luggage, as though we couldn't buy sparklers in Mountain Home. How the whole bag didn't
- [Sunday Letter: 06.04.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/06/sunday-letter-06-04-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, In case you haven't noticed, June is here in all her magnificent glory. June occupies that special in-between place, basking between the cool shade of April and the steamy pavement of August. It’s the time for quick family getaways and lush garden tours. Coneflowers burst into bloom, and locally grown fruit and
- [Sunday Letter: 05.28.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/05/sunday-letter-05-28-23.html) - Did you think you'd never see another Sunday Letter? Oh my goodness, I've put lots of miles on Betty White driving way down into the deep south and back. I've put lots of thoughts on paper too. Some of these thoughts might even make it into my next book. That's the plan anyway. After a
- [How to Create a Certified Monarch Waystation](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/05/how-to-create-a-certified-monarch-waystation.html) - A few years ago, we set out to create a butterfly garden, adapting our backyard into a bonafide stopover for migrating butterflies. In 2019 we received our official Monarch Waystation certification. A Certified Monarch Waystation means the area designated (our property) provides food, shelter and breeding habitat for monarchs. If you build it they will come.
- [Sunday Letter: 05.07.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/05/sunday-letter-05-07-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Guess what? Summer arrived yesterday just after lunchtime. That's how it seemed to me anyway. The afternoon was warm and humid, and we even turned on our air-conditioner. What a great time of year, when blackberry winter thaws and spring fever truly takes root. No longer concerning myself with late in-the-season
- [Sunday Letter: 04.23.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/04/sunday-letter-04-23-23.html) - Hiya, Sunday Letter friends! Mother Nature has been giving us a rude little scare the past couple of mornings by flirting with freezing temperatures here in northwest Arkansas. This isn't surprising; she does this every spring around this time. And because of this, we hold off on planting certain flowers and seedlings outside (no matter
- [Sunday Letter: 04.16.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/04/sunday-letter-04-16-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Oh my goodness! I have been so excited to tell you what I discovered in my garden this week that I'm just going to swan dive right in. And yes, I will probably use an excessive quantity of exclamation marks to tell you. Migrating Monarchs ❣❣❣ I have noticed a couple of
- [Sunday Letter: 04.09.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/04/sunday-letter-04-09-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I hope this letter finds you happy and healthy and filled with joy. Today is Easter Sunday, resurrection day for those of us belonging to the Christian faith. While I have readers who do not celebrate Easter, I believe we can all set aside time on this day to celebrate goodness
- [Chicken Tortilla Soup](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/01/chicken-tortilla-soup.html) - (This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission on sales.) This is my favorite chicken tortilla soup recipe! I'm not exaggerating when I say it is super easy to make. Chicken tortilla soup is yummy no matter the season, but on a cold winter day it will truly warm your insides. As I
- [Turkey Leftovers? Not for long!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2012/11/turkey-leftovers-not-for-long.html) - If you have turkey leftovers, this turkey pot pie recipe is the dish you've been looking for. In my opinion, turkey pot pie is better than the original Thanksgiving turkey. But we aren't supposed to say that, right? I've never been a huge fan of Thanksgiving turkey. It's the leftovers that are my favorite. Turkey
- [Christmas Countdown: 6 days!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/christmas-countdown-6-days.html) - Christmas Countdown Are you ready for something a little different? For the next six days, I'll be counting down to a merry little Christmas here at Grace Grits and Gardening. After several busy weeks of going and doing, I'm ready to focus entirely on yuletide cheer. The waiting and anticipating. The sights and sounds and
- [Best Ever Homemade Granola!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/03/homemade-granola.html) - This is seriously the best ever homemade granola. Once you realize how easy it is to make, you'll never again buy granola from the grocery store. (Sorry, grocery stores.) If you aren't a granola-eating person, you might want to give it another try. This homemade granola is not only yummy, addictive, and filled with healthy
- [Morel Mushroom Frittata](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/03/morel-mushroom-frittata.html) - I'm excited to show you this morel mushroom frittata I made yesterday. Or whatever day it was. AllTheDaysAreTheSame when you are trying to stay home. (Today is technically #StayHomeDay10 for me.) Morel Season! Like I said in my most recent Sunday Letter, it's morel mushroom season in Northwest Arkansas. Since I foraged a bowlful, I
- [Fresh Corn Salad with Basil](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/07/fresh-corn-salad-with-basil.html) - Fresh Corn Salad with Basil Yay! Sweet corn is in season. If you're like me, you are always looking for ways to serve it. When you grow corn, on a good year you end up more corn than you can say grace over... This fresh corn salad with basil is the summertime side dish to
- [Oatmeal Blueberry Bars](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/11/oatmeal-blueberry-bars.html) - In my constant quest to add fiber to my diet, I made oatmeal blueberry bars this week. I followed this recipe from Eat Yourself Skinny (what a fun name!), making a few substitutions for things I didn't have and was too lazy to go buy. We were completely out of milk. Sort of a requirement
- [Black Apple Crisp](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/10/black-apple-crisp.html) - Since black apples are in season in Arkansas, I made a Black Apple Crisp. For several days, it sat on the stove under aluminum foil. John and I walked by and took big spoonfuls straight from the pie pan and pretended that since we weren't sitting down with a whole bowlful, we weren't really eating
- [Favorite Buttermilk Pie](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/11/favorite-buttermilk-pie.html) - This is my favorite buttermilk pie recipe. Actually, it's the only one I've ever made, but why mess with something so incredibly delicious? I'm just going to get right to the recipe. Thanksgiving is next week and no one has time for small talk. Favorite Buttermilk Pie Favorite Pie Crust (homemade or not)1 stick
- [Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/02/chicken-and-dumplings.html) - I can't think of Mammaw Ruby (my grandmother on Daddy's side) without thinking of chicken and dumplings. Hers were the best! She made a huge pot full for every family gathering. While I don't pretend mine are anywhere as good as hers, they are pretty dang delicious. Today I'm sharing my recipe (which is based
- [Morel Mushrooms served with Fettuccine](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/04/morel-mushrooms.html) - Y'all, I harvested my first batch of morel mushrooms last week, and I have to say, the whole process was so much fun! I noticed a few mushrooms growing on our property. Once I began searching, I gathered a big bowl full of these prized beauties. Probably two pounds! According to reports from those in
- [Mexican Corn Recipe!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/07/mexican-corn-recipe.html) - Oh my gosh, this Mexican Corn recipe is my new favorite! And yay, sweet corn is in season here in Arkansas. If you don't grow corn or know a farmer who does, grab a few ears at your local farmer's market and get busy making this simple recipe. I guarantee, your family will love it.
- [Shishito Peppers: Quick & Easy Appetizer!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/08/shishito-peppers.html) - Have you tried shishito peppers yet? If not, let me introduce you to this flavorful treat! I had them for the first time about a year ago at a friend's house. Then, I had them not that long ago at Cheers in Fayetteville. Now, that I know how easy they are to sauté, this is
- [St. Paddy's Day Cake Balls](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/03/cake-balls.html) - I failed to make a pie for Pi Day (boo), but I made cake balls for St. Paddy's Day (yay). And since St. Paddy's Day isn't until tomorrow, I'm ahead of the game. This morning I enjoyed one with my coffee. The great thing about cake balls is you really can have your cake and
- [Pappardelle with Fresh Pesto and Chicken (oh my!)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/08/pasta-pesto-chicken.html) - Pasta + Pesto + Chicken Last week I was in the mood for pasta. AND I was determined to make use of the bumper crop of fresh basil growing in my herb garden. It's been a stellar summer for herb-growing, and I refuse to let a single leaf go to waste. So I whipped up
- [Chicken Fagioli Soup](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/11/chicken-fagioli-soup.html) - Chicken Fagioli Soup hits the spot on a chilly, drizzly fall day. And yesterday, that was our weather here in Northwest Arkansas. It was perfect for writing and reading, but a girl's gotta eat, too. So I whipped up a batch of fagioli soup using ingredients on hand. I think this would be amazing made
- [Buttermilk Honey Chicken Tenders](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/09/buttermilk-honey-chicken-tenders.html) - Let's talk about fried chicken, shall we? This buttermilk honey chicken tenders recipe is sure to please the kids (of all ages) in your family. The chicken tender is the most versatile of cuts. Eat 'em straight up, wrap them in a tortilla, chop and add them to a salad, dip them in gravy, barbecue
- [The Best Beef Stew!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/12/the-best-beef-stew.html) - Oh my goodness. This is the best beef stew! John made it last week. You'll want to make it soon. He's not one to strictly follow a recipe. Instead he studies lots of recipes then creates his own by adding a little more of something, changing something, omitting something. This beef stew is one of
- [Roasted Sweet Potato and Broccoli](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/01/roasted-sweet-potato-and-broccoli.html) - This roasted sweet potato and broccoli is oh so much more than roasted sweet potato and broccoli. It's step one in my quest to cook a new dish every week during 2017. If you read regularly, you know my One Little Word for 2017 is Savor. (Savour for those of you in the UK.) And part of
- [Spicy Creamed Carrots and Cauliflower (and a colon cancer awareness announcement)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/03/spicy-creamed-carrots-and-cauliflower.html) - Hey everyone! If you're looking for a healthy, flavorful substitute for mashed potatoes, my recipe for spicy creamed carrots and cauliflower is a winner. It has a back-end spicy kick and very few calories. Hello, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian. Yes, I like mashed potatoes with cream gravy just like the next normal person. I'm a fan of mashed sweet potatoes, too.
- [Channeling Jamie Oliver and Cooking the Perfect Steak](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/06/perfect-steak.html) - The Jamie Oliver Way Jamie Oliver has a simple and oh so perfect steak recipe that absolutely cannot be beat. And I'm going to tell you how to cook it. First of all, you should know I don't eat a ton of red meat. In fact, I go days with no meat at all. But after eating
- [Best Meatloaf Ever. Period.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/09/best-meatloaf-ever-period.html) - Seriously. This is the best meatloaf ever. I found the recipe in one of my favorite old cookbooks—The Ozarks Collections (1987). So far, this cookbook has never let me down. It's tagline is best recipes from the heritage and traditions of a storied region. Gotta be good, right? It is. Annabelle knows. Look at her. She's in a
- [Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cake](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/10/mini-pineapple-upside-down-cake.html) - I made mini pineapple upside down cake for bookclub Tuesday night. Our book of the month was The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin, which I'm sorry to say I haven't read yet. Even so, since the book was set in the 1950s and 60s, I wanted to make a retro-chic dessert popular during that time. Pineapple
- [Barbecue Chipotle Meatballs (aka Kryptonite)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/12/barbecue-chipotle-meatballs.html) - Barbecue Chipotle Meatballs are sure to be a hit at your next shindig, unless you're a vegetarian. And if that's the case, this may very well be your kryptonite. This dish packs some heat and couldn't be easier to make. That's a good thing when you're hosting a shindig. This recipe has been stashed away in my
- [Grilled Poundcake with Fresh Strawberries and Basil](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/07/grilled-poundcake-strawberries-basil.html) - Grilled poundcake with strawberries and basil is that special sweet something you need for your 4th of July celebration. This dessert is super simple to make, especially since you're already planning to fire up your grill for the holiday. Right? Here's the simple part—I used a bakery poundcake and Reddi-wip® in a canister. Okay, keeping it real here—sometimes I
- [Spicy Rice and Bean Dip (plus a Riceland giveaway!)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/09/spicy-rice-and-bean-dip.html) - Here in the South we love our chip and dip. Tuesday night I made a spicy rice and bean dip for book club. It was my turn to host, and we just happened to be discussing my book, The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. For a new author like me, this is an exciting thing. It can also feel a little
- [how to make Homemade Play Dough](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/how-to-make-homemade-play-dough.html) - A few days ago I made homemade play dough. You may find this odd considering I have no young children at home. But I figure since we're all coloring again (did you get an adult coloring book for Christmas?), we may as well get in a little play dough time, too. When we were kids, my
- [Radicchio stuffed with Goat Cheese & Walnuts](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/radicchio-goat-cheese-walnuts.html) - If you're looking for a fancy-ish salad for Easter or any special gathering, try radicchio stuffed with goat cheese and walnuts. The combination of sweet and salty pairs well with most any protein. These radicchio salads can be eaten the traditional way (with knife and fork), or the naturally cupping radicchio leaves can be wrapped and eaten
- [my most excellent CHICKEN SALAD recipe](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/05/chicken-salad.html) - This is my favorite chicken salad recipe and the perfect way to use leftover chicken. Simple to make and super flavorful—what more do you need for an easy southern dish? An old-fashioned recipe with updated taste. One reason the flavor is so great is the chicken itself is delicious. Grilled chicken adds a smoky flavor to your dish. Whatever seasonings
- [Chili Lime Sugar Cookie](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/chili-lime-sugar-cookie.html) - Oh my goodness, this chili lime sugar cookie is addictive. Sweet and citrus-y with heat on the back end. And easy! Easy because these "shortcut" cookies are made with pre-packaged sugar cookie dough. I've decided these are the perfect cookies to have on hand during the holidays. Or anytime. If you aren't a fan of spice (what?!),
- [Chocolate Crinkles: the most magical cookie of all!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/chocolate-crinkles.html) - Chocolate Crinkles are everyone's favorite, especially at Christmastime. This throwback recipe is from Betty Crocker herself. I haven't changed a thing because why trifle with chocolate perfection? My mother made these when I was a kid, and I remember thinking they were magical because in the end, there's a powdered sugar design on top. Like a snowflake, no two are
- [Recipe for a delicious Book Launch Party](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/recipe-for-a-book-launch-party.html) - (Note: I was chosen to host a party as part of a #SoapboxInfluenceCampaign and compensated to do so. Opinions are my own.) Today I'm excited to share with you my recipe for a book launch party. It's a failsafe recipe in my opinion with classic ingredients that will culminate in a delicious time for all. The recipe involves Ghirardelli Chocolate
- [Salmon Croquettes (for Project STIR)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/salmon-croquettes.html) - I hadn't eaten homemade salmon croquettes in a hundred years, not since I left home for college. When we were kids, Momma made salmon croquettes for my sister and me nearly every week—it was one of our favorites. (But we called them salmon patties.) Last weekend I made them using the recipe in Momma's copy of the Keiser's Kitchen
- [End of Summer Pizza](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/end-of-summer-pizza.html) - I'm pretty excited that I just made this wonderfulness for lunch. I'm calling it End of Summer Pizza because my whole goal was to come up with a great way to use the last of my basil and that's what I did. End of Summer Pizza is easy to make and healthier than ordering delivery pizza because a)
- [The best MAC AND CHEESE in all the land. Period.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/08/mac-and-cheese.html) - We had friends over to eat Tuesday night. John grilled burgers, and I baked the best Mac and Cheese in all the land which hopefully cancelled out the very average pot of beans I served with it. This is my go-to mac and cheese recipe. There's no need to make any other. You could add lobster
- [July Cobbler, an old Ozark recipe](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/july-cobbler.html) - Have you heard of a July Cobbler? Until last weekend I hadn't, but I found this recipe in an old Ozarks Collection Cookbook someone left in our Little Free Library. I LOVE old cookbooks, and I've been reading it cover to cover. The cookbook is filled not only with old regional recipes but also snippets about traditions of a
- [cloud nine Banana Bread](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/cloud-nine-banana-bread.html) - There's no way for me to top yesterday's post so I thought I'd show you the banana bread I made last night. My bananas were about to go bad. I froze a couple for smoothies later and smashed up the others for banana bread. This yummy recipe came from Food.com. They call it Best Banana Bread but I've renamed it Cloud
- [Baked Green Bean Fries!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/baked-green-bean-fries.html) - I bought fresh green beans at Fayetteville Farmer's Market last weekend and decided to try my hand at green bean fries. Have you tried the green bean fries that are all the rage at restaurants? Breaded, deep-fried and dipped in some sort of yummy, rich, ranch-like dressing. They're delicious because, hello, they are fried. My tasty baked green bean
- [Fancy Raspberry S'mores](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/04/fancy-raspberry-smores.html) - Did I mention these Fancy Raspberry S'mores were made with marshmallow Peeps? Oh, yes. Leftover Easter Peeps. And of course, there's a story, a foodie challenge of sorts. What could I do with the Peeps my sister-in-law sent home with me after Easter lunch? Before I get to the recipe I created, first the backstory. My sister-in-law made an
- [Simple Summer Salad](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/06/simple-summer-salad.html) - Certain flavors are happy together. One enhances the other. This simple summer salad does just that. The combination of only a few ingredients sing. Try it, you'll like it, even if you're one of those people who doesn't appreciate the under appreciated radish. Trust me, use butter lettuce (also known as Boston and Bibb). Butter lettuce is
- [Simple Pecan Fudge](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/simple-pecan-fudge.html) - Fudge was one of my Daddy's all-time favorite desserts. Momma stood at the stove all night (it seemed) stirring together chocolate and milk and sugar. She always used the recipe on the back of the Hershey's cocoa canister. You know, the canister that hasn't changed since forever? Two hours later after it reached the right
- [Cherry Garcia Chocolate Bark](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/cherry-garcia-chocolate-bark.html) - If you love Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream as much as I do, you will go crazy over my Cherry Garcia Chocolate Bark. Rich dark and creamy white chocolate, tart cherries and decadent Dove dark chocolate flakes—are you with me on this? Chocolate covered cherries are a traditional Christmas candy in our home, which makes this the
- [Company Chicken (for the company staying in our guest quarters)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/03/company-chicken-keiser-kitchen.html) - Hey, hey it's been a while since I made a recipe from Keiser's Kitchen vintage cookbook, but today I present Company Chicken (originally submitted by C.W. Bell). Since I have company staying for a week in my guest quarters, how could any other recipe be more perfect? Unless it was called Tom Sweeney Chicken because
- [Peking Roast (a Keiser's Kitchen recipe)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/peking-roast.html) - Whoa. It's been a while since I posted a recipe from the famous Keiser's Kitchen cookbook. (Famous to those who lived around Keiser, Arkansas in the 1970s.) I made this Peking Roast back in November for Game Day when Arkansas shut out LSU. Let's say that again. "Arkansas Shut Out LSU." What a perfect Keiser cookbook choice as it was
- [Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/sweet-potato-pie-smoothie.html) - Happy Thursday! In case you haven't noticed, we are exactly one week away from Thanksgiving. (Just thought I'd throw that into this Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie post.) Guess what? Williams-Sonoma asked me to help promote Smoothie Week. (Disclosure: As always, recipes and opinions are my own.) The idea behind Williams-Sonoma's Smoothie Week is to highlight unusual smoothie recipes, maybe those with
- [Velvet Elvis Poundcake and FREE EGGS!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/velvet-elvis-poundcake-and-free-eggs.html) - (This post is sponsored by Great Day Farms. All opinions are my own.) Y'all. Before I get to this amazing Velvet Elvis Pound Cake recipe, I want to let you know I have ten dozen Great Day Farms eggs to give away just in time for Christmas baking! If you are like me, you can
- [Butternut Squash Apple Bisque](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/butternut-squash-apple-bisque.html) - Butternut squash is as popular this time of year as pumpkin spice everything. Am I right? And if you love butternut squash bisque as much as I do, you are gonna be happyhappyhappy about the deliciousness I have for you today. The only thing better would be a real live taste, which sadly I can't provide via
- [Milky Way Cake](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/milky-way-cake.html) - If you are following along, you may remember I am recreating recipes from Keiser's Kitchen, a recipe book created by the Keiser Elementary School PTA moms in 1969. A few weeks ago, I made the Yum Yum Cake. It was delicious. If you missed it, you'll want to go back and check it out. This week's dish is the
- [Grilled Basil Burger Recipe](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/08/grilled-basil-burger-recipe.html) - Looking for a special burger recipe for Labor Day (or any day)? This grilled basil burger recipe is it! John has whipped up these burgers several times this summer. I've been planning to share his recipe for weeks, but here we are nearing the end of August, and I'm just getting around to it. One bite and you'll taste what
- [Rice Pineapple Tropical Pudding](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/09/rice-pineapple-tropical-pudding.html) - Before I get to my Rice Pineapple Tropical Pudding recipe, I want to tell you I spent the past few days with a group of phenomenal Arkansas Women Bloggers (and a couple of dudes) at our annual blogger conference. The entire event was outstanding and inspiring, and I'll no doubt be blabbing about it for a while. Riceland Foods, one
- [Savory Rustic Cornbread](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/09/savory-rustic-cornbread.html) - Momma made cornbread every night for supper. Every Single Night. Throughout the next day, her iron skillet rested on the stovetop beneath a sheet of crumpled aluminum foil. Every time my sister and I walked through the kitchen, which was constantly because the kitchen was the house hub, we nibbled on the leftover cornbread. It was impossible to
- [Low Calorie Dill Dip](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/06/low-calorie-dill-dip.html) - Growing up our favorite dips were Ro-tel cheese and French onion dip. Both delicious. Both high fat. (Okay I admit I still love Ro-tel, but I don't need the calories.) I'm growing dill in my garden. It smells so wonderful, and I'm constantly looking for ways to use it. This dill dip recipe is
- [Roasted Okra with Mint and Black-Eyed Peas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/07/roasted-okra-peas-mint.html) - I'm here to set the record straight. Okra doesn't have to be slimy. Nor must it be deep fried. I know, I know, that sounds impossible, doesn't it? I love fried okra, sometimes crave it even, but I rarely fry anything at home. Simple, roasted okra is delicious. This is my favorite okra recipe, my "go-to" potluck,
- [Blackberry Mint Julep](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/07/blackberry-mint-julep.html) - Ohhhhh. We made Blackberry Mint Juleps on the 4th of July. This is such a refreshing drink on a hot summer day, and a great way to use some of that mint growing weed-like in your flower bed. The recipe came with the local Texas blackberries in our Greenling Box. Blackberry Mint Julep 1 pint fresh local
- [Homemade Basil Pesto](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/05/homemade-basil-pesto.html) - Since I have lots of basil growing in my garden, I decided to make homemade basil pesto last weekend. There is nothing like fresh pesto. And if you've never made it before, you'll be amazed at how easy it is. Homemade Basil Pesto 1 cup tightly packed fresh basil2 Tablespoons pine nuts1 clove garlic1 inch
- [Fried Green Tomato Recipe. Yes!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/06/fried-green-tomato-recipe.html) - The fried green tomato recipe did not originate in the South. Crazy, huh? We all know necessity is the mother of invention, and if you think about it, this makes sense. Down south while we leisurely enjoyed juicy red tomato sandwiches with no thought of winter, our northern friends were in an all out panic trying to use unripe
- [Molten Chocolate Cake. Oh my ganache!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/04/molten-chocolate-cake.html) - (Eggs for this recipe were provided by Great Day Farms. All opinions are my own.) This molten chocolate cake recipe comes with a warning: not to be shared with the chocolate lightweight. With one scoop of the spoon, the luscious chocolate center flows like Willie Wonka's river. Serious chocolate here, people. This recipe is courtesy of Sur
- [Quinoa with Curried Yogurt and Mango](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/05/quinoa-curried-yogurt-mango.html) - This is one of my new favorite quinoa recipes (adapted from Epicurious). If you happen to be one of those people who turns a nose up at quinoa or Greek yogurt or curry (I was that way forever), you may change your mind when you taste the flavor combination of this dish. I agree, plain quinoa
- [Lavender Blueberry Granola](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/04/lavender-blueberry-granola.html) - I love granola, but buying it pre-made can make a dent in the pocketbook. I whipped up a batch of my own using Martha Stewart's Blueberry Almond granola recipe for inspiration. I modified Martha's ingredients, eliminating the vegetable oil and coconut and adding flax seed and lavender which I have growing in my back yard.
- [How to make Creme Brûlée](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/03/creme-brulee.html) - Last weekend I attended a cooking class at Sur La Table—Four Desserts Everyone Should Know How To Make... I would have signed up for the creme brûlée alone. Can we agree, creme brûlée is heaven sent? I'm lucky to live smack dab between two great cooking schools (Sur La Table and Central Market), and I
- [Healthy Egg Salad](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/04/healthy-egg-salad.html) - (This post is sponsored by Great Day Farms. All opinions are my own.) Soon the Easter Bunny will come and go and then what? Once the novelty of dyeing and hiding and finding eggs passes, what will you do with all those eggs hanging around your house? They won't last forever you know. If you
- [Spicy Baked Okra](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/04/spicy-baked-okra.html) - I was raised on fried okra (and fried potatoes and fried eggplant), but I rarely fry anything these days. Sad, I know. I have my reasons and I'm sure you can figure them out. Even without the deep fried part of the equation, okra is delicious prepared lots of other ways—roasted, pickled, grilled, etc. Last
- [Mocha Banana Smoothie](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/03/mocha-banana-smoothie.html) - Mercy. This mocha banana smoothie tastes like a mix between everyone's favorite Wendy's Frosty and Braum's German chocolate ice cream. Know what I mean? This shushy chocolaty goodness with a hint of mocha and coconut will give you a late morning (or anytime) pick-me-up without all the sugar and empty calories. Since the first of
- [Grits Soufflé (perfect southern side)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/03/grits-souffle.html) - (This post is sponsored by Bourbon & Boots. All opinions are my own.) If you know anything about me, you know I love grits. Heck, I even named my blog after one of my favorite southern foods. Today at Bourbon & Boots, I'm writing about why I love grits and why you should too. I've
- [Cabbage and Potato Soup](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/03/cabbage-potato-soup.html) - Did you ever try to lose weight on the Cabbage Soup Diet? I did. In fact when I worked at State Bank, the entire staff from drive-through teller to bank president succumbed to the nastiness. By God(!) in only seven days we would be the skinniest bankers in Dallas! Or comatose. Within four days we morphed into
- [Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/02/homemade-peanut-butter-dog-treats.html) - I made homemade peanut butter dog treats in honor of Love Your Pet Day (Feb 20). Of course in our house, EVERYDAY is pet day. After reading various recipes and double checking ingredients to make sure they were safe for dogs, I whipped up my own recipe using ingredients I already had. Lucy and Annabelle
- [Bone-in Short Ribs. Amazing.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/02/bone-short-ribs-amazing.html) - Looking for something special to cook that special someone? This recipe for bone-in short ribs made my husband swoon during the Christmas holidays, so it may just work for your romantic Valentine's Day dinner. Since I had never made bone-in short ribs, I read various recipes before coming up with my own—not that I thought I could improve
- [Sunday Letter: 04.02.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/04/sunday-letter-04-02-23.html) - Hello Sunday Letter friends, Signs of spring are everywhere, and I am grateful for every blooming thing. But man alive, this weather is something else. Tornadoes ripped through Arkansas Friday, leaving a trail of destruction in Little Rock and flattening Wynne. My mother is safe at home on the farm, having dodged yet another weather
- [10 Easy Ways to Celebrate Earth Day!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/04/10-easy-ways-to-celebrate-earth-day.html) - Happy Earth Day! Today we celebrate this planet we call home. Think about it. No matter our differences in beliefs, food preference, hair color, languages spoken, whatever—we all have Earth in common. Everyone we've ever known, everyone we've read about, every ancestor who came before us, every poet and teacher, every couple in love, every villain,
- [Sunday Letter: 03.26.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/03/sunday-letter-03-26-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Hey, hey! The past week was spring break for much of Arkansas. Lots of folks have been traveling to all sorts of cool places—I know because I've seen their fabulous pictures on social media. My sister and I drove Momma home to the farm, so that's where we've been the past
- [Sunday Letter: 03.12.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/03/sunday-letter-03-12-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends~ Did you remember to spring forward this morning? It seems like a whole month has passed since my last Sunday Letter, but lo, it has only been one week (and an hour). And in that time, the neighborhood daffodils have exploded. Yay for that. (This post contains affiliate links. I may earn
- [Sunday Letter: 03.05.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/03/sunday-letter-03-05-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends~ One of the things I love about living in northwest Arkansas is we have four distinct seasons every year. And sometimes, we even enjoy all four seasons in four consecutive days. 'Enjoy' is probably not the best verb. Sun. Thunderstorms. Drizzle. Tornadic Winds. Freezing Fog. Hail. Record heat. Ummm, yes, it's
- [Book Reviews: Jan / Feb 2023](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/02/book-reviews-jan-feb-2023.html) - This post includes Amazon Affiliate Links. If you purchase via links, I may earn a small sales commission. Welp. I am so behind on posting my book reviews, I've decided to do a quick update to cover both January and February reads. I'm changing up my format too, grouping like ratings together, beginning with 5-star
- [Sunday Letter: 02.23.20](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/02/sunday-letter-02-23-20.html) - Good morning Sunday Letter friends, I can't believe my new book—Gene, Everywhere—will be out in 17 days. After all the thinking and scribbling and typing and editing and grinding of teeth, it only took 9 years and 17 days. LOL. If I'm being honest, this is when the doubt creeps in. A Healthy Dose of
- [Sunday Letter: 02.19.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/02/sunday-letter-02-19-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, February is flying by in typical short-month fashion. And you know what that means, right? Spring is almost here. Some days we get a spring teaser, called 'false spring days' by Hemingway, and aren't they so welcomed? I'm sure we will have a few more gray drizzly wintry days, but the
- [All the Tiny Weed Flowers](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/03/all-the-tiny-weed-flowers.html) - I love this time of year when all the tiny weed flowers begin blooming. Tiny weed flowers are a sure sign that spring is just around the bend. I've already noticed a few butterflies flitting about in our yard! In earliest spring after a long winter's nap, the early butterflies and bees are hungry for
- [Sunday Letter: 02.05.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/02/sunday-letter-02-05-23.html) - (This post contains affiliate link which may result in small commissions.) Dear Sunday Letter friends, We survived the snowy, icy end to January, so yay for that. Now, February is here, the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter, and a Chinese balloon has been spying on us, just blatantly gliding along witnessing our craziness
- [Sunday Letter: 01.29.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/01/sunday-letter-01-29-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, It has been a week, y'all. We returned Monday from a weekend trip to Austin just in time for a whopper of a snowfall. The official measurement for Fayetteville was 8.95". (By the way, I took the bright snowy picture above from my kitchen window at 1:30 a.m.! And we had
- [How to Make an Insect Hotel (and why you should)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/03/how-to-make-an-insect-hotel-and-why-you-should.html) - I discovered my first insect hotel at the Denver Botanic Gardens in 2018. Since then, I've been enamored with them. Not only do insect hotels provide a bit of garden whimsey, but they attract solitary native bees, wasps, and other beneficial insects desperately needed for pollination. D*e*s*p*e*r*a*t*e*l*y. Pollinators are on the decline for various
- [How to Repot an Orchid](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/01/how-to-repot-an-orchid.html) - Today I want to show you how to repot an orchid. It pains me to imagine how many orchids I've killed through the years. When I was a busy banker, I truly thought orchids only bloomed once. After that, they were done. Um, no. Like every living thing—a schnauzer puppy, a milkweed seedling, a carpet
- [Sunday Letter: 01.08.23](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2023/01/sunday-letter-01-08-23.html) - Dear Sunday Letter readers, Aren't we fortunate to be welcoming another new year!? I'm optimistic about 2023 and looking forwarding to what the months ahead will bring. And yay! The days are getting a tiny bit longer. It's hard to tell right now, but it's true. 🌞 I began planning for 2023 weeks ago. For
- [Christmas Spirit - 12 Ways to Make it Last](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/01/christmas-spirit.html) - Happy Twelfth Day of Christmas! Today is that day—the twelve drummers drumming day. The day the Magi arrived in Bethlehem long, long ago. Epiphany Eve, Twelfth Night, this is a day with a multitude of names and rich in history. And no matter how you frame it, for many of us, today marks the official end of the Christmas season.
- [Vintage Christmas Photo Garland](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/vintage-christmas-photo-garland.html) - This fun vintage Christmas photo garland will take you all of five minutes to string along your mantel or bookcase or windowsill. Vintage photos deserve to be displayed, y'all. What You'll Need How easy is this? All you need is old photos, a length of tinsel or ribbon or string, and clothespins or other clips.
- [Sunday Letter: 12.18.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/12/sunday-letter-12-18-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Ho ho ho! 'Tis the week before Christmas which means we finalize menus and grocery shop, prep dishes, finish wrapping gifts, await family (and Santa Claus) coming into town. Anticipation is a huge part of Christmas for me. My husband often points out that I am a big kid, not that
- [Sunday Letter: 12.11.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/12/sunday-letter-12-11-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends— Reminder: two weeks 'til Christmas! 🎉 There's no denying it at our house. We are in full Christmas mode with our tree up, amaryllis bulbs growing, poinsettias here and there, and yes, the stockings are quietly hanging by the fireplace. AND in three short weeks, we will be greeting a brand
- [Sunday Letter: 12.04.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/12/sunday-letter-12-04-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Oh my goodness, November was a complete blur for me. And now December is here, and I want time to slow so I can savor every moment of the most wonderful time of the year. I don't know when I've been so excited for Christmas. I think attending the Christmas parade
- [Hiking around Historic Cane Hill, Arkansas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/12/historic-cane-hill.html) - I planned to post about our hike around historic Cane Hill closer to when said hike happened, but lo and behold time is a big ole' thief and I'm just getting around to it. We drove over to Cane Hill back in October when the Smithsonian Institution's traveling exhibit "Habitat" was on display. That exhibit
- [Book Reviews - October 2022](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/11/book-reviews-october-2022.html) - Seriously, you'd think I lounged around watching television all the live-long month of October based on the smattering of book reviews I bring you. (And so far, November may turn out to be even less.) Oh.Well. Sometimes priorities get shuffled, don't they? BUT here we are, one week before Thanksgiving, and I am finally doing
- [Sunday Letter: 11.13.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/11/sunday-letter-11-13-22.html) - Hey, hey Sunday Letter friends~ Did you think I had abandoned my Sunday Letters altogether? Oh, no. I have been stretched a little thin though, unable to do all the things I want to do. And my Sunday Letters have taken a back seat to activities related to Bernice Runs Away. Everything has a season—that's
- [This Week's Goodness](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/11/this-weeks-goodness.html) - I haven't blogged in a few days because I haven't been able to think of anything worthwhile to blog about, not after something as significant as the presidential election. And especially not after reading the ugliness spread across social media. I have a severe case of election fatigue. Are you feeling politically weary, too? I've decided the best
- [Sunday Letter: 02.11.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/02/sunday-letter-02-11-18.html) - Sunday Letter? Remember when letter writing was a thing? You may be too young to remember, but I do. I religiously wrote letters to my penpal in Australia. When I was away at camp, I wrote letters to Staci and Momma even though I got home before my news. Back home, I wrote letters to
- [Sunday Letter: 10.23.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/10/sunday-letter-10-23-22.html) - Happy Sunday to my Sunday Letter readers~ We've had a gorgeous fall week here in northwest Arkansas. I hope you've had a chance to get outside and enjoy the cooler weather. Over on the other side of the state, the cotton harvest on our farm has ended. Once again I am thankful to be a
- [How to harvest Coneflower Seeds](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/how-to-harvest-coneflower-seeds.html) - Coneflowers rank right up there with black-eyed Susans as my favorite native summer flowers. I planted six coneflower plants in our new front bed this past spring. As the flowers have begun to dry on the stalks, I've been snipping some of the heads and leaving them in the bed to multiply. I've also begun drying and harvesting
- [Book Reviews: September 2022](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/10/book-reviews-september-2022.html) - Yikes! I can't believe we are almost halfway into October and I'm just now wrapping up my book reviews for September. I was tempted to skip posting this altogether, but one book I read in September is my absolute favorite so far this year, and I couldn't not tell you about it. Maybe you've already
- [Sunday Letter: 10.09.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/10/sunday-letter-10-09-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, After finally getting Bernice out into the world, I've tried to regroup and take care of a few things I've been putting off. Like getting Betty White (my car) serviced. Like finding a new dentist and doing a little volunteer work at the Headquarters House in Fayetteville (where I earn the
- [How to Choose a Pumpkin](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/10/how-to-choose-a-pumpkin.html) - How to choose a pumpkin and have a fantabulous October? No, this isn't rocket science. Yes, there's a certain method to my madness. But first, a confession—I do not like pumpkin pie. I feel a smidgen bad about this. Pumpkin pie is such an American thing. But I've never liked pumpkin pie and don't imagine
- [Sunday Letter: 10.02.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/10/sunday-letter-10-02-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Happy October! October is one of my favorite months of the year because of cooler weather and college football and harvest time and blooming asters. This October is even more special than normal because my third book—Bernice Runs Away—launched yesterday! I promise I won't talk about Bernice forever, but for now, yes, yes,
- [Laura Ingalls Wilder House](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/09/laura-ingalls-wilder-house.html) - When my husband asked what I wanted for my birthday this year, I answered without hesitation—I want to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder House. Birthday #60 calls for something memorable, don't you think? The Laura Ingalls Wilder House has been at the top of my bucket list since we moved to Northwest Arkansas and I
- [Remembering a different fall.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/09/remembering-fall.html) - Just like that, the sticky scratchy summer blanket of heat has been lifted away for a while. And I'm remembering fall. A different fall. I am magically transported to a certain time when I lived with my friends on the surface of life, and each day began with a what-will-we-do-today freshness. And Norma and Vic and Steve and I tossed
- [my Fall Essentials](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/10/my-fall-essentials.html) - This is the time of year I wish I could lasso the sun and slowwww time. These precious few autumn days speed by much too quickly, don't they? Technically each season comes with the same amount of days—about ninety—but fall always gets squeezed on the front-end by a summer who overstays her welcome and on
- [Sunday Letter: 09.18.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/09/sunday-letter-09-18-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I've driven across Arkansas the past few days, and I can report that harvest is in full swing back home in my northeastern corner of the state. Watching combines cutting rice, seeing cornfields ready for harvest, and walking through fields of cotton with bolls beginning to open—I never miss a chance
- [Book Reviews: August 2022](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/09/book-reviews-august-2022.html) - Book Reviews August 2022 Good morning to all you fabulous readers out there. Today is already the 7th of September, and I'm just now posting my book reviews for August. Anyhoo, I read most of these books during the first half of the month when I was recouping from surgery. Then during the last half
- [Sunday Letter: 09.04.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/09/sunday-letter-09-04-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Are you as excited as I am that September is here? I treasure the change of seasons, and yes I'm counting down to the first day of fall. Nineteen days! I'm also counting down to Bernice Runs Away which launches on October 1. Twenty-seven days! You know what Gracie Lee Eudora Abbott
- [Sunday Letter: 08.21.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/08/sunday-letter-08-21-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Are you loving this late August weather? Here in north Arkansas we are enjoying cool mornings and warm afternoons that feel pleasant rather than stifling. The hummingbirds are especially active this time of year, zipping around from feeder to feeder and plant to plant. What fun they are to watch. Life feels
- [Virtual Launch Party for Bernice Runs Away!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/08/virtual-launch-party.html) - Hey friends! With a little over six weeks until the official October 1st launch of Bernice Runs Away, I'm planning a virtual launch party now. Maybe you participated in the two virtual launch parties I had on Facebook for my first two books? If so, you will probably recall that they were very fast-paced with
- [Sunday Letter: 08.14.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/08/sunday-letter-08-14-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Woohoo! Tomorrow I will be two week post-op. My body is still recovering from surgery, although I have to say, so far this has been way less of an ordeal than the wrist surgery I had a few years ago. Other than the first couple of days/nights when I felt nauseous
- [Sunday Letter: 07.31.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/07/sunday-letter-07-31-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter readers, Praise be! In the past few days we've experienced a reprieve from this summer's horribly hot and dry weather. Yes, finally, much-needed rain moved across the state; the rumble of thunder has never been so welcome to my ears. This morning, there's a chance for more rain. Not gonna lie—the past
- [Book Reviews: July 2022](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/07/book-reviews-july-2022.html) - My book reviews for July span the sparse kitchens in WWII Britain to the streets of current day East Oakland. These books are written by women, about women. (This wasn't intentional on my part, but subconsciously, maybe it was.) From family abuse to dating drama, each story touches the heart in a different way. I
- [Sunday Letter: 07.24.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/07/sunday-letter-07-24-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter readers, Hello again. Well, I made it through a week of pre-surgery quarantine, and now I have one more week to go. There's just something about needing to stay home that makes me antsy. Know what I mean? It was a good week to be inside though—thank the good Lord for air-conditioning! Man
- [Sunday Letter: 07.17.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/07/sunday-letter-07-17-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Yep. We survived another steamy hot week. And, since my last letter, I celebrated a milestone birthday—the Big 6-0. Sounds serious, doesn't it? Like it's time to get on with things; the sands in the hour glass are slipping through at an alarming rate. Well, to tell you the truth, I
- [Sunday Letter: 07.03.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/07/sunday-letter-07-03-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Holy moly, I've been both riled up and in a funk, feeling hopeless and helpless over many things going on in our country. I took a few days away from the craziness of social media to just be. And while nothing has changed with respect to the things that riled me
- [Summer Reads in our Little Free Library!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/07/summer-reading-little-free-library.html) - Hey Northwest Arkansas! Our Little Free Library is stocked with great summer reads. Yesterday, John and I spent some time browsing (and buying) at Trolley Line Bookshop in Rogers, Arkansas. Trolley Line is a great little bookstore filled with so many treasures. And, since we were on a roll, we hit Dickson Street Books in Fayetteville on
- [Book Reviews—June 2022](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/06/book-reviews-june-2022.html) - I managed to read a stack of books in June. There is definitely something for everyone in my June book reviews, unless you never read, and then I don't know what to say. Bless your heart, maybe? If you love a heavy tome of a story, Cloud Cuckoo Land is for you. Women's Fiction, Cozy
- [Sunday Letter: 06.19.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/06/sunday-letter-06-19-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, It's Father's Day, and I'm thinking about all the strong men who influenced my life, helping to make me the crazy person I am - haha! But seriously, today I would like to honor these men who were important in my world during my growing up years: my Daddy, Thomas Tate;
- [Sunday Letter: 06.12.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/06/sunday-letter-06-12-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, This is a real picture of our front porch. Hahaha, not really, but seriously with all the rain we've been having, our world is flourishing into a jungle. Nature could easily swallow everything. And HUMID! Oh my goodness, this morning's air is wrapped in a damp flannel blanket. The sort you
- [Book Reviews: April / May 2022](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/06/book-reviews-april-may-2022.html) - For the first time in a long time, so many things have kept me from reading. I credit the same things for my lack of blog postings. Sooooo, today I am finally bringing a few recommendations to you, combining my book reviews for April and May. Let's be honest—this is a little pitiful—we are midway
- [Sunday Letter: 05.29.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/05/sunday-letter-05-29-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, What a sad week we've had. The latest school shooting in Uvalde, Texas—number 27 this year 😦—has been extra-heartbreaking to me. Hopeless. Helpless. That's how the situation seems to me. Like we are living in a Shirley Jackson short story, waiting every day to see which unsuspecting school in which American
- [Notes from a Garden Tour](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/05/garden-tour-2.html) - Well, friends, after months of anticipation and preparation, the Arkansas Master Gardener garden tour has come and gone. Whew! Now that I've had a minute to sit back and think about it, I scribbled down a few random notes about the whole fabulous experience. Start Early. Gardening is one of our favorite hobbies, so in
- [Sunday Letter: 05.22.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/05/sunday-letter-05-22-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Hello and good morning! I hope all is well in your corner of the world. After all the anticipation and preparation, the Arkansas Master Gardener garden tour is over. We had a fabulous time meeting all the gardeners from across the state who came to tour our little space. I promise
- [Diary of a Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/05/spicebush-swallowtail-caterpillar.html) - Pour yourself a cup of coffee and prepare to fall in love again. I've been sooooo excited to share my diary of a certain cute spicebush swallowtail caterpillar. If you followed my butterfly stories last summer, you might remember that I was a bit obsessed with raising butterflies on the back porch. I successfully released
- [Sunday Letter: 05.01.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/05/sunday-letter-05-01-22.html) - May Day greetings! So much has happened since my last Sunday Letter, I'm not sure where to begin. I suppose I'll just write whatever pops into my head. First of all—I'm just gonna say it—how is it May already?? Yikes. Time is slipping away. May is the month of flowers, right? You know, April showers bring
- [Sunday Letter: Easter 2022](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/04/sunday-letter-easter-2022.html) - Happy Easter, Sunday Letter readers! Easter really sneaked up on me this year. I don't know if I've not been paying attention to the calendar or what, but the truth is this too-big-for-its-britches year needs to slow itself down. I'm not kidding. I can barely keep my head above water. Today is also my sister's
- [Book Reviews: March 2022](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/04/book-reviews-march-2022.html) - It's book review time! There are some real treasures in these March 2022 Book Reviews. A couple of these novels were published several years ago. Others are fairly new to the world. Two were written by Irish authors (McCann and Grissom)—appropriate for March, I think. I didn't read as much as I expected because I
- [Sunday Letter: 04.03.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/04/sunday-letter-04-03-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Whew. What a crazy weather week. An E-3 tornado touched down during the early morning hours of Wednesday only a few miles from our home in Fayetteville. It moved northeast into Springdale leaving behind property damage, injuries, and power outages. Thursday it snowed at our house. Friday = warm and sunny.
- [Sunday Letter: 03.20.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/03/sunday-letter-03-20-22.html) - Good morning, Sunday Letter friends and HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING! E x h a l e. We survived Old Man Winter again. I gotta be honest—there were days I thought winter would never end. I'm exaggerating a bit, (but not really). Nature teaches us so many lessons if only we would listen and see
- [How to Host a Cake Walk](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/09/host-cake-walk.html) - Mix together jaunty music, sugary treats, community camaraderie and what do you have? The recipe for a successful cake walk. Several years ago, I hosted the first cake walk for Munger Place Days, the annual home tour weekend event for our neighborhood. It was a big hit with kids and adults and has become an annual tradition. When
- [Sunday Letter: 03.06.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/03/sunday-letter-03-06-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Isn't it incredible how we can go from being buried in ice one week to admiring spring blooms the next? Our crocus is blooming. Daffodils are celebrating the sun. Tiny ephemeral blossoms are now appearing in the grass. I admire these first bloomers so much. They are hardy and determined and
- [Book Reviews: February 2022](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/03/book-reviews-february-2022.html) - This post contains affiliate links; I may earn commissions on purchases. Not enough to say grace over, but still I'm required to tell you. A new month—welcome March!!!—means book reviews for you.📚 February is a short month, and that's my excuse for only having five book reviews to share—one written by a local Arkansas author,
- [Sunday Letter: 02.27.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/02/sunday-letter-02-27-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, February is nearly gone. Hopefully when it leaves it will take all the ice with it. I'm ready for all the blooming plants. I want to see soil that isn't covered in ice. I want to go home to the farm and watch tractors and planters moving through the fields. New
- [Sunday Letter: 02.20.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/02/sunday-letter-02-20-22.html) - We have more wintry weather headed our way this week, but spring is just around the corner. 28 days away to be exact. Even if I'd not calculated the time until spring, I would know based on nature's signs. Our hellebores are in full bloom. Soon, tiny crocus will line the sidewalk leading to our
- [Sunday Letter: 02.13.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/02/sunday-letter-02-13-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Today is Super Bowl Sunday, and tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Will you watch the Super Bowl and/or celebrate Valentine's Day? One is an excellent excuse to eat an entire bowl of cheese dip; the other, a pound of chocolate. (Two of the best food groups!) But may I remind you—you don't
- [Valentine's Day Gifts for the Nature Lover](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/02/valentines-day-gifts-for-the-nature-lover.html) - The post contains affiliate links. I may earn commissions on purchases. Today I've rounded up a few unique Valentine's Day gifts for the nature lover in your life. Are YOU the nature lover in your life? Ha—nothing wrong with buying yourself a neat sweet treat. These gifts will do your heart good, both buying and
- [Book Reviews: January 2022](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/02/book-reviews-january-2022.html) - This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commissions based on purchases. Hello readers! Today I bring you my reviews of the books I read in January, 2022. Before we get into the book reviews, I have a couple of small bookish announcements. In 2022, my monthly reading goal is to include a book published
- [Sunday Letter: 02.06.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/02/sunday-letter-02-06-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Good morning to you! With coffee in hand, I'm ready to tackle another week. How about you? Last week was a good one for several reasons. First of all, we had a fabulous snowfall in Fayetteville. Everything unfolded just as our local weather guy predicted, starting with freezing rain on Wednesday
- [Sunday Letter: 01.30.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/01/sunday-letter-01-30-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I've had a busy-busy week and a very productive one. I can almost taste the launch of my next book, and I'm so excited about it. The book likely won't be available until this fall, but you know how fast time flies. You will have it in your hands before you
- [Book Reviews: November 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/book-reviews-november-2021.html) - This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commissions from sales. Book Reviews Hello reader friends! I'm a few days late posting my reviews of the books I read in November, but here they are. Better late than never, right? The books I read in November took me on quite the adventures. From faraway galaxies
- [Grapefruit Vanilla Shortbread](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/01/grapefruit-vanilla-shortbread.html) - This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commissions from linked items via Amazon. Stop whatever you are doing and feast your eyes on this Grapefruit Vanilla Shortbread. I'm here to tell you this is the most fabulous dessert I've ever made. It's oh so dreamy. I baked this loveliness during the Christmas holidays. Texas
- [Sunday Letter: 01.23.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/01/sunday-letter-01-23-22.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, This is the Sunday Letter that almost wasn't. Last night when I should have been writing, I got wrapped up watching Earth vs. the Flying Saucers on MeTV. How I waited my whole life so far to see this 1950s black-and-white cult classic, I have no earthly idea. It had everything
- [Word of the Year and my 2022 Resolutions](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/01/word-of-the-year.html) - Word of the Year Have you decided on a word for 2022? For the past several Januarys I've been choosing a word to focus on during the year ahead. I think it helps keep me on track and gives me an anchor when I need to recenter myself. One year, I forgot my word altogether,
- [Sunday Letter: 01.16.22](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/01/sunday-letter-01-16-22.html) - This post contains Affiliate links. I may earn commissions on purchases. Dear Sunday Letter friends, Have you missed me? I've missed myself. Ha. I've been a little lost for the past two weeks, but now a fresh new battery lives in my MacBook and all is calm in my world again. It's crazy how discombobulated
- [Book Reviews: December 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2022/01/book-reviews-december-2021.html) - Hello, reader friends. With my book reviews for December 2021, we wrap up another year of reading. I can't believe 2021 has passed by so quickly! I know I say this every year, but doesn't it become truer every year? Last January I set my 2021 Goodreads Reading Challenge at 50 books. With the five
- [Can we talk about these Stuffed Mushrooms?](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/stuffed-mushrooms.html) - Oh yeah, people. Today, the last day of the year, I'm sharing this amazing recipe for stuffed mushrooms so that later when I want to whip up a platter, I can find the recipe here. Mushroom fans, you need this recipe in your life. Are you planning a NYE dinner that includes any sort of
- [Skipping Winter?](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/skipping-winter.html) - After last year's major whammy of a winter, we seem to be skipping winter altogether here in Arkansas. One thing's for sure—our weather is becoming more and more extreme. I hope that by calling out this crazy idea of skipping winter, Ole Man Winter will straighten himself out, and we will indeed have more seasonable weather
- [Christmas Cards and Nature ~ 2 days!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/christmas-cards-nature.html) - Today I want to show you how I display Christmas cards and nature together, creating a festive holiday mood board of sorts. But first, I would like to thank everyone who keeps me on their Christmas card list. I'm not very consistent in mailing out cards. Last year I mailed Thanksgiving cards; this year I
- [Charlie Brown Snow ~ 3 days til Christmas!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/charlie-brown-snow.html) - This post contains affiliate links. I may earn money from purchases. Today's Christmas Countdown post is...wait for it...how to create Charlie Brown snow! Did you watch A Charlie Brown Christmas this year? PBS has been playing it for the past three Sunday nights. I doubt I've missed a year since it debuted on December 9,
- [Candy Cane Steam Facial ~ 4 days til Christmas!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/candy-cane-steam-facial.html) - Today we take a little break from Christmas prep and treat ourselves to a candy cane steam facial. I concocted this at-home steam facial last weekend and decided it was fabulous; now I'm sharing it with you. During this busy time of the year, taking care of ourselves is a necessity. While we may not have
- [The Santa Succulent ~ 5 days til Christmas!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/santa-succulent.html) - Today's Santa Succulent is a fun, last-minute gift for the plant lover in your life. (Or, for yourself.) Really, this is for everyone reading today's Christmas Countdown post, right? Aren't they adorable? I saw these whimsical fellows at Greater Goods Marketplace in historic downtown Van Buren, Arkansas, and thought about how fun it would be
- [Gracie Lee goes to The Enchanted Forest](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/12/the-enchanted-forest-2.html) - Our family has always had lots of Christmas traditions. Mother-daughter traditions. Boon Chapel traditions. Gracie-Abby sister traditions. Visiting The Enchanted Forest at Goldsmith’s in Memphis was one of our favorites. Each year when we went, Momma dressed us in red velvet with white tights and black patent shoes, not because The Enchanted Forest was a
- [Have Yourself a Grace Grits Christmas!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/12/grace-grits-christmas.html) - It's beginning to look like a Grace Grits Christmas, which for me means peaceful, simple, and easy. Surrounded by joy. Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, so it stands to reason I've been collecting ornaments and decorations for a long time. And really, what's the point of decorating at all if the end result
- [Botanical Christmas Cookies](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/botanical-christmas-cookies.html) - Botanical Christmas Cookies 🌱❃ I baked six dozen sugar cookies for a garden club luncheon last week. Since we are all rather fond of plants, I went with a semi-botanical theme using fresh violas and fennel from our garden. I also used dried herbs and other nuts, fruits, and candies from my pantry. My goal
- [Sunday Letter: 12.12.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/sunday-letter-12-12-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, It's beginning to look like Christmas at our house. We decorated our Christmas tree last Sunday, and I love how it brightens our world and spreads that wonderful tree fragrance into every nook and cranny downstairs. Ours isn't a very big tree—it's in the 5-6 foot category—and she's on the slim
- [Tis the Season for Finding Frost Flowers!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/frost-flowers.html) - Oh happy day! I Finally Saw a Frost Flower. Do you have a garden bucket list? I have one loosely formed in my mind, and a few days ago I checked off 'see frost flowers' from my list. Sometimes the best things happen when you aren't expecting much from the day. (That's a quote from
- [Sunday Letter: 12.05.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/12/sunday-letter-12-05-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Since last week's letter, I've been to Little Rock and back for the annual Farm Bureau convention. It was a real honor for me to speak at the Women's Leadership Luncheon. If anyone from Farm Bureau happens to be reading this—thank you again for the invite! Arkansas River Y'all, I took
- [I met the most gorgeous Bald Cypress...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/11/i-met-the-most-gorgeous-bald-cypress.html) - Well, Hello There! I met the most gorgeous bald cypress while at Rockvale Writers' Colony in Tennessee. The tree was impossible to ignore, so brilliantly clothed for autumn. And her place on the property—just outside the cabin where I stayed the weekend—invited my attention each time I walked to the main house for meals and
- [Sunday Letter: 11.28.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/11/sunday-letter-11-28-21.html) - Good morning, Sunday Letter friends— I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving (or at least survived it). Today is the first Sunday of Advent. I love this time of year as we begin to anticipate the Christmas season and the birth of Jesus. The word Advent is derived from the Latin word "Adventus" which means
- [Sunday Letter: 11.21.21 ~ Gobble Gobble!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/11/sunday-letter-11-21-21-gobble-gobble.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, This morning my heart is full of gratefulness, and I want to share it with you. I just returned from a weekend nature-writing retreat at Rockvale Writers' Colony in middle Tennessee. What a fabulous three days! I'll probably write more about my experiences there, but for now I'll just say I
- [How to Make a Charcuterie Board](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/11/how-to-make-a-charcuterie-board.html) - Today I'm sharing tips on how to make a charcuterie board. This is my new favorite thing to create for any type of get-together. If there's one thing Covid has taught me, it's to make even the smallest gatherings festive. Making a charcuterie board isn't rocket science, but there is an art to creating a
- [Sunday Letter: 11.07.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/11/sunday-letter-11-07-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Did you remember to fall back this morning? I'm not sure why we still observe Daylight Saving Time, but here we are, falling back. (And later, we'll be falling asleep...) Gracie and Annabelle aren't observing it, so for the next few days, we will be more out of sync than normal
- [Book Reviews: October 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/11/book-reviews-october-2021.html) - This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commissions from sales. Today I'm sharing my reviews of the books I read in October. My reading was stymied a bit because I am deep into editing my next book. And also, I binge-watched Ted Lasso and The Morning Show. So there's that.😉 Still, I managed to
- [Sunday Letter: 10.31.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/10/sunday-letter-10-31-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter readers, Happy Halloween! I'm glad we have nice weather on tap for Halloween tonight because we have lots of candy we need to give away to trick-or-treaters. I sure don't need bags of chocolate hanging around our house—it wouldn't last very long. I can't tell you how many 'fun size' peanut M&Ms
- [Sunday Letter: 10.17.21!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/10/sunday-letter-10-17-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Good morning and happy Sunday. As we head into the middle of October, the temperatures in northwest Arkansas have finally dropped—it was 39 this morning! The asters are in full bloom. And, the Ozark hills and hollows are slowly coming alive with fall color. I LOVE this time of year, this
- [Sunday Letter: 10.10.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/10/sunday-letter-10-10-21.html) - Hey, Sunday Letter friends! It's been a minute or two. I've been having a heck of a time balancing my writing lately. I'm approaching the editing deadline for my next book (yay!), and so I've been spending most of my time working on that. Also, a couple of other article deadlines have jumped up and
- [Book Reviews: September 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/10/book-reviews-september-2021.html) - This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commissions from sales. Hey friends! Today I'm sharing my reviews of the books I read in September. I enjoyed these books for different reasons. From the 1500s to present day, I met the magical and mental, I cried with and cheered for amazing protagonists that will not
- [Sunday Letter: 09.19.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/09/sunday-letter-09-19-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Fall officially begins on Wednesday, and I am oh-so-ready for cooler temperatures! We desperately need a rain in Northwest Arkansas. Our plants are tired and thirsty in a way the garden hose can't quench. Even though the heavens have been stingy with rain, the trees are beginning to show fall color in
- [Sunday Letter: 09.05.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/09/sunday-letter-09-05-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, September is here, and I'm glad about it. I look forward to harvest time on the farm, the promise of cooler temperatures and turning leaves, twisty-stemmed pumpkins, and, yay, college football. With my favorite holidays waiting on the horizon so close we begin to count down—oh yeah, I'm a happy camper.
- [Book Reviews: August 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/09/august-book-reviews-2.html) - This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commissions from sales. When I look back over the books I read in August, I know each of these stories enriched my life in some way. In fact, as a group, this may be my favorite collection of five books I've read in a row. And that's
- [Sunday Letter: 08.29.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/08/sunday-letter-08-29-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, The week went by fast for me and other than attending two book clubs, I don't have much to show for myself. Well, I cleaned a whole bunch of caterpillar frass from my butterfly hotels and fed my guests lots of milkweed. What else? I'm not sure. Our son was here
- [Sunday Letter: 08.22.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/08/sunday-letter-08-22-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, How are you? I don't have to tell you about the sadness in our world right now—the unfolding horror in Afghanistan, the earthquake in Haiti, wildfires and water shortages, surging coronavirus, and so much more—but I do think from time to time we all need to remind each other to look for
- [Life in Milkweed](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/08/life-in-milkweed.html) - Life in Milkweed Milkweed is vital for monarchs because it is THE host plant for monarch butterflies (meaning, monarch butterflies lay eggs ONLY on milkweed, AND monarch caterpillars ONLY eat milkweed). Of course, there are a variety of other species besides monarchs that enjoy nectaring from milkweed. This year, I've been keeping track of the critters
- [Books Reviews: July 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/08/books-reviews-july.html) - Book Reviews July 2021 This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commissions from sales. I hope you are finding a little time to get your summer reading on. Today I am posting my reviews of the books I read in July. I didn't read as much as I usually do. Binge-watching Season 18 of
- [Sunday Letter: 08.01.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/08/sunday-letter-08-01-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Happy August! Ready or not, here we go headfirst into the downhill side of summer. Dang, it is HUMID here in northwest Arkansas. We've been promised a break in the heat this week, and I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed. Gracie and Annabelle like to walk 3-4 times a day,
- [Sunday Letter: 07.18.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/07/sunday-letter-07-18-21.html) - Rise and Shine Sunday Letter friends! I've already been outside this morning in the rain killing milkweed bugs. A gardener does what a gardener has to do. I swear the summer days keep swooshing by and before I know it another week has come and gone and I have nothing written for my Sunday Letter.
- [Sunday Letter: 07.11.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/07/sunday-letter-07-11-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter readers, We spent the 4th of July weekend in Austin with our daughter and son-in-law. We've not done much traveling since the pandemic, and it was marvelous to get away. It was especially fabulous to see Kelsey and Preston! We packed lots of greatness in three days including food, family time, music,
- [Book Reviews: June 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/07/book-reviews-june-2021.html) - This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commissions from sales. With my book reviews for June 2021, we are officially well into the season of summer reading. Do you choose books based on the time of year? During summer, I may choose something lighter (especially if I'm on vacation), but mostly I keep whittling
- [Sunday Letter: 06.27.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/06/sunday-letter-06-27-21.html) - Hi friends! I hope this Sunday Letter finds you happy and healthy and ready for a new week. June has been a blur, and can you believe, another month is nearly over? What a great month it has been for me. As in-person events have geared back up, I've finally been able to get out
- [Sunday Letter: 06.13.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/06/sunday-letter-06-13-2021.html) - Good morning Sunday Letter readers! I'm home after ten days away. It always takes me some time to get back in the swing of things after traveling. Like Dorothy Gale said, there's no place like home. I'm lucky to have two homes that I love—two homes that love me back. I spent much of my
- [Book Reviews: May 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/06/book-reviews-may-2021.html) - This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commissions from sales. Another month has passed which means I have six more book to recommend! My book reviews for May 2021 were all penned by women authors. I didn't plan this, not consciously anyway. Sometimes neat-o things happen. Especially where books are concerned. Of Women and
- [Garden Surprises in Spring](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/05/garden-surprises.html) - This spring, so many garden surprises have entertained me. Almost every day something reveals itself. Something unexpected, curious, even unusual. It helps that I spend a crazy amount of time poking around outside. (The more time one spends with any activity, the more accessible and intimate the parts of that activity become.) Each inch of
- [Sunday Letter: 05.23.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/05/sunday-letter-05-23-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Even though last week was drizzly and gray, I managed to get a few hours of garden time in here and there. Our milkweed is really growing. This is a good thing since I found three monarch caterpillars already! Milkweed is the ONLY plant monarchs eat and the ONLY place they
- [Sunday Letter: 05.16.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/05/sunday-letter-05-16-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Hi! I hope your last few days have been as wonderful as mine. The past week brought ideal growing conditions for the garden. It was a fabulous birding week at our feeders. And, my son came for an unexpected visit. (He came for grad school classes, and we were the bonus—ha!)
- [Sunday Letter: 05.09.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/05/sunday-letter-05-09-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Happy Mother's Day to all those who mother! Mothers have all the essential jobs. They dry tears, provide motivation, feather nests (and later push us from the nest)—teaching, encouraging, scolding, doing all the things that keep the world spinning. Y'all know how special my Momma is. Even within the space of
- [Book Reviews: April 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/05/book-reviews-april-2021.html) - Book Reviews, April 2021: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commissions from sales. I didn't do as much reading in April as I would have liked. When the garden calls, reading takes a back seat to weeding and planting and mulching. Still, I managed to squeeze in a few pages. From the islands
- [Sunday Letter: 05.02.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/05/sunday-letter-05-02-21.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, As I look back over the past two weeks, I realize I've been riding an emotional rollercoaster. Along with life events, even the weather has delivered a series of highs and lows. In a matter of hours we went from near 80 degrees to snowfall (!). A few days later, tornado warnings
- [Sunday Letter: 04.18.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/04/sunday-letter-04-18-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter readers, This is the time of year I fall behind in my writing and reading because I spend the bulk of my waking hours working in the garden. Nurseries lure me in with fuchsia blooms and bright green foliage. Warm weather entices me, tries to make me believe things that aren't true.
- [Sunday Letter: 04.11.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/04/sunday-letter-04-11-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Every spring day brings a bit more magic. In our neighborhood, those who came decades before us had the foresight to plant redbuds and dogwoods in parkways beside the street. Now, anyone who happens by is surely blown away by the blooms. I certainly am. Even though I see them every
- [Sunday Letter: 04.04.21](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/04/sunday-letter-04-04-21.html) - Happy Easter to my Sunday Letter friends! With Easter comes glorious, much-needed rebirth. After the long year we've had, extra hallelujah to that. Thursday morning arrived with more freezing temperatures. I worried about the tree buds and flower blossoms and tender new growth peeking up from the soil. BUT here in our yard, for the most
- [Book Reviews: March 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/04/book-reviews-march-2021.html) - This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commissions from sales. Hello my devoted reader friends! Another month means more books to read and review. My book reviews for March 2021 are a mixed bag in every sense. A couple of the best-sellers I couldn't wait to get my hands on turned out to be
- [Sunday Letter: 03.28.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/03/sunday-letter-03-28-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, How on earth is it already the end of March? Time seems to be playing a trick on me. Last week was a hazy, busy blur, in part because we were dog-sitting Gracie's half-brother, Lucky, while his people were away on spring break. Lucky is no trouble whatsoever. Gracie is the
- [Sunday Letter: 03.14.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/03/sunday-letter-03-14-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Last week marked the one-year anniversary of when life shifted, thanks (no thanks) to Covid. For about two months, I marked the days on my chalkboard. When I realized normal would look different for a while, I stopped counting and starting adjusting. Sometimes, oftentimes, attitude adds much to circumstance, good or bad.
- [Sunday Letter: 03.07.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/03/sunday-letter-03-07-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Another week has come and gone. Just like Steve Miller said, time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin' into the future. Crazy fast in my opinion. Only 13 days until spring. I'm counting down, that's for sure. Knock knock... lettuce in, spring. 😊 Free Seed Project I heard about The Free Seed
- [Book Reviews: February 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/03/book-reviews-2.html) - As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. Oooh, I'm excited to share my book reviews for February with you. And what a varied group they are. I didn't plan it. Often my books are simply devoured in the order they become available at the Fayetteville Public Library. (I have a long wait list
- [Sunday Letter: 02.28.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/02/sunday-letter-02-28-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Last week was certainly a welcomed change from the prior week. Yay for seasonal temperatures and a bit of sunshine. Tomorrow we welcome March, and soon thereafter, spring. I'm pretending spring has already sprung. Even with recent sub-zero temperatures, our daffodils and tulips and crocus are poking right through the soil.
- [Sunday Letter: 02.21.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/02/sunday-letter-02-21-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, What a week, right? Lots of snow across the country, the entire state of Arkansas buried under record snowfall amounts. Many of my friends and family in Texas have been without power and water for days. I swear I only wanted enough to fill my snow cream bowl. Five things I
- [Sunday Letter: 02.14.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/02/sunday-letter-02-14-2021.html) - Happy Valentine's Day Sunday Letter friends, I seem to be marking time from one holiday to another these days. My Nana was born on Valentine's Day, so I always look at this day as her birthday more than any other way. People born on Valentine's Day are extra sweet. We are having a cold, cold
- [6 Meyer Lemon Recipes](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/02/meyer-lemon-recipes.html) - Today I have six Meyer Lemon Recipes to share with you. You may remember from a recent Sunday Letter, our soon-to-be neighbor gave us a sack of Meyer lemons from her trees in Houston. You know the saying, when life gives you lemons? Well, I didn't make lemonade, but I was inspired to try a
- [Sunday Letter: 02.07.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/02/sunday-letter-02-07-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Did you have a productive week? I did! I base this news entirely on the fact that I cleaned our oven—ha. Momma finally received a first dose of the Covid vaccine. Yay. I can't wait to get one, but I know it will be a while for me. It has been
- [Book Reviews: January 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/02/book-reviews-january-2021.html) - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Hey reader friends! As promised, I'm bringing back my book reviews this year. The six books I read in January took me down south to rural Mississippi and up north to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. From Reconstruction to present day Twitterworld, I plowed Kansas farmland
- [Sunday Letter: 01.31.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/01/sunday-letter-01-31-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Well, well, well, here we are at the end of another fast-as-a-freight-train month. Spring really will be here before we know it. I look for it every day. Yesterday I checked to see if our crocus was blooming, but saw no sign yet. I did notice our tulips are beginning to
- [Sunday Letter: 01.24.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/01/sunday-letter-01-24-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, (I may earn money from Affiliate Links in this post.) I woke up this morning thinking about how when we were kids, Momma always said GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY. That was the mantra of mothers all across the country. We played outside most days when the weather was good, and sometimes
- [Sunday Letter: 01.17.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/01/sunday-letter-01-17-2021.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, After a cold week of snow, brooding clouds, dark skies with only a sliver of moon, a little sunshine (I think), and lots of wind stirring up dry leaves that hitchhike into the kitchen via two schnauzers who are in and out, in and out, we greet another Sunday morning. Whew.
- [Sunday Letter: 01.10.2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/01/sunday-letter-01-10-2021.html) - Hey Sunday Letter friends. We survived another week. And what a terrible week it was, here in the United (um, Divided?) States of America. I continue to remind myself that we are all human, that we all have more common attributes than differences. I've always believed this, but man alive, I'm beginning to doubt it.
- [My Favorite Reads of 2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/01/favorite-reads-2020.html) - I can't let 2020 completely disappear without providing a list of my favorite reads from the year. I read fifty-five books, and you can see all of my reviews on my Goodreads Challenge HERE (for past years too). So many books, so little time. I already have a LONG list of want-to-read books for 2021.
- [my One Little Word for 2021](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2021/01/my-one-little-word-for-2021.html) - I've been thinking about my One Little Word for 2021. Last year, I didn't give much thought to it, and I worry my lack of a real word led to such a crazy 2020. Not that I believe my One Little Word can affect the whole big world. Ha. But I do believe choosing a
- [Sunday Letter: 12.20.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/12/sunday-letter-12-20-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Oh my gosh, so much has happened since my last Sunday Letter. Since I can only write in snatches of stolen time, I'll jump right to it. First things first. I'm happy to report that we received a bonafide snow last week, one that didn't begin or end with ice. The
- [I Made a Foraged Holiday Swag](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/12/foraged-holiday-swag.html) - Oooh, I'm pretty happy with this foraged holiday swag I made, and I think my nature lovers will enjoy it too. With winter and Christmas only 11 and 15 days away (!), this simple project will bring a bit of natural beauty to your front door, your mailbox, anywhere you want to hang it. Let
- [10 Gifts for the Gardener - $25 and less](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/12/10-gifts-for-the-gardener.html) - Hey, hey! It's Christmastime again... Today I'm spotlighting 10 Gifts for the Gardeners in your life. And guess what? These 10 gifts won't break our gardening budgets. Do we have gardening budgets? 🤔 December is here in all her lovely holiday glory. My goal is to keep Christmas simple. Any gift-giving I do will be small and
- [Sunday Letter: 11.29.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/11/sunday-letter-11-29-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I worry about what to say when it comes to Thanksgiving, because so many people were unable to see family members this year. But I hope yours was peaceful, satisfying, filled with yummy food, fabulous memories, maybe at least one laugh-session that made you forget whatever troubles you may be experiencing.
- [Sunday Letter: 11.22.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/11/sunday-letter-11-22-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Thanksgiving is nearly here! Even though it will look a bit different, and it has taken some effort for me to get excited about it this year, I'm finally there. Hands down, the holidays have always been my favorite time of year. Momma always made it magical, and I strive to
- [Sunday Letter: 11.15.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/11/sunday-letter-11-15-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, How is everyone post election? Seems our nation becomes more horribly divided every day. One camp thinks President Trump is being cheated from re-election. The other camp thinks that's a bunch of hooey. Isn't it great to live in a nation where we are free to believe whatever conspiracy theories we
- [Election Day Leaf Art](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/11/election-day-leaf-art.html) - Today I have Election Day Leaf Art for you. And keep in mind, this is all in good fun, y'all. All in good fun. If you live in an area with beautiful fall foliage, you should try your hand at leaf art. It's a quick, creative, and entertaining activity—something to do when you want a distraction.
- [Sunday Letter: 11.01.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/11/sunday-letter-11-01-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Since we last "talked"— Fayetteville received nearly seven inches of rain, and we had our first freeze/heavy frost. We saw a gorgeous Blue Moon, and, BOO, John and I skipped Halloween. Now, we move on to Election Day week. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. No matter which
- [Sunday Letter: 10.25.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/10/sunday-letter-10-25-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Raise your hand if you are ready for the election to be over. I'm exhausted by All.Of.It.—the name-calling, ridiculous conspiracies, question-avoiding, and bold-faced lies. Only nine more days, and we can move on. Or at least I hope we can move on. Enough about politics. (I'm sorry I brought it up.)
- [Sunday Letter: 10.11.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/10/sunday-letter-10-11-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Hey, hey, I hope everyone is doing well. I'm great, other than I'm still super annoyed about the Razorback loss to Auburn yesterday. I'm typically not a sore loser. I promise, I'm not. Let's just not discuss it. But seriously, that ridiculous call... ¯\_( ͡❛ ෴ ͡❛)_/¯ Moving on... Dairy Hollow This
- [Sunday Letter: 09.27.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/09/sunday-letter-09-27-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Hallelujah! I think a gorgeous fall may be unfolding here in the Ozarks. It seems a safe prediction based on the leaves in the picture above. I took this picture three days ago in our neighborhood. I don't know why the sight of turning leaves thrills me, but it does. The
- [Sunday Letter: 09.20.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/09/sun-day-letter.html) - Hey Sunday Letter friends, This isn't a full-blown Sunday Letter, just an abbreviated version to touch base. It's been a rough few days in our family. My brother-in-law, Mark, passed away a week ago Saturday, and the service was yesterday. It was a lovely celebration of his life. An excerpt from his obituary: Over forty
- [How to Harvest Trombetta Squash Seeds](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/09/trombetta-squash-seeds.html) - It's time to harvest Trombetta squash seeds! If you've been following my summer adventures of growing Trombetta squash, you may remember I allowed one plant to grow until it reached the size of a hefty toddler before picking it. I did this solely for seed harvesting. I've never harvested squash seeds before. But this particular
- [Sunday Letter: 09.06.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/09/sunday-letter-09-06-2020.html) - Happy Labor Day weekend to my Sunday Letter readers. This year at our house, Labor Day weekend looks like any other weekend. Maybe you have something entertaining on your agenda? If so, please share in the comments so we can all join you. Virtually of course. Often during this strange year, I've longed to be traveling
- [How to Make Pumpkins from Recycled Books](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/08/how-to-make-pumpkins-from-recycled-books.html) - Once September rolls around, I am all about decorating for Halloween. I saw a similar recycled book pumpkin project on Pinterest and couldn't wait to try it.The hardest part of the project for me was selecting which book to use. 'Defacing' a book is downright sinful; however, I decided an old Fodor travel book on the
- [Sunday Letter: 08.30.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/08/sunday-letter-08-30-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Happy last Sunday of August. What?? Yep. Craziness. I agree there is still much to learn about coronavirus, but one thing I believe (in this world where conspiracy theories are all the rage)—coronavirus makes time weird. Either molasses slow or quick as a snap. Sometimes both in the same day. Hurricane
- [Summer of the Trombetta Squash](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/08/trombetta-squash.html) - Thanks to my neighbor, Valeria, who shared her trombetta squash seeds last spring, I've had a blast growing this interesting and flavorful squash in our Victory Garden. Yes, we put in a new, small garden when coronavirus hit and Fayetteville first went into self-quarantine. I'm so glad we did. This unusual squash variety has provided
- [Sunday Letter: 08.23.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/08/sunday-letter-08-23-2020.html) - Hey, hey my Sunday Letter friends, I've been absent the last few Sundays, but I'm back with more random Sunday Letter ramblings. After a week at the lake, I returned home to a butterfly nursery. Our milkweed and spicebush plants are CRAWLING with monarch and spicebush caterpillars. A variety of full-grown butterflies dance around every
- [Prayer Ribbons in Fayetteville](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/08/prayer-ribbons-in-fayetteville.html) - St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville is offering prayer ribbons for anyone who happens along. Sometimes the most straightforward idea can have a profound effect, don't you think? John and I came upon these ribbons Saturday morning while walking home from the farmer's market. What a beautiful, timely, much needed thought for our community. Just
- [Sunday Letter: 08.02.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/08/sunday-letter-08-02-2020.html) - Happy August to my Sunday Letter readers. Last week I was moaning about the heat and humidity. This week I can honestly say I don't ever remember such a cool, wet beginning to August. Don't get me wrong, I love the cooler weather, but I know our Arkansas farmers need a few more weeks of
- [Sunday Letter: 07.26.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/07/sunday-letter-07-26-2020.html) - Happy Sunday to all you fabulous Sunday Letter readers, Is it too soon to start counting down to fall? I swear the heat and humidity has been so bad I can see it creeping onto the back porch in the morning and pressing its hot breath against the window of the back door. Sometimes, like
- [My Orchid Rebloom Tips](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/07/orchid-rebloom.html) - Several people have asked me for orchid rebloom tips, so here I go. (If you missed my big orchid reveal video, see it HERE.) The phenomenon of reblooming orchids is relatively new for me. For years, my relationship with an orchid went like this: I would buy an orchid, enjoy it while it bloomed—we treated
- [Sunday Letter: 07.19.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/07/sunday-letter-07-19-2020.html) - Thanks for being here. I skipped my letter last week because I didn't have anything to say. When the days and nights blur together into one block of humidity, inspiration tends to take a back seat for me. A vinyl, stuck-to-my-bare-legs back seat. You know that feeling? But I'm here today, once again with only
- [Sunday Letter: 07.05.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/07/sunday-letter-07-05-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I hope everyone had a safe Independence Day. We were invited to watch fireworks from the backyard of a friend of a friend. Spectacular fireworks, y'all, and we had a front row (bring your own chair and sit socially distanced) view. While our country is divided and the news is enough
- [Goodbye for now, Lucy Boerner](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/06/lucy-boerner.html) - One of the happiest days is the day you adopt a pet. The saddest is when that pet dies. We lost our sweet Lucy early this morning. We kept watch over her most of the night, her faint heartbeat and her still body, until she slipped away. This morning, there is fog. The backyard is
- [THIS TREE. The most beautiful thing I saw all week.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/06/this-tree.html) - THIS TREE. I'm not kidding. This was the most incredible thing I saw last week. THIS TREE lives on our block. I've probably walked underneath it at least two thousand times since I moved to Fayetteville. And I notice it nearly every single time I walk underneath it because there's a perfectly round hole about
- [Sunday Letter: 06.14.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/06/sunday-letter-06-14-2020.html) - Good morning Sunday Letter friends, It has been another blur of a week. I've been working on my next writing project and doing a little gardening. Unfortunately, the Japanese beetles are out in full force eating away on our knockout roses. Every morning and every evening just before sunset, I pick off as many as
- [Sunday Letter: 06.07.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/06/sunday-letter-06-07-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, This has been a sad couple of weeks. I try not to get political on social media, but for me, what's going on in our country has moved beyond the political to the human. Between the pandemic and the tragedy of George Floyd's death, I've been at a loss over what to
- [Happy Memorial Day Weekend!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/05/memorial-day-weekend.html) - Happy Memorial Day weekend! If I could, I would give you a bouquet of red poppies... This Memorial Day likely won't look the same as Memorial Days of the past. (Well, it shouldn't, in my opinion.) While the corona-craziness has changed the scope of our gatherings, (well, it should, in my opinion), the meaning behind
- [Sunday Letter: 05.17.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/05/sunday-letter-05-17-2020.html) - Hello Sunday Letter friends, I have figured something out about coronavirus. Not only does a world with coronavirus make time pass at lightning speed—I mean, it's already the middle of MAY—but it also makes my arms flabby. Has anyone else experienced this? Truly, I'm not making light of COVID-19; this is me trying to make
- [Tomato-Growing Tips from Gene](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/05/tomato-growing-tips.html) - I'm not a tomato-growing expert by any stretch of the imagination, so you may doubt my tomato-growing tips. But just like passalong plants, I can passalong gardening tips with ease. I did successfully grow a few tomatoes once upon a time when I had a community garden plot in East Dallas. Here in Fayetteville, we've
- [Sunday Letter: 05.10.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/05/sunday-letter-4.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Today I'm send you a quick Mother's Day message with greetings from Lake Norfork! I'm at the lake with my mother and sister and niece for a few days. After 56 days of semi-lockdown (and much discussion), we decided to quarantine in a different place for a few days. A cabin
- [Sunday Letter: 05.03.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/05/sunday-letter-05-03-2020.html) - Sunday Letter Time... Dear Sunday Letter friends, I can't believe we are into May already. What a strange year so far. Yesterday was our #StayHome day 50! It has been 50 days since we ate at a restaurant or went anywhere that didn't involve (essential to us) errands. I read an article yesterday that explained
- [Dear May,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/05/dear-may.html) - Dear May, I breathe in your pea green freshness. I crawl on my hands and knees looking for every tiny change in each plant pushing through the soil. May is for feeling alive. (This May, in particular, we need you.) I think of May Day and may poles and while I don't know the history behind it all, I like
- [Nana's Cactus](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/09/nanas-cactus.html) - My short memoir, Nana's Cactus, was recently published in Arkansas Review. Arkansas Review, an Arkansas State University literary journal, is more difficult to find than a regular magazine so you likely haven't read it. My story is about a cactus and Nana and Elvis and life and death. Although I'm not going to re-print it here, I
- [Sunday Letter: 04.26.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/04/sunday-letter-04-26-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Hi there! I hope everyone is hanging in there during these crazy times. I'm not gonna lie. A couple of days this week, I thought I might climb the walls. I've been inside my head, going a bit mad. I want to go to the lake, travel to see my kids,
- [Book Discussion: Gene, Everywhere](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/04/book-discussion-gene-everywhere.html) - Let's Discuss! Hey there! How about joining me for a virtual book discussion of Gene, Everywhere? This will happen over a four-week period, beginning May 1, 2020. I hope you'll "attend"! Seriously, y'all, my book launched only days before the country locked down for coronavirus. So far this spring, I've postponed five book discussions and
- [Things I've Learned During this Time of Coronavirus](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/04/things-ive-learned-coronavirus.html) - As I started to write my next Sunday Letter, I realized the Sunday Letter well had run bone dry. Instead, I decided to write about the things I've learned during this time of coronavirus. First, a reminder... We've not been able to eat in a restaurant for thirty-seven days now! I believe now is as
- [Easter Sunday Letter: 04.12.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/04/easter-sunday-letter.html) - Happy Easter, y'all. This is a strange one, no doubt. This year, we had planned to visit our daughter and son-in-law in Austin at Easter. Those plans were cancelled. Typically, we get together with family in Fayetteville. Not this year. This year, Easter falls on #StayHome Day 30 for us. For our Easter meal, we
- [Sunday Letter: 04.05.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/04/sunday-letter-04-05-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I hope everyone is doing okay on this Palm Sunday. For me, this last week went by quickly. But March lasted a freakin' EON. Probably because we are now living in the Twilight Zone. Yesterday, winter returned to northwest Arkansas. Mid-30s with a cold rain. Um, no thank you. Really, it was
- [During this time of coronavirus...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/04/during-this-time-of-coronavirus.html) - During this time of coronavirus, I've been enjoying my (almost) daily morning walk to the post office. As readers like you buy books directly from me, I mail four or five or six (almost) every day. One day I mailed sixteen, so I drove. (Not complaining!) Yes, I would possibly be mailing books even during
- [Sunday Letter: 03.29.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/03/sunday-letter-03-29-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I barely slept a wink last night. Before I went to bed, I made the mistake of reading too many first-hand coronavirus accounts from doctors around the world. One comment in particular gnawed at me. A doctor in Italy said if you could see the truth about the virus, you wouldn't
- [Adopt the Pace of Nature; her Secret is Patience.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/03/adopt-the-pace-of-nature-her-secret-is-patience.html) - Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience. I've been thinking about this Ralph Waldo Emerson quote lately. It seems to fit our current situation of staying home and biding our time. I consider myself to be both an optimistic and a realist. I look on the bright side of things while balancing my expectations
- [Sunday Letter: 03.22.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/03/sunday-letter-03-22-2020.html) - Greetings to my Sunday Letter friends who are social-distancing and sheltering-at-home, Already we have several new buzz words attributed solely to COVID-19. Already they annoy me a bit. But I hear myself saying them (and writing them). I suppose my Sunday Letters are changing along with everything. E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. Don't despair. We will navigate the craziness and
- [Tortilla Soup with a Poem](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/02/tortilla-soup-with-poem.html) - You will love this tortilla soup! But first, a poem... All night I watch the skies. Like an excited child I imagine deep snowfall, soup simmers. Chicken Tortilla Soup (Gale Green's recipe) 2 boxes (24 oz each) chicken broth 2 shredded chicken breasts (grilled or roasted) 2 cans Rotel 1 can whole kernel corn, drained
- [Looking for the positive...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/03/looking-for-the-positive.html) - I've been looking for the positive more than ever. I highly recommend it during this time of the coronavirus. Goodness is out there; you may have to wade past the crazy and the nonsense, the conspiracies and the downright rude. Or, simply step away from the news and look to the greening of nature. The
- [Sunday Letter: 03.15.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/03/sunday-letter-3.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, What a week. The coronavirus continues to spread, the stock market is vacillating, we survived Friday the 13th, and today is the Ides of March. Oh, and I launched my second book! Even with all the craziness, my Gene, Everywhere book launch week has been a thrill for me! If you
- [Sunday Letter: 03.08.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/03/sunday-letter-03-08-2020.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Did you remember to spring forward this morning? Love it or hate it, Daylight Saving Time began at 2 a.m. When I worked at the bank, I despised losing that hour of much needed sleep. It's truly amazing how one hour can mess with your mind for weeks to come. But
- [Gene, Everywhere — Book Launch Giveaway Items!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/02/gene-everywhere-book-launch-giveaway-items.html) - The Gene, Everywhere Virtual Book Launch party is only 9 days away! This is getting real, y'all! What would Gracie do? She'd make a paper chain to count down the days. (Actually, she would have done that a month ago.) Today, I want to tell you about the book launch giveaway items that will be
- [Gene, Everywhere: Virtual Book Launch Party!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/02/gene-everywhere-virtual-book-launch.html) - SAVE THE DATE because you're invited to my Gene, Everywhere Virtual Book Launch Party! ??? WHAT? A book launch party held online means there's no reason not to "attend". You can wear your most comfy clothes and participate from your couch with favorite beverage in hand. WHEN? March 9, 2020, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. CST. WHY? Because—it's time!
- [Sunday Letter: 02.16.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/02/sunday-letter-02-16-2020.html) - Good morning Sunday Letter friends. I'm a little under the weather, so this is more of a Sunday note, like the ones you passed in the hallway at school, jotted down at the end of class, slipped into your friend's hand before library. A do-you-want-to-get-a-hamburger-after-school-at-the-Yellow-Jacket-Cafe-sort of thing. Today's Sunday Letter includes a giveaway so I
- [2nd Edition: Gracie Lee reimagined!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/02/gracie-lee.html) - Back when I introduced you to One Mississippi Press, I let you in on the news that I have my rights back for The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. And I compared it to rediscovering a misplaced treasure. Oh my heart. This process has been like creating something I loved, loaning it to someone else,
- [Sunday Letter: 02.09.2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/02/sunday-letter-02-09-2020.html) - Hello Sunday Letter friends, Is it windy at your house? Here in Fayetteville, we are about to be blown away. It was windy yesterday too. I think the wind made the past week fly by more quickly. Full Speed Ahead Things are full speed ahead with the launch of my next book. I can't believe
- [a glorious spring-like day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/02/a-glorious-spring-like-day.html) - Sunday was a glorious spring-like day. And all the plants went out to play. Which plants? The plants that have been hanging out in our garage, and on our kitchen countertops and windowsills. They've begun to look a little peaked as of late. I took them to the back porch to get a bit of
- [Gene, Everywhere COVER REVEAL!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/01/gene-everywhere-cover-reveal.html) - Oh my goodness! Today is Gene, Everywhere cover reveal day. If books were babies, this would be the gender reveal party— minus the balloons and cake. Of course, if you have balloons and cake, please, please, break them out. ? I was planning to do my cover reveal next week, but I couldn't wait another day.
- [Sinful Pies & Magical Jello](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2012/01/sinful-pies-magical-jello.html) - Nana's Recipe Box! While scrambling eggs this morning, my mother started cleaning a cabinet in her kitchen. It contained expired cough syrup and gummy vitamins, along with a shelf of old cookbooks. Basically, my mother hung up her apron in 1994 after my dad died, so I doubted these cookbooks had seen the light of
- [One Mississippi Press](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/01/one-mississippi-press.html) - You may have heard, I recently started my own publishing company—One Mississippi Press. Several things led to this decision, but it all boils down to patience and control. Evidently I'm lacking in the former and want more of the latter. Ha. Patience is a virtue, until it isn't. For those of you interested in writing
- [Sunday Letter: 01.26.20](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/01/sunday-letter-01-26-20.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, This Sunday Letter has a bit of a reptilian theme. Yes, the topics are a little out there. Where else can you read about Frog and Toad, Godzilla, and Chicken Piccata in the same place? Nowhere. I googled it. This, of course, begs the question, "What do Godzilla and Frog and
- [Book News: New Headshot and more!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/01/book-news-headshot.html) - Book News: With a new book release just around the corner, the time has come for a new headshot. I am NOT a fan of having to get a new headshot, but I believe it's a good idea to have an updated picture for a brand new book. And a selfie from my iPhone won't
- [meet Gracie Lee](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/the-accidental-salvation-of-gracie-lee.html) - It's high time you officially met Gracie Lee, the nine-almost-ten-year-old protagonist of The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. Over the next two months before official book release, I'll be talking more and more about her. What she likes and says and does. So who is she really? Let me start by saying it's true, the idea of
- [Planting Tulip Bulbs (a tad bit late)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/01/planting-tulip-bulbs.html) - We finally planted tulips bulbs this week. I wanted to get them into their winter beds before Christmas, but life slipped in and provided other distractions. For a few weeks, our box of bulbs traveled around in the trunk of John's car where at least they stayed nice and cool. Yes, it's a tad bit
- [Sunday Letter: 01.12.20](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/01/sunday-letter-01-12-20.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Good morning, friends. Here in Northwest Arkansas, we've had a mixed bag of weekend weather. A tornado here, a flash flood there. A little wintry mix. Wintry mix is all the rage these days. What happened to an old-fashioned, six-inch snowfall? I'd be thrilled with 3 or 4 inches to completely
- [The Books I Read in 2019](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/01/books-read-2019.html) - Today I'm looking back on the books I read in 2019. I'm sad to say I was short of my 2019 book goal by 2 measly books! Ugh. Yes, I considered dropping everything to cram in two more books during the last two days of the year but decided that was silly. What does it
- [Sunday Letter: 01.05.20](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2020/01/sunday-letter-01-05-20.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Happy first Sunday Letter of 2020! So far this year, I've been super busy. If you read yesterday's Grace Grits Newsletter, you probably know why. If you aren't a subscriber, you can sign up HERE. Forgive me for such a short letter. I was super excited about typing the first one with
- [Book Club Questions for The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/03/book-club-questions-accidental-salvation-grace-lee.html) - Are You in a Book Club? Since The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee released in January 2016, my book has been chosen for discussion by lots of book clubs around the country. This has been sooooo exciting for me and most surprising. When I can (and when I'm invited), I attend the book club meetings. So far, I've
- [Sunday Letter - End of the Decade Edition!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/12/sunday-letter-end-of-the-decade-edition.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Welcome to today's Sunday Letter - End of the Decade Edition. Sounds both ominous and celebratory, doesn't it? But in the spirit of optimism, I'm expecting 2020 to tip the scale on the positive side. Wishful thinking. I truly believe in it. But seriously. 2020? JUST YESTERDAY, I worked at State
- [One Little Word 2019](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/01/one-little-word-2019.html) - It took me a while to come up with my One Little Word for 2019. I ended the year on a bone-tired note and began to wonder if I wanted to continue blogging at all. (Hahaha, of course I do!) But the truth is I've felt drained as of late, mainly because I let outside
- [Sunday Letter: 12.22.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/12/sunday-letter-12-22-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter readers, Surprise! Last Sunday I wasn't sure if I would write a Sunday Letter this week. But here I am saying hello again. The truth is I enjoy this "virtual chat" we have each week. It's fun to read your comments both on the post and to each other. That's become my favorite
- [10 Ways to Welcome Winter](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/12/10-ways-to-welcome-winter.html) - Today I'm sharing 10 (surefire) ways to welcome winter. What, you aren't a winter person? I suspect this post is just what Frosty ordered to help you see the weeks ahead in a different light. Yes, in the northern hemisphere, the first day of winter arrives this Saturday. December 21 is winter solstice, the shortest
- [Sunday Letter: 12.15.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/12/sunday-letter-12-15-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, We only have two more weeks in this decade. I say this only because everywhere I turn I see these sorts of announcements—last full moon of the decade! — last Christmas of the decade! — last fill-in-the-blank of the decade! Ha. We could play this game for the rest of the year. Last Sunday
- [10 Books for the Nature Lovers in your Life](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/12/books-for-nature-lovers.html) - Give me books for Christmas and I'm a happy girl. Give me books about nature and you might not hear from me until spring. Since we are gardeners here, it's only fitting we discuss books for nature lovers. I've compiled a list of my 10 favorite books for the nature lovers in your life. Or
- [Sunday Letter: 12.08.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/12/sunday-letter-12-08-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I woke up this morning and remembered that my Baylor Bears lost the Big 12 Championship game in overtime yesterday. But what a game! Yes, I'm disappointed, but I'm also extremely proud of the incredible effort and the overall season and the way Matt Rhule has coached the dickens out of
- [O Come, O Come to Thorncrown Chapel](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/12/thorncrown-chapel.html) - We visited Thorncrown Chapel while the leaves were turning. Nestled in the Ozarks just outside Eureka Springs, Thorncrown Chapel is one of the most stunning and iconic structures in Arkansas. Today, I'm bringing it to you. Woo-hoo! Arkansas's own brilliant architect, E. Fay Jones, designed Thorncrown Chapel using native woodland elements. The 48-foot tall structure
- [Sunday Letter: 12.01.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/12/sunday-letter-12-01-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Happy December! Ready or not, here we go headfirst into the holidays. December is busy for my family not only because of Christmas, but also because we have lots of family birthdays this month. Really, the whole month is a celebration. Fun! Fun! I've missed a few Sunday Letters lately.
- [Throwback Thanksgiving](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/11/throwback-thanksgiving.html) - One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while the turkey bakes in the oven. Oh the aroma! I've watched the parade for as long as I can remember. And I've attended the parade twice—once as a high school senior with my friend Anita (two Arkansas farm girls in The Big Apple!), and again twenty-five
- [Sunday Letter: 11.17.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/11/sunday-letter-11-17-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter readers, I didn't write a Sunday Letter last weekend because I was in Eureka Springs. The significant thing about this isn't that I was too busy to do it. The bigger deal for me is that I left my computer at home. Since I started writing, I always take my MacBook with
- [Fallen Leaf Art](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/11/fallen-leaf-art.html) - Have you heard about fallen leaf art? I read about it thanks to Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. On Facebook, Baker Creek linked to an article on fallen leaf art. The official term is ochiba art. Ochiba is Japanese for "fallen leaves." 落ち葉 Did I ever tell you I studied Japanese at Baylor University during
- [Triple Falls (aka Twin Falls) at Camp Orr](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/11/triple-falls-camp-orr.html) - Last week, John and I did a little exploring in Jasper, Arkansas with the goal to visit Triple Falls. What a scenic, must see spot! No worries if you can't visit for real. I'm bringing it to you. Of course my pictures in no way capture the true majesty. Oh well. Until apparition (a la
- [Sunday Letter: 11.03.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/11/sunday-letter-11-03-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Did you remember to "fall back" last night? Once again, the clock high above our pantry door shows the correct time. Until March, anyway. Ha. FYI, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time. Something to note on this chilly November morning: Daylight Saving Time was never about
- [Fixer to Fabulous on HGTV](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/10/fixer-to-fabulous-hgtv.html) - Fixer to Fabulous I'm excited for my friend, Jenny Marrs, and her family! Their brand-new television show Fixer to Fabulous airs on HGTV this week! Be sure to tune in (or set your DVR) this Tuesday night, October 22, at 9:00/8:00 Central Time. They are the sweetest family and their home renovations in Bentonville, Arkansas are,
- [Sunday Letter: 10.20.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/10/sunday-letter-10-20-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, This past week, I spent most of my time working on behind-the-scenes things associated with writing. (This means I don't have much to show for my time...) One thing that happened—I heard from the director of my play, Last Call at the Dairy Freeze. He said rehearsals are going well, and
- [Sunday Letter: 10.13.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/10/sunday-letter-10-13-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Well, fall was fun. I hope you didn't miss it since it only lasted a sum total of six days. Haha. No, really. I know when our local news channel brings in two weather guys to bring the immediate forecast, and they have removed their suit jackets and rolled up the
- [Sunday Letter: 10.06.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/10/sunday-letter-10-06-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, You probably know our daughter got married last weekend. It was a fabulous to-do in Austin. Absolutely dreamy (even though it was hot as Hades). But afterward? I wasn't prepared for how exhausted I would be. And, really, I didn't have that many responsibilities. The bride and groom coordinated most everything.
- [tail-end of summer Sunday Letter: 09.22.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/09/sunday-letter-2.html) - Dearly beloved, we gather for this Sunday Letter on the last day of summer. Can you believe it? Here in Arkansas, summer only decided to show itself a few weeks ago. And now, at the tail-end of a weird season, during an even crazier weather year, here we are. Tomorrow is the first day of
- [another Sunday Letter: 09.15.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/09/another-sunday-letter.html) - Good morning. It's time for another Sunday Letter. I'm writing from charming and quirky Eureka Springs, Arkansas. I've been here for several days, staying at The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow, soaking up the peace and quiet while making yet more tweaks on my book and tackling a few other projects. If you are a writer
- [Vintage Harvest Photos (and the magic therein)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/09/vintage-harvest-photos.html) - As farmers work another harvest, I thought it would be fun to share a few vintage harvest photos from our family farm. Something odd to me—none of these pictures are dated. There are no dates printed on the white borders by Kodak or scribbled on the back in Momma's handwriting... What's up with that? Based on
- [Hot Dogs and the Thrill of the Roast](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/10/hot-dogs.html) - Oh, hot dogs! Today I'm honoring the hot dog roast, a simple slice of Americana that reminds me of lake days and baseball and a summer soon behind us. I know, I know, hot dogs are the opposite of healthy, and vegetarians probably gag at the thought of them. I only eat two or three
- [Sunday Letter: 09.08.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/09/sunday-letter-09-08-19.html) - Hello Sunday Letter friends! I hope you've had a productive week of harvesting, gardening, reading, working, traveling, cooking, playing—all those things you do. Summer has returned to Arkansas, and the weather has been as hot as Hades and fog-up-your-glasses steamy. It can't last too much longer though. At least I don't think so. Last Coneflower
- [Become an Arkansas Master Gardener!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/09/become-an-arkansas-master-gardener.html) - Are you an Arkansawyer with a passion for gardening? If so, why not become an Arkansas Master Gardener? The process for becoming an Arkansas Master Gardener has recently changed, so I thought I'd give a quick shout out to my readers who might be interested. What's changed? Rather than a solid week of education classes
- [Wearing white after Labor Day. Is this still a thing???](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/09/wearing-white-labor-day.html) - I'm no fashionista. This truth is self evident. Most of my jeans are ripped. My favorite shoes are Converse, preferably the ones that don't require tying. So knowing this about me, why did I nearly panic this morning thinking that after today, Labor Day, I wouldn't be able to wear my favorite white jeans for months?
- [Sunday Letter: 09.01.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/09/sunday-letter-09-01-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, September is here! The thing foremost on my mind for this September? Our daughter is getting married this month! When she first became engaged, the date seemed so far away. And now—bam!— here it is, and I still need to get my dress hemmed. With September comes fall. There's something about
- [Garvan Woodland Gardens](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/08/garvan-woodland-gardens.html) - Before my pictures get lost in the black hole of Photo Feed Land—yes that's a place I can't begin to understand or organize—I thought I'd post a few shots from our recent visit to Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Here's a fun fact: members of the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks enjoy the perk
- [Sunday Letter: 08.25.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/08/sunday-letter-08-25-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Greetings from the Bat Cave! I'm home on the farm this morning—just a quick trip, long enough to sleep in my bed and have lunch at the Wilson Cafe. If you are new to GGG and don't know of this Bat Cave I mention, click HERE. If you aren't from around
- [Hungry Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillars ?](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/08/spicebush-swallowtail-caterpillars.html) - I'm super excited to report that we finally have spicebush swallowtail caterpillars in our garden! In early spring, we planted four spicebush shrubs specifically for the butterflies. Then, almost every day since planting them, I've been inspecting our spicebushes, hoping to find caterpillars. Up until last week, nothing. Each time I see a torn leaf,
- [Sunday Letter: 08.11.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/08/sunday-letter-08-11-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter Readers, Today's Sunday Letter is a wonder, not because it's exceptionally marvelous or anything. Not at all. The fact that it exists is the small miracle. All throughout the past week, I've been overly confused about the day. Tuesday felt like Wednesday. Wednesday was Thursday in my mind. On Friday morning, John
- [How to arrange bookshelves...(or at least how I do it)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/how-to-arrange-bookshelves.html) - Today I'm ready to reveal our library and how I arranged our bookshelves. Since our recent move consisted of more books boxes than anything else, the fact that our new (to us) house has a library is a good thing. The room is not large, but there are two walls covered floor to ceiling with shelves.
- [Hello, goldfinch!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/08/hello-goldfinch.html) - Hello, Goldfinch! This week, American goldfinches have begun feasting on our withering coneflowers. Each one is like a tiny celebration, a bright spot in lethargic midsummer. Goldfinches are found in northwest Arkansas year around, but I always notice them this time of year when their plumage is brilliant yellow. Goldfinches molt twice and year and because
- [Sunday Letter: 08.04.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/08/roller-derby-sunday-letter.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I'm just gonna jump right in because I'm in a mood. Today's Shooting I went to sleep thinking about the terrible mass shooting in El Paso and woke to news of another one in Ohio. It seems to me we've passed a point of no return. Gun-wielding, hate-filled, homegrown terrorists are
- [Sunday Letter: 07.28.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/07/sunday-letter-07-28-19.html) - Greetings to my Sunday Letter friends, I've had such a great week because I accomplished things. I think my productivity is 100% related to the fabulous weather we've been having. For me, the past week looked like this—6 hours of volunteer work toward my annual Master Gardener and Master Naturalist requirements, actually cooking a real
- [Sunday Letter: 07.21.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/07/sunday-letter-07-21-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, This past week has been hotter than a pepper sprout. Really, it's the humidity that's been blanket-thick here where I live. Bottom line... Just forget about the hairdo. Thank goodness we went to the lake before this heat and humidity settled in like an old man in a horrible mood.? Upside Down Since
- [Rico's Elotes - corn off the cob](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/02/ricos-elotes-corn-off-the-cob.html) - The rich, hot corn off the cob sold from the Rico's Elotes cart in front of Tony's Neighborhood Store (820 N. Fitzhugh) makes an incredible side dish to your next Tex-Mex meal. My stomach turned a flip flop just thinking about it. Juanita is the super friendly lady who works the Rico's Elotes cart at Tony's. Seriously,
- [We Come to the Lake](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/07/we-come-to-the-lake.html) - We come to the lake and talk to the water with stones we skim across her glassy surface, As we dangle bare feet from the edge of the dock our eyes scan her familiar coves, looking for evidence of our younger selves. We come to the lake and talk to the water with toes plunged
- [Dear July...,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/07/july.html) - Dear July, We meet again. Me? I'm a year older than the last time we spoke. You? You never seem to change. For the most part, you're still bright and sunny. A hot tamale for sure. Me? I have a few more wrinkles in a few more places. Ironic that we can attribute some of that
- [Sunday Letter: 06.30.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/06/sunday-letter-06-30-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Tomorrow is July. Can you believe it? Today my niece and nephew turn 19. I can't believe that either. I woke with a horrible headache this morning, probably because time is flying so quickly my brain is spinning inside my skull. Hopefully not, but that's how it feels. I'm drinking coffee
- [(highly) Scientific Garden Experiment re: Japanese Beetles](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/06/japanese-beetles.html) - Well, what do ya know? The Japanese beetles have returned. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been conducting a highly scientific garden experiment regarding the Japanese beetles that are incessantly eating our roses and cherry trees. Today on the blog, I bring you the steps of my research leading to a conclusion with commentary
- [Sunday Letter: 06.23.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/06/sunday-letter-06-23-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter Readers, Here in northwest Arkansas we had thunderstorms all night; it's still storming, and there's rain in the forecast all day. Rolling, booming thunder, the good sleeping sort except when it's too loud and too much, which was last night. I woke up every hour it seemed. Now here I am drinking
- [Sunday Letter: 06.16.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/06/sunday-letter-06-16-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I woke this morning unsure of my whereabouts. LOL. In the past ten days, I've been driving all over the state, sleeping in a hotel, a bed and breakfast, my childhood home (aka the Bat Cave), and now, at my friend's home in Jonesboro. I'll be glad to sleep in my
- [We survived Garden Tour! (Party Crashers and all...)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/06/garden-tour.html) - Hey everyone! Sorry I've been MIA this past week. MIA as in Missing in Arkansas. A few days after participating on the garden tour, I set out for the Delta Arts Festival and spent two days in the Batesville / Newport area with fellow Arkansas artists and authors. Now I'm preparing to spend five days
- [Sunday Letter: 06.02.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/06/sunday-letter-06-02-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, As we float into June, I think about the year we've had so far. And I worry about friends and family and folks I don't know affected by floodwaters in Arkansas and Oklahoma. And farmers who can't get crops in. Let's hope and pray for a calm, productive June, shall we?
- [Lake Girls. Lake Time.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/05/lake-girls-lake-time.html) - Lake Girls. Lake Trip. This weekend marks our first lake trip of the year. Our first official trip of summer, not that summer is here yet (but you know what I mean). Now that Momma and Staci are both living in Fayetteville, we are much closer to Lake Norfork. And we can go for long
- [Behold! MY NEXT BOOK (in manuscript format).](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/05/my-next-book.html) - Well what do you know? Here's a half ream of paper into which a piece of my heart is woven between the words. This is the manuscript of my next book. We can call it Book Two. Or we can now call it by its official working title — Gene, Everywhere. I say "working title"
- [Sunday Letter: 05.19.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/05/sunday-letter-05-19-19.html) - Good morning to my Sunday Letter faithful, This past week was a strange one for me. I traveled to and from the farm, never seemed to know what day it was, and didn't accomplish much. Do you ever have one of those weeks? I'm still here to talk about it, so I guess that's a
- [How to make a clover bracelet](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/06/make-clover-bracelet.html) - 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
- [Climbing Roses: How to Train Them](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/05/climbing-roses.html) - In our garden this spring, I've been training my climbing roses. They are still learning to follow directions, so technically that makes them trainees. So am I. Believe me, I am NOT a rose expert by any stretch of the imagination. But we are fast learners. Today I'm gonna show you our process. Early last fall,
- [Sunday Letter: 05.05.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/05/sunday-letter-05-05-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Today's post is a mishmash of gardening and digging with a childhood trip to China. Flat Earthers, don't bother to read the last part because you just won't relate... Three Updates I'm pretty good at thinking up new things to do and telling you about my plans. But I'm not
- [Greetings from Iceland! (Days 1 & 2)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/05/greetings-from-iceland-days-1-2.html) - Greetings from Iceland! In two days we've already seen so much it's difficult for me to get my thoughts down on paper (or onto my blog). We flew into Reykjavik (Dallas to Boston to Reykjavik) which made for a long day of travel. We checked into our hotel around two a.m. Since it was still light outside, it didn't
- [May Day Greetings!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/05/may-day.html) - Here in Arkansas (and all around) we are soaking up spring on this May Day. Literally. This morning in Fayetteville, we are under a flash flood watch, a lightning watch, and several tornado watches/warnings just ended. And, this storm is headed to the delta. Say it with me...Rain, rain go away. Farmers need to plant
- [Cole Slaw in Vintage Pyrex (and other kitchen traditions)...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/04/cole-slaw-vintage-pyrex.html) - I love our kitchen. The longer we live in this house, the more deeply I believe it is one of my favorite places anywhere. I love it not only for its expansive windows that look out over our backyard (the space where we spend most of our free time), but also because it's the room
- [Spring Planting!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/spring-planting.html) - I love driving across Arkansas during spring. In the Ozarks, redbuds and dogwoods compete for attention, and roadsides are exploding with wildflowers. Spring planting is in full swing as farmers and gardeners put seeds in the ground. It's no secret that harvest is my favorite time of year, but after a slow cold winter, spring planting is cause for celebration. Not
- [Sound of the Screen Door.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/06/sound-of-the-screen-door.html) - Summer begins and ends with the sound of the screen door. Although most screen doors open and close year round, that sloooowwww swing open followed by a sharp slap shut sounds oh so different when the days are long and lazy. The screen door gets a summer workout as barefoot kids run in and out a hundred times a
- [Tree Peony ~ a day in the life](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/04/tree-peony-a-day-in-the-life.html) - Take a look at this gorgeous tree peony! Two of these beauties are in full bloom at the Headquarters House in Fayetteville, one on either side of the long sidewalk that leads to the front steps. If they know how beautiful they are, they are incredibly humble about it. They welcome visitors with saucer-sized blossoms;
- [on this Easter Sunday](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/04/on-this-easter-sunday.html) - On this Easter Sunday 2019, I give you Easter Sunday 1966. Or thereabouts. Sorry friends, I didn't write a Sunday Letter this week. But I found this picture taken on Easter morning just before we headed off to Brinkley Chapel (which is Boon Chapel to all you Gracie fans). And I thought I'd talk a
- [Love Story to a Mimosa Tree](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/04/mimosa-tree.html) - Oh how it hurts my heart to tell you that Gracie Lee's favorite mimosa tree is dying. Fans of The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee probably realize if the tree is Gracie's favorite, I love it as well. The mimosa tree I'm referencing is in the front yard of her (my) childhood home on the
- [the Colors of Easter](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/04/the-colors-of-easter.html) - I recently told my friend Laurie that my dream job would have been working for Crayola, specifically naming the crayon colors. Since I was a kid, everything about crayons fascinated me from the fresh smell of the wax to the way something so simple could transform a plain piece of paper into a refrigerator-worthy work of art.
- [Sunday Letter: 04.14.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/04/sunday-letter-04-14-19.html) - Good morning Sunday Letter readers, I hope all is well in your corner of the world. After a trip to the farm, I'm back in Fayetteville. Even though I was only gone a few days, so much changed in our neighborhood! The dogwoods are in full bloom. Our hostas have fully emerged. Our backyard has
- [Sunday Letter: 04.07.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/04/sunday-letter-04-07-19.html) - Hey, hey, Sunday Letter friends! Today I'm writing from our farm in Mississippi County. It's great to be home, and the good news so far is that we've had no snake sightings at the Bat Cave. ??? KNOCK ON WOOD. In case you are new to Grace Grits and Gardening, let me explain. The Bat
- [Sunday Letter: 03.31.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/03/sunday-letter-03-31-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Can you believe today is the last day of March? Yikes. First quarter of the year is stick-a-fork-in-it DONE. Oh, Deer! Oh, deer! Here in northwest Arkansas, the deer population has become a real problem. In my neighborhood, they come down from Mt. Sequoyah and feast all night on tender hostas
- [How to Write a Book Review](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/05/how-to-write-a-book-review.html) - Since I'm always preaching on the importance of book reviews, I thought I should put my blog where my mouth is and write a post about it. How to Write a Book Review plus my random thoughts on a topic near and dear to me. Reviews are important, y'all, for reasons I never understood until
- [Shout Out to the Ladies of Pinnacle Book Club!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/03/shout-out-to-the-ladies-of-pinnacle-book-club.html) - Hey, hey! Today I'm giving an appreciative shout out to the Ladies of Pinnacle Book Club. Talking with book clubs is a humongous honor for me— one that will never get old as long as I live. I've attended about 45 in person and a few more via FaceTime / Skype. Yes, I'm introducing Gracie
- [Zebra Plant Love](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/03/zebra-plant-love.html) - Even the blackest of thumbs can successfully grow a zebra plant! These small succulents are very forgiving and rarely complain about anything. Several years ago, I planted one tiny zebra baby in my vintage ceramic planter. Look at her now. She's bloomed several times and has all but outgrown her container. A few days ago
- [Sunday Letter from Spring Break](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/03/sunday-letter-spring-break-2.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Today's writing is really a What I Did On My Spring Break letter. Remember writing that specific "what I did" essay in school? As if going back to school wasn't bad enough, the teachers made us write about our summer vacations during the first week of school. For me (and for Gracie
- [How to be a good Literary Citizen](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/03/how-to-be-a-good-literary-citizen.html) - Literary Citizenship? Lately I've been thinking about the topic of literary citizenship. I learned of this concept from author, Kathleen Rooney. When Kathleen spoke about it at a writer conference, she credited Cathy Day who teaches a class on the idea. Kathleen's talk on literary citizenship was a light bulb moment for me. I'd been working to
- [Sunday Letter: 03.17.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/03/sunday-letter-03-17-19.html) - Happy St. Patrick's Day to all my Sunday Letter friends! Don't forget to wear green. In case you've forgotten, the reason for green is because mischievous leprechauns can't see that particular color. If you aren't wearing green, they'll pinch you. There's probably a more historical reason, but that's the story we heard in elementary school
- [Sunday Letter: 03.10.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/03/sunday-letter-03-10-19.html) - Good morning Sunday Letter friends! Did you remember to spring forward? Yay for MacBooks and iPhones and iPads that automatically adjust. Remember not that very long ago when that wasn't the case? I don't know about you, but before the cell phone became an extension of the hand, we had clocks all over the house.
- [7-Word Book Reviews: February 2019](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/03/7-word-book-reviews-february-2019.html) - February is done which means it's time for my 7-Word Book Reviews. If you're looking for a good March read, maybe you'll be interested in adding these to your ever-growing stack of books on the nightstand. What's on my list? To whet your appetite—a book of short stories from one of my favorite authors, a
- [Sunday Letter: 02.24.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/02/sunday-letter-02-24-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, The week went by fast! We even had two or three days without rain. It was nice while it lasted, and I even found enough dry time to cut back my rosebushes. Now, pardon me while I preach for a moment... Zero Garbage Last week, I attended a class at Ozark
- [Why I Garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/02/why-i-garden.html) - Why I Garden? Three little words arranged into one short question opens up a world of memory for me. Why I garden? As I think about my love for digging in the soil, I realize even dream-like and fleeting experiences have become deeply imprinted on my mind. People, places, aromas, songs, the way our family
- [Sunday Letter: 02.17.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/02/sunday-letter-02-17-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Do you ever have one of those weeks when you feel like you accomplished very little? When you felt out of sync with everything? That's how last week was for me. I have nothing to whine about, not by a long shot, but let this serve as a reminder that some
- [He loves me, he loves me not...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/02/he-loves-me-he-loves-me-not.html) - Remember this verse? He loves me, He loves me not. He loves me, He loves me not. He loves me... When I was a young girl, my friends and I often plucked the petals of daisy-like flowers, hoping the final petal coincided with he loves me. But... what if the last petal announced the wrong
- [Sunday Letter: 02.10.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/02/sunday-letter-02-10-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, This time of year I spend time looking for the first blooms in our flower beds. Our daffodils are taking their sweet time which is probably a good thing since an arctic blast brought bone-chilling cold on Thursday with icy snow flurries that lasted all day. Those of a certain age
- [7 Word Reviews: January 2019](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/02/book-reviews.html) - 7-Word Reviews If you've been waiting for my January 2019 book reviews, here they are. If you've not been waiting, well, here they are. ? I read State of Wonder and True Places for two different book clubs. I picked up a used copy of A Spot of Bother at Dickson Street Bookshop. Dickson Street
- [Potluck & Poison Ivy (plus a little Accidental Salvation)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/01/potluck-poison-ivy.html) - Potluck & Poison Ivy Last week, I was fortunate enough to help kick off the 2019 season of Potluck & Poison Ivy. For those of you who aren't familiar with this event, Potluck & Poison Ivy is a live dinner theater located at The Joint in the Argenta Arts District of North Little Rock. Bring
- [Virtual Book Launch Party!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/virtual-book-launch-party.html) - SAVE THE DATE because you're invited to my virtual book launch party! (This post is sponsored by a variety of cool artisans identified below—opinions are my own.) WHAT? A book launch party held over the internet means there's no reason not to "attend". You don't have to get dressed or fix your hair or wear shoes
- [Sunday Letter: 01.13.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/01/sunday-letter-01-13-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Hey. I hope you had a productive, satisfying week. I've been super busy, so I'll just get right to it. The Definition of Heresy If you haven't read my One Little Word post for 2019, you probably don't know about my 2,019 things. Like many of you (I've seen your Facebook
- [My new Jord Watch (review + giveaway!)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/01/review-jord-watch.html) - (Disclosure: I'm collaborating with Jord Watch. I received product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.) Funny How Things Work Out Just as I was thinking about the new year and goals to make the best use of my time, Jord Watch contacted me about doing a review in exchange for a watch.
- [Sunday Letter: 01.27.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/01/sunday-letter-01-27-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Tomorrow is the official three-year anniversary of the launch of my first book. I say first book like I have a second book. LOL. This is the power of positive thinking and possibly how fake news starts. No seriously, I WILL have a second book come hell or high water. If
- [Sunday Letter: 01.20.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/01/sunday-letter-01-20-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Happy cold Sunday from Northwest Arkansas! Since I wrote to you last, I've mostly been editing my WIP. When the banker in me says WIP, I think of a current asset, a component of inventory. The writer in me knows WIP as my current manuscript. 100,000 words that occupy my every
- [Sunday Letter: 01.06.19](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/01/sunday-letter-01-06-19.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Happy 2019! I trust you survived the holidays and are ready to settle back into some sort of productive routine. This is me trying to get back on schedule by writing my first Sunday Letter of the new year. Thanks for checking in! Bye-Bye Christmas On the Twelfth Day of Christmas,
- [7 Word Reviews: December 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2019/01/7-word-reviews-december-2018.html) - I'm trying something new beginning with my December 2018 Book Reviews. 7 Word Reviews. Why? Because over the past two years, I spent an inordinate amount of time writing my monthly book review blog posts. And I want-need-must spend that time elsewhere. But because I LOVE to read and I still want to recommend books to you,
- [The Last Week of December](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/12/the-last-week-of-december.html) - THE LAST WEEK IN DECEMBER provides a quiet pause before stepping into the new year. The gifts have been given and opened, and we're back home after five days in Dallas. For me, it feels like a free week, time to mold like Play-doh, to shape however I like. I use some of my time during
- [Two Little Words: 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/01/two-little-words-2018.html) - 2018 marks my fourth year to choose One Little Word. Only this year I'm choosing two words. Two words to get me back on track. The Concept of One Little Word One Little Word is the brainchild of blogger Ali Edwards. Rather than setting resolutions broken by Groundhog's Day, I choose a single word to
- [Sunday Letter: 12.23.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/12/sunday-letter-12-23-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Merry Christmas Eve Eve! It's inconceivable to me how quickly this year has flown. I hope Santa is better prepared than I... I've been writing these Sunday Letters for a year now. I've missed two Sundays, I think. And a couple of letters were postcard short (like this one). Today's letter
- [How to make Dried Orange Slice Garland](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/12/dried-orange-slice-garland.html) - I'm excited to show you this dried orange slice garland I made a few days ago. For some time, I've wanted to decorate with orange slice garland. I love the primitive, Americana look of it and believe it complements our old house better than super shiny tinsel. I imagine this type of garland adorned the
- [Ultimate Hot Chocolate](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/12/hot-chocolate.html) - I believe if you're going to drink hot chocolate, drink hot chocolate. The real deal. Go big and luscious with toppings and add-ons, what I like to call the ultimate hot chocolate. 'Tis the season to do things right, after all. If you live in Northwest Arkansas, pick up a bag of Loblolly Creamery's Spicy
- [Sunday Letter: 12.16.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/12/sunday-letter-12-16-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Nine days until Christmas. Who's ready? Not me. But I'm getting there. I've done a little shopping. I've decorated my house as much as I'm going to. I've been listening to Christmas music and wrapping presents and watching holiday movies. I even saw the Grinch in person! The Grinch and Gracie
- [How to Hibernate](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/12/how-to-hibernate.html) - Hibernation Mode This time of year all I want to do is hibernate. I wish I could disappear underneath a cozy quilt and read book after book after book with breaks to snooze along to Christmas movies, old ones like White Christmas, and maybe drink steaming hot soup from a coffee mug. Even though I LOVE
- [Sunday Letter: 12.09.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/12/sunday-letter-12-09-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I've come to believe by some inconceivable cosmic magic the mere writing of these Sunday Letters makes time pass more quickly. And because we have such a limited amount of time to use, to waste, to sop up and wring out like a dishrag, I'd like to say thank you for
- [The Christmas Cloche (aka shortcut to Christmas decorating)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/12/christmas-cloche.html) - What's a Christmas Cloche? It's one of the key components in my shortcut method of Christmas decorating. Gracie Lee would tell you cloche is French for bell. Merriam-Webster defines cloche as a dome or bell-shaped cover. During the holidays, I consider a glass cloche to be an excellent way to display favorite ornaments. I'm not
- [Book Reviews: November 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/12/book-reviews-november.html) - November Book Reviews: Confession: This time of year, all I want to do is read. Here's what I read in November... Allie and Bea by: Catherine Ryan Hyde Since Bea's husband died, she's barely scraped by. When she falls for a phone scam, she's left with nothing but an old van, half a tank of
- [Sunday Letter: 12.02.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/12/sunday-letter-12-02-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Happy December! December? Crazy how that happened. I plan to devote much of today to stringing Christmas lights and decorating my house. Best laid plans, anyway. Sweater Weather Something else that's crazy? Our weather. At the beginning of the week we had sweater weather for sure—cold temperatures with a biting wind.
- [Ho-Ho-Holiday Traditions](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/11/holiday-traditions.html) - Yesterday I bought a big bag of clementines at Harps. The mere sight of all that orange fruit piled in the produce aisle where sweet cherries lived during summer nudged me into Christmas. As I dumped them into a bowl on the kitchen island, I thought about holiday traditions and how I do certain things
- [Sunday Letter: 11.25.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/11/sunday-letter-11-25-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Have you noticed the date? One month til Christmas. I'm over here in denial still with leftover cranberry sauce in my fridge. Actually, I'm in Texas writing from the super-cool NYLO Hotel at Legacy (Plano). Oh my goodness, I'm loving this modern, loft-style hotel. Two thumbs up from me! But First, Thanksgiving
- [Sunday Letter: 11.18.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/11/sunday-letter-11-18-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, This week was an anomaly for me. While my calendar was filled with two book clubs, an influencer meet-up, the Lights of the Ozarks Christmas parade, and the Mission Temple Fireworks Revival last night at Walton Arts Center, I also felt calmed by the knowledge that Thanksgiving is just ahead and
- [the story of my Rescue Tree](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/11/the-story-of-my-rescue-tree.html) - This is the story of my rescue tree. Four Years Ago When we first moved to our home in Fayetteville, we had the trees professionally trimmed. We also hired a crew to build a fence around the back yard. Both the tree and the fence folks wanted to take out a particular tree—a sapling really—that
- [Sunday Letter: 11.11.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/11/sunday-letter-11-11-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends: Hello again! Didn't I just write you a letter, what, like yesterday? The closer we get to the end of the year, the faster time seems to buzz by. Why is that? Today marks the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the agreement that ended World War I. Take a moment
- [Book Reviews: October 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/11/book-reviews-october-2018.html) - October Book Reviews: Whew! I'm late to my own book review party! If you've been waiting to hear about my latest reads, I apologize for such ridiculous tardiness. The books I read in October 2018 found me hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, digging mussels on the Carolina shore, swallowing fire with a circus sideshow, and
- [Sunday Letter: 11.04.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/11/sunday-letter-11-04-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Greetings from Overland Park, Kansas, a place I've not visited in twenty years, not since I had a different life. On Thursday, my friend Gail and I drove up for the Johnson County Writers Conference, a two-day event held at the Johnson County Public Library. If gold stars were handed out for writer
- [I got a rock + other Great Pumpkin thoughts...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/10/i-got-a-rock-other-great-pumpkin-thoughts.html) - This year for the first time in I don't know how long—maybe since forever—I missed watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. When it aired (weekend before last), I had driven Momma to her college reunion and stayed overnight in Russellville. While Charlie Brown got a rock in his trick or treat bag, I was treated to
- [Sunday Letter: 10.28.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/10/sunday-letter-10-28-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I'm baaaack. Sorry I missed writing my letter last week. It was a crazy week (part of which is detailed below). This week brings the Great Pumpkin and Halloween and Milk Duds that I've already begun sneaking from the trick-or-treat stash. You know what all this means? ? Santa Claus will
- [Gone to Mississippi](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/10/gone-to-mississippi.html) - Last Tuesday, I drove from Fayetteville, Arkansas to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Even though the trip is 400 miles one way, it's not a bad drive, not while listening to a mesmerizing audio book and watching farmland pass in all directions. I'll admit the drizzle from Little Rock onward made it not so fun. You know how
- [Boo! What would Gracie Lee do?](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/gracie-lee-halloween.html) - What would Gracie Lee do? With Halloween only days away, she would spend all afternoon scheming up a costume using items in her closet. A hobo? A witch? Maybe a gypsy? Gracie Lee has a colorful imagination and uses it to entertain herself. Sometimes it gets her out of tight spots. Sometimes, like that one certain Halloween, her imagination causes big
- [Sunday Letter: 10.14.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/10/sunday-letter-10-14-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, As I write today's Sunday Letter, I realize we have a special sort of Sunday morning relationship going on here. With my first cup of coffee steaming on the side table (a table that once belonged to my Nana), I claim my favorite spot on the corner of our couch, sink
- [My Persimmon Seed Prediction](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/10/persimmon-seed-prediction.html) - You've probably heard a persimmon seed can predict winter weather. I love good weather folklore and couldn't pass up the opportunity to check this one out for myself. Of course since we are in our first week of October, the results are yet to be confirmed. Thank goodness. I'm not quite ready for winter. Are you?
- [Sunday Letter: 10.07.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/10/sunday-letter-10-07-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Oh, what a week! This past week has been filled with great news, I got things done, and spent lots of time with friends. I reached a milestone, too. For the first time ever, I got the senior discount. LOL. Some folks may be upset by the idea of qualifying for
- [Book Reviews: September 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/10/book-reviews-september-2018.html) - Book Reviews September 2018: Shoulda, coulda, woulda read more but couldn't, wouldn't, didn't make the time. Oops. September dissolved with only five books to my credit. I enjoyed all five even though they are wildly different, from mystery/thriller to a gem of a short story collection. When I attend book clubs to speak about my
- [Sunday Letter: 09.30.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/09/sunday-letter-09-30-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I'm giving this past week double checkmarks ✔✔ because I cooked TWO HOT SUPPERS complete with side vegetables, I finished and submitted a freelance article, and I found a cool rock I'm pretty sure is filled with magic. Stick with me people. We're going places. Mostly in circles. Oh sure, there's
- [Ladies of the Club!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/09/ladies-of-the-club.html) - Last week, I was invited to join the Ladies of the Club book club to talk about The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. Having a book club select my book AND being invited to attend is one of the best things about being an author! Oh my word, what a fantastic event. If we were
- [Sunday Letter: 09.23.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/09/sunday-letter-09-23-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, This has been a busy week, and I've felt a bit like a vagabond. On Tuesday, I drove to Little Rock for a book club talk. (You'll be hearing all about it soon!) This morning I send greetings from Plano, Texas where I'm helping Momma sort through her storage unit and
- [Tiny Cottage REVEAL!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/09/tiny-cottage-reveal.html) - The time has come for our tiny cottage reveal! For those of you who may not know, several years ago while we still lived in Dallas, we bought a cottage in the Washington-Willow Historic District of Fayetteville. At first we used it on weekends. Later, our son lived there. Still later, we rented it out
- [Sunday Letter: 09.16.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/09/sunday-letter-09-16-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter readers, Are you kidding me? September is half over and I've done nothing. Well, I finished painting our little cottage. I worked on my next article for Front Porch Magazine. (Thank you Arkansas Farm Bureau for allowing me to write my regular Delta Child column.) I pulled weeds and planted some lettuce
- [under the influence of Spring!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/04/under-the-influence-of-spring.html) - If only this post came with 3-D vision and a smell plug-in. No kidding, this place I live is park-like. I'm under the influence of spring and savoring every moment. Come with me and see for yourself. I took these pictures via iPhone while walking Lucy and Annabelle. The colors are unretouched. You might say, oh no,
- [Sunday Letter: 05.27.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/05/sunday-letter-05-27-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Yippee. School's Out! Is there anything more exciting than the last day of school? When I was a kid, being out of school for summer brought a magical sort of excitement. Today, even though I'm no longer a schoolgirl, and my kids have left the nest, I still feel the same
- [Sunday Letter: 09.09.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/09/sunday-letter-09-09-18.html) - Hey Sunday Letter friends! After five days of horribly humid weather, we got a little rain. Saturday felt downright fall-like. By far the best thing about my week? I got my hair cut shorter than it's been in some time. Seriously, I don't know why I waited so long. The worst part? That Razorback football
- [Barnett's Dairyette ~ a blast from the past!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/09/barnetts-dairyette-a-blast-from-the-past.html) - One step inside Barnett's Dairyette in Siloam Springs and your blood pressure will lower. One bite of a cheeseburger and you'll be transported home to the diner that will forever occupy a space in your heart. For me, that would be the Yellow Jacket Cafe and the Shake Shack, both in Keiser, Arkansas. Both long
- [Sunday Letter: 09.02.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/09/sunday-letter-09-02-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Is it just me but weren't we celebrating Memorial Day last weekend!? Time.Slow.Down. Soon I'll be dead! LOL. But seriously, Happy September and Happy Labor Day Weekend, too. If you are enjoying a three-day weekend, I hope you use it in a way that makes you silly-happy. We have friends with
- [Book Reviews: August 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/08/book-reviews-august-2018.html) - Book Reviews August 2018: Today marks the last day of August which means book reviews for you. In this group of August reads, I found two new-to-me authors that I'm adding to my list of all-time favorites. I read tales of historical war-time fiction, a classic barnyard fable, shenanigans set in a Louisiana swamp, a
- [Sunday Letter: 08.26.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/08/sunday-letter-08-26-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Have you been outside this morning? Here in Fayetteville, the new morning feels flapjack flat, sketched onto paper with muted colored pencils, moist as a rung-out dishrag used to wipe down kitchen counters. Yes, it's going to be another don't-bother-with-your-hair sort of day. Just like yesterday. Even though hot and humid
- [Visit Denver Botanic Gardens with me!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/08/denver-botanic-gardens.html) - Oh my! Last weekend, John and I spent a few hours at the Denver Botanic Gardens. What a gorgeous garden chockfull of mature hedges, unusual plantings, native Colorado beauties, exotic water lilies, profuse succulent gardens, absolute heaven on earth. The dahlia above☝was as large as a dinner plate. I took a million photos (#slightexaggeration) and could have
- [Sunday Letter: 08.19.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/08/sunday-letter-08-19-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Good morning from Denver! I'm visiting my son who lives in the Mile High City, so yes, I'm a happy momma right now. Until this weekend, I'd not seen him since Christmas. That's hard on the soul. But that's what happens when family is spread out and everyone's busy with work
- [Why go to a writer conference?](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/08/why-go-to-a-writer-conference.html) - Why go to a writer conference? (Or any conference for that matter.) Because there's a huge upside beyond the incredible pool, breakfast buffet, and time away from responsibility of home. I recently returned from the annual Florida Authors and Publishers Association Conference (FAPA) in Orlando, and thought I'd not only summarize my experience but possibly
- [Succulent Teapots](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/08/succulent-teapots.html) - What's inspiring me today? These adorable succulent teapots! I don't take credit for any of these creations beyond noticing them at White River Nursery and snapping pictures. But noticing is the first step to all the fabulous future steps. Don't they look happy? Dancing a jig happy! I'm a succulent teapot, short and stout. ♬
- [Sunday Letter: 08.12.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/08/sunday-letter-08-12-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter buddies, I'm back! Sorry I missed writing my Sunday Letter last week. I attended an author and publisher conference in Florida which threw me off schedule. Hopefully absence really does make the heart grow fonder? ? Way Back Friends While in Orlando last weekend, I had lunch with one of my very
- [Silvery Checkerspot Caterpillars!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/08/silvery-checkerspot-caterpillars.html) - How about a quick gardening lesson this morning? About the Silvery Checkerspot Caterpillar that's doing a number on my echinacea? Seriously! I was only in Orlando one weekend. But during that time, my coneflowers became infested to the point they are downright Halloween-y-ish. I told you fall was coming early this year... Ghosts of coneflowers past.
- [Book Reviews: July 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/07/book-reviews-july-2018.html) - July 2018 Book Reviews: This month in particular (it seems), I started several books I didn't finish. I never review books I don't finish. The books I do review have something to offer the reader even when I may not give each of them glowing five stars. What makes me not finish a book? I
- [Sunday Letter: 07.29.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/07/sunday-letter-07-29-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter Faithful, (Portions of this post are sponsored by Cobblestone Farms. Opinions are my own.) I always start summer with a mile-high list of dreamy things I plan to do yet life soaks up bits and pieces of my days, and here I sit with coffee in hand wondering what on earth happened
- [Interlude with a Sleepy Little Moth](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/07/sleepy-little-moth.html) - A few days ago, a sleepy little moth hitched a ride on John's tennis shoe and came home with us after our morning walk. Actually, he wasn't all that little. At first, he looked like a brittle brown leaf. Then, a butterfly? When I got a closer look, I knew he was a moth of
- [Sunday Letter: 07.22.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/07/sunday-letter-07-22-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, This past week was a mixed bag for me. A mix of moods, productivity, weather, everlittlethang. Maybe it all goes back to the rollercoaster I blogged about HERE. Or the excessive heat! I happen to believe when the temperature soars over 100 degrees, all rational bets are cancelled. No one can
- [on being an author... keeping it real today](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/07/on-being-an-author-keeping-it-real.html) - I'm two-and-a-half years into this author gig. At times, this new journey has been fantastic, at times nerve-wracking. Always it's surreal. Opening myself up to feedback and criticism and whatever comes next (or doesn't come at all) can be exhilarating and scary, sometimes within ten minutes. Nearly every day someone asks me for advice. What's it
- [Sunday Letter: 07.15.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/07/sunday-letter-07-15-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Welcome to the backside of July. As we slip-slide into the dog days of summer, I find myself looking toward fall. Once 4th of July is over and my birthday comes and goes, the rest of summer feels like Side B of a record I was just dying to have. Remember Side
- [Grace Grits Birthday Giveaway!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/07/grace-grits-birthday-giveaway.html) - Hey y'all! Since today's my birthday, I thought I'd do a quick surprise birthday giveaway. The giveaway will include a signed copy of The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee along with lots of fun goodies related to reading, gardening, and summer. That's all I'm saying. That's how a surprise works. There are several easy ways
- [Sunday Letter: 07.08.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/07/sunday-letter-07-08-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter Peeps, We are having the craziest summer here in Northwest Arkansas. Our temperature this morning is 69 degrees! I'm savoring every pleasant breeze and every crack of thunder. This past week we had two days of unexpected rain showers, too. All the critters and plants are standing taller and smiling brighter this
- [Sunday Letter: 07.01.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/07/sunday-letter-07-01-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, The way I see it, part of my responsibility is to remind you of the date. When time passes as fast as ice cream melts, it's easy to think we're still hanging out in April. But today is the first day of July. Hang on. As of today, we're officially sliding
- [Book Reviews: June 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/06/book-reviews-june-2018.html) - Book Reviews June 2018: I can't believe June is over! I did lots of traveling in June which means a couple of these books were audio versions. Also, I went to the lake. I always read 2-3 books (sometimes 4) at the lake. Did you watch The Great American Read a few weeks ago on PBS?
- [Sunday Postcard: 06.24.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/06/sunday-postcard.html) - Today I'm sending a Sunday Postcard instead of a letter. I just got home from a week at the lake, and I'm not organized enough to write a letter. Still, I wanted to say hi. Postcards are a fun way to send greetings, a small slice of travel delivered to someone's mailbox. When I was
- [Summer Essentials (according to me)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/06/summer-essentials-according-to-me.html) - I woke early, drank my coffee on the porch, and watched the sun begin to glide over the trees. I ate a handful of blueberries and wrote nonsense in my journal. Nonsense with a common theme—summer essentials. Things essential to my summer, either by necessity or joy. Today is the first day of summer, y'all.
- [Sunday Letter: 06.17.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/06/sunday-letter.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Summer begins this week! Spring? I hardly knew you. Spring flew by fast as lightning. Don't you agree? I'm a summer girl, born in July. I love the goodness summertime brings. Lightning Bugs Is it my imagination, or do we have more lightning bugs this year? One night last week, I
- [welcome to JURASSIC GARDEN](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/06/welcome-to-jurassic-garden.html) - You know what happens when a spring rain comes nearly every afternoon? Jurassic Garden. That's what. Plants grow before your eyes, doubling and tripling in size. It seems like a fantastic thing. But come August, things could look primeval. I've already cut back some of my flowers to give them a chance later in the
- [Sunday Letter: 06.10.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/06/sunday-letter-06-10-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter Friends, This will be a short letter. Just so you know. Unplugged During the past week, I've been unplugged from social media while attending a writer retreat. It's my sixth year to write at Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum in Piggott, Arkansas. I highly recommend everyone unplug from time to time. (And if you're a
- [Sunday Letter: 06.03.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/06/sunday-letter-06-03-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, In case you haven't noticed, we are already into JUNE. Yikes. June marks the half way point of the year. Those things I wanted to accomplish this year? I need to get my rear in gear. Tomorrow, Lord willing (and the creek don't rise), we'll be brining our turkeys for Thanksgiving.
- [Book Reviews: May 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/06/book-reviews-may-2018.html) - Book Reviews May 2018 This may be the most compelling group of books I've read in one month. I listened to The Woman in the Window and Educated via Hoopla (audio books through the library). I rushed out and purchased hardbacks of both The Great Alone and Varina because the authors of these new releases
- [What I Didn't Buy in Alpena, Arkansas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/05/what-i-didnt-buy.html) - I'd always wanted to explore the vintage shops along Highway 412 in Alpena, Arkansas, yet I'd never stopped because I was on my way somewhere else. A few days ago, I made Alpena my destination. No, of course, I don't need any stuff. This is about what I didn't buy yet carried home anyhow. Setting
- [Gracie Lee on Arts & Letters!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/05/gracie-lee-on-arts-letters.html) - THIS FRIDAY (May 25 at 7:00 p.m. CST), the show I taped in January in Little Rock goes LIVE on NPR's Arts & Letters. That's tomorrow, y'all! This is such a huge thing for me. And I'd love for you to listen. After all, YOU helped make this happen by being so supporting of The
- [Sunday Letter: 05.20.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/05/sunday-letter-05-20-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I've heard from lots of you over the past week. Thank you for all the messages and emails saying you look forward to reading my Sunday Letter. Routine can be a good thing. Right? Something to anticipate and anchor the week ahead. I know I'm sort of putting words in your
- [beach time](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/06/beach-time.html) - It's been too long since I've walked in sand, but I did just that on Monday. And Tuesday. I'm in Florida for three book events (!), and my primary goal (other than the book events) is to accomplish some writing. So far I've done a decent job of it. I wrote lots of words for several hours while
- [Sea Gifts](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/06/sea-gifts.html) - The best part of my recent book tour through Florida had very little to do with my book tour through Florida. It was more about the people I met, the sights I saw, the food I tasted, the things I felt and learned. Time passed at a leisurely pace, my mind felt open and boundless. Sea gifts. A
- [Sunday Letter: 05.13.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/05/sunday-letter-05-13-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommas who make the world go around❣ This past week was busy-busy filled with lots of things I love except writing. I did very little writing. You may remember (or not) that my one little word for 2018 was balance. (Actually I chose two words,
- [Our Island of (not so) Heavenly Bamboo](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/05/heavenly-bamboo.html) - Heavenly Bamboo is on the city of Fayetteville's invasive species list of undesirable plants. One might say it's misnamed. As in not so heavenly. What's the opposite of heavenly? Earthly? I'll call it Earthly Bamboo. We have a grove of it. We didn't plant it. It was planted years ago, a few small stalks that
- [Sunday Letter: 05.06.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/05/sunday-letter-05-06-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Did you know that yesterday was World Naked Gardening Day? I have a friend who keeps me abreast of this holiday (pun intended). If I know her, she observed it. While I did plant dill yesterday, I did it with my clothes on. John and I also graduated from our Arkansas
- [Allium: Lollipops of the Garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/05/allium.html) - Allium is one of the perennial plants I love growing here in northwest Arkansas. Since mine is blooming now, what better time to introduce you to the lollipops of my garden. These beauties adds such quirky personality to the garden. Each tall stem includes a globe of tiny flowers. The unique flower structure makes allium
- [Sunday Letter: 02.18.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/02/sunday-letter-02-18-18.html) - Today makes two Sundays in a row for my Sunday Letter. I'm not patting myself on the back yet, but one more, and we may have ourselves have a trend. If you missed my inaugural Sunday Letter, you can read it HERE. The past week disappeared into a windy blur, a jumble of weather. Yes, we
- [Sunday Letter: 02.25.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/02/sunday-letter-02-25-18.html) - Oh man, now that I'm doing a regular Sunday Letter, I'm even more aware of how quickly time is passing. BUT. While the week flew by, the waterlogged days felt long. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the rain. All week, my view has been this: It's called cabin fever. Between storms, we
- [Sunday Letter: 03.04.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/03/sunday-letter-03-04-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter Readers, How are you? Fine I hope. When I was a kid, I started letters to friends in this way with six words, six syllables. The opposite of compelling. Flat as a flitter. Really grabs you and makes you want to keep reading, doesn't it? Makes you say, "Boy, I bet she'll
- [Sunday Letter: 03.11.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/03/sunday-letter-03-11-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter Friends, Since my last Sunday letter, the whole week blurred right on by. And what I worried might happen with these Sunday letters is about to unfold... I didn't blog about anything all week, and now I have two back-to-back letters. Must do better. John and I spent a couple of days
- [Sunday Letter: 03.18.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/03/dear-sunday-letter-friends.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, I'm writing this letter on the last Sunday of winter 2018. And I'd like to start by saying, thank you for reading all through the winter. We don't say thank you often enough, you know? The past week was a busy one for me. I won't go into all the details,
- [Sunday Letter: 03.25.18 (spring break edition)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/03/sunday-letter-spring-break.html) - Dear Sunday Letter Readers, It seems everyone in Arkansas has been traveling this past week to fabulous destinations for spring break or anniversary trips or just because they can. (Yay for that!) I have Facebook friends in Maui, Portugal, Paris, and all across the sandy Florida beaches. Thank you for sharing pictures and allowing me
- [Sunday Letter: 04.08.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/04/sunday-letter-04-08-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter Peeps, Last week I had technical difficulties with my blog, but (knock-on-wood) everything is squared away. Here we are on April 8 which happens to be Draw A Picture of a Bird Day (more on this later). You may think I'm kidding, but I'm not. There's a day set aside for nearly everything
- [Sunday Letter: 04.15.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/04/sunday-letter-04-15-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter friends, Is it just me or did the past week zoom by like a comet? If I didn't scribble in a journal, I'd have no memory of anything from the past seven days. These days, my memory seems to exists only on paper. My short term memory, anyway. I have no problem
- [Book Reviews: April 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/05/book-reviews-april-2018.html) - Book Reviews: April 2018: Happy May Day! I'm not sure what happened to April, but here we are. I didn't read as many books as I planned. Sometimes that happens. One thing about April—I set out to read more memoirs. I love memoir and for whatever reason, I haven't read many lately. In addition to three memoirs,
- [Sunday Letter: 04.29.18](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/04/sunday-letter-04-29-18.html) - Dear Sunday Letter Readers, Thanks for being patient with me in my sporadic Sunday letter writing. Over the past week, I moved my blog to a new host which resulted in a smidgen of down time. Sometimes we need to take a time out to fix things, right? All is well now. Yay for that!
- [Going on a Farm Walk (with Gracie Lee)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/04/farm-walk.html) - One of my favorite things to do when I go home to northeast Arkansas is to spend time walking around the farm. Timing is the secret to a successful farm walk. The ideal spring farm walk must be wedged between monsoon-like floods, the beginning of mosquito season, winds roaring in from Midland, Texas, Oz-ish tornadoes,
- [My Lessons from Nature](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/04/my-lessons-from-nature.html) - My Lessons from Nature. This year so far, our spring has been indecisive and teasing. In one sleep, our wild weather vacillates from hard freeze to near 80 degrees. Since February, I've been growing African daisies, marigolds, okra, and basil in my makeshift greenhouse. What's a makeshift greenhouse? In my world, it's a folding table shoved
- [Annabelle saw her reflection...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/annabelle-saw-her-reflection.html) - I hate to tell you this. Yesterday, Annabelle Boerner saw her reflection in the window of the neighborhood skating rink and this morning it feels like winter again. So much for Punxsutawney Phil and his prediction of an early spring. Here in Northwest Arkansas, the last few springlike days have made me itch to work in
- [Ozarkansas Tool Library!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/04/ozarkansas-tool-library.html) - Since this is National Library Week, there's no better time to introduce you to the Ozarkansas Tool Library! Yes, the Ozarkansas Tool Library is yet another cool reason to live in Fayetteville, Arkansas. You already know I'm a huge fan of the Fayetteville Public Library. The tool library is a partnership between the Fayetteville Public Library
- [Book Reviews: March 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/04/book-reviews-march-2018.html) - Sorry for the delay in posting my book reviews for March 2018. I don't want to moan about the reason, so I won't. Moaning would take away from the fabulousness of these books. I'm always surprised when I go back and review the books I read during a particular month, because it seems no matter
- [on the Second Day of Spring, my true love gave to me...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/03/second-day-of-spring.html) - On the second day of spring my true love gave to me, sweet potatoes frying in a pan. LOL, I'm no poet or songwriter, but since today is World Poetry Day I encourage you to read poetry, look for poetry in nature, maybe even try your hand at writing a poem. Pat Laster is my favorite
- [Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/03/toltec-mounds.html) - A few weeks ago when I was driving the back roads from Stuttgart to Little Rock, I came upon the sign for Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park. Of course, this resulted in a little side trip. It isn't every day you come upon prehistoric mounds protruding from rural, flat Arkansas. I'd always heard about Toltec
- [the thinks in my brain and planting Truffula seeds](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/03/the-thinks-in-my-brain.html) - The thinks in my brain? They float and flit and maybe end up on a blog page. Maybe they'll end up in a book someday. Maybe they'll simply disappear beneath the worm moon going nowhere at all. My makeshift greenhouse. It doesn't look like much yet, only a bright window in the garage. Impossibly small
- [Book Reviews for February 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/03/book-reviews-for-february-2018.html) - Book Reviews for February 2018 I'll start my February book reviews with a confession. I didn't read as much as I'd hoped. I lost prime reading time to Olympic coverage. (For the most part I enjoy the Olympics, but I feel guilty if I don't watch, like it's my duty as an American to cheer
- [Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park ~ a bucket list place!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/02/louisiana-purchase-historic-state-park.html) - Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park I'll just say this right off. Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park is now at the top of my favorite historical sites in Arkansas. A few weeks ago when I was in southeast Arkansas, I took a little side trip to this incredible spot. That bucket list you have? Go ahead
- [A Spring Day during Winter. Another School Shooting.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/02/another-school-shooting.html) - Yesterday, Mother Nature blessed us with a spring day during winter. A brief respite. The chance to shed sweaters and coats and feel warm sunshine on bare arms. Northwest Arkansas enjoyed temperatures in the mid-seventies. John grilled steaks wrapped in bacon. I searched for signs of spring. New life hides beneath dry leaves. This all
- [Things I Brake for in the Delta](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/02/things-i-brake-for-in-the-delta.html) - I prefer to take the backroads, the gravel roads, the roads that veer off the interstate. The things I brake for in the Delta are plentiful. And because of that, for me, getting from Point A to Point B rarely involves a straight line. Braking leads to exploring. Exploring leads to all sorts of creative
- [Alabama Girl Trip ~ Part 1](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/01/alabama-girl-trip-part-1.html) - I'm blogging about our recent Alabama Girl Trip not because I think everyone wants to hear every little detail but because later, when I can't remember beans about it, I can read this post and say, "Oh, yeah, that was sooooo much fun. We should do it again!" That's one of the long-term benefits of
- [Alabama Girl Trip ~ Part 2](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/02/alabama-girl-trip-part-2.html) - Hey there! If you've been waiting for Part Two of my recent Alabama Girl Trip, your wait is over. If you missed Part 1, click HERE to catch up. (Part 1 contains highlights of Days 1-3 including Rosa Parks, live jazz, and an accidental train yard adventure. Among other things.) Alabama Girl Trip ~ Part
- [Book Reviews: January 2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/01/book-reviews-january-2018.html) - Book Reviews January 2018: Long, cold January is the perfect month for reading. I did quite a bit of it. As I began to look back on the books I read in January, I realized they all leaned heavily on the theme of relationship. Whether set in crowded Calcutta, the migrant farm fields of south
- [My Room and its View](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/01/my-room-and-its-view.html) - My Room and its View When I sit on the couch with my Macbook or journal, I am usually absorbed in my work. My view is my computer screen or scribbly writing or messy edits. A few days ago, I'd been working for several hours without a break. (I recommend a brain break at least
- [these clouds in Texas...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/01/clouds-in-texas.html) - Hey everyone! I'm dropping in to show you these clouds in Texas, AND telling you I haven't been kidnapped or worse. I've been traveling. For the most part, traveling has kept me unplugged. (A good thing sometimes, right?) I take lots and lots of pictures every day. This morning, when I looked back through some
- [Lucy and Annabelle go to West Village](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/01/lucy-and-annabelle-go-to-west-village.html) - Lucy and Annabelle's latest adventure? West Village in Dallas. We spent Christmas in Texas and rented a dog-friendly Airbnb in West Village near our former neighborhood and favorite haunts. We saved lots of money this way. Not only did we enjoy a very cool Uptown apartment for less than the cost of a hotel room,
- [December Book Reviews](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2018/01/december-book-reviews.html) - 'Tis the season to hole up with a good book in front of a cozy fire. In December, I didn't do as much of that as I'd have liked, but January is already shaping up to be a hibernating sort of month. Brrrr! I read five books in December, all very different in genre and
- [Book Reviews: August 2017](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/08/august-book-reviews.html) - And with this post of August Book Reviews, I'm saying goodbye to summer reading 2017. (Can you believe today is the last day of August?) I enjoyed six books during operation broken wrist. Really, these books provided sanity and escape. And while they are wildly different, they all involve relationship and/or family. From fantasy to
- [October Book Reviews](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/10/october-book-reviews.html) - Happy Halloween! Today marks the end of another month. Are you ready for my October Book Reviews? Three of the books I read in October (Mariette in Ecstasy, The Namesake, and The Virgin Suicides) were part of a five-week Survey of Fiction class I attended through OLLI at University of Arkansas. Okiehomeland was my book club's official
- [February Book Reviews (2017)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/03/february-book-reviews.html) - February Book Reviews (2017): What did you read in February? My choices ran the gamut from fluffy young adult to middle school memoir to informative historical. I journeyed from Kennett, Missouri to the Kingdom of Miamas. As with any trip, some were more enjoyable than others. Each offered something. (In order of how I read them.) My Grandmother Asked
- [Winter Reading: January 2017](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/02/winter-reading-january-2017.html) - Winter Reading: January 2017... Books have always provided great entertainment for me, as well as escape. I don't know about you, but this January felt like the perfect time to climb into the pages of a book, hunker down, and hibernate. And I decided since my love for books extends far and wide and deep into my
- [Dear 2018... (and goodbye 2017)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/12/dear-2018-and-goodbye-2017.html) - Dear 2018, Welcome! I hope you've packed your largest suitcase with good vibes and clear sailing for the months ahead. Here's something you should know about me. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of you, the beginning of a new year. There's something to be said for a clean slate. The very idea of a clean
- [How to create a Dreamy Winter Wonderland](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/12/how-to-dreamy-winter-wonderland.html) - I've been adding a bit of holly, jolly to our home by creating winter wonderlands. This is a super simple project, y'all. If you've been feeling Grinch-like and haven't summoned the energy to delve into full blown Christmas decorating, make a tiny, dreamy winter wonderland. In no time, the Christmas spirit will find you. Complete
- [Southern Giving: Fayetteville Find!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/12/southern-giving-fayetteville-find.html) - Northwest Arkansas friends, have you been to Southern Giving? This gift and home decor boutique opened a few months ago. Already, it's become my go-to place for charming southern gifts. Owner Susie Baker is like a long lost friend. She's friendly, creative, and has an eye for helping a confused gift giver find that perfect something.
- [5 Fabulous Gifts for Readers + a GIVEAWAY!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/12/5-fabulous-gifts-for-readers-a-giveaway.html) - If you have insatiable readers on your gift list, this post is for you (or them). I rounded up five things I believe to be clever and fun that will in some small way enhance your (their) love of reading. Here's how the math works: 5 Fabulous Gifts for Readers + 1 Giveaway = a Merry
- [Creative Christmas Giving with Walmart Gift Cards!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/12/walmart-gift-cards.html) - This post is sponsored by InComm for Walmart as part of the #SaveMoneyGiveBetter2017 Campaign. All opinions are my own. Hey friends! I'm that person who doesn't start thinking about Christmas until the calendar flips to December. And yay, it has! Now I'm all in. Yesterday, I started decorating my house. Yesterday, I picked up a
- [Books I Read in November](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/11/books-i-read-in-november.html) - Books I Read in November? Not many. Why? Because it took me all the live long month to read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. All The Live Long Month. (More on this later.) My four November reads took me back to the delightfully old-fashioned world of Anne Shirley, into the suspenseful and isolated life of
- [Chihuly in the Forest](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/11/chihuly-forest.html) - On Black Friday, my son and I visited Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. He wanted to see the Stuart Davis exhibit and while I was a bit under the weather, I wanted to spend time with him. Plus, I'd not yet seen Chihuly in the Forest. So off we went. Tomorrow (November 27) is
- [Cold Morning](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/11/cold-morning.html) - Cold Morning: an acrostic from this morning's writing practice. Crystals cover slanted rooftops. A cold night Offers a glittery morning. Leaves, already brilliant with fall, still sleep, muted and Dreamy with frost. The whole world Magically rests beyond windows fogged with breath. On this Sunday before Thanksgiving Day, I Remember the holiday meals of my
- [Savoring November + Thanksgiving Decor](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/11/savoring-november-thanksgiving-decor.html) - This year, I'm savoring November. On November 1, I began placing a few Thanksgiving decorations around so I can enjoy them all month. And I've been using my turkey dishes rather than pulling them down the day before Thanksgiving which is how it usually works. There's no rule against serving scrambled eggs on turkey dishes.
- [the amazing grace of AUTUMN](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/11/the-amazing-grace-of-autumn.html) - Oh my stars. The amazing grace of autumn is truly astounding. Here we are ankle deep in autumn, and I can't get over the trees. I'm a new mother showing off pictures of her baby. I'm me showing off pictures of Lucy and Annabelle. Nothing whatsoever wrong with either scenario. Just a disclosure of what's
- [Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/11/home-again-home-again-jiggety-jig.html) - Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig. I'm back home after spending five days with Momma and my sister, Staci, at home-home in Mississippi County, Arkansas. (I've said this before, but home-home is where I'm from, and home [singular] is where I live now.) When we were kids, Momma always said, "Home again, home again, jiggety jig,"
- [Our House at Halloween](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/10/our-house-at-halloween.html) - I realized something this week. Decorating for Halloween is rather easy when I typically surround myself with antique, tattered, old things. Our house at Halloween is, well, not a far stretch from normal. I'm not sure what that says about John and me. Yes, we're having a party on Saturday. I thought I'd give you
- [Gracie Lee and the Fortune Teller](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/gracie-lee-and-the-fortune-teller.html) - Game booths lined the walls of the school auditorium, one booth per class, not real games like at the Mid-South Fair, but simple ones like the duck game or fishing. All the games were kind of lame yet cool at the same time, because no matter how badly Gracie Lee and her friends played,
- [Book Two and a World of Distractions](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/10/book-two.html) - I thought I should let y'all know I haven't died. It's been a week since I blogged which is a long time for me. Here's the thing. I've been working on Book Two. And doing other things. Other things in the life of a writer are also known as writing distractions. Distractions come is all
- [Books I Read in September.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/10/books-i-read-in-september.html) - Happy October, friends! The books I read in September represented a variety of genres, settings, and themes. I lapped them up for completely different reasons. Grab a cup of coffee and journey with me to the plains of Nebraska, down south to Louisiana, and across Texas when it was wilder than it is today (joke).
- [A Brand New Day.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/09/a-brand-new-day.html) - Our house silently waits for a brand new day. In the earliest morning, there is no world beyond the opaque windows around me, beyond my cup of coffee, my pen and journal. I recently started a new journal, but I don't much like it. Yes, the cover is pretty, it has a satin ribbon to
- [My Summer Accomplishment](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/09/my-summer-accomplishment.html) - Today marks the first day of the last week of summer 2017. If I'm being honest, my summer accomplishment is pretty much singular. I did a handful of the things on my summer bucket list, which was a carryover from last summer's bucket list. I had grilled lobster thanks to my sister-in-law. I read several
- [Time is on my side. Yay.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/09/time-is-on-my-side.html) - Time is on my side! Not to jinx myself, but I'm counting down to my cast removal. If you know me, you probably remember as a kid I learned to count down to fun, important, and/or significant dates by creating a paper chain. One day = one link in the chain. Remove a link each
- [The Cobblestone Project: Fights Hunger + Educates](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/09/cobblestone-project.html) - This post is sponsored by The Cobblestone Project. Opinions are my own. The Cobblestone Project, a local non-profit organization, is on a mission to fight hunger in Northwest Arkansas. We can help! Hunger in Northwest Arkansas. Hunger in America. As I think about the past weekend my husband and I spent with friends—a weekend filled
- [Sunday Drive: Goshen Cemetery](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/09/goshen-cemetery.html) - On Sunday, John and I did a little exploring in Goshen Cemetery. Goshen (only a few miles from Fayetteville) was originally settled as a Methodist encampment around the Civil War days. So yes, the cemetery is historical with headstones dating back to the 1800s. Walk beneath the primitive sign into a million untold stories. Old
- [Secret Gardens of Fayetteville](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/09/secret-gardens-of-fayetteville.html) - It's no secret, The Secret Garden is one of my all-time favorite books. Early on, it helped shape me and became part of my personal narrative. Because of that, it probably comes as no surprise that I always notice secret gardens wherever I go. My definition of a secret garden: a tucked away, enchanted green
- [Pray for Houston. Pray for Texas.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/08/pray-for-houston.html) - It's a new morning, but it's difficult for me to write about the plants in my garden or the beautiful weather we are having in Northwest Arkansas when the pictures and stories coming out of Houston are so devastating and heartbreaking. The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey continues to wreak havoc. Pray for Houston. Pray for
- [a world gone Lord of the Flies](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/08/lord-of-the-flies.html) - It's a world gone Lord of the Flies. All I have to do is look outside my kitchen window to see it. In my garden (which has basically been unattended since my accident), the bully plants run amok. There's been no one to reign them in, cut them back, pull them out by the roots,
- [Suffering from Nostalgia.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/08/suffering-from-nostalgia.html) - I've been suffering from nostalgia as of late. And I don't know why. Maybe it's the end of summer—a summer I barely knew. Maybe it's because back to school pics make me sentimental about my own kids and those crammed packed days that nearly choked the living daylights out of me, yet drifted by in
- [Guess what? Gracie Lee is now on Audible!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/08/gracie-lee-on-audible.html) - Announcement: It's official! You can now listen to Gracie Lee's story. TODAY is the official release date of The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee in audiobook format! Order online from Amazon, and the book will download via Audible in that magic way downloads happen. About the narrator: Award-winning narrator and voice over talent Em Eldridge (Tantor Media)
- [Ten Ways to Celebrate Book Lovers Day!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/08/ten-ways-celebrate-book-lovers-day.html) - Today is Book Lovers Day. There's no way I can let such a day pass without proper celebration. If I think back over my life so far, books have been a constant source of entertainment and comfort. Reduce me down to my own common denominator, and you'd find I'm made of Delta soil, iced tea,
- [The Art of Slowing Down](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/08/the-art-of-slowing-down.html) - If there's anything I've learned during the past two weeks, it's that slowing down is an art form. I know everyone is tired of hearing about my broken bones. I get it. I'm tired of it, too. But this is my reality. And in the here and now, I've learned a few things about the
- [July Reads!!!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/08/july-reads.html) - Hey everyone! With the turn of the calendar page, I've wrapped up my July reading. Say it with me: "So little time, so many books." Right? I thought I might read waaayyy more in July because broken bones kept me rather house bound, but pain meds kept me rather conked me out. So I managed
- [The Farm: Where Soil and Soul Intersect](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/04/the-farm.html) - Today I'm thinking about The Farm. And The Homeplace. Not my farm or the homeplace of my family but my husband's. My mother-in-law grew up in Morrison's Bluff on a farm that backs up to the Arkansas River. For years, I've heard stories about John's childhood trips to The Farm, but Saturday was my first visit. We
- [in the early garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/07/early-garden.html) - There's a transparency in the early garden as fresh sunlight begins to filter down from Mount Sequoyah. Sweet air, clear thoughts, the dogs walk instead of sniff. O, the night-owls miss so much. I thank Daddy for my early-bird nature. And, Papa Creecy before him. Growing up in the Delta, I was surrounded by hard-working
- [a rambling post about books and black knees](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/07/a-rambling-post.html) - A rambling post... THIS. This is something that will never get old as long as I live. Seeing my book on the shelf at Barnes & Noble. And I would never want that feeling to get old either. Know what I mean? I feel the same way when I look out at the Ozark Mountains and
- [The Accidental Rotation of Talya Lea](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/07/porch-fall.html) - Have you heard about my new story? The Accidental Rotation of Talya Lea? Unfortunately it's true. A memoir... Tuesday night I fell while watering plants on the porch. Wet flip flops, rushing around. It was ugly. See the little picket fence in the next pic? That's to keep Lucy and Annabelle on the porch. But instead
- [Amen to the Lusty Tomato](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/07/tomato.html) - One of my favorite things about summer? TOMATOES! There's nothing like a fresh from the garden, sun-warmed, salt-sprinkled, juice-dripping-down-your-chin tomato. Can I get an Amen? When you grow your own or make a beeline for the farmers market and/or roadside fruit stand each week, you'll soon learn the mealy, flavorless, faded-to-pink tomatoes at the grocery
- [Saying NO, the power behind it, and news!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/07/saying-no.html) - The power of saying no. NO is a powerhouse of a word that opens up space for yes. A million years ago I majored in economics. And while I understand the concept of opportunity cost, I find it difficult to apply to my writing life. I want to write all the things. All the things
- [Hello Fifty-Five.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/07/hello-fifty-five.html) - Hello FIFTY-FIVE, and happy birthday to me. Today I'm celebrating another trip around the sun. I happen to love birthdays, and I'm not one of those people who despairs over her age, BUT, I do declare there seems to be something a wee bit supernatural going on. I mean, the orbit is the same each
- [Fayetteville Find: Dirty Apron Bakehouse](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/07/dirty-apron-bakehouse.html) - Ooooh! We know dreamy things come in small packages and that's certainly the case with Fayetteville's newest bakery. Dirty Apron Bakehouse opened in April, and I finally got around to visiting a few days ago. This tiny spot is located off Dickson behind Nightbird Books. Dirty Apron bakes small batch naturally leavened sourdough using a
- [Summer Favorite: Adventure!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/07/summer-favorite-adventure.html) - Next up in my Summer Favorite Series: ADVENTURE. Summer is the ideal time for adventure, big and small. Kids are out of school (or in my case—grown and gone), days spread out long and warm, nights twinkle with the flicker of lightning bugs. Adventure is tucked behind every tree. See Where the Day Leads Some of
- [that time I visited Apalachicola, Florida](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/07/apalachicola-florida.html) - Last June (as in 2016 not yesterday), I spent a few days in Apalachicola, Florida, a small port town located on the gulf and at the mouth of the Apalachicola River. Of all the places I visited last year, Apalachicola was one of my favorites. There's something extra special about a port town and shrimp
- [Grace Grits Reads: June 2017](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/06/june-book-reviews.html) - June Book Reviews: My June reading adventures began in Iceland (literally), where I traveled to Belize (figuratively) in a beat-up, broken down car with a character named Ray Midge. Mid-month, because of my trip to Iceland, I became absorbed in the Mid-West, primarily in a one room schoolhouse in rural Iowa with brief escapades to
- [Summer Favorites: Porch Time!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/06/summer-favorites-porch-time.html) - This is the first in a series of posts (irregular at best) about my favorite summer things. I'm starting with PORCH TIME! I think of our porches as additional rooms, the best rooms, rooms that provide extra space and extra peace, whatever we need in the moment. A bit like Hogwarts' Room of Requirement. In case
- [How hard is it to write a book? Let me count the ways.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/06/writing-a-book-2.html) - Forgive me while I complain for a moment. The truth is, writing a book is difficult under the most ideal circumstances, when the words are flowing and the light is faultless both inside and out, when I'm swimming in the deep end of creative waters. BUT. Writing a book is impossible when Japanese beetles are
- [Watermelon is my spirit fruit. (And other fun news from last week.)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/06/watermelon-2.html) - It's true, watermelon is my spirit fruit. But first, Happy Sunday and Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there in the blog-o-sphere. (Yes, if you are reading this, you are part of the blog-o-sphere ???. ) I may as well confess right off, this post really isn't about anything in particular. It's more of an
- [mid-June Garden Shenanigans](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/06/mid-june-garden-shenanigans.html) - Since I returned from Iceland, I've been writing like a fiend. Between all the words, I garden. That's pretty much it. Weeds, y'all. They are thriving. I know my garden as well as I know the manuscript I'm working on. Because when I say, I garden, what I mean is, I crawl around on my hands
- [Today will not be perfect.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/06/today-will-not-perfect.html) - Today will not be perfect. But within this imperfect day, there will be snippets of perfection. That's what I've come to expect. It's what I believe and notice. I thought about this as I pulled weeds and came upon this pansy smiling at me, expecting nothing at all, barely even asking for soil. I thought
- [Driving East Fjords to South Iceland](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/06/driving-east-fjords-to-south-iceland.html) - We've come to the last part of our Iceland journey! The past two days we've been driving the ring road through the East Fjords to South Iceland and back to Reykjavik where we started. Whew. If you've followed along for the past two weeks, I hope you've enjoyed the adventure. My pictures in no way do
- [Hiking Seyðisfjörður](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/06/hiking-seydisfjordur.html) - For the past two days, John and I have been hiking Seyðisfjörður in the Eastfjords part of Iceland. Seyðisfjörður, a town of approximately 700, is nestled within a fjord surrounded by more waterfalls than you can conjure in your most spectacular dreams. If you follow my personal Facebook page, you may have waterfall fatigue from all
- [Grace Grits Reads May 2017](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/05/grace-grits-reads-may-2017.html) - May 2017 was an odd month for me as I was preparing for my Iceland trip, writing several freelance articles (deadlines!), and evidently not reading as much as normal. Grace Grits Reads May 2017 totals only three books. Sad! (Three that I can recall as I sit here in Iceland trying to remember, anyway.) My brain
- [Crossing the Arctic Circle (Grímsey Island)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/05/arctic-circle.html) - It isn't every day a girl gets the opportunity to cross the Arctic Circle. But when I find myself in North Iceland, only 25 nautical miles from the Arctic Circle, I can't pass up the chance. So I booked passage on the ferry out of Dalvik, and John and I made the three hour voyage to Grímsey Island. (I know what you're thinking.
- [Iceland Day 3: Driving from Reykjavik to Ólafsfjörður](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/05/iceland-day-3.html) - Day 3 in Iceland was spent driving from Reykjavik to Ólafsfjörður, a drive that took us about seven hours through every type terrain and microclimate imaginable. This will be a quick post and mostly a photo journal to document the amazingness. So far I'll say this is definitely a trip to circle, highlight, and remember.
- [Packing for ICELAND!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/05/packing-for-iceland.html) - Did I mention I'm going to Iceland? Pinch me, I am! And I should be packing for Iceland because my trip is SOON. But somehow I've become this person who puts off packing until the last possible minute. I wait and wait and instead of just doing it, I spend effort calculating how much time I can delay said
- [Blowin' in the wuthering wind](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/05/wuthering-wind.html) - Yesterday was breezy. But today? The wuthering wind is blowing and roaring almost as though it twists from the ground up, a reminder of how sturdy trees really are. And the flowers pictured in this post? They are the wind's answer to spring. I call them my airmail flowers. Airmail because these flowers were planted old school. As nature intended.
- [To all the mothers who make the world go 'round...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/05/mothers-day.html) - Dear all you mothers who make the world go 'round, Yesterday as I cut roses from my garden, I was reminded of Mother's Days past. How we, my little sister and I, wore a tiny red or pink rosebud to church that day. Momma wore red too, but because she was an adult in charge of
- [Little Custom Homes in Mississippi County, Arkansas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/05/little-custom-homes-mississippi-county-arkansas.html) - It's no secret I love to share all the interesting things happening in Mississippi County, Arkansas. That's where I grew up and where my Momma still farms. Now we can add Little Custom Homes, LLC to the coolness. How cute are these? The only thing missing is a puppy on each porch. Am I right? I've not officially toured these homes,
- [Exhausted from the Rain](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/05/exhausted-from-the-rain.html) - This was supposed to be my "Savoring April" post. The one where I recap April. I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted from the rain. And I'm happy to move on to May. I'm expecting TONS OF MAY FLOWERS. Aren't you? April showers promise that much, you know. We received around 15 inches of rain
- [Grace Grits Reads: April 2017](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/04/grace-grits-reads-april.html) - Here we are at the end of April. I think these monthly book recaps I've begun doing make my days fly by even more quickly! Grace Grits Reads for April took me across the Pyrenees and deep into the "Wood Wide Web". I visited with old Avonlea friends and sat bedside with Lucy Barton. ♬♪ Do you know the Pee-can man?
- [Wilson, Arkansas: How Geography Shapes a Place](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/03/wilson-arkansas.html) - (This post is sponsored by Designsensory, Inc. Opinions are my own.) I've been thinking about how geography shapes a place. Not only the physical landscape, which often determines the direction a town grows (nestled within a valley or spread across the flat prairie), but also the way geography shapes the culture of a place. Over time, geographic location
- [Dogbranch School (and the journey of the curved line)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/04/dogbranch-school-and-the-journey-of-the-curved-line.html) - I was never much of a math person (sorry Mrs. Meadows, Mr. Mason, Mr. Howard, Bob Irby), yet I do respect the truth of the straight line. Yes, I know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But straight lines can be boring. And sometimes the shortest distance doesn't interest me. Most
- [Where Have All the Flowers Gone?](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/04/headquarters-house.html) - Where have all the flowers gone? I can always find flowers at the historic Headquarters House in Fayetteville. The girls and I walk through the gardens almost daily. Only two blocks from our headquarters, we consider the grounds to be our personal secret garden. I've written about the period gardens and the house HERE, and I won't repeat myself other
- [Shop Locally in Wilson (plus exciting news!)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/04/shop-locally-in-wilson.html) - (This post is sponsored by Designsensory, Inc. Opinions are my own.) I'm a big believer in shopping locally and spending my money in small towns. I'm also a believer in making the best use of my time. I have better things to do than fight traffic for a parking spot in a crowded mall lot. Don't you?
- [Spring Porch Pizzazz: a happy thing.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/04/spring-porch-pizzazz.html) - I've been working to add a little spring pizzazz to our porches. In Northwest Arkansas, the weather has warmed enough to mix annuals into containers. My empty containers have been patiently waiting for warm temperatures. Empty containers are sad, sad things. Totally pizzazz-less. I planted a few of my favorites including salvia, petunia, calibrochoa, asparagus
- [A Pop of Spring Color for the Butterflies!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/04/a-pop-of-spring-color-for-the-butterflies.html) - Raise your hand if you're busy celebrating spring. (Both my hands are raised!) When I was asked to work with Monrovia again, I didn't hesitate. The timing is perfect, too, because after traveling and promoting my book during March, my immediate plan was to spiff up our butterfly garden with a pop of spring color. Just in
- [Savoring March](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/04/savoring-march.html) - Where'd you go March? In like a lion and out lickety split. One of the benefits of keeping a journal is being able to go back and revisit how my days were siphoned off into yesterdays. But seriously, 1Q2017 is over. Did you savor the month as best you could? I tried even though I was
- [BOOK REVIEWS: March, 2017](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/03/book-reviews-march-2017.html) - Book Reviews: March 2017 The books I enjoyed in March took me soaring above the clouds, from Prince Edward Island to this side of Paradise, and along dark and filthy alleyways of Argentina. I traveled from the Cold War through those magical days when all the world raced to be first into space. And then on to solve a kooky mystery
- [Four Garden Days](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/03/four-garden-days.html) - Happy Second Day of Spring! On this second Day of Spring (note my use of capitalization as though each day of spring is a holiday) I bring you pictures from the First Day of Spring. A delayed broadcast of sorts. After a weekend spent at the Jonquil Festival in Washington, Arkansas, I'm running behind on unpacking, laundry, writing,
- [I don't want to be timely.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/03/i-dont-want-to-be-timely.html) - I don't want to be timely. I want to be timeless instead. Timeless, writing stories relatable today, tomorrow, yesterday, fifty years from now. A few lines of prose that grips your gut, makes you weep or howl with laughter. Words that spring from the page in bight blue ink, as blue as peacock feathers. Timeless. Enduring. Like a number
- [A Perfect Picking Up Sticks Sort of Day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/03/picking-up-sticks.html) - Yesterday was a such perfect day because we spent it working in the yard, and there's nothing much better than a breezy, sunny, pre-spring day digging in the dirt. (After having been under the weather for several days, I was extra grateful to feel energetic.) John raked and bagged while I cleaned out the front beds. We
- [Savoring February](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/03/savoring-february.html) - SAVORING FEBRUARY... Today is March 1. Ash Wednesday. The beginning of Lent. In the words of Dr. Seuss, how did it get so late so soon? I believe there's value in taking a look back. If we aren't mindful, it's easy to forget to remember the good. And if you've followed me for any period of time, you
- [Delta Resort & Spa! (McGehee, Ar)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/02/delta-resort-spa-mcgehee-ar.html) - I've been trying to get down to visit the Delta Resort & Spa near McGehee, Arkansas for almost a year. Finally I did! I was invited to visit and speak about my novel, The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee, at the resort's monthly Girls' Night Out event. And earlier on the same day, I did a reading in town at
- [Arkansas Delta in Purple](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/02/arkansas-delta-in-purple.html) - Right now in the Arkansas Delta, the color purple is putting on a show. Fields are dressed and ready for an early spring, the color explosion proof that the soil is warming to the point of supporting blooms. This particular bloom, common henbit, looks anything but common when it blankets an entire field. It has a
- [My love of writing (from an early age)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/02/my-love-of-writing.html) - Once there was a little girl who liked to write... In case there was ever any doubt, I present proof of my love of writing. Proof from a very early age. Proof I found at home in Momma's buffet. The bottom drawer is crammed with lots of linens and random treasures. Like these embroidered aprons. These
- [Valentine's Day 2017](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/02/valentines-day-2017.html) - Happy Valentine's Day 2017! I'm popping in to bring you Valentine greetings and to show off a sweet gift I received in the mail from my friend Dorothy. The bag, decoupaged gold and decorated with vintage style embellishments, took me back to those Valentine parties held in elementary school once upon a time. Dorothy said she's been
- [Fitzgerald Museum: how much the heart can hold](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/02/fitzgerald-museum.html) - Last April, I toured the Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. It's taken me this long to write about it. In the Beginning... They met at a country club in Montgomery, Alabama. Scott was a mid-western boy, a 2nd lieutenant assigned to a nearby infantry. He was a Princeton dropout. Zelda, an uninhibited southern belle, was the seventeen-year-old daughter of a
- [Lucy and Annabelle go to Collier Drug](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/02/collier-drug.html) - Yesterday, Lucy and Annabelle bounded right on in to Collier Drug and were greeted like the stars they think they are. If you live in Fayetteville, Arkansas, you probably already know how wonderful Collier Drug is. And if you don't, you absolutely should. Collier is a once-upon-a-time drugstore, a dying breed in this world of soul sucking chain stores.
- [The energy of Denver Street Art](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/02/denver-street-art.html) - Denver Street Art... I spent an entire day last week walking around taking pictures of Denver street art. There's so, so much! The beautiful day felt as though I'd downloaded it from a weather app, fairytale perfect—I was extremely fortunate in that regard. Denver. January. It could have been way different. Street art is technically defined as
- [Savoring January](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/01/savoring-january.html) - Did you blink? Today is the last day of January! I've done my best throughout January to savor the moments. You may or may not know I chose SAVOR as my One Little Word for 2017. And dangnabbit I plan to do it, even amid all the chaos surrounding us. The photo above depicts my visual effort to savor the
- [Glimpses of Us](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/01/glimpses-of-us.html) - You know what's cool? Having an adult son who is more than willing to hang out with his Momma and show her all around his city. You know what's strange? Walking through the Denver airport when I first arrived and being flooded with a memory I hadn't thought about in years. A memory of being
- [Gracie Lee's Anniversary and a fab GIVEAWAY!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/01/gracie-lees-anniversary-and-giveaway.html) - It's Gracie Lee's anniversary! Today marks the one year anniversary of the release of The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. To those of you who are still with me on this journey (and if you're reading, I suppose you are), a humongous thank you all the way from the bottom of my heart. No really. THANK YOU.
- [create a Creative Space](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/01/creative-space.html) - This guest room closet had nothing in it so I claimed it. Now an unused closet provides a creative space for writing, journaling, crafting, or whatever artistic endeavor strikes my fancy. And while the spot is small, small is ideal for my needs. The room itself is quiet with no distractions. If I have a houseguest, I
- [Dallas County Jury Duty - part three](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/06/dallas-county-jury-duty-part-three.html) - continued from... Part One - Dallas County Jury Duty Part Two - Dallas County Jury Duty More frightening than the common-senseless juror is the overly-eager juror who does everything to be chosen... Sitting quietly all day, she flies under the radar hiding lunacy while others display it like a favorite piece of jewelry. Yes sir. No sir.
- [Dallas County Jury Duty - part two](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/06/dallas-county-jury-duty-part-two.html) - If you missed Part One of Dallas County Jury Duty, click here to catch up... mid-way through voir dire and hell... "What would lead you to believe someone intended to distribute drugs?" the Dallas County prosecutor continued. "I would have to see him selling the drugs," came a shout from the second row. Almost everyone agreed with this disgruntled
- [Dallas County Jury Duty...part one](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/05/dallas-county-jury-dutypart-one.html) - In Dallas County, four thousand residents are summoned for jury duty every business day. Four thousand... On Tuesday, I received a jury summons. I was one of four thousand. Dread seeped from my pores. What a waste of time, time that could be spent scrubbing the bathroom grout or editing my book or rearranging my Pinterest
- [Inauguration Day. Ready or not.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/01/inauguration-day.html) - I had plans to blog today about Inauguration Day. The history behind it. The weight and magnitude of it. And how, ready or not, Inauguration Day is a great day in America. I had plans to say no matter how someone feels about Donald Trump, we can all celebrate the bigger picture and the fact
- [Mid-January Thinks and Ungoals](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/01/mid-january-thinks-ungoals.html) - Since we're on the backside of January, I thought I'd share my mid-January thinks and ungoals. If January is ideal for one thing, it's thinking and planning. And re-thinking and re-grouping. January gives us a psychological clean slate. Give me a clean slate and a piece of chalk and I will rule the world. ? I know it's early. Probably too early to
- [5 Healthy Sweet Hacks for the New Year!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/01/healthy-sweet-hacks-new-year.html) - This post is sponsored by Hiland Dairy, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. Hey, y'all! I have five healthy sweet hacks for the New Year, each made with farmer-owned Hiland Dairy products. I promise, Grace Grits and Gardening hasn't become a full out food blog (two food posts in a row), but as
- [Dallas Arboretum in Winter](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/01/dallas-arboretum-winter.html) - Hey! Just because we are smack dab in winter doesn't mean you can't visit your local arboretum. Dallas Arboretum is a wonderful place to visit any time of year, but in winter you can connect to nature, dream of spring, breathe in a little fresh air without the crowds typical of spring and summer. Not to mention,
- [Monrovia Plants fuel my gardening addiction. Even in winter.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/03/monrovia-plants-fuel-my-gardening-addiction-even-in-winter.html) - Note: Today’s post is sponsored by Monrovia, but my love for their plants is all my own. I have a problem. Even though we are in the midst of winter and experiencing wave after wave of snow and ice, I'm still gardening. Spending time at Westwood Gardens on a cold winter day is a great way
- [Turns out, I'm not a princess.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/01/not-a-princess.html) - Turns out, I'm not a princess. Not there was ever really a doubt of my lineage. But still, Papa Creecy called me a princess once or twice or a zillion times. Uncle Rex treated me like a princess. And there were a few times in college (ahem) I felt like one. Sorta. I'm not. A
- [A writer's (nano) descent into madness.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/01/writer-descent-into-madness.html) - Yesterday, I open the mailbox to discover a neat, tight envelope sealed on the end rather than the middle (which for whatever reason, appeals to me), and inside, an unexpected book. Not really a book-book, more of a chap-book, larger than pocket-sized but compact and slender and flawless. And the matte cover is fashioned from heavy, charcoal-colored card stock (or a level up
- [One Little Word 2017](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2017/01/one-little-word-2017.html) - For the past several weeks, I've been thinking about my One Little Word for 2017. If you're new to the One Little Word idea (the brainchild of blogger Ali Edwards), the essence of it is this: you choose one word and rally around it during the year. And there's something magical about it. The power of suggestion. The power of
- [Bye-bye 2016 (recapping the goodness)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/12/bye-bye-2016.html) - Bye-bye 2016... It seems most of my friends have slammed the door on 2016, so so soooooo ready to see it end. And I understand why. No matter which side of the aisle you claim, the election turned out to be a hot mess. And sorry 2016, but a year that snatched Professor Snape, Merle Haggard, and Mrs.
- [Lucy and Annabelle go to Klyde Warren Park](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/12/klyde-warren-park.html) - On the day after Christmas, Lucy and Annabelle went for a walk around Klyde Warren Park. John and I went, too, along with half of the city of Dallas. Apparently lots of people in north Texas shared our game plan—to get out, enjoy the day, and step away from the leftovers. And no one was wearing those heavy sweaters and scarves
- [On Christmas Eve night...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/12/christmas-eve-night.html) - It was a short drive we'd made hundreds of times before, yet on Christmas Eve night of my seventh year, the gravel road felt different beneath the car. From my spot in the backseat, I gazed at the glittery night. Snow-covered fields stretched beneath a moon so full it nearly swallowed the land. Momma turned up the radio when Bing Crosby
- [This Time of Year](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/12/this-time-of-year.html) - I love love love this time of year. This time of year right before Christmas. This time of year when the days are pale and cold, and the bundling up to go for a walk takes as long as the walk itself. Yesterday, I read half a book and napped on the couch underneath blankets. Two warm
- [University of Arkansas: Decking the Halls at Christmastime](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/12/university-arkansas-christmastime.html) - Yesterday, I spent some time walking around the University of Arkansas. During this almost-winter, end-of-semester, Christmas-is-a-coming season, campus has a completely different feel. The Hill is no longer packed with tailgate tents. Gone is the new fall semester excitement centering around game day. Now, students laden with backpacks and plugged into earbuds rush from here to there, briskly,
- [The Gracie Lee Hot Mess Christmas Tree](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/12/hot-mess-christmas-tree.html) - Yesterday was one of those idyllic sort of days because I spent the entire day baking and decorating my teeny two-foot tabletop Christmas tree. I'm calling it my Gracie Lee Hot Mess Christmas Tree. I decorated it totally vintage 1972, just as Gracie Lee would have done (and don't ask me how I know, I just
- [Planting Bulbs, Planting Hope](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/12/planting-bulbs-planting-hope.html) - 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
- [What I'm Giving Up for Advent](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/12/what-im-giving-up-for-advent.html) - 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
- [Oh my word, it's Thanksgiving Week!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/11/thanksgiving-week.html) - 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
- [Sister Schubert Giveaway!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/12/sister-schubert-giveaway.html) - Hey everyone, how about we get December started with a Sister Schubert Giveaway! I met Sister Schubert back in early September when she spoke at the Arkansas Women Bloggers' Megaphone Summit. I'm here to tell you that Sister Schubert is the real deal—just like her famous rolls which have enjoyed a place at our holiday table for years
- [Fredericksburg, Tx: my five takeaways](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/11/fredericksburg-tx.html) - Let's talk for a bit about Fredericksburg, Tx! What a great time we had on our recent girls' trip. I had a great excuse for going—a book signing at The Christmas Store. Yes, I spread the news of Gracie Lee to the Texas Hill Country / Wine Country / What More Could You Want Country while talking with readers about
- [Greetings from Miami!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/11/miami.html) - Greetings from Miami, y'all! Last weekend I attended the Miami Book Fair and I gotta say, it was way cool. Sunny skies, palm trees, books galore, music. But the best part? Hearing authors read and speak. With three full days of authors in multiple venues scheduled every hour, that's a lot of authors! So, highlights for me?
- [Barbie and Ken plus Gracie Lee!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/11/barbie-ken-gracie-lee.html) - Oh my goodness. I was invited to attend the Book Babes Book Club in Hot Springs on Monday and looky who was there—Barbie, Ken plus Gracie Lee! Well, I represented Gracie Lee, of course, but Cathy S (who invited me several months ago) brought along her original Barbie and Ken (and a second Barbie). Ken
- [Farm Pics from my Farm Weekend](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/11/farm-pics.html) - After five fruitful days at Hemingway-Pfeiffer, I crashed at home-home (Cottonwood Corner), as opposed to home (Fayetteville) and wrote and wrote and wrote, slept in my "own" bed, walked around the farm, and wrote some more. And I took lots of farm pics from my farm weekend. Do you know what I mean by home-home? For me,
- [Conway County Library ~ my recent visit, cool on many levels](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/11/conway-county-library.html) - The Friends of the Conway County Library recently invited me to speak on the subject on my book and writing and whatnot. This was cool on so many levels. Carnegie Library! The Conway County Public Library in Morrilton represents half of the remaining operating Carnegie libraries in the state of Arkansas. This particular library opened in 1916,
- [the morning after](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/11/morning-after-2.html) - Oh, the morning after. Brings to mind lots of things—am I right? But in this particular instance, I'm thinking about the morning after Halloween. November 1. All Saints' Day (yesterday), a solemn holy day of the Catholic Church. The day after Halloween. The day before All Souls' Day (today). That, morning after. That's the day to treasure
- [Happy Halloween! All treats, no tricks, a little snark.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/10/happy-halloween.html) - Happy Halloween everyone. I'm ready for the trick or treaters, although I need to make one more candy run because somehow I made a pre-Halloween, largish dent in my sweet stash. Running out of candy on Halloween is a bad thing for a whole lot of reasons. I don't need any tricks. Since Halloween 2016 falls on
- [Lucy and Annabelle review BarkBox](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/10/barkbox-review.html) - It was bound to happen. Lucy and Annabelle now have their own subscription to BarkBox. If you have dogs, I'm sure you've seen the ads pop up on your Facebook feed. Lucy and Annabelle heard about BarkBox from their dog friends (not really), so I ordered it for them (really). They've been extra good schnauzers this year, and Christmas came
- [somethin' bout War Eagle](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/10/war-eagle.html) - Y'all, there's just somethin' 'bout War Eagle. It's a state of mind. Almost a love story. Definitely a special sort of spot in the Ozarks. A couple of weeks ago, I visited for the first time. How crazy is that? I've known about it forever. Of course during most of forever, I lived in Dallas. So while
- [Notes from another fabulous Book Club](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/10/notes-from-book-club.html) - Yesterday I attended a book club in Lavaca, Arkansas. Lavaca, near Van Buren (which is near Fort Smith) reminded me of Savage Crossing. Boy, everything about this book club was a home run. And I'm gonna tell you why. Beginning with the SETTING. Lynn, the host of this book club, lives on a ranch / farm.
- [WANTED: My very own Geek.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/10/my-very-own-geek.html) - Yesterday, if I'd stumbled upon a genie bottle with a real live genie inside, I'd have rubbed it, as one does, and when the genie floated out in a stream of purple vapor, I would have wished for only one thing. My very own Geek. Oh, what I would have given for the Geek Squad to pull up
- [Book Club Ideas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/09/book-club-ideas.html) - Last week I attended yet another fabulous book club and walked away with a few fun book club ideas you can implement in your own club. Seriously, one of the most enjoyable and unexpected things about being a published author is attending book clubs and talking about your own book. This particular book club was hosted by Jo
- [Fabulous Fall Decorating, Thrift Store Prices!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/09/fall-decorating.html) - Today is the first day of fall, which means I'm talking fall decorating. If your house is like mine, both the inside and outside could use a little spiffing up for autumn. My potted plants look tired, and I know even a simple pumpkin on the porch will do much to detract from the lingering heat. I'm
- [If Fall was a place...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/08/if-fall-was-a-song.html) - Fall hangs just around the corner. I sense it in the breeze and especially in the shade when we walk Lucy and Annabelle. The leaves are beginning to change on the trees in Northwest Arkansas, and this makes me so-so-SO happy. If fall was a place, I'd look forward to returning each year, excited to see familiar sights and
- [art of the TAILGATE!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/art-of-the-tailgate.html) - Wooo to the pig! We are only days away from the beginning of college football 2015. I'm so ready I made a collage to get you in the spirit. Art of the Tailgate. It's an enormous thing. A few things to dream and scheme about while counting down to your first tailgate (feel free to imagine your favorite mascot/school
- [my favorite things about baking...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/08/my-favorite-things-about-baking.html) - For most folks the end result of baking—the cake or pie or cookies—is the ultimate prize, but my favorite things about baking involve the details. Silly basic things you may never have given a second thought. You: What sort of things? Me: Thanks for asking. Things like... reading old recipes ~ Old recipes come with smudged fingerprints
- [OCTOBER Goodreads Giveaway!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/10/october-goodreads-giveaway.html) - Hey everyone and Happy October! To celebrate my favorite month, I'm hosting an October Goodreads Giveaway. I'll be giving away three signed copies of The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee at the end of the month. Enter today over on Goodreads by clicking the button at the bottom of the page. But first, my top ten reasons
- [hiking Devil's Eyebrow](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/10/devils-eyebrow.html) - Devil's Eyebrow, near Eureka Springs, is a natural area consisting of stream beds, ravines, and old logging roads. Until 2012, it was privately owned land. Now, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) and the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC) co-own and manage this gorgeous spot in the Ozarks. Before I go any further let me emphasize—a
- [Columbus Day and Me](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/10/columbus-day-and-me.html) - In Fourteen Hundred Ninety-Two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. And not that long ago, I worked at State Bank and Trust. During my tenure at State Bank and Trust, Columbus Day was one of my absolute favorite holidays. Not because of my overwhelming love for the man (although he could rock a hat), but because
- [My VERY Hungry Caterpillars](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/09/monarch-caterpillars.html) - Do you remember the children's picture book by Eric Carle titled The Very Hungry Caterpillar? Well, I have my own very hungry caterpillars, and they are so much fun to watch. Yes, I know they aren't really "mine", but I've been cultivating a butterfly garden since we moved here, and now that they're here, I
- [Lessons from Linus](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/10/lessons-linus.html) - Linus said there are three things we should never talk about—politics, religion, and the Great Pumpkin. Woo boy. I think the only thing we can safely talk about right now is the Great Pumpkin. This is the ideal time to take a deep breath and remember those childhood lessons from Linus. Because of all the Peanuts gang members,
- [Fall Foraged Decor](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/fall-foraged-decor.html) - I like to decorate with natural elements. Plants growing in the fields or along the ditch bank. Flowers from my garden. Pumpkins and gourds and apples from the farmer's market. Take a look at a few of my fall foraged decorating ideas. Yes, I use the term foraged loosely (creative writing, y'all). Foraged from the closet or flea
- [working on my fall porch decor](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/fall-porch-decor.html) - Fall is the best season for decorating a porch. Think about it. Most anything rustic, scary or harvest related will work. Throw in a few pumpkins, gourds and/or mums and you've created an autumn vignette to see you through to Thanksgiving. We purchased these heavy clay pots years ago at Jackson's Home and Garden, Dallas' ultimate
- [get thee to The Junk Ranch](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/get-thee-to-the-junk-ranch.html) - Yesterday I spent the afternoon at The Junk Ranch in Prairie Grove. If you live in Northwest Arkansas and are looking for something to do today, GO. Admission Saturday (today) is $5. You will find plenty of antiques, vintage, repurposed, primitive and homemade items plus live music and good food spread over 35 acres of
- [New Gracie Lee T-shirt for Fall!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/08/gracie-lee-t-shirt-for-fall.html) - Hey, y'all! Check out my new long-sleeve Gracie Lee t-shirt just in time for fall! They come in two comfort colors—seafoam and paprika. I love them both! I only have a few in each size so if you're interested, order without delay. Larger sizes this time!! Gracie Lee Long-Sleeve T-shirt Seafoam - Medium $18.00 USD Paprika
- [The Meaning of Friendship](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/09/the-meaning-of-friendship.html) - Yesterday was National Friendship Day, and we can't let that go by without a mention. Last night I scribbled down a few ideas about what makes a great friend and how to nurture your friendships, but everything I wrote sounded cliche and sophomoric because, really, drilling down to a specific definition of friendship is like trying
- [DIY Halloween Decor - Realistically Creepy Ideas!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/10/how-to-decorate-for-halloween.html) - This time of year I look at the world through orange-tinted glasses. While I may only appear to be walking the dogs, deadheading flowers, or grocery shopping, I'm planning my Halloween decor. I'm studying broken tree limbs and produce aisle bins filled with root vegetables wondering—can I turn this into a Halloween decoration? Rather than
- [Drive, Pray, Love](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2012/09/drive-pray-love.html) - Once upon a time I stumbled out of bed, drove the kids to school super early, and made it to work on the opposite end of the city by 8:00 a.m. For several years, Kelsey and Tate attended school at two different campuses making the drive even crazier. On lunchroom duty days, or when there
- [Gracie Lee and Eudora Welty ~ common connections...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/gracie-lee-and-eudora-welty.html) - The protagonist of my book, Gracie Lee Eudora Abbott, has an obvious connection with Eudora Welty. But there are not so obvious connections, too, that you will begin to understand as you read The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. Eudora Welty is one of my favorite American writers. Just before Christmas when I wrote about the setting for my novel, I
- [three days in New York City](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/08/three-days-in-new-york-city.html) - We just returned from a whirlwind three days in New York City, and by "we" I mean my sister, Staci, my niece, Taylor, and me. It was Taylor's Sweet 16 birthday trip, and I've declared from here on out, this is destined to be an annual girls' trip. Not necessarily to New York, but to somewhere. Because travel is
- [garden music all around](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/08/garden-music.html) - Yesterday an hour before sunset, Lucy, Annabelle and I went for an afternoon walk. The dreamy light provided a natural picture-taking filter, like garden music I could almost hear and definitely see. The Headquarters House is only one block from our house. Filled with old-fashioned flowers and green space, we pretend it's our own park and ignore the thick,
- [My view from today.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/my-view-from-today.html) - Today is significant. If I were to draw a line in the sand to separate yesterday from tomorrow, today would be that line. The end of a part of my life. The beginning of something new. My view from today is much like the view from the top of a Ferris wheel. Today, our youngest is moving to
- [Olympic Memories. Then and Now.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/08/olympic-memories-then-and-now.html) - Our entire family waited for the Olympics to start, and we watched every night. Momma popped a huge skillet of popcorn, slightly burned because that's how Daddy liked it, and we ate in front of the television. Another night we had chocolate pudding in individual bowls because that was Daddy's favorite dessert. A Romanian girl named Nadia Comaneci dominated. We were the
- [The Patriotic Porch](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/06/the-patriotic-porch.html) - Last week I shared a few easy ways to decorate your house and garden for the 4th of July. If you missed it, click HERE. Today, I'm focusing on the porch. A patriotic porch extends summer's favorite celebration beyond the inside of your home. We are lucky to have three porches—a front wraparound porch, a back
- [You know what's fun? New mascara, book clubs, deodorant, Peyton Manning... I could go on.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/08/you-know-whats-fun.html) - You know what's fun? Being invited to attend a book club when your own book is the book of the month. Know what's even funner (besides saying funner)? Arriving the night before only to discover you left all your makeup at home. Cue sarcasm. First world problem, I know, I know, but still... Here's the thing.
- [a little writing, a little painting](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/07/writing-painting.html) - A couple of people asked me yesterday, "What have you been doing?" Okay, really, no one has asked me that, but maybe someone has been wondering because I haven't blogged for several days. Several days is a long time for me. So here's what I've been doing—I've been writing plenty. I'm working on something new. And, not
- [I'm writing in the woods](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/07/writing-in-the-woods.html) - Five years ago if someone asked me where I'd be today, I don't know what I would have said. But I wouldn't have said writing in the woods. The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow might have been my answer if I played a game of eenie-meenie-miney-moe with multiple choice answers. In my mind, any place with "colony" attached to it was highly sketchy.
- [It's a Tarzan thing.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/07/tarzan.html) - It's true. I have a thing for Tarzan. We go way back. As a kid I never missed a Saturday afternoon Tarzan movie, especially when Johnny Weissmuller played the part. He was legit . A hero. A survivor. He was one with the jungle and rode an elephant like nobody's business. I wanted to be Jane. I wanted
- [Shout out to plants growing in solid rock!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/07/plants-growing-in-rock.html) - How about a shout out to all those plants growing in solid rock? They grow with such tenacity and flourish without effort. Seeds slipping into cracks. Tender roots squeezing through boulders, concrete, asphalt, sheer cliffs, sidewalks. A miracle, really. Growing naturally, enthusiastically. And I can breathe better because of it. Can't you? Thank you
- [L is for Lake](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/04/l-is-for-lake.html) - In my family, we count down to our annual lake trip as though we are jetting off to Bora Bora. Those not born into our family (i.e. husbands*) do not share in our delight. Oh, they are supportive of our lake love, and once every five years or so even accompany us, but they see little
- [Things I Found in Florida](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/07/things-found-florida.html) - Yes, I'm still blogging about my recent road trip, and today I'm thinking about the things I found in Florida. Cool things. Abstract ideas. Simple stuff. Like what? Like after all these years, I discovered exactly where she sells seashells by the seashore. the S. S. Minnow. that I don't care for boiled peanuts. I know, I know,
- [Fifty-four things I know so far.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/07/fifty-four-things-i-know-so-far.html) - I'm grateful to be celebrating another birthday at the lake with family. After fifty-four trips around the sun, I should know a few things. Maybe? So while sitting on the porch drinking coffee, I jotted down a quick list of fifty-four things I've learned so far. Less is more. Be yourself. Celebrate tradition. Wear sunscreen. Laughter really
- [A different shade of dark.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/07/dallas-sniper-attack.html) - Do you remember how you felt on September 11? I do. Afraid. Panicked. Sad. Worried for my children. I literally expected the sky to fall around me. BUT, the Dallas sniper attack on Thursday night represents a different shade of dark. It feels like the worst sort of bad. To me, when Americans attack Americans on American soil,
- [Happy Independence Day to you!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/07/happy-independence-day.html) - Happy Independence Day, America! Did you know...? Thirty-three-year-old Katherine Bates wrote America the Beautiful after hiking to Pike's Peak. "It was then and there, as I was looking out over the sea-like expanse of fertile country spreading away so far under those ample skies, that the opening lines of the hymn floated into my mind." (biography.com via Library
- [My Summer Bucket List](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/06/summer-bucket-list.html) - Hip hooray for another summer (yay!). Because I'm a list-making sort of person, I decided a summer bucket list was in order. This isn't likely a generic, appeal-to-everyone summer bucket list, but it's what I hope to do. And maybe it will inspire you to come up with your own list. Lists help me get things
- [Slow on Sunday Morning.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/06/sunday-morning-coming.html) - A few simple pics for this slow Sunday morning, a recap of our weekend so far. I'll admit it's been extra long because I spent half of Friday thinking the day was Saturday. When you have two Saturdays, you end up with a three-day weekend. Slow Sunday morning from my back porch. Saturday night grilling. Cause sometimes you
- [those first best childhood friends...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/06/childhood-friends.html) - One of the best things I've done in a long while was spend time with these childhood friends. I consider myself sooooo fortunate to have attended school from Headstart through twelfth grade with many of the same people. (Headstart was a program started in 1965 for low-income kids who needed a "head start" before first grade, and we
- [Lake Day!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/07/lake-day.html) - Once we left the flat delta, we studied the trees, searching for the lake. The first one to see the water shimmering through the Ozark trees won. There wasn't a real prize, the thrill of that first glimpse was prize enough. "I see it!" "Girls, it's still at least an hour away." I returned to my
- [a simple week after a busy week](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/06/a-simple-week-after-a-busy-week.html) - My first week home after nearly two weeks traveling was a nice blur of doing nothing much. It always takes me a few days to get back into my regular writing routine, and there are the accompanying chores that go along with traveling—the unpacking and laundry doing and reading mail and paying bills and pulling weeds and
- [Lessons from Daddy](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/06/lessons-from-daddy.html) - For Father's Day...lessons from Daddy. But first. How cute is this picture of Momma and Daddy? They are newly married—look at the sparkle on his wedding band. He's making homemade ice cream, probably vanilla, and she's wearing an adorable dress, with perfect lipstick and eyebrows! Love it. Now, lessons from Daddy... (not in order of
- [Rusted Ford Trucks (a short story waiting to be written)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/06/rusted-ford-trucks-florida.html) - This rusted Ford truck collection on the side of the road just south of Crawfordville, Florida (Highway 319), is exactly the sort of thing that causes me to stop and spend some time exploring. THIS is what makes a road trip a road trip. Seeing those things you wouldn't normally see if you, say, hopped on a
- [Ten Tips for a Fun Family Reunion!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/06/ten-tips-fun-family-reunion.html) - Here in the South we are all about "the reunion". Family reunion, church reunion, class reunion... If you belong to a group of some sort—and of course you do!—there's a good chance you'll receive an invitation to a reunion before the end of summer. You may even be asked to plan it. Today I'm sharing my ten tips
- [Yoda's summer house, I found.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/06/leon-sinks.html) - Yoda's summer home, I found. Deep within the remote river swamps of the Apalachicola National Forest, he lives. Magnificent and beautiful, the area called to me, in a dark force sort of way. Signs warned of alligators and bears. On high alert, I was, watching, mindful ever. Yoda's friends, I glimpsed—lizards and swallowtail butterflies. Hidden, alligators and bears stayed
- [Scenes from a Book Club](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/06/scenes-book-club.html) - Y'all—one of the most fun things about being an author is being invited to attend a book club when your own book is being discussed! I've already participated in three book clubs in Texas (one via Skype), and I just attended my first one in Fayetteville last Thursday night. Through the years, I've been part of various book clubs. Each
- [WWII Letters of Reverend L. T. Lawrence](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/05/the-wwii-letters-of-reverend-lawrence.html) - Reverend L. T. Lawrence served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Osceola during WWII. The Mississippi County Historical & Genealogical Society recently devoted an entire Delta Review publication to Reverend Lawrence. Lib Shippen, Treasurer of the historical society, spent hours and hours of her time on this project. It's special and perfect for
- [Baylor Football. From where I sit.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/05/baylor-football.html) - As a Baylor alumna and a college football fan, I feel the need to speak out on the Baylor news clogging my Twitter feed. As usual, these are my opinions based on what I've read, what I feel, what I believe. Observations from where I sit. And I sit 427 miles away from the beautiful old
- [Turnrows: Farm is the New Hip](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/05/turnrows.html) - Do you know about Turnrows? Turnrows is a hip boutique in Jonesboro, Arkansas that you need to visit if you like farming and the Delta and southern casual clothing and accessories. And eating... Yes, farm is the new hip. And guess what? Even if you don't live in Northeast Arkansas, you can still visit because there's an
- [Drained of words but 'bout to get my shine on...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/05/get-my-shine-on.html) - In the here and now I feel tired and drained of words because I'm a homebody who hasn't been home much lately. Home is my recharge place. I need home the same way I crave quiet. And there's no place I'd rather be right now than where I am at this moment—sitting on my back porch listening
- [Life is a Highway](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/05/life-is-a-highway.html) - It's true. Life is a highway, and a portion of mine has been spent on Interstate 35 from Dallas to Austin. Dallas holds the most memories, some so fresh I can remember particular smells or what I thought at the time. Some memories hit me unexpectedly, carrying me back twenty years or more. Waco is midway between
- [Eureka Springs to Dallas.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/05/eureka-springs-dallas.html) - Eureka Springs to Dallas may sound like a railroad line, but it's the most recent route on my book signing adventure. Yesterday, I drove it without benefit of a dining car. Just a quick post to let you know I'm alive and well and waking up in North Texas this morning. I had a blast on
- [Finding your Why: a little graduation advice...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/05/finding-little-graduation-advice.html) - When my son graduated from the University of Arkansas last May, the commencement address was given by Donnie Smith, CEO of Tyson Foods. His inspirational, "go get 'em" message challenged the graduates to do great things and change the world. He quoted Mark Twain. The two most important days in your life are the day you
- [the unexpected side of Home Tour](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/05/unexpected-side-home-tour.html) - We've been on home tour before. We participated in the Munger Place Home Tour in East Dallas, so we know about the pain and pleasure of having a cleaner-than-it'll-ever-ever-ever-be-again house. But there's an unexpected side of Home Tour I'd forgotten until this past weekend when we participated in the Washington Elementary Home Tour. Things beyond the sparkle
- [add a bit of Farm Flair](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/05/farm-flair.html) - It's showtime! Today is the Washington Elementary Home Tour in Fayetteville and our home is part of the lineup. All week, we've readied the house (mostly working in the yard because that's what we love to do), but also we've cleaned and polished and straightened up things so folks can walk through without tripping over dog
- [hanging with Elvis in Tupelo...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/05/elviss-birthplace.html) - Oh, you know, I'm just hanging with Elvis as one does, especially when one visits Tupelo. Quick story: I was invited to the Alabama Book Festival and immediately said YES not only because—Book Festival!—but also because to get there from here, I would drive smack through Tupelo and into the depths of Mississippi Blues land. Tupelo is
- [Gracie Lee travels the world...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/05/gracie-lee-travels-the-world.html) - While I do book signings right here in Arkansas, Gracie Lee travels the world. She's free as a bird, a regular globetrotter who apparently has friends in high places. I'm thrilled that folks have tucked The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee into their precious limited carry-on space, taken a part of me on their fabulous jaunts, and shared pictures. And OhTheCoolPlaces my friends (and friends
- [one week until HOME TOUR!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/home-tour.html) - Sometime, months and months ago, we were asked if we'd include our home on the annual tour of homes. And by "we", I mean me. I can't blame John. He was out of town. Yes! Of course. How fun!!! I clearly remember talking to my neighbor about it. I was outside with the dogs. Lucy gave me
- [The Purple Ribbon](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/the-purple-ribbon.html) - Breaking the silence is a family affair at The Purple Ribbon in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Not only does this thrift store open its doors to shoppers, but the store offers a safe haven for victims of domestic violence. Hey y'all—I don't have many guest blog posts but this article was written by my friend, Laurie Reichart. Laurie is working to
- [my Deep South Road Trip](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/deep-south-road-trip.html) - I just spent three days on a perfect deep south road trip soaking up the things that inspire me most. It was a whirlwind tour filled with music and literature and history and a heavy dose of natural beauty. And good food, too. My perfect road trip centered around the Alabama Book Festival and while selling books and connecting with others
- [Visiting Heber Springs, Arkansas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/heber-springs-arkansas.html) - A couple of weeks ago I spent some time in Heber Springs, Arkansas. It was my first visit to this charming town in the central part of the state. Not sure how that's even possible. When I visit a new place, especially if I'm traveling alone, I explore. I search for the library and I seek out the old historic cemetery because to
- [when I think of Alabama...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/when-i-think-of-alabama.html) - When I think of Alabama, I think of Carlene, my mom's college roommate, and her son Gary, and how we visited them a long, long time ago, and while I want to say it was summer it couldn't have been because of the clothes we wore. Those memories are preserved forever by faded polaroid pictures. I thought their
- [Nineteen Seventy Something](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/growing-up.html) - I grew up in Nineteen Seventy Something. I know I sound extra old when I reminisce about my good old days, but hey, I've been somewhat immersed in that time period. Writing a book will do that. The Delta is an interesting place for me. It's the place I feel comfortable and at home, the place that fits
- [a certain slant of sunlight...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/slant-of-sunlight.html) - I know right off when the day is destined to be a good one. I can tell by the slant of sunlight through my kitchen window. This simple ray of sunshine, as yellow as the apples it shines upon, sends me working out into the yard all day long. The world could turn upside down
- [Dear Gracie Lee Fan Club Members,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/dear-gracie-lee-fan-club-members.html) - Dear Gracie Lee Fan Club Members, I like the way this is going so far. I am so blown away by the way friends and family and people I've never met have embraced The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. I don't know what I expected, but I certainly didn't expect such excitement. The fact that anyone
- [my Little Free Library runneth over with books!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/little-free-library-books-syp-publishing.html) - What timing. A couple of weeks ago, I returned from Austin to find my Little Free Library almost completely empty. Sometimes the "take a book, leave a book" idea leaves my library out of balance, and that's okay because—think about it—if you go for a walk and happen upon a Little Free Library that contains a book you
- [I had a Frog and Toad moment.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/frog-and-toad-moment.html) - It seems like only yesterday when my sister, cousin Lesa, and I entertained ourselves for hours on end acting out stories from Frog and Toad. If you don't know what on earth I'm talking about, well I'm sorry. Frog and Toad Together was Newbery Honor book two in a four part series written by Arnold Lobel. Greatness.
- [Gracie Lee's Spaceship Squash](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/spaceship-squash.html) - When Gracie Lee's Momma let the girls buy seed packets at Savage Crossing Hardware, Gracie Lee chose spaceship squash for obvious reasons—the squash looked like a flying saucer and flying saucers were intriguing. The variety was really called patty pan squash. The odd name caught her attention too. Patty pan squash is a "bush" squash meaning is doesn't vine like other
- [I toured American Greetings!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/toured-american-greetings.html) - All my life, American Greetings has been a magical mystery to me. A rather serious looking building, it spreads low on the flat delta landscape even wrapping around its own private lake. And although located only a few miles from where I grew up, I'd never stepped foot inside. Until a few weeks ago. Being a writer sometimes has its
- [These Students at Blytheville Middle School...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/blytheville-middle-school.html) - Y'all, these students at Blytheville Middle School...this is what it's all about. You never know where this crazy life will take you, and how one decision can change you in ways you never anticipated, but that's how writing has been for me. The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee has led me to doors I would have otherwise
- [Capital Hotel, Little Rock.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/capital-hotel-little-rock.html) - If you have an opportunity to stay overnight at the Capital Hotel in Little Rock, thank your lucky stars and do not hesitate for even a half second. This is a no dilly-dallying around decision. The Capital Hotel, called Little Rock's front porch, oozes classic southern charm from your first step onto the sidewalk out front until
- [Dear April,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/04/dear-april.html) - Dear April, March was a whirlwind (literally and figuratively) and now here we are. April One. Winter is gone. Spring is here for real. April reminds me of Easter, even though this year, Easter has already come and gone. Some of my favorite flowers bloom in April—tulips, daffodils, iris. I love to walk through the aisles of Westwood Gardens
- [The whole television thing...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/whole-television-thing.html) - Yesterday I was invited to talk about The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee with Alyse Eady, local THV11 Little Rock news anchor, and food blogger Debbie Arnold (Dining with Debbie). The whole television thing was interesting and fun and completely new to me. I had no idea what to expect which was a good thing because I didn't have a
- [Gracie Lee's Favorite Strawberry Cupcakes](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/gracie-lees-favorite-strawberry-cake.html) - Man alive this is good. I'm making Gracie Lee's favorite strawberry cupcakes for tomorrow's THV11 food segment with Dining with Debbie. This was my Nana's strawberry cake recipe but I decided to go with cupcakes for easier transport to Little Rock. I've blogged about it before. HERE's the recipe. It's worth talking about again. This recipe
- [Craft: Seed Packet Party Favor](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/seed-packet-party-favor.html) - We southern girls are all about the party favor, am I right? The way I see it, if people will go to the trouble of coming to one of my book signings, they won't be leaving empty handed. So in keeping with the whole GraceGritsGarden theme, I've been making seed packets for my next book
- [This is how it starts, the happiness of spring. ???](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/happiness-of-spring.html) - Spring has sprung in my garden and I'm feeling the happiness of spring. I worried about my tulips when our temperature plunged to a rude 25 degrees a few days ago, but bulbs are hardy and they were unfazed. Last night we had wicked weather and I spent some time in my safe place. I felt a little silly sitting in
- [I'm gonna be on television! (and other book news to peruse)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/book-news.html) - I have a bit of book news for you. Television: On Tuesday, March 29, I'll be on the THV11 morning news segment (Little Rock) with my friend Debbie Arnold (Dining with Debbie). We'll be talking about The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee and cooking up a few of Gracie Lee's favorite recipes. Fun! Book Signings: Be sure to
- [Happy Sunday! Happy Spring!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/happy-sunday-happy-spring.html) - Just a quick post to say Happy Sunday, Happy Spring, and go away winter. Today is the first day of spring but it doesn't feel like it. I'm so over this cold weather. When I left Austin it was 92—not that I look forward to the hot summer because I don't—but tonight our low in Fayetteville is
- [Home from Texas.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/home-from-texas.html) - When I was a kid, Momma always said "Home again, home again, jiggity jig," whenever we pulled into the carport. Actually, she still does, and so of course, sometimes I do too. After a week in Austin with my daughter, it feels good to be home from Texas. But Austin was fantastic as Austin always is.
- [Blue and the Bluebonnets](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/blue-and-the-bluebonnets.html) - Meet Blue. Blue belongs to my daughter, Kelsey, and she belongs to him, and they live in Austin where the bluebonnets are in full bloom. It's a great relationship except for the fact that she broke her ankle and he's a puppy with tons of energy and they live in an upstairs apartment and she's in law school
- [Your Top Five People](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/your-top-five-people.html) - Have you ever stopped to think that your perception of everything is shaped at least in part by the company you keep? For a few moments, think about the five people you spend the most time with. Or seven people. Pick a number. Now consider this—you become the people you spend the most time with. I
- [I bought a new car.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/i-bought-a-new-car.html) - Did I mention, I bought a new car? Well, I did. I'll admit it's nice to have all the bells and whistles and technological advances that happen after ten or so years. And ahhh, that fresh out of the factory car smell. But, at first, I resisted the whole idea of trading in my old car. I
- [So what am I working on these days?](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/what-am-i-working-on.html) - What am I working on? Lots of things. I'm having a hard time concentrating on one particular thing because there's so much I want to be doing, as well as things that need my attention. Rabbits. I've been chasing rabbits. And speaking of rabbits, you must read my friend Gary Henderson's post about Rabbit Holes. Especially you
- [Dear March,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/03/dear-march.html) - Dear March, If I individually track the next thirty-one days, each is likely to feel different. Drizzle. Thunderstorms. Warm sunshine. Days of dreary cold and maybe even snow, weather to remind us we aren't out of the winter woods yet. And your howling wind! Are you announcing yourself? Or maybe the biting wind should be blamed on Ole Man Winter
- [a peek inside: Fayetteville Whole Foods](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/a-peek-inside-fayetteville-whole-foods.html) - Fayetteville's first Whole Foods opens next week with a "bread-breaking" on March 2. As a blogger, I took advantage of the invitation to peek inside the new store. And as someone who moved from East Dallas where we had a Whole Foods and a Trader Joe's within a few blocks of our house, I'm excited. I believe
- ["The Woods"](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/the-woods.html) - "The Woods" provided mystery. "The only patch of woods in our flat world of cotton and soybean fields passed the window in a dark blur." Kids see the world through creative and colorful lenses, their imaginations pushed to high gear. If you've read my book, The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee, you know about this particular stand of trees. Gracie Lee
- [Lucy and Annabelle go to Zuppa Zuppa Soup Kitchen](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/lucy-and-annabelle-go-to-zuppa-zuppa-soup-kitchen.html) - Last Saturday, Lucy and Annabelle went to Zuppa Zuppa Soup Kitchen. The spring-like weather had all of us headed outside, and besides, Ann Harris, owner of Zuppa Zuppa, was introducing a soup in honor of Gracie Lee—Amazing Gracie Chicken and Dumplings! A Gracie Lee favorite, for sure. Since Zuppa Zuppa Soup Kitchen is one of the food trucks at
- [Accidental Cinderella...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/accidental-cinderella.html) - Thursday night I felt like Cinderella. Accidental Cinderella. Confession: I'm no fashion plate. I normally wear Converse tennis shoes and logo t-shirts, and my favorite jeans have patches on the knees. BUT, Thursday night, I got dressed up (for me), added extra eye liner (which may have been a mistake), and even wore a bejeweled necklace on
- [RIP friend...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/rip-friend.html) - Today I intended to write about my weekend and the spring-like weather and how my tulips and daffodils are peeking through the soil and how one incredible thing after another happened including I got a new car! And, all these things are true. Maybe I'll write about them tomorrow. But today? Today, I sit and stare into
- [Be like Gracie Lee.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/be-like-gracie-lee.html) - I've said it before. There's a little bit of Gracie Lee in all of us. The good and the bad. The real. The insecure. The humorous. She doesn't automatically believe everything she's told by the adults in her life, and although she's only ten years old, she worries about things going on in the world, at school,
- [a garland of bicycles](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/paper-source-bicycle-garland.html) - First of all, I'm required to tell you this Paper Source bicycle garland was provided to me free of charge, but as usual, opinions are my own. Second of all, since moving to Fayetteville, I'll admit that I miss being able to pop into Paper Source at Northpark Mall. It was my go-to wonderland for cards and
- [That Bookstore: It's a wrap!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/that-bookstore-in-blytheville-its-a-wrap.html) - THANK YOU to all of Mississippi County and beyond, to everyone who came to my first book signing at That Bookstore in Blytheville. If I used all of my colored pencils and only the best words I know, I couldn't have written a better day. It's a wrap, but I don't want to forget a second of it.
- [there's no place like home](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/theres-no-place-like-home.html) - There's no place like home, that's for sure. And oh my goodness, so far my week back home in Mississippi County has been so much fun and a whirlwind of activity. I was invited to speak at the Osceola Rotary Club on Tuesday and they fed me very well. They made me promise to return
- [hometown charm](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/hometown-charm.html) - It feels surreal to be home, home on the farm (cue Home on the Range) and see my picture plastered all over town and all over the house. There's some hometown charm going on, and I owe a big thank you to Jason Stark of Osceola Printing for the eye-popping posters and flyers. Not only did he
- [My 1,000th Blog Post: GIVEAWAY and book signing NEWS!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/1000th-blog-post-giveaway-book-signing-news.html) - News and a Giveaway: Today marks my 1,000th blog post. That's so crazy to me. I wrote my first post in January 2012 while sitting at the Osceola Public Library. I had recently left my Dallas banking job and was thinking about writing a book. And just so you know, there's lots of "thinking about writing
- [Dear February,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/02/dear-february.html) - Dear February, When I think of you, I remember Valentine's Day parties with classmates and cards with silly sayings and lots of homemade sugary treats. I think of heart-shaped boxes—the (now considered) vintage ones covered in lace and satin—boxes that were typically more exciting than the candies inside. I poked my finger into the bottom of each
- [Gracie Lee and the Bean Rooster](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/gracie-lee-bean-rooster.html) - Gracie Lee and the Bean Rooster is not the title of a children's picture book, (not yet anyway). What I'm talking about is the bean rooster picture families displayed on kitchen walls during the 1960s and 1970s. Some of my younger readers may not have experienced the joy of the bean rooster. Back during the days of Paint-By-Number, when we
- [The question I get asked most...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/the-question-i-get-asked-most.html) - Today I'm going to answer the question I get asked most these days. And it's the BEST QUESTION EVER! But first I need to say it—I'm a published author. Today is official release day. I know you're tired of hearing about it, but I couldn't let this day pass without some sort of update. This
- [Book Launch Eve!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/book-launch-eve.html) - It's Book Launch Eve and I have several book related things to talk about today (surprise, surprise) including a giveaway, launch parties, chocolate and wine! (This post is sponsored by The Women Bloggers for Kendal King Group, Ghirardelli Chocolate and Josh Cellars. Of course, all opinions about chocolate, wine, and my book are my own.) Goodreads
- [I'm with Gracie Lee T-shirt!  (and other book news)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/gracie-lee-t-shirt.html) - Yesterday on Facebook, I showed you my cute I'm with Gracie Lee t-shirt. Thanks to my blogger friend, Amanda Farris, you, too, can have your own Gracie Lee t-shirt. There are two styles. Both are super soft and comfy and ideal for wearing while reading, hint, hint. Supplies are limited, so if you want one, order asap.
- [Bad Mountain. I can't get my fill.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/bad-mountain-i-cant-get-my-fill.html) - This is the first time I've written a blog post only to showcase a musical pairing—Union Hill by Bad Mountain. I believe music has a way of tapping into buried emotion, a way of carrying us back to our roots or uncovering long forgotten memories. That's why I always include a musical pairing with each blog post. Believe it
- [One Book, New Book. Take my Accidental Survey!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/accidental-survey.html) - You know all those silly games we play on Facebook? Like what color is your animal spirit and what tree would you be if you could be a tree? Well, I have a game for you to kick off this hump day. My One Book, New Book Accidental Survey is fun with multiple choice questions and no right or
- [Lucy and Annabelle go to Dallas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/lucy-and-annabelle-go-to-dallas.html) - It had been over a year since Lucy and Annabelle visited Dallas, but they traveled back for Christmas. Oh, there's nothing quite like a holiday road trip, and the girls know when they queue into their crates, an adventure awaits. An adventure greater than a schnauzer hair appointment a short trip to the veterinarian. Thankfully, our trip
- [Hold on—Ten Days until Book Release.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/ten-days-until-book-release.html) - With ten days until book release, I have news to share and dates for you to keep in mind including how you can read the entire third chapter of my book in advance. With ten days until book release, be prepared. This is all I'm focused on. Goodreads. I have a Goodreads Author Page. It feels surreal
- [It is you.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/happy-anniversary.html) - I cannot believe how quickly seventeen years has passed. Scary-fast, but what an adventure so far. Happy anniversary to us! Happy Saturday, y'all! Grace Grits and Gardening Farm. Food. Garden. Life. Musical Pairing: Natalie Prass, It is You
- [Paper Source: Upcycle Last Year's Calendar](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/paper-source-calendar.html) - I'm loving these crafty items I made from my 2015 Paper Source calendar. Think about it. Since 2015 is a wrap, there's no need to keep an old calendar, right? Well... in some cases, the calendar is much too pretty to toss. What's a clutter-adverse paper enthusiast to do? Upcycle the art into notecards and bookmarks and file folders,
- [Letter Writing: 52 handwritten letters](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/letter-writing.html) - Lewis Carroll said, "Man is an animal who writes letters." Last year I vowed to write 52 handwritten letters. Seemed like a fabulous idea at the time. A few people have asked me how I did with my letter writing. My answer depends upon whether you are a half-full or half-empty sort of person. I wrote 30.
- [One Little Word: 2016](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/one-little-word-2016.html) - Yay! I'm back. My blog has been down for three days due to host server problems beyond my control (nasty hackers!), but I'm back. While you may have appreciated the break from my constant ramblings, it was a long three days for me. Having all my blog work in limbo was a helpless feeling. On the other hand,
- [How to Upcycle your Christmas Cards](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/upcycle-christmas-cards.html) - Christmas 2015 is a wrap. I put all my decorations away yesterday, and now my house looks bare. I seriously can't remember what I had on my dining room table before Christmas. After hauling all the containers back into the garage, I'm left with a stack of pretty Christmas cards from friends and family. I don't
- [Comfort Books](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/comfort-books.html) - Do you have a stack of comfort books? Books you return to time and again, especially in the winter months when your body only wants to crawl beneath a cozy quilt and read, read, read? Or it that just me? I call these my macaroni and cheese books, rich and satisfying to the soul, and as comfortable as an
- [because every author needs a special book signing pen!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/because-every-author-needs-a-stunning-book-signing-pen.html) - Look what I got for Christmas! Santa (John) was good to me. Before Christmas, I looked for an interesting pen at the New York Public Library gift shop. I wanted a special pen, one specifically to be used at book signings. I didn't buy anything (although the shop was very cool). And can I just say, the New York Public
- [Dear January,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2016/01/dear-january.html) - Dear January, After the explosion of holiday glitter and year-end festivities, you provide a place of calm and quiet. We humans love to mark everything in stretches of time, and for those of us fortunate enough to see another new year, January provides a fresh start. A new year. A chance to do things better during the
- [Happy Birthday, NYE, Everything!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/happy-everything.html) - Happy Birthday to my husband, John! He's a New Year's Eve baby. As a kid he thought the whole world was celebrating his birthday. I think the world should. ??? Happy New Year's Eve to all my readers. I appreciate you. ??? Happy everything to everyone! ??? I'll see you next year, Grace Grits and Gardening Farm. Food.
- [Christmas 2015, so far.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/christmas-2015.html) - Christmas 2015 isn't quite over. Today marks the 6th day of Christmas—the six geese a laying day. There are no geese laying eggs around our house but there are two schnauzers warming my feet, and that's a good thing because, baby, it's cold outside. So how's your Christmas going? Do you declare it over after the gifts
- [2015 in review: top blog posts](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/2015-in-review-top-blog-posts.html) - What would year-end be without a little review and reflection? A regular week, I suppose. As a blogger, I like to look back to see which were my top blog posts. And by "top", I mean those blog posts written in 2015 with the most page views. My most popular five posts of all time were written in
- [Merry Christmas from St. Patrick's Cathedral](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/merry-christmas-from-st-patricks-cathedral.html) - Merry Christmas to all my reader friends! I thought I'd share a few pictures I took a couple of weeks ago at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Christmas in New York is gorgeous and visiting St. Patrick's was a definite highlight for me. In the midst of such traffic and congestion and holiday hustle and
- [Christmastime at my Little Free Library!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/christmastime-at-my-little-free-library.html) - I decorated my Little Free Library for Christmas using a strand of red lights I found in the garage. During the day it is fun and whimsical. At night it looks like an alien and I notice cars sloooooow waaaaaay down to check it out. I realize the only thing missing is Snoopy sleeping on top.
- [about the Setting for my Novel...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/about-the-setting-for-my-novel.html) - Today I'm discussing the setting for my novel, The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. First of all, the definition of setting... Setting includes the environment and surroundings of a story. From A. A. Milne's 100 Acre Woods to Henry's hospital bed in Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, the setting includes the landscape and time period as well as items on the
- [Welcome to my author website!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/my-author-website.html) - I know what many of you are thinking, not that I'm omniscient or anything. Why on earth does she need an author website? Am I right? Because, silly, this is all about my new book (and future books). Oh, there's so much to know about this whole publishing thing. Certainly more than I realized. Kudos to those who
- [The Face of Homelessness.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/homelessness.html) - The man in the picture above? He is the face of homelessness. And I know him. But before I get ahead of myself, let me explain. During the month of December, my Northwest Arkansas Blogger group (NWARKcares) is focusing on the issue of homelessness. The goal of our group is to bring awareness to a different cause
- [a simple little Christmas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/simple-christmas.html) - During the past few days, I finally did a little Christmas decorating. My goal is to keep things small and simple. Not that long ago (last year) I couldn't imagine not buying a large tree. This year? I felt overwhelmed by the whole thing. And Christmas should be the opposite of overwhelming. So welcome to my simple little Christmas. I
- [Words Matter.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/words-matter.html) - During the past year, I've been focusing on words. Individual words. Sentences. Every letter in every word. Words matter when I'm writing a book and hoping to convey a specific mood or thought. Words matter in day-to-day life too. Ours is such a decadent society, doing and saying whatever benefits us in the moment. We demand "transparency" yet use words
- [the trees of New York City](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/the-trees-of-new-york-city.html) - Have you missed me? I've been in New York City. I don't travel to New York very often, and in between trips it's easy to forget the sheer massiveness of it all, the pulsating energy, the throngs of people, the noise. I wonder what it must be like for New Yorkers, to actually "be" from New York.
- [All that glitters...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/all-that-glitters-2.html) - It's true what Shakespeare, Tolkien and Chaucer said. All that glitters is not gold. It's not necessarily glitter either. Not the traditional silver and gold and red sort that comes in tiny vials and makes a mess no matter how careful I am. Is that a piece of glitter on my chin? Probably. I used some last
- [Lucy and Annabelle go to Taqueria Leo's](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/lucy-annabelle-go-taqueria-leos.html) - Sometimes a girl needs authentic Mexican food. Especially girls from Texas. Girls like Lucy and Annabelle. They're native Texans, you know. Taqueria Leo's has mad street taco fare, just like the street tacos in East Dallas. Oh yeah. You know what makes it the real deal for me? Fresh cilantro and wedges of lime. And
- [Gracie Lee's Instagram Party!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/gracie-lees-instagram-party.html) - To celebrate December, Gracie Lee is hosting an Instagram party. Of course when Gracie Lee was a kid in the early 1970s, Instagram existed in it's purest form—as a bulletin board on the bedroom wall. Or a photo album filled with carefully arranged Polaroids. Christmas was one of her favorite times of the year. From the day
- [Dear December,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/12/dear-december.html) - Dear December, You're here!? You slipped in the back door while I was struggling to wrap my brain around the way autumn suddenly became buried in wet and cold. Did we skip September? Does anyone remember anything about October other than the massive amounts of Halloween candy we accidentally ate? Summer is a complete blur. But now you're here, December,
- [easing out of Thanksgiving](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/after-thanksgiving.html) - There's no easing out of Thanksgiving these days. As John and I walk the dogs in the misty, chilly, day-after-Thanksgiving afternoon, I'm impressed to see so many houses on our street already decorated for Christmas. Tree lights flicker in windows. Garland adorns porch railings, and festive red plaid pillows perch in porch swings. I wonder where my neighbor found those
- [Gracie Lee's Silly Putty Dreams](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/gracie-lees-silly-putty-dreams.html) - Silly Putty gave Gracie Lee something to do while she ate breakfast or waited for the school bus on a cold winter morning. Plus, there was magic in that small wad of snappy plastic. When she pressed it flat against Snoopy, his picture appeared on the putty. That was neat. But the best part? If she messed up and the
- [Gracie Lee's Mixtape](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/gracie-lees-mixtape.html) - As a nine-almost-ten-year-old, Gracie Lee didn't have much money but when she managed to save a little, she liked to buy a new record or two at Savage Tunes on Main Street. Most of the time, though, she was forced to listen for her favorite songs to be played on the radio. WHBQ in Memphis played the
- [The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee - BOOK COVER REVEAL and more!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/8052.html) - It's time! Are you ready to see the book cover for The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee? At long last! The whole idea of trying to convey my vision while capturing the mood of the story and delta setting was much more involved than I realized. I love the outcome and can't wait to get your thoughts on it.
- [Birds and Blake Shelton and Home](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/04/birds-and-blake-shelton-and-home.html) - I'm a little obsessed with birds and Blake Shelton. On Sunday, I spent the day at home, trying to write, but mostly I watched the birds eating from the feeders outside our kitchen window. How many photos of birds can one take? Tons. Unfortunately, none of them are very good. I don't have a fancy
- [Book Cover Update!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/book-cover-update.html) - Book Cover Update: I have a quick announcement for those interested in The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. Coming this Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, my book cover will be revealed right here on the blog. I'm excited to share it with you! So during all your football watching and Black Friday shopping, be sure to stop by
- [What I know today...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/what-i-know-today.html) - What I know today? Five things in no particular order... 1) Brrr! We had our first hard freeze and the back yard is a frosted wonderland this morning. We brought our ferns and other potted flowers inside last night and now the inside of our house looks like a greenhouse. (And by we I mean John.)
- [Lucy and Annabelle go to Lake Fayetteville](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/lucy-annabelle-go-lake-fayetteville.html) - It took an entire year of living in Northwest Arkansas for Lucy and Annabelle to visit Lake Fayetteville. Finally last week, on a perfect fall day, it happened. We went. What a scenic spot only minutes from our house. Seriously, any time I can walk onto a dock, I feel my blood pressure lower. And
- [Decorate with Cotton](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/decorate-with-cotton-2.html) - A couple of weeks ago, I did a little Thanksgiving decorating using simple things around the house. This week I'm decorating with cotton. As a delta girl, I think cotton is the perfect natural touch for the home. It's too late to pick it from the fields, so if you missed out or don't live where
- [Pictured: after the rain](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/pictured-after-the-rain.html) - P i c t u r e d: after the rain... Last of the tomatoes. Raindrops on roses. Fall leaves. Like most of the country, we've had wild weather and lots of rain this week. Although I'm thankful for the rain, Lucy and Annabelle were not happy pups. In fact, Lucy was downright cranky about it.
- [Christmas Card Display](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/christmas-card-display.html) - I love Christmas cards. Not only do I enjoy sending and receiving cards, but I like to display them throughout the season. The images are just too pretty to not show off. And my favorite way to display Christmas cards involves no crafting whatsoever. If you follow my blog, you may have already guessed my method.
- [Make a Paper Chain. Book Launch Countdown!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/make-a-paper-chain-book-launch-countdown.html) - My sister and I made paper chains to count down to any exciting occasion. Gracie Lee and her little sister made paper chains, too. With so many things to count down, including lots of family birthdays, I decided it was high time I reinstitute the paper chain countdown. I'm starting today and counting down to the launch date
- [Book Update. Woop!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/book-update-woop.html) - I have another book update for you! This is such an unbelievable time, and I hope you're getting excited about it, too, because I truly believe those of you who support my writing have helped to make this happen. Seriously. So here's what's going on with The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee... Book Signing(s)- I have my
- [simple on sunday](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/simple-on-sunday.html) - I made it through another week of NaBloPoMo blogging about veterans and silly putty and Blake Shelton and Paris and Thanksgiving decor. Yikes, scattered much? I'm keeping it simple on Sunday. I'm thinking about things during the past week that made me smile. Like this massive jar of Lincoln Logs I saw at In Retrospect, one
- [Pray for Paris.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/pray-for-paris.html) - This morning as I waited for my coffee to perk and stared out my kitchen window where I normally look at the magical moon or brightly shining Venus or the smattering of stars hanging in the treetops, there was nothing to see. As the sky turned my favorite shade of morning, all I could think of
- [99 Problems and Blake Shelton ain't one of them.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/99-problems-and-blake-shelton-aint-one-of-them.html) - Y'all. Right off the top of my head I can list 99 problems and Blake Shelton ain't one of them. Real world problems. Things worthy of stewing over. Problems in my own backyard that need attention. Confession: I got a little caught up in the whole Blake minus Miranda plus Gwen thing. Yes, I'm a fan of country music,
- [You might be a gardening geek if...................... (monarch metamorphosis!)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/monarch-metamorphosis.html) - You might be a gardening geek if... when you find a Monarch chrysalis, you plaster the news over social media; you are convinced if there is one, there must be more so you crawl around on your knees in the mulch along the house and fence searching for other Monarch chrysalises—and you were right(!); you read
- [pick a bale of Arkansas cotton](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/arkansas-cotton.html) - I grew up in the Arkansas Delta, so for me, fall means harvest, and harvest means rice, soybeans, and cotton. As you might gather from the title of this post, once again I'm talking about cotton. (Last cotton blog post for the year. Promise.) Some folks have never seen a field of cotton ready for picking, and the
- [Pictured: Delta Cotton](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/pictured-delta-cotton.html) - P i c t u r e d: Delta Cotton Cotton-picking time in the Delta is my favorite. This week when I haven't been holed up working on my book edits (yay!), I've been driving from the bootheel of Missouri and along the Great River Road searching out magazine and blog post stories. The highways and byways of the
- [I had a God week.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/i-had-a-god-week.html) - I try to avoid certain topics on my blog, especially the two biggies that get people all riled up—religion and politics. But today? Today, I'm giving a shout out to God. My higher power. My spiritualism. Because I had a God week‚ an in-your-face, hey-don't-forget-about-Me sort of God week. And I'll tell you why. That moon. Watching the stunning lunar
- [from sea to shining sea...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/veterans-day.html) - On this Veterans Day... remember, be grateful, say a prayer, thank a Veteran, reflect on what's good and right in this country. 1. Pittsburg Veterans Day Parade. 2. Soldier's Lot, Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia County, PA. 3. Marine talking with children. Veterans Day Parade, New York City, 2009. 4. Thanking a guardsman, Arizona. 5. Sunset Service,
- [Lucy and Annabelle had a weekend guest!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/lucy-and-annabelle-had-a-weekend-guest.html) - Lucy and Annabelle had a weekend guest! Chester from Dallas visited with his people, Harold and Gale. Although it had been a year since the canine friends had been together, they picked right up where they'd left off. Chester stole Annabelle's rawhide, and Annabelle got upset. I didn't dare let the girls know Chester was
- [7 Life Lessons from Charlie Brown](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/life-lessons-charlie-brown.html) - There are many life lessons to be learned from Charlie Brown. For starters, Charlie Brown is certain proof that a little chevron goes a long way. Seriously, am I the only person who thinks we've gone a little overboard on the chevron look? Don't get me wrong, I do have one zig-zag blouse, and I
- [easy like Sunday morning](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/easy-like-sunday-morning-2.html) - I survived my first week of National Blog Post Month (NaBloPoMo- a post a day in November), but since today's Sunday, and I don't typically post on Sunday, I'm keeping it simple. Easy like Sunday morning... Sunday should be simple, don't you agree? Here are a few of the simple pleasures I've enjoyed this past week. A storm
- [Books and Tulips. Tulips and Books!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/books-and-tulips-tulips-and-books.html) - Oscar Wilde said with freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy? I totally agree. I've always had a thing about the moon. I usually wake up super early, and one of the first things I do is check out the moon. Yesterday, the crescent-shaped moon looked incredible and brilliant hanging just over my back
- [Dear November,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/dear-november.html) - Dear November, Welcome, welcome, welcome. From Halloween until Christmas, you remind me to take time to be thankful for my blessings. Yes, I should always be thankful no matter the season, and I try to be. Even so, as the year winds down, I need this reminder. I'm guessing we all do. November, you are pure and easy, asking for nothing
- [meanwhile in the garden...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/meanwhile-in-the-garden.html) - Meanwhile in the garden, there's lots to report. For the past two days, this guy's been munching on milkweed. And speaking of milkweed, mine is still blooming like crazy. Like a weed, in fact:) My new favorite plant! Lou Holtz (below) seriously needs a bath. Life in Northwest Arkansas is different than Dallas. There are way
- [Ladybug Swarm!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/ladybug-swarm.html) - Sunday afternoon a whole swarm of ladybugs came to call. It was the coolest thing and apparently not an uncommon phenomenon for a warm fall day. But I'd never seen anything like it. According to the Farmers' Almanac, knower of all nature, garden, and moon trivia, a ladybug swarm is not a predictor of oncoming crazy winter weather or good luck (boo), but
- [Book Update!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/11/book-update.html) - I appreciate all the recent questions I've received from readers about my book. Today I thought I'd share a book update. Hallelujah, I finished another (the last?) round of edits and sent the manuscript back to my publisher. Of course, I immediately found a few more things to change. This same thing always happens to me
- [Armadillo in my Garden!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/how-to-get-rid-of-an-armadillo.html) - Each morning, I had to replant a few pansies here and there. At first, I blamed the squirrels, but as the problem grew worse, I began to suspect a different critter. Sunday morning I awoke to a freshly tilled flower bed and a tunnel under my porch. There's an armadillo in my garden(!), and the nasty thing dug up
- [The case of the missing Halloween Bats.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/the-case-of-the-missing-halloween-bats.html) - Put on your Nancy Drew / Hardy Boys hats and think. If you were a bat, where oh where would you hide? Not a real bat (and not my mother, the BAT), but a bag of felt bats. This is the case of the missing Halloween bats. I made these bats several years ago, and since
- [I have a publisher!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/i-have-a-publisher.html) - I have the best news! And if it's possible to truly walk on sunshine, I'm doing it. Yesterday, I signed a publishing contract with SYP Publishing, a Florida press that specializes in southern authors. Someone pinch me. I have a publisher. I love the way those four little words feel in my mouth and melt on the tip of my tongue
- [Lucy and Annabelle go to the Library](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/lucy-and-annabelle-go-to-the-library.html) - Lucy and Annabelle go to the library. The Little Free Library, that is. We have a handful in our neighborhood, and since we go for several walks each day, we often drop books off when library inventory is low. Spreading the love, that's what we're doing. Thanks to donations from our friends, we have lots of books to share with
- [Angels in the Fields of Arkansas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/angels-in-the-fields-of-arkansas.html) - It takes me forever to drive anywhere in Arkansas because I have to take the scenic route. And when I come upon an old cemetery, I pull over and take pictures. There are so many angels in the fields of the Arkansas Delta. Just outside the city of Wilson, this small cemetery has always drawn my
- [Editing, Punctuation, and Hair belonging to Elvis](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/editing-punctuation-and-hair-belonging-to-elvis.html) - Yesterday I worked farmer's hours editing The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. That's a long day with 117,822 words. I took a quick break for lunch at my desk, walked the dogs at least twice, and in the afternoon, I raked leaves for thirty minutes to clear my mind. This morning I'm
- [Dear October,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/10/dear-october.html) - Dear October, Oh! I rejoice in your spirit, your essence. The memories of things past. The warmth of good things to come. The flavors and colors and aromas you bring, like a friend whose stories never get old, whose laugh is always familiar no matter how much time has passed between visits. Roadside pumpkin patches, a blanket
- [Specimen Frames - Dried Flowers on Display](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/specimen-frames-dried-flowers-on-display.html) - It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of fall leaves. I collect them on my daily walks. Open any random book in our house and odds are good that a dried leaf will flutter to the ground. And as of late, I've become obsessed with specimen-type frames which are ideal for displaying said fall leaves.
- [Magic in the Decay: Composting My Way](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/magic-in-the-decay-composting-my-way.html) - Shortly after moving into our Fayetteville home, we built a compost. I'm happy to report I have finally started using it. It took me a while to get my ducks in a row because a) during winter we had very little yard clippings to add, and b) I couldn't get my ducks in a row. Composting
- [Lucy and Annabelle go to Wilson Park](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/lucy-and-annabelle-go-to-wilson-park.html) - On the day before the last day of summer, Lucy and Annabelle went to Wilson Park. The weather was perfect, as you might imagine Autumn-Eve-Eve to be. Wilson Park, Fayetteville's oldest park, is a 22.75-acre oasis within walking distance of our house. And, a river runs through it. Well, actually a creek—Scull Creek. As Lucy and Annabelle
- [not your typical SUMMER READING LIST](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/05/not-your-typical-summer-reading-list.html) - This is NOT your typical Summer Reading List. This is a list of books I personally plan to read this summer. I expect that most summer reading lists include actual recommendations based upon personal reviews of the books. Not mine. I haven't read any of these books. If you wish to read along with me, do so
- [Lazy Sunday Brownie Sundaes](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/lazy-sunday-brownie-sundaes.html) - Sunday morning, rain is falling... That's how it started, a slow, steady rain matching our downhearted moods and providing comfort for those of us mourning the ridiculous Razorback loss. The rain turned to drizzle and ended rather quickly, much like the game. The skies remained gray, the day cool. What's more idyllic than a rainy, unhurried Sunday? We lazed around the house
- [Genealogy. My new favorite thing!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/family-genealogy.html) - A few days ago I decided to dig into our family genealogy. I knew a bit about the Johnson side thanks to Momma's first cousin who did research before the days of the internet. I knew less about the Creecy side and very little about the Tate/McGougan side other than at some point someone was scalped by an
- [The best Spicy Pulled Pork in all the land. And football.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/the-best-spicy-pulled-pork-in-all-the-land-and-football.html) - Yesterday I made a spicy pulled pork based on Ree Drummond's (The Pioneer Woman's) recipe. I give her all the credit. I haven't changed any of her ingredients because there's no reason to tamper with the best pulled pork recipe in all the land. The only thing I do differently is I don't use a food processor. Instead,
- [Save the Osceola Courthouse.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/save-the-osceola-courthouse.html) - Hey y'all. I'm excited that my first article as a regular contributor for Delta Crossroads is included in the Fall 2015 issue. It's an opinion piece on saving the Osceola Courthouse, a gorgeous Classic Revival masterpiece that deserves at a minimum a discussion about its value to the city beyond dollars. A snippet from the article: Antique bricks
- [BUYING LOCAL gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/buying-local.html) - Buying local gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling. I've always thought it would be cool to have a little roadside produce stand where I'd sell home grown tomatoes and okra and fragrant lavender from my garden. It would be shaded by one massive oak tree and my wooden tables would be covered with vintage oilcloths. For me,
- [Superior Bathhouse Brewery and Distillery](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/04/superior-bathhouse-brewery.html) - After years of sitting empty, Superior Bathhouse in Hot Springs, Arkansas, has been transformed into a restaurant, brewery and distillery. Superior Bathhouse, built in 1916, is rumored to have been the first integrated bath house in Hot Springs. That in itself is cool. So is the creative menu from chef Angela Nardi (trained in Dallas) which
- [Shall we gather at the river?](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2012/03/shall-we-gather-at-river.html) - Uncle Woody Woodrow Johnson Once upon a time not so very long ago, there was a mystical headless horseman who silently rode along the banks of Little River at dusk. Sitting atop an enormous horse, he wore a flowing cape that trailed behind him. He could most certainly be seen when there was a fog
- [Spicy Ginger Black-Eyed Peas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/05/spicy-ginger-black-eyed-peas.html) - As promised on my Grace Grits Facebook page here is the recipe for quite possibly THE best black-eyed peas ever. Spicy Ginger Black-Eyed Peas! And I've eaten a bunch of peas. Ingredients 2 cups dried peas 1 Tablespoon coconut oil 1/2 cup chopped green onions 2 cloves garlic 1 diced orange bell pepper (or yellow or
- [Lemon Thyme Blackberry Cobbler](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/01/lemon-thyme-blackberry-cobbler-2.html) - I am excited to be a new regular contributor to Inspiration Café! Each month I will be sharing information about gardening, specifically herbs, recipes and gardening projects. My personal blog, Grace Grits and Gardening, includes stories of family, food, garden, life, and tales of growing up on a farm in Northeast Arkansas. A bit
- [Breakfast Smoothie](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/01/breakfast-smoothie.html) - I just made a great breakfast smoothie with 4 ingredients... 1/2 frozen banana 3 slices frozen mango 1 tsp almond butter 1/2 cup Lactose free, skim milk (add more to desired consistency) Healthy + Delicious! Grace Grits and Gardening Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
- [Spell Book](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/01/spell-book.html) - I was certain this tome came straight off the shelves of Flourish and Blotts from the shadowy bowels of Diagon Alley. As I turned the brittle pages, I expected to discover instructions for spells and magic tricks. I hoped to conjure up a house elf or stumble upon a potion for thinner thighs. Instead I
- [Spicy Barbecued Cauliflower](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/06/barbecued-cauliflower.html) - (I was provided free barbecue sauce; however opinions are my own. I swear.) A few years ago, I discovered cauliflower. I mean really discovered it. Oh sure, I always knew about eating it raw with Ranch dressing. Cauliflower was never my favorite of the dip vehicles. Standing at a party veggie tray, I rotated through the choices not
- [Crustless Broccoli and Feta Quiche](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/11/crustless-broccoli-and-feta-quiche.html) - Quiche is a great dish for any meal, yet in my constant attempt to limit gluten, I don't often make it. Recently, as I wracked my brain for a new way to use leftover broccoli, I came up with this crustless broccoli feta quiche recipe. The recipe is versatile and would work well with other vegetables like
- [Fayetteville Find: Blackboard Grocery & Eatery](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/fayetteville-find-blackboard-grocery-eatery.html) - I love everything about Blackboard Grocery & Eatery on Dickson from the cool, urban vibe to the bright open window in front of the sandwich bar. This, my friends, is a true Fayetteville find and definitely something needed in the area. Um, yes, they have breakfast tacos! Take it from someone who recently moved from Dallas, breakfast tacos are sorely underrepresented
- [A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Ozarks](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/a-midsummer-nights-dream-in-the-ozarks.html) - Confession: I was never a fan of Shakespeare. My introduction began in ninth grade with Romeo & Juliet followed by Julius Caesar followed by Macbeth. The door slammed shut senior year with Hamlet, and that was it. I don’t remember ever studying any other Shakespearean play or poem even during college. And shouldn’t a bit of
- [Oh Snap! - Vintage Camper Photo Booth](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/oh-snap.html) - Oh Snap! is a vintage camper photo booth John and I wandered into Sunday at the Clothesline Fair in Prairie Grove. Besides our schnauzers, this is the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. According to the owner (website under construction), her new photo booth concept is available for parties, school and church events, corporate parties, anytime. This is so seriously
- [READING is my superpower.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/reading-is-my-superpower.html) - Yes, it's true. Reading is my superpower. You may not think mine is a bonafide superpower, not like time travel or invisibility or super human strength, but it's legit. In Washington County Arkansas where 20% of adult population reads at an illiterate level, reading is most definitely a superpower. The reading superpower was passed on to me from my mother who possesses
- [Clear Blue Sky](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2012/09/clear-blue-sky.html) - September 11, 2001 Remember that morning we were all jolted wide awake and abruptly reminded of the world's reality? It began as a typical September morning. We dropped the kids at school, stopped for coffee at Starbucks, and drove to work.... We were thankful for a break in the hot summer temperatures and glad to
- [Pictured: chasing after summer](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/pictured-chasing-after-summer.html) - P I C T U R E D: chasing after summer With only twelve days left until the official start of fall, I find myself chasing after summer. Hanging on. Thinking back. Wondering if I did everything I planned. (Of course I didn't.) As much as I look forward to cooler weather and pumpkins on my
- [Lighting the Way to Autumn](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2012/08/lighting-way.html) - Seemingly out of nowhere, spider lilies bloom in Munger Place. Yesterday the bulbs were hidden underneath matted ground cover and thirsty summer grass. Suddenly they make an early morning appearance, randomly scattered, tall and sincere on leafless stems, blooming the instant late summer sunlight sends its subtle message. Surprise lilies are a sure sign that
- [I stopped at an Arkansas Rock Shop](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/i-stopped-at-an-arkansas-rock-shop.html) - There are lots of quirky things about Arkansas and the rock shops near Hot Springs rank right up there. As a kid, I remember our family stopping at rock shops while on vacation in the Ouachita Mountains. Last week while driving on Scenic Highway 7 to Hot Springs, I began seeing signs for Coleman's Rock Shop. I
- [AWBU: my conference takeaway](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/awbu-my-conference-takeaway.html) - I returned home from Arkansas Women Blogger University (AWBU) with thoughts enough to fill ten blog posts. I scribbled ideas in my journal and attempted to reduce the weekend down to one key conference takeaway. Beyond the connections made and information absorbed and enjoyable time spent with like-minded bloggers, what was the primary benefit for me? Everyone arrived at The
- [Dear September,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/09/dear-september.html) - Dear September, To say I am excited to see you would be an understatement. You, my friend, mark the beginning of change. Change of season, change of attitude, change in the colors outside my kitchen window. A new box of crayons, that's what I crave. An entire package of number two pencils. And paper clips for clipping
- [Fayetteville: 10 things I love about you](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/fayetteville-10-things-i-love-about-you.html) - I can't believe it's been a year since we bought our Fayetteville home and moved from Dallas. Our one year anniversary calls for a special post, a happy anniversary post! Rather than talk about my honeymoon year in review (which you regular readers already know), I thought I'd summarize the top ten things I love about living in Fayetteville. I
- [Fayetteville Find: Fox Trot Boutique](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/fayetteville-finds-fox-trot-boutique.html) - Fox Trot Boutique is such an exciting find, y'all! Owner, Carly Rae Overbey, hails from Kentucky and grew up in retail. Her family opened "a store" in 1955 that has evolved into a fine home and garden destination on the banks of the Rockcastle River. After graduating from University of Kentucky with a degree in Fiber Arts and Textiles, Carly worked five
- [Just a quick post  ~ ~ ~](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/just-a-quick-post.html) - Hi, y'all. Just a quick post to let you know I'm hanging in Hot Springs this weekend with my Arkansas Women Blogger friends. This is the fifth annual Arkansas Women Blogger University (my third), and I'm excited to serve as hostess of the Foodie Friday event this afternoon. I get to wear a cute apron all day.❤
- [my Ozark day (part 2)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/my-ozark-day-part-2.html) - Woo-hoo, this begins Part Two of my day spent exploring the Ozarks. If you missed the first part of the story where I searched for hobos and drank a butterscotch malt, click HERE. Before leaving Calico Rock, I stopped to visit the Trimble log cabin, home to Arkansas' earliest settlers. A few years ago, the cabin
- [Lucy and Annabelle go to Headquarters House](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/lucy-and-annabelle-go-to-headquarters-house.html) - Check.It.Out. Lucy and Annabelle recently took in a little Civil War history at the Headquarters House gardens—definitely hallowed ground, my friends. This gorgeous Greek Revival home was built in 1853 by Judge Jonas Tebbetts. Tebbetts was well known in these parts as a teacher, lawyer, city leader, and Union sympathizer, the likes of which eventually landed him in jail. During
- [During the dog days of summer, my garden is the boss of me.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/dog-days-of-summer.html) - Right now, this time of year, my garden is the boss of me. It's a fact. I plan my day around watering and deadheading and weeding and watering again. The dog days of summer are tough ones on new plants that aren't well established. Babysitting. That's what I'm doing. Webster defines the dog days of summer as: 1)
- [my favorite Trees in Literature](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/my-favorite-trees-in-literature.html) - Lately, I've been on a tree hunt of sorts. I searched out a few of the largest trees in Arkansas to write THIS article about Arkansas Champion Trees for OnlyinArkansas(dot)com. My tree journey led me to think about my favorite trees in literature. And thinking about my favorite trees in literature made me realize how these particular trees likely influenced my
- [a day in the Ozarks is a day well spent](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/a-day-in-the-ozarks-is-a-day-well-spent.html) - Whenever our family goes on vacation to Lake Norfork, one of my favorite days always turns out to be the morning I spend by myself exploring and poking around in nearby little Ozark towns. This year's girls' trip was no exception. Mid-week, when the thought of putting my bathing suit back on (gah!) was about as appealing as running a
- [August](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/08/august.html) - August is stifling, a string of one hundred plus degree days. Plants wilt and scream to be cut back or yanked from the soil. I open the kitchen door and heat billows. Before sunrise. The dogs stop and sniff and stare, refusing to move from the back step. They wonder what's going on in this place
- [Grow with OLLI at University of Arkansas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/olli-at-university-of-arkansas.html) - We all know how important it is to never stop learning. The older we get, the easier it becomes to get stuck in the same old routine thinking the same old thoughts and becoming stale stale STALE. My mantra is to try and do something creative everyday. I seek out ways to keep learning and to stimulate my
- [The Brilliance of Schoolhouse Rock](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/the-brilliance-of-schoolhouse-rock.html) - With the kids returning to school, I think it's only right that we pause for a moment to think about the brilliance of Schoolhouse Rock. In fact, I think most of today's problems coincide with the demise of Schoolhouse Rock. Think of the kids today who have no idea what they missed. I'm mean, really, who among you can
- [and there was this one time I went to a blogger conference...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/09/i-went-to-a-blogger-conference.html) - I recently attended my second Arkansas Women Blogger conference (AWBU). As soon as I unloaded all the swag from my car (more on this later), I flopped on the bed and began to think about all the things I had learned, the items I want to follow up on, the magic of the weekend. Really, it
- [Pictured: Sunny Side of the Street](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/pictured-sunny-side-of-the-street.html) - P I C T U R E D: Sunny Side of the Street I'm most certainly an amateur when it comes to photography, but I love taking pictures and snap lots of photos everyday. Although these pictures were taken at different times in different parts of Arkansas, the bright sunshine ties them together. From woods to battlefield
- [Architecture of the Ozarks](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/11/architecture-of-ozarks.html) - Eureka Springs, Arkansas Spring Street (or thereabouts…) wordless wednesday upper spring storefront shell grotto along hiking path moss face in stone wall "…just close your eyes and breathe softly through your nose; you will hear the whispered message, for all landscapes ask the same question in the same whisper. 'I am watching you -- are
- [How To: Homemade Lavender Body Scrub](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/11/how-to-homemade-lavender-peppermint.html) - Today I'm blogging about my favorite homemade body scrub at Inspiration Cafe. Quick and easy, this homemade lavender and peppermint body scrub is made with ingredients from my kitchen and garden and makes a great gift. It will keep for weeks without refrigerating. …not that it will last that long... CLICK HERE to head over to
- [Ladybug](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/01/ladybug.html) - 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
- [a Christmas memory: buying the tree…](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/a-christmas-memory-buying-tree.html) - Keiser Supply Company, our small town hardware store, received its shipment of Christmas trees in early December. We weren't allowed to buy one until Momma could borrow Daddy's truck to bring it home. And since Daddy worked AllTheTime, it was almost Christmas before we finally drove into town for our tree. Way in the back
- [How to Make a Paperback Book Angel](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/11/how-to-make-paperback-book-angel.html) - If you can fold a piece of paper, you can make this paperback book angel. Book angels, typically made from hymnals, have been around a long time. Since I didn't have a hymnal, I used a paperback book. Although I'm not one to destroy books, this Glimmer Train book was the easy choice for me
- [Alabama - Auburn. The dark side of defeat.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/alabama-auburn-dark-side-of-defeat.html) - Have we truly reached the point where society values the BCS bowl race over the human race? Both can be rather barbaric, but death threats to the Alabama kicker? One fan murders another after the game because she wasn't upset enough over the loss? I'm as passionate as the next about college football. My favorite
- [Nana's little table](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/nanas-little-table.html) - In October, in honor of Old Farmers Day, I wrote about Nana and Papa Creecy and how they set up housekeeping in 1936 buying the following goods: (Click HERE to read the original story.) Somewhere buried within this original invoice included a side table. Although the little table wasn't individually listed, it has been part
- [Butterflies for the Win!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/butterfly-garden.html) - Since moving to Fayetteville, I've been working to attract butterflies to my garden. I'm happy to report, my game plan is working. I have lots of little white cabbage butterflies, and earlier in the spring I noticed a giant swallowtail caterpillar. The swallowtail recently made her appearance. Here's another beauty. Butterflies are fast, and my camera is not. I saw our
- [Liberty Burger & Melissa Benge Collection](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/01/six-blocks-from-my-houseone.html) - Welcome to Six Blocks from my house. Six Blocks from my house is something new for 2014. Each week or two I'll highlight a few things going on only six blocks (or so) from my house. Maybe a new place, an event, a person, who knows? East Dallas is funky and fabulous and filled with unique history.
- [Rosemary Cheddar Popovers](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/rosemary-cheddar-popovers.html) - This post is sponsored by Great Day Farms. Comments and opinions are my own. Popovers are a bit more fancy than the regular dinner roll and will make a festive addition to your holiday menu. These rosemary cheddar cheese popovers are crusty on the outside and light on the inside—perfect with Christmas beef tenderloin. If you'd
- [autumn secrets](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/autumn-secrets.html) - sealed from the wind beneath a layer of ice maple leaves hide barely visible yesterday's secrets talya Grace Grits and Gardening Farm. Food. Garden. Life. Musical Pairing: Joni Mitchell, River
- [Promise of Peace Community Garden: Parent's Night Out](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/promise-of-peace-community-garden-2.html) - Promise of Peace Community Garden, December 2013 I had a fun-filled Saturday night hanging out with a group of cool kids (and adult volunteers!) at Promise of Peace Community Garden. Grace Grits and Gardening & Great Days Farms partnered with Promise of Peace to sponsor its first Parent's Night Out event at the Imagine Garden located at
- [farm girl sledding…](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/01/farm-girl-sledding.html) - Snow fell during the night like a secret, our morning a surprise, a winter wonderland. No school for days and days, sometimes even weeks. Dusty, bumpy gravel roads hidden, clean, tucked beneath flat white sheets. Conditions too hazardous for Mr. Robinson's school bus proved ideal on a hubcap sled chained behind Daddy's farm truck. No
- [Those Barbie Dream House Years](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/those-barbie-dream-house-years.html) - Those Barbie Dream House years were melt-in-your-mouth easy. Santa didn't have to spend one moment pondering what to get my sister and me for Christmas. As long as he dropped Barbie and a few of her latest accouterments down our chimney—a shimmery ball gown, a groovy convertible or a hip Malibu Ken to ride along
- [getting organized in the new year!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/01/getting-organized-new-year.html) - 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
- [Pictured: Farm](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/pictured-farm.html) - P i c t u r e d: Farm Mississippi County, Arkansas July, 2015 1. Wildflowers and the lushness of it all. 2. Old nail. 3. Gravel road and a canopy of trees. 4. Rusty barbed wire. 5. Inside the barn. 6. Summer sunset. Grace Grits and Gardening| Food. Farm. Garden. Life. [tweetthis]Pictured: Mississippi
- [Dear August,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/dear-august.html) - Dear August, You were in my dream last night. We were hiking along the shore together at sunrise. Above the treeline, the sky flushed pink like champagne. August, you're here already? I asked. That was quick! You answered only in the humid breeze. But I'm still easing into July. Don't rush me. I noticed a small yellow flower growing from a
- [Mussels in White Wine Sauce](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/02/mussels-in-white-wine-sauce.html) - I always thought mussels would be an incredibly difficult dish to cook. This is not the case at all. The following recipe is courtesy of Dallas Central Market Cooking School. I attended the class last summer and discovered how truly easy it is to cook mussels. Ingredients (serves 6 as an appetizer, 2-3 as main
- [Glazed Salmon with Spinach Salad](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/01/glazed-salmon-spinach-salad.html) - This glazed salmon and spinach salad recipe has an impressive list of health benefits longer than the ingredients. I listed all the vitamins and other superfood powers at the end of the post so you can see for yourself. And as an added bonus, your family and/or guests will think you slaved over this delicious
- [Go Set a Watchman ~ a literary time capsule](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/08/go-set-a-watchman.html) - I read Go Set a Watchman immediately after buying the book. Since then, I've spent some time thinking about this book I'd anticipated as much or more than the Harry Potter books (and that's saying something). My friends and I even went to a release party at Nightbird Books. Fun! After reading it, I've let the story percolate
- [a simple Lavender Nosegay](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/a-simple-lavender-nosegay.html) - Nosegay is one of those silly sounding words that back in seventh grade would have given my best friend and me the extreme giggles. During those Keiser Junior High days, everything was extraordinarily hilarious and something as simple as a funny word (such as nosegay) would often push us over the edge earning us a trip to the principal's office for
- [Lucy and Annabelle go to Mt. Sequoyah](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/lucy-and-annabelle-go-to-mt-sequoyah.html) - On a hot July morning, Lucy, Annabelle and I hiked around breathtaking Mt. Sequoyah, (located in Washington County, Arkansas for those of you living in other parts of the country/world). We took tennis balls for fetching and cold water for drinking, and although we did our exploring early, the air felt thick and blanket-heavy, more like Beaumont, Texas than
- [Hemingway's Barn](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/hemingways-barn.html) - Stories that waited for paper now wait for me. With so much to say, I search for a worthy beginning. Thoughts that swirled and drifted through dreams, now hide just out of reach. Inside this barn, I am filled with something greater. I am filled with possible. Through the windowpane, I gaze into a
- [If she could have chosen any life...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/if-she-could-have-chosen-any-life.html) - If she could have chosen any life, her mornings would have begun on a small screened porch surrounded by trees and clover and breezes off the lake. With strong, hot coffee, a favored paperback and thoughts to fill a page. If she could have chosen any life, her afternoons would have begun with a worn gravel road, summer sunshine, the rhythmic
- [Parmesan Croutons - take your salad to a whole other level](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/parmesan-croutons.html) - The next time you make a salad, add homemade Parmesan croutons to take your greens to a whole other level. Like the top floor. The ease of preparing these croutons compared to the flavor added will leave you wondering why you don't always have homemade Parmesan croutons on hand. I call this the Flavor Multiplier Effect (FME) something I just created
- [Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert Divorce. I'm in mourning.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/blake-shelton-and-miranda-lambert-divorce-im-in-mourning.html) - I'm in mourning over the Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert divorce. More upset than I probably should be for a couple I didn't know. Based on the social media explosion, I'm not the only one. Once again, we are reminded that no matter how perfect life appears, things aren't always as they seem. Perfection belongs
- [Edamame Succotash](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/07/edamame-succotash.html) - This light recipe is perfect with summer seafood and barbecue menus. Vegetarian/Vegan-Friendly/Gluten-Free - what's not to love?Ingredients1 cup cherry tomatoes1 small white onion, diced2 cloves garlic, chopped1 package frozen edamame1 cup fresh corn kernels1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped1/2 cup fresh basil, choppedTablespoon sesame oil1 diced jalapeño pepper (optional)sea salt and pepper to tasteMethodIn a skillet,
- [Things I Don't Need More Of (even if I live to be 104)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/07/things-i-dont-need-more-of.html) - Lately my writing has taken a back seat to cleaning. Let's face it, a potential buyer doesn't want to open a closet and be hit in the head with a box of wrapping paper. Although I consider myself to be a tidy, organized person, over time closets become cluttered. Drawers will barely close. The whole purging process is
- [The magic of Home Ec class...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/07/the-magic-of-home-ec-class.html) - The last time I was home on the farm, I found this black and white photo of my mother. On the back she had written made brown dog in Home Ec. junior high 1954. Ahhh, the magic of Home Ec. See the brown dog on the shelf behind her bed? Then I noticed the brown dog
- [20 ways to rediscover the LOST ART of SUMMER](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/06/20-ways-lost-art-of-summer.html) - Three cheers for summer! This year, I say we take time to rediscover the lost art of summer. Slow down. Stop trying to orchestrate the picture perfect summer and instead enjoy some hot fun in the summertime "old school style". Waaaaay back when I was a kid, summer meant hours of bicycle riding and exploring ditch banks
- [my Southern Heritage](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/my-southern-heritage.html) - Whoa, everywhere you turn people are talking and arguing about the Confederate flag. Many want to erase it from history. Others are wrapping their bodies in it like a beloved blanket. Southern heritage means different things to different people. No matter how much ranting and protesting one way or another, people will NEVER see things exactly
- [Lucy and Annabelle go Downtown](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/lucy-and-annabelle-go-downtown.html) - Lucy and Annabelle love their walks and, lucky for me, Fayetteville is a very walkable city with a fun downtown area. We've been living here about ten months now, and so yes, people are beginning to recognize the "girls" when we are out and about. They're popular that way. Recently, we explored downtown starting with Fayetteville's Farmer's Market.
- [Dancing with Myself](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/dancing-with-myself.html) - I've felt a bit lost this week, like I'm dancing with myself. Maybe it's just a normal feeling for me after returning home from a weekend on the farm. Maybe it's the smothering humidity that makes doing most anything outside a miserable chore. Maybe it's just something I need to feel. For those of you who
- [I prefer Delta Graffiti over the other sort](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/i-prefer-delta-graffiti-over-the-other-sort.html) - I prefer Delta graffiti to typical gangster graffiti. Delta graffiti is clear and to the point. Easy to read. Really, it can be considered true signage. Words to the wise. Country song lyrics. Yes, it may be grammatically incorrect, but still, there are no confusing symbols. Plain, simple, countrified. Delta graffiti. Grace Grits and Gardening Farm. Food.
- [Dear July,](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/dear-july.html) - My friend Sarah Shotts, who blogs at A Love Letter to Adventure, inspired me to write this post Dear July. During the month of July, Sarah is video journaling in a series called Letters to July. I encourage you to check out her blog today. She is doing innovative, creative work not only with her July letters, but
- [another 4th of July](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/another-4th-of-july.html) - We celebrated another 4th of July with good food, family and friends, and a mixture of pleasant, not-too-hot weather. Of course, I must post a few pics for posterity... We made a trip to the Confederate Cemetery in Fayetteville which is only a few blocks from our house. I was in search of a particular tree (for an
- [Vintage Coffee Tin Succulents. My new fav!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/vintage-coffee-tin-succulents.html) - There's a saying in the South that if it isn't nailed down, we southerners will monogram it. I have my own saying. If it isn't nailed down, I'm gonna plant something in it. My newest obsession is planting succulents in vintage coffee tins. And if you think about it, the tins are already monogrammed with the company's label/artwork.
- [#RandomLoveLetter Bookmarks](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/07/randomloveletter-bookmarks.html) - My friend Sarah, who blogs at Random Love Letter to Adventure, has been participating in a #RandomLoveLetter Instagram Challenge during the month of June. The idea behind this IG micro-challenge is to leave a note, a "random love letter", in a public place for someone to find. Something unexpected to brighten someone's day. As usual, I'm extremely
- [Lake Signs](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/06/lake-signs.html) - Happy Hump Day y'all! As I look though the photos I've taken while enjoying family time at Lake Norfork, I realize I've snapped lots of pics of lake signs. Not sure what that means (if it means anything), other than I like signs that remind me of the lake. Some are handmade, others are vintage, others simply signify a special place.
- [Easy Peasy Breezy Vintage Hanky Bunting](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/06/easy-peasy-breezy-vintage-hanky-bunting.html) - Haha. This is so simple it's silly. Homemade bunting made from string or ribbon, teeny clothespins and vintage handkerchiefs (because everyone has a big stack, right?). Right. There's just something about bunting and porches and summer. This vintage hanky bunting is cute for glamping or camping or decorating the barn for your next family reunion. Perfect for
- [Our tiny clay house!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/06/our-tiny-clay-house.html) - This! Check out the whimsical, tiny clay version of our house. Our mini-me house. I'm a big believer in supporting local artisans whether the artist is a painter, writer, potter, jeweler, cheese-maker, basket weaver, etc. Handmade artisans work hard, and they do it for the love of their craft. One of a kind, handmade items add a special something-something to
- [Slowing down in Piggott.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/06/slowing-down-in-piggott.html) - Happy Saturday! I thought I'd check in to let you know I'm still alive. I've been busy doing a whole lot of nothing but writing. After another successful writer retreat in Piggott, Arkansas, at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center, my whole body feels drained. And that's a good thing. Hemingway-Pfeiffer is an awe-filled place. A place for slowing down.
- [Fayetteville Find: Vintage Cargo](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/05/fayetteville-finds-vintage-cargo.html) - Fayetteville Find... Something new I'm testing out. When I lived in Dallas, I had a regular blog feature called Six Blocks from my House. Interesting things, yes, only six (or so) blocks from my house. Now that I'm discovering Fayetteville, I thought it would be fun to focus on cool places, people, things in Fayetteville. Those I
- [Fayetteville Find: Garden Living Supply Co](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/05/fayetteville-finds-garden-living-supply-co.html) - Modern gardeners rejoice! Garden Living is my latest Fayetteville Find and a place I am elated about. This boutique, located at 160 E. Joyce (near IO Metro), is a true garden living shop complete with interesting specimen plants, gorgeous hand-thrown pottery, Dutch garden tools, eclectic gift items, and not-your-typical outdoor furniture. Dallas people, think Redenta's and you'll understand my
- [ode to the Pay Phone Booth](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/05/ode-to-the-pay-phone-booth.html) - When was the last time you made a phone call from a pay phone booth? Heck, when was the last time you even saw a phone booth? While we've been busy texting and downloading and surfing the web, phone booths have disappeared right out from under our noses, much like the album store and the electric typewriter
- [Kelsey's Closet](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2012/05/kelseys-closet.html) - When our neighborhood was platted and the homes constructed, property taxes were assessed per room. And a closet was considered a room. To avoid the closet tax, most Munger Place homes were built without closets. This didn't much matter back then when people only had a change of work clothes and a Sunday-go-to-meetin' outfit. Later, closets
- [Evolution of a Neighborhood](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2012/08/evolution-of-neighborhood.html) - I walk Lucy and Annabelle several times each day. No matter the weather. They sniff and strain on their leashes, never pulling in the same direction while I study the houses and trees and yards. Munger Place was developed over 100 years ago. We have lived here ten years. In ten years things change. The
- [on this Memorial Day...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/05/on-this-memorial-day.html) - On this Memorial Day weekend while you enjoy time off work having fun with family and chowing on delicious barbecue, be sure to make time to remember those patriots who sacrificed all for our country, our freedom, our tomorrows. Fly your flag. Say a prayer. Meditate on how lucky we are to live in a democratic society. Do
- [Blogging Like Hemingway: 10 Simple Steps](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/10/blogging-like-hemingway-10-simple-steps.html) - Spending time at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Educational Center in Piggott, Arkansas is magical bordering on spiritual. Ernest Hemingway, who won a Pultizer Prize in Literature for Old Man and the Sea, wrote a portion of A Farewell to Arms in the barn which he claimed as his writing studio. For a writer, this corner of Northeast Arkansas is
- [There's slime mold growing in my garden!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/05/theres-slime-mold-growing-in-my-garden.html) - Sometimes a garden isn't all pink flowers and sweet smells. Sometimes an odd thing (like slime mold) takes up residence, and it's up to you, the head gardener, to get to the bottom of it. Here's how it happens. While enjoying your morning coffee (freshly ground beans from Arsaga's with just a touch of
- [The Bearded Ladies of Fayetteville](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/05/the-bearded-ladies-of-fayetteville.html) - I love bearded ladies and by that I mean irises and not women with beards. (And yes, that's a thing, too.) Irises are sometimes called bearded ladies because of the thick, bushy "beards" on the lower petals of the blooms. In our Washington-Willow historic neighborhood of Fayetteville, and all over the South, irises are in
- [Rainy Graduation Fun!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/05/rainy-graduation-fun.html) - It was a rainy graduation, one filled with family and fun, as our youngest graduated from the University of Arkansas. Time. That was the theme running through my head. What time is everyone getting into town? What time do we need to leave for Barnhill Arena? How long will it take to graduate 500 business students? How
- [Bringing back the Sunday Drive...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/05/bringing-back-the-sunday-drive.html) - Last Sunday, we went for an afternoon drive. A Sunday drive. I've heard this was once a thing. Back when Sunday activities were devoted only to church services and resting for the week ahead, the family packed up the Ford and set off for a pleasant drive through the countryside. Not a road trip. Not an errand.
- [The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow: a special place!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/05/the-writers-colony-at-dairy-hollow-a-special-place.html) - Have you missed me? I just returned from my fifth residency at The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow, and I feel compelled to give my testimony. Dairy Hollow is the place I write best. Edits are accomplished. Ideas appear. Words flow straight out of my brain and onto my Mac while my fingers move as though I'm playing
- [Paula Deen's Family Kitchen (and John!)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/05/paula-deens-family-kitchen.html) - Hey y'all. This is a true story. While I was slaving away at Dairy Hollow making edits to the book I WILL finish, my husband was hobnobbing with the one and only Paula Deen. (How adorable is she?!) Yes, John was on a business trip, and yes, he was invited to the grand opening of Paula Deen's Family Kitchen, her
- [Backyard Swagger](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/04/backyard-swagger-little-red-wagon.html) - Heck yeah! You can ride in my little red wagon. Jump in. Come along. Step into our backyard swagger. Things are looking mighty fine. At least I think so. So do the dogs. Guess what? That's some dog swagger right there. Check out our giant hostas. Each leaf is way bigger than my Luccheses:) and our
- [Farm Art Friday - Pivot in the Rain](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/04/irrigation-pivot.html) - Papa Creecy always said it was better to get too much rain in the spring than not enough. That was back in the days before irrigation pivots. Of course a pivot does no one any good during the heat of summer, if the land doesn't dry out enough for spring planting. Too bad these pivots can't vacuum
- [Breaking new ground in Wilson, Arkansas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/04/wilson-arkansas-groundbreaking.html) - Back in December, I wrote about some of the exciting things going on in Wilson, Arkansas including plans for relocating the Hampson Archeological Museum. My post appeared on First Security Bank's blog, Only in Arkansas. If you live in Arkansas (or you wish you lived in Arkansas or simply appreciate The Natural State), you should
- [Enchanted Petit Jean Mountain](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/04/petit-jean-mountain.html) - (My recent trip to Petit Jean Mountain was sponsored by Winthrop Rockefeller Institute which provided food and lodging. As always, opinions are my own.) Riddle me this. How can it be that I have made fifty-two trips around the sun yet NEVER managed to drive to Petit Jean Mountain? Yes, this oversight has been corrected. Finally. Petit
- [the Economics of Cursive Handwriting](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/02/cursive-handwriting.html) - Since I've been on a letter writing kick in 2015, I've been thinking more about cursive handwriting and how something that was once a mainstay elementary school lesson is becoming extinct. Although my cursive handwriting has morphed into a hybrid combination of cursive and print, handwriting and old-fashioned letter writing go hand in hand. Do you remember the
- [Strawberry Pot Succulents](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/04/strawberry-pot-succulents.html) - We've had a recent string of gorgeous days which has provided lots of gardening time. And once I get started...well, it's an addiction. Check out this strawberry pot I found at the back of our property near the wood shed. I'm all about found objects. If you don't already have a strawberry pot, I bet someone you know has
- [Gardening, Writing and Making Enchiladas.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/03/gardening-writing-and-making-enchiladas.html) - Gardening, writing and making enchiladas will keep a girl busy. My mother (aka The Bat) thought I had either croaked, lost my phone, or dropped it in the toilet because she had texted me several times over two days, and I hadn't responded. I hadn't posted on Facebook or blogged either. First of all, I never
- [Two Degrees of Separation](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/03/two-degrees-of-separation.html) - Everyone knows about Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, right? The idea that everyone is six steps away from anyone else in the world. I'm convinced that as the world has continued to shrink, six degrees has dwindled to something more like two degrees of separation. It seems to me that at any moment, I appear to be
- [Road Trip to Texas (food, friends, Mavs who forgot to show)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/03/road-trip-to-texas-food-friends-mavs-who-forgot-to-show.html) - Hey. I've been out of town. The girls (Lucy and Annabelle) and I took a little road trip to Texas. I saw my niece perform in her high school musical—always a fun thing!—ate at some of my favorite restaurants, saw the Dallas Mavericks lose to the Memphis Grizzlies, and hung out with a few friends. Now we
- [Simple Spring Decor](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/04/simple-spring-decor.html) - Raise your hand if you thought spring would never arrive! I know, me too. In Dallas I've learned to really appreciate spring because summer brings challenges I'd rather not think about like trying to keep plants alive in blistering days of drought. But right now I'm celebrating cool nights and perfect days, days of front
- [Canoeing the Mississippi River at Helena](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/11/canoeing-mississippi-river-at-helena.html) - (Note: Helena Advertising and Promotions Commission sponsored this blogger trip. Opinions are my own.) Never swim in the Mississippi River. EVER. My sister and I heard this warning over and over again from Momma and Daddy and Papa Creecy. Although the Mississippi River was our very own natural wonder, we knew better than to dip one
- [Seeds, glorious seeds! (Little Free Library update)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/03/seeds-glorious-seeds-little-free-library-update.html) - Just a quick update on our Little Free Library! Yesterday morning I added seeds (glorious seeds) to the seed exchange box. If you're like me, spring fever has arrived. Wednesday's seventy degree afternoon pushed me over the edge. Plus, spring break is around the corner, so I deemed it time to break out the seeds for my
- [How to Propagate Rosemary](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/05/how-to-propagate-rosemary.html) - Rosemary is a disease preventing and health promoting herb, rich in vitamins A, B, C, folic acid and iron. With all these benefits, rosemary is a great addition to your kitchen garden and easy to propagate from an established plant. Spring is the best time for propagation as your plant is actively growing. the mother
- [what the dogs smell (let it rain)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/03/what-the-dogs-smell-let-it-rain.html) - My walks with Lucy and Annabelle consist more of stopping and starting than walking. We play a sniffing game, especially after a rain or snowstorm. For just one day, I'd love to be able to smell what the dogs smell. To be that alert and aware, so alert they nearly pull my arm out of socket when
- [The Enchanted Forest](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/the-enchanted-forest.html) - When I was a child, the coolest place to shop was Goldsmith's in downtown Memphis. Even the journey to Goldsmiths was fantastic—driving over the Mississippi River, parking in the multi-level garage, and walking through the tunnel underneath Front Street to get to ground level. And the tunnel? It was no ordinary tunnel. Inside the air
- [Uncommon Goods Literary Scarf](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/uncommon-goods-literary-scarf.html) - This post is sponsored by Uncommon Goods. All opinions are my own. When Uncommon Goods asked me to work with them on a product review, I jumped on board. Committed to the environment and sustainability, Uncommon Goods promotes handmade items and donates a portion of each sale to various non-profit groups. For those hard to shop
- [Junkin around Northwest Arkansas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/junkin-around-northwest-arkansas.html) - If you know anything about me, you know I can't resist a good flea market, yard sale, vintage store, dumpster dive. Northwest Arkansas is junkin heaven, I'm not kidding. My personal favorites that carry everything from rusted farm equipment and repurposed everything to Brady Bunch Seventies are 410 Vintage Market, Fayetteville's Funky Yard Sale, Long Ago Antiques, and Daisies and
- [Playing the Air Trumpet instead of Writing](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/playing-air-trumpet-instead-writing.html) - Last night I dreamed I was back in high school with my best friends—Becky and Anita and Norma and Judy—and we sat crammed together on a bus traveling somewhere to march with the band in a Christmas parade. The bus was cold. We wore matching red and gray uniforms, our school colors, and tall white plumes
- [Write more, Love more!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/write-love.html) - Write more, Love more. This tagline is printed on the window of Shindig Paperie in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and what a great tagline it is. My new quest to write 52 letters in 2015 gave me the perfect excuse to visit. This well-curated shoppe filled with all things paper is located downtown just off the square. Downstairs. There's something about a downstairs business
- [52 Handwritten Letters](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/52-handwritten-letters.html) - When did you last receive a letter? A real, handwritten letter delivered by the postman? Last month, I received a letter from a friend who lives near Waco, Texas. Years ago when I was a Baylor college student, we worked together at a law firm in town. My job was part-time—a few afternoons each week and every Saturday morning.
- [on researching and writing and keeping it real](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/03/researching-and-writing-keeping-it-real.html) - When I decided hey, I'm gonna write a book, I had no idea the amount of research that would be involved. Researching. Writing. Sitting around eating Jiffy Pop helps me keep it real. It's all part of the deal I made when I set out on this adventure. One leads to another, Sunday melts into Monday, and shockingly it's
- [Farm Art Friday: Vintage Wheel Rake](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/farm-art-friday-vintage-wheel-rake.html) - Happy Farm Art Friday everyone:) While my friends and I explored the Mulberry River Valley a few days ago, I noticed this old farm implement hidden in the trees at the edge of a field. Inside the boundaries of the Ozark National Forest, we were surrounded by natural beauty and true Arkansas history in a place largely unchanged by time.
- [How to: Chinese Fortune Teller](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/chinese-fortune-teller.html) - Chinese Fortune Tellers, made from regular notebook paper, provided inexpensive, homemade entertainment for my sister and me, especially on Saturday mornings while Momma enjoyed a wash and set and whatever else she did in the name of glamor at Lucille's Beauty Shop. Yesterday's child was easily amused, and the Chinese Fortune Teller was super intriguing. Yes, in the back
- [speaking of dentists and collard greens...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/02/dentists-collard-greens.html) - And speaking of dentists and collard greens... Were we? Well, I have been talking about dentists with my mother's college roommate who hates hates hates going to the dentist. And collard greens, lots of people hate those too, but not me (keep reading for more on this tie-in). I've never minded the dentist and in fact, if
- [Farm Art Friday: Frozen Field](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/02/farm-art-friday-frozen-field.html) - I love the winter fields, resting for spring, waiting for new life. And these trees. Frozen, they bow to the earth. We may be growing weary of ole man winter, but there's no denying the beauty of ice and snow. Tiring, sometimes dangerous, yet beautiful. I'd love to see your winter pictures. Tag me on Instagram @gracegrits
- [Farm Art Friday: Boots on Fence Posts](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/02/boots-on-fence-posts.html) - Coolest fence ever. Technically, this photo is more in the style of Rancher Friday or Cowboy Friday than Farm Friday, but hey, farm, ranch, cowboy...they all wear boots, right? Have you ever noticed boots on a fencepost? What is the signifcance, you ask? As you might imagine, the interweb is filled with explanations, but I
- [I've been time-traveling.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/02/ive-time-traveling.html) - Above Mt. Sequoyah, the moon rises. Only a sliver, but a bright sliver. I notice it peeking over the treetops as I pour my first cup of coffee. It is 4 a.m. I do my best thinking/writing in the wee hours, so this earliest time of morning is normal for me. Plus, there's the old-habits-die-hard-farmer thing.
- [Little Free Library: because I'm all about the books! (and seeds)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/02/little-free-library.html) - Woo-hoo! I've been looking forward to this day since we moved into our house. We are the proud stewards of a Little Free Library. Purchased as a housewarming/Christmas gift to ourselves, our library has been stored in the coat closet since Thanksgiving. Yesterday, it was installed. (We waited until our landscaping was in progress, so that we could incorporate it
- [I should have been an archeologist?](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/archeologist.html) - I should have been an archeologist or geologist. I may have missed my calling. I took several geology classes at Baylor—as many as I could and still graduate on time with a business degree. Daddy wouldn't hear of any major other than business even though history and rocks and things buried beneath the earth's crust always held a special
- [Winter garden dream. And GOLD!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/winter-garden-dream-gold.html) - Winter is the perfect time to dream and plan for a spring garden. Did you realize we are halfway through the calendar winter? Yes, although it's still too soon to plant veggies and flowers (at least in our neck of the Northern Hemisphere), it's never too soon for moving dirt around. Unless, of course, your dirt is buried under a
- [Farm Art Friday: Big Green Tractor Rut](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/farm-art-friday-big-green-tractor-rut.html) - Tracks fascinate me. Footprints, tractor ruts, animal tracks. I'm not really sure why. Maybe because of the connectivity, proof that someone else passed through the same spot, even in the middle of a bare winter field. Or maybe the design intrigues me, the rhythmic pattern left behind. Could be that I'm obsessed with taking pictures. And tractors.
- [My Reflection](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/11/my-reflection.html) - Yesterday he flashed a bright smile and rushed out into the world smelling faintly of pancake syrup. I saw my reflection as he walked away. Today he'll pull into the drive with stories of fall semester and bags of dirty laundry. I wait for his smile, his strong hug. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. talya Grace Grits and
- [Tell Your Stories.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/tell-stories.html) - I'm excited to be guest posting at A Love Letter to Adventure today, an incredible blog written by my friend Sarah Shotts. Sarah is an amazing photographer, an adventurer, a traveler. I like to think of Sarah as a younger, more exciting version of myself. I'm a homebody. Sarah's a world traveler. I love to take
- [old school or simply old? (yes Keurig and I are parting ways.)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/old-school-or-simply-old.html) - Today I'm thinking about the difference between old school and simply old. Have I reached that point where groovy new things have passed me by? Several things have me wondering. (And p.s. this is not a sponsored post.) Yesterday my blogger friends, Laurie and Jacqueline, mentioned two different things on Facebook that stumped me. A Wacom Pen and
- [saying goodbye to Christmas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/saying-goodbye-christmas.html) - Confession. I enjoy putting away my Christmas decorations as much as I enjoy bringing them out of storage. Possibly even more. Soon after Santa visits, the tinsel begins to look tired. Decorations turn to clutter. This downward spiral happens quickly for me. By New Year's night, I'm done. On January 2, John and I removed the ornaments
- [January Focus](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/january-focus.html) - January is the month to focus on starting projects, new beginnings, planning, cleaning, organizing. It's a great month to buy a steam mop—yes it is—because Lucy and Annabelle constantly track up the kitchen floor. Since my My One Little Word for 2015 is Focus, I'm focusing on specific January goals. In January, I plan to focus on
- [How NOT to bake a Strawberry Cake.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/05/how-not-to-bake-a-strawberry-cake.html) - We have many traditions in our family including Nana's strawberry cake recipe. Since my birthday always happened during our Fourth of July trip to the lake, Momma (or Nana) baked a fresh strawberry cake at home to carry with us. (No one wanted to do real cooking at the lake.) Even after driving through the Ozarks, waiting in
- [the lesson behind Baylor's meltdown ](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/lesson-baylors-meltdown.html) - There's a lesson behind Baylor's Cotton Bowl meltdown. I remember the 1980s when a one touchdown loss was reason to celebrate. Baylor was that team everyone played for homecoming. A surefire win. The best thing about game day was Poppa Rolla's Pizza. Football was ugly. The #SicSomeonePlease days. And then Art Briles turned everything around. He
- [My One Little Word for 2015](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2015/01/one-little-word-2015.html) - After considering three possibilities for my 2015 One Little Word, I focused in on one. Focus. 2015 will be my year of focus. The new year brings a clean slate, and oh how I love clean. An ending. A fresh beginning. A chance to continue the progress already made. A new year where amazing things can and often happen. 2014
- [2014: Top Ten Blog Posts](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/2014-top-ten-blog-posts.html) - As we approach the end of 2014—wha?—I'm looking back and recapping my top ten blog posts from the past twelve months. I did this last year too. You can see top posts from 2013 HERE. While these posts are considered top ten based on page views, they may not necessarily be your favorites. Or mine. But I will say, these top ten
- [on the Fifth Day of Christmas...six movies, one little word](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/fifth-day-christmas-one-little-word.html) - On the Fifth Day of Christmas, the sunrise is glorious, and I'm happy to be on the tail-end of the crud. During this last week of 2014, I've done nothing but watch movies and guzzle cough medicine. The good stuff with codeine. John's been supportive of my movie-watching even though he's officially on vacation and probably had
- [If My Blog Were An Outfit...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/03/if-my-blog-were-an-outfit.html) - Just so we are clear—I am NOT a fashion blogger. Lord no. And if you saw my hot mess closet you'd be shocked. Okay, here's my closet... Oink oink. Pigsty. When I heard about the linkup "If My Blog Were An Outfit" (hosted by Hairspray and High Heels), I decided it would be fun and something different
- [Dear Santa - My Christmas Wish List](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/my-christmas-wish-list.html) - I've been thinking about my Christmas wish list. A list with a bit less. A list with a bit more. Moving from Dallas to Fayetteville put me in touch (literally) with every single item we have collected through the years. Every juice glass and dinner plate I carefully packed in wrapping paper. Every dirty garden tool—many
- [The Scary Side of Christmas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/scary-side-christmas.html) - As a child, Christmas was my favorite time of the year. Homemade stockings hung by the chimney with extra-care. Daddy was in a semi-decent mood. Yummy food spread on the kitchen countertop morning, noon and night. School was out for weeks. Sometimes knee high snow fell while I slept. Plus, Christmas was Jesus' birthday which included certain church perks like singing
- [Christmas Gift-Wrapping Party!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/christmas-gift-wrapping-party.html) - Last week I hosted my first gift-wrapping party, something I've thought about doing for years. Unless you are some sort of party-throwing ninja, it's too late to arrange a party this year, but keep this fun idea in mind for next Christmas. A gift-wrapping party is the perfect way to spend time with friends and family while
- [Simple, Perfect Gifts](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/simple-perfect-gifts.html) - Merry Christmas from my family to yours.Another Christmas has come and gone. Santa was good to me. Again. I love Christmastime. All the hustle and bustle and decking of halls stirs memories of holidays spent with family members no longer with us. But they are with us, especially at Christmastime.Papa Creecy with his big red sack saying
- [Do you feel what I feel?](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/do-you-feel-what-i-feel.html) - ★Onacoldwinter's night,I feelthe weary worldrejoicing.❅ Onight divine!Christmas is herebringing good cheer.❅Sweet silver bellsring high aboveglistening treetopsand city sidewalks.❅ The thrill of hope wrappedin silver and gold. ❅ Bornon that silent night sono more may die.✞ Merrymerry, merry, merry Christmas. ❅ Do you hear whatI hear? Do you see what I see?Joy.Merry Christmas!Grace Grits and GardeningFarm. Food. Garden. Life.This poem is in the style of cento—work composed from lines or passages
- [city sidewalks, busy sidewalks…](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/city-sidewalks-busy-sidewalks.html) - wordless wednesday…Klyde Warren Parkin the air there's a feeling of Christmas…talyaGrace Grits and GardeningFarm. Food. Garden. Life.Musical Pairing:Original Silver Bells, Bob Hope & Marilyn Maxwell
- [Sun-Dried Tomato Goat Cheese Spread](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/sun-dried-tomato-goat-cheese-spread.html) - My husband makes this delectable goat cheese spread for every special occasion. With only four ingredients, the dish is simple and oh so flavorful with sweet and savory sun-dried tomatoes, tangy goat cheese and fresh basil. Ingredients Goat Cheese, 8 ounces 1 head of Garlic, top trimmed 5 T Basil, chopped 6 oil packed Sun-Dried
- [Farm Art Friday: Historic Barn](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/farm-art-friday-historic-barn.html) - Inside an old barn, a special world exists. A world encased beneath a sky of dusty rafters and a floor of hay. Slivers of sunlight stream through cracks illuminating buckets hanging from rusty nails, forgotten tools, lengths of scratchy rope. Beyond the barn walls a busy world rushes by, but inside, time passes unhurriedly with amazing grace. In 2004, this wonderful
- [I miss Dallas at Christmas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/miss-dallas-christmas.html) - Yes, there are a few things I miss about Dallas. Especially at Christmas. Not that I don't lovelovelove Fayetteville, because I do. But I miss Chester and his people, Harold and Gale, and other Munger Place friends too numerous to mention. Munger Place porch parties, impromptu get togethers and holiday parties are unique and special.
- [Spicy Dark Chocolate Pistachio Truffles](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/spicy-dark-chocolate-pistachio-truffles.html) - All my childhood hours spent perfecting mud-pies and Easy Bake Oven cakes successfully culminated yesterday during a wonderful afternoon spent making spicy dark chocolate truffles. No kidding. This recipe is easy and fun, although a bit messy, much like mud-pie-making. I love the salty-sweet combination of pistachios and dark chocolate. Add a bit of cayenne
- [Christmas Home Tour + Simple Decorating Tips](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/christmas-home-tour-simple-decorating-tips.html) - Welcome and come on in! Since this is our first Christmas in Fayetteville, I thought I'd take you on a Christmas home tour and show you a few of my basic decorating tips. I'm keeping things simple this year (and not stressing over my lack of outside lighting). The only decorations I've pulled from storage tubs are
- [Farm Art Friday: Cotton Trailers](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/farm-art-friday-cotton-trailers.html) - Cotton trailers made great play pens for my sister and me. Even when they were empty, we spent lots of time climbing into them, crawling underneath, jumping around inside. And when they were filled with cotton, oh my. Playing in a half-filled trailer of cotton always entertained us. Today, cotton farming has evolved to round bales. Tidy. Efficient.
- [Handmade Snow Globe](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/handmade-snow-globe.html) - Yesterday during a short burst of craftiness, I made a snow globe using a Mason jar. From start to finish, this handmade snow globe took less than thirty minutes which included scrubbing clean the Mason jar which contained oily, congealed, leftover Thanksgiving salad dressing inside. Last year, Annabelle gnawed the base off the tiny white Christmas tree (pictured below).
- [R is for Reading](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/04/r-is-for-reading.html) - Once upon a time I unearthed a skeleton key buried in a badger hole. The rusty key unlocked a secret garden gate that led to a lifetime of fantasy and adventure, history and travel. From The Leaky Cauldron to the Great River of Narnia, each place taught lessons I carry with me. Swinging on vines
- [on writing First Sentences](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/on-writing-first-sentences.html) - In a recent article with The Atlantic, Stephen King describes the first line of a book as the reader's invitation to begin the story. "…a really good first line can do so much to establish that crucial sense of voice—it's the first thing that acquaints you, that makes you eager, that starts to enlist you
- [Chocolate Covered Cherry Christmas Mice](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/chocolate-covered-cherry-christmas-mice.html) - I've been making these chocolate covered cherry Christmas mice several years now. They are fun to make and always a big hit at every holiday gathering. Ingredients (makes 18-24) 8 oz Melting Chocolate (I used Ghirardelli semi-sweet) 1 medium jar Maraschino Cherries with stems Mini Chocolate Chips Hershey's Kisses Wax Paper Red Gel Icing Method
- [Handmade Ornament Ideas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/handmade-ornament-ideas.html) - I signed up for the Arkansas Women Bloggers handmade ornament exchange and immediately thought what on earth was I thinking? I had to come up with a homemade ornament idea just when my mind felt tired and blank. Ornament.Exchange.Remorse. With only a couple of weeks to made final edits and get my manuscript to my editor, I was doing
- [Vintage Book Christmas Tree Craft Project](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/12/vintage-book-christmas-tree-craft.html) - I made Christmas trees using pages from a vintage children's book. (Consider this a great way to recycle damaged books that would otherwise end up in a crowded landfill. The old Dick and Jane book I used had torn and missing pages and was of no value to a reader.) For my example, I made
- [I'm official. I have an Arkansas driver's license!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/im-official-arkansas-drivers-license.html) - I have exciting news! So exciting that I'm using an explanation point right off which I rarely do. Yesterday I became an official Arkansas resident again. Totally legit because I went through the process of proving my identity to re-gain a shiny new Arkansas driver's license. I've come full circle. Can I get a Woo Pig Sooie? And might
- [Rosemary Infused Olive Oil](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/03/rosemary-infused-olive-oil.html) - We have so much rosemary growing in our garden, I am forever trying to work it into cooking, cleaning and decorating. This rosemary infused olive oil is very flavorful, can be used in a variety of recipes and makes a great gift. Ingredients 1 cup olive oil 5-6 sprigs rosemary Heat olive oil and rosemary
- [December, carry me home.](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/12/december-carry-me-home.html) - Yesterday was November. The warm, humid weather and gusty winds announced sure signs of change. I thought about dragging my Christmas decorations from the garage but didn't. I've spent so much time packing and unpacking boxes, the whole idea of digging through more stuff is about as appealing as the leftover brussel sprouts morphing into a science experiment
- [autumn fade](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2012/11/autumn-fade.html) - Autumn disappears. While I sit at my desk writing and thinking, brilliant fades to brown. Russet leaves, once aflame, float to the sidewalks one by one like words on the page. Dry, piled underfoot, leaves crunch as I walk. Bare branches reveal giant squirrel nests and clumps of mistletoe—hidden there the whole time. Frosty mornings and cold
- [Farm Art Friday: duck pit](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/farm-art-friday-duck-pit.html) - Hidden beneath flat rice fields, duck pits are difficult to spot from the road. I climbed down into this one buried on our farm in Mississippi County. From inside, the view is quite different, the small space like a secret. Happy Friday and good luck to all those participating in the world championship duck calling contest today
- [Southern Christmas Gifts under $25!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/southern-christmas-gifts-under-25.html) - (This Southern Christmas Gift post is sponsored by P. Allen Smith, Bourbon and Boots and Bentley's Batch 5. All opinions are my own.) Once again, Christmas is rushing up on us, and I have a problem—I hate to shop. If shopping doesn't involve plants, books, an antique/thrift store or the farmer's market, I DREAD it. And because I dread it, I
- [Simple Pleasures #8](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/simple-pleasures-8.html) - Sometimes the simplest pleasures involve accomplishing tasks around the house and checking off To-Do list items. Like finally installing our new mailbox. I'm not sure why this house had no mailbox whatsoever, but I LOVE our new one from Moda Industria. It's a work of art ❣ And two months after moving, we installed our porch swing. Yay! After several
- [Not Your Momma's Cranberry Sauce](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2012/11/not-your-mommas-cranberry-sauce.html) - Momma loves the cranberry sauce that slithers out of the can with a vile sucking sound. The can leaves imprinted rings around the jelly providing an easy slicing guide. Momma has learned to show up for Thanksgiving with her own sad can, in case we accidentally forget. If you prefer a quick, more flavorful cranberry sauce, this
- [Farm Art Friday: Old Grain Bins](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/farm-art-friday-old-grain-bins.html) - I find truth and history in old things. The rural art of the farm feels soulful, stark and real, a part of the American landscape, a part of me. Today marks the first of many Farm Art Fridays. A picture. A quote. A memory that stirs and floats to the surface. Happy Friday to you. Grace Grits and Gardening Farm.
- [Simple Pleasures #7](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/simple-pleasures-7.html) - Saturday morning, Lucy woke me early and I dragged myself downstairs. After staying up well past my normal bedtime, I felt groggy and annoyed at having my warm and cozy dreams interrupted. A few minutes later, I was thankful to see the glorious sunrise. According to the pink sky peeping through the trees, we were in for a "red sky
- [A is for Adventure](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/04/a-is-for-adventure.html) - I fancy myself like Alice in a world jam-packed with comical creatures and inspired imagery. When I feel plucky enough to follow the zany white rabbit, he steers me to places of adventure. Seeing through my heart and soul, the ordinary becomes curiouser and curiouser. Some days the door I face is invisible or difficult
- [2014: An Insurance Odyssey](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/insurance-odyssey.html) - For the past several weeks, we have been living an insurance odyssey. An odyssey brought on by zero common sense in business. That's how I see it anyway. This is the front of our house. And here is the back. How would you describe our roofline? Go ahead and brainstorm. Peaked? Steep? Pitched? How about flat? As in flat
- [Ashlie Wilson: Meth Recovery Update](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/ashlie-wilson-meth-recovery-update.html) - In January 2014, I shared the story of Ashlie Tolliver Wilson's day-by-day fight against meth addiction. Ashlie is a Northeast Arkansas girl who somehow summoned the courage to walk away from a life consumed by meth. If you aren't familiar with her story, start HERE. On the occasion of her six month clean anniversary, she shared
- [Simple Pleasures #6](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/simple-pleasures-6.html) - Last week was filled with some of my favorite simple pleasures. I spent time with friends at a Hemingway-Pfeiffer writer retreat which meant five whole days to talk about writing, share my writing, think about writing, and actually write. This is blissful. I followed that up at the Bat Cave with my Mother which always involves
- [Ernest Hemingway Wrote Here](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/ernest-hemingway-wrote.html) - I am fortunate to be attending my fifth writer's retreat at Hemingway-Pfeiffer Educational Center, a truly magical place not only because Ernest Hemingway wrote here(!) but because of the synergy created by the writers who gather. This spot in Northeast Arkansas is hallowed—the trees, the grounds, the barn where he wrote a portion of A Farewell to Arms
- [Simple Pleasures #5](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/11/simple-pleasures-5.html) - Simple pleasures. Things I can count on like one-two-three. Uncomplicated things. That's what I'm recapping from last week. 1. Decorating for Halloween. I've had this string of lights forever. Knock-on-wood, they don't make 'em like this anymore. 2. Perfect, homemade chocolate icing. Recipe coming soon... 3. New Converse. Converse tennis shoes are part of my typical "uniform". These
- [A Halloween Love Story](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/halloween-love-story.html) - I recently attended the Ozark Creative Writers Conference in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. During the course of the weekend, there was an "on the spot" contest for best flash fiction (super short fiction written on the back of an index card). The contest was based on the following prompt: A great way to get my...
- [Haute Giveaway!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2012/11/haute-giveaway.html) - Holiday Blog GIVEAWAY— Grace Grits & Gardening is teaming up with fellow Arkansan and family friend Elizabeth Crigger Scokin of Haute Hostess Aprons for a holiday apron giveaway! Delphine (the name of the apron below-not the lovely girl...) from the Glam it Up Collection will be given away in December, just in time for the
- [The Fault in Our Stars Pumpkin](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/the-fault-in-our-stars-pumpkin.html) - I have an announcement. Sunday night, I finally watched The Fault in Our Stars. Am I the last (girl) person to see it? Probably so... Although I read the book months ago, the movie is haunting me. I've been thinking about the Shakespearean quote that inspired the title. Since it's pumpkin carving time at my house, I decided
- [Simple Pleasures #4](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/simple-things-4.html) - This quote by author Joan Marques says it all—Simple things bring infinite pleasure. Yet, it takes us a while to realize that. Once simple is in, complex it out - forever. It is common to get tangled in the constant activity and busyness of life, but living in Northwest Arkansas makes it easy for me to slow down and appreciate
- [Simple Pleasures #3](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/simple-pleasures-3.html) - This was a week filled with friends, new and old, including my first overnight guest. I made a trip to Sharum Gardens with my sister-in-law. Pumpkins were buy one get one free. Pansies were $10/flat. Is there a happier flower? I don't think so. I finally made it to Rick's Bakery on College. Omgoodness
- [How Writing is like Cabbage ](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/how-writing-is-like-cabbage.html) - Sometimes writing is like cabbage. Yes, cabbage. I'm about to explain the odd connection, and how two seemingly unrelated things can be so alike. 1) Some people love cabbage. Some people don't. Maybe they want to like it because of the health benefits, but will eat cabbage only if they are super hungry. When they do try
- [Ebola in my suitcase? ](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/ebola-in-my-suitcase.html) - Yes, I moved to Fayetteville from Dallas. No, I did not bring Ebola with me. Stop with the widespread panic. A few days ago I read a post on Facebook that went something like this...Omg! I saw a car in front of me with Texas tags and wanted to scream 'keep that Ebola in Texas'!
- [Adios Texas. ](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/adios-texas.html) - In 1981, I packed up my sparse belongings and headed to Texas with no real vision of life beyond high school. I only knew I was ready to leave. Ready to get on with college. You know the saying, the world was my oyster. Yesterday as I crossed the Red River into Oklahoma, I said, "Adios," to Texas.
- [Arranging a Photo Wall Display for Impact](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/arranging-a-photo-wall-display-for-impact.html) - In our Dallas house, we filled our entire stairwell space with a wall display of black and white family photos. It worked well in a space that would have otherwise been boring and blank. Although for years we enjoyed the look, I wanted something different for our new Fayetteville home. Plus our Fayetteville stairwell is very narrow.
- [my 29 second gourmet breakfast](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/29-second-gourmet-breakfast.html) - There's no reason not to eat a healthy and delicious breakfast. If you've got 29 seconds, you can dine on a gourmet-ish egg cooked in your microwave. This is one of my favorite quick breakfasts. Okay really you'll need a full minute when you add in prep, but what a great tradeoff. One minute for protein and
- [Letter to my Younger Self](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2013/03/letter-to-my-younger-self.html) - Dear younger self, Hey there. I know you never imagined being half a century old, but it happened. And it happened rather quickly. Looking back, I offer this bit of advise to you, my younger self... Why do you worry? You are a kid. Stop taking things so seriously. Stop being afraid of life. Write in
- [Demented Dairy Hollow?](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2012/11/demented-dairy-hollow.html) - For four nights in a row I have slept like the dead. My Dairy Hollow cabin is chilly, yet I nest comfortably underneath quilts and blankets snuggling with my feather pillow from home. Good sleeping weather. Above my rooftop, a canopy of trees, a forest dense and dark. The branches are woven and twisted together,
- [Simple Pleasures #1](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/09/simple-pleasures-1.html) - Our first official week in our new (old) home was busy and often overwhelming, yet filled with happy-to-be-back-in-Arkansas simple pleasures. Simple pleasures worth recapping now to remember later... Cool, fall weather. Chilly mornings, perfect afternoons. Sleeping with the windows open. What can I say, fall is my favorite season! I bought my first pumpkin:) Lots of long walks. Lucy
- [Simple Pleasures #2](https://gracegritsgarden.com/2014/10/simple-pleasures-2.html) - Week two living in Fayetteville...I feel more unpacked and settled in with more time to write. And that's nice! Here are a few of last week's simple pleasures. Clouds. Monday night I joined a group of Northwest Arkansas Blogger friends for dinner at The Depot. Walking to meet them, I stopped to take a picture of this

## Pages

- [Backyard Phenology](https://gracegritsgarden.com/backyard-phenology) - Learn how backyard phenology helps gardeners track seasonal patterns, improve planting timing, and deepen place-based observation with simple tools.
- [Bio](https://gracegritsgarden.com/about) - Hey there! Welcome to my "About Me" page. I hope you'll stay awhile and come back often. I'll do my best to keep you entertained with what I'm cooking and writing and growing in my garden. I enjoy talking about nostalgia and taking you home with me to our family farm in the Arkansas Delta. I strive to highlight local businesses and
- [SHOP!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/gracegritsshop) - BOOKS ~ NOTECARDS ~ STICKERS ~ PHENOLOGY JOURNAL
- [Monthly Phenology Wheel](https://gracegritsgarden.com/monthly-phenology-wheel-2) - Download my hand-drawn monthly phenology wheel by clicking the link below! 👇👇👇 monthly phenology wheel
- [Publishing](https://gracegritsgarden.com/publishing) - The Dream of Publishing So many of us have the same dream of writing a book and seeing it in print. And because our dreams align, I am often asked about book publishing. How does publishing work? How did I get my stories published? These questions are HUGE, and yes, getting started can be intimidating.
- [Media](https://gracegritsgarden.com/media)
- [Privacy Policy](https://gracegritsgarden.com/privacy-policy) - Your privacy is important to me. This website address is: https://gracegritsgarden.com. Information Collected Information collected from comments, purchases, surveys, etc. will never be added, sold, or provided to other email lists without your consent. When visitors leave comments in the comments form, the data collected (including IP address and browser agent) is used to help
- [GRACIE NOTECARDS!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/gracie-notecards-2) - Vertical fold: Horizontal fold: Artwork by John Boerner. Okay friends. Order all your goodies below via Paypal. Thanks! NOTECARDS 8-assorted, horizontal folded, blank inside $25.00 USD 8-assorted, vertical folded, blank inside $25.00 USD I want both! Two boxes (one of each described) $45.00 USD
- [Gimme all the cute notecards!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/gracie-notecards) - GRACIE NOTECARDS Attention Super Fans of Gracie Lee: Don't you love the illustrations in The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee (2nd Edition)? Now you can send all your written letters and thank you notes via Gracie notecards.😍 Each is a walk down memory lane. Remember the Hallelujah Bus? Remember when Gracie noticed the Sprout growing through
- [Homepage](https://gracegritsgarden.com/homepage)
- [Keep in touch...](https://gracegritsgarden.com/the-magic-continues-here) - Hi there! Thanks for being a newsletter / Sunday Letter subscriber. I promise not to bombard you with pointless mail. Instead, I share exciting book related news and curate interesting things I believe you'll enjoying knowing about. If you provided your email address at one of my book signings, you're already on the list. Easy
- [THANK YOU!](https://gracegritsgarden.com/thank-you) - You rock! Your t-shirt will be delivered shortly.
- [Buy](https://gracegritsgarden.com/buy) - 4 oz Soy-Blended Travel Tin Candle. Bold aroma of leather & flowers, addictive, not soon forgotten, burn time 20 hours

## Products

- [Maggie and Miss Ladybug (Hardback)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/maggie-and-miss-ladybug-hardback) - Maggie and Miss Ladybug is a sweet children’s book about curiosity, kindness, and nature. A perfect read-aloud for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers.
- [Maggie and Miss Ladybug (Paperback)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/maggie-and-miss-ladybug) - Maggie and Miss Ladybug is a sweet children’s book about curiosity, kindness, and nature. A perfect read-aloud for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers.
- [Backyard Phenology PACKAGE](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/backyard-phenology-package) - Observe, doodle, and color your way through the seasons—right in your own backyard! This bundle includes everything you'll need to start your phenology adventure.
- [Adventures with Bernice Coloring Book](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/adventures-with-bernice-coloring-book) - It’s never too late for mischief! Add color to Bernice’s runaway adventures in this playful, sassy companion coloring book.
- [The World of Gracie Lee Coloring Book](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/the-world-of-gracie-lee-coloring-book) - Step into Gracie Lee’s small-town Arkansas world with charming illustrations that invite you to color, relax, and rediscover the wonder of childhood.
- [The Nature of Theo Gruene Coloring Book](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/the-nature-of-theo-gruene-coloring-book) - Bring Theo Gruene’s world to life with 20 whimsical nature illustrations in this companion coloring book—relax, create, and reconnect with beauty.
- [Backyard Phenology 36-Month Journal](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/backyard-phenology-36-month-journal) - A 36-month phenology wheel journal for capturing daily backyard nature observations.
- [Exploring Nature: A Beginner's Guide to Backyard Phenology](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/exploring-nature-a-beginners-guide-to-backyard-phenology) - A beginner-friendly guide to observing, recording, and connecting with nature through phenology journaling.
- [The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee (Trade Paperback / Illustrated)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/the-accidental-salvation-of-gracie-lee-trade-paperback-illustrated-signed-by-author) - A heartfelt coming-of-age story of mystery, family, and resilience, told through the unforgettable voice of Gracie Lee.
- [The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee (2nd Edition Hardback / Illustrated)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/the-accidental-salvation-of-gracie-lee-hardback-2nd-edition-illustrated) - A heartfelt coming-of-age story of mystery, family, and resilience, told through the unforgettable voice of Gracie Lee.
- [Gene, Everywhere: a Life-Changing Visit from my Father-in-Law (1st Edition Hardback)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/gene-everywhere-a-life-changing-visit-from-my-father-in-law-1st-edition-hardback-signed-by-author) - With the generational wisdom of Tuesdays with Morrie and the charm of A Man Called Ove, this story is for adult children everywhere.
- [Gene, Everywhere: a Life-Changing Visit from my Father-in-Law (Trade Paperback)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/gene-everywhere-a-life-changing-visit-from-my-father-in-law-trade-paperback-signed-by-author) - With the generational wisdom of Tuesdays with Morrie and the charm of A Man Called Ove, this story is for adult children everywhere. memoir
- [Bernice Runs Away (1st Edition Hardback)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/bernice-runs-away-1st-edition-hardback) - A charming story of second chances and the transcendent power of love, Bernice Runs Away clears away life’s clutter and gets to the truth of what is essential in life.
- [Bernice Runs Away (Trade Paperback)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/bernice-runs-away-trade-paperback) - A charming story of second chances and the transcendent power of love, Bernice Runs Away clears away life’s clutter and gets to the truth of what is essential in life.
- [The Third Act of Theo Gruene (Trade Paperback)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/the-third-act-of-theo-gruene-trade-paperback) - A poignant portrayal of love, loss, and the profound joy of human connection.
- [The Third Act of Theo Gruene (1st Edition Hardback)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/the-third-act-of-theo-gruene-1st-edition-hardback) - A poignant portrayal of love, loss, and the profound joy of human connection.
- [Backyard Phenology Colored Pencils](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/backyard-phenology-colored-pencils) - 24 vibrant colors in 12 eco-friendly pencils—perfect for nature journaling anywhere.
- [Monthly Phenology Wheel Template (hand-drawn)](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/monthly-phenology-wheel-template-hand-drawn) - Free Downloadable Monthly Phenology Wheel Template (hand-drawn)
- [Bernice Pie Sticker](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/bernice-pie-sticker) - STICKER: "Pie is always a good idea." approximately 2"x2" die-cut super cute!
- [Bernice Suitcase Sticker](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/bernice-suitcase-sticker) - STICKER: Bernice Runs Away - Where would you go? approximately 2" x 2 " die-cut super cute!
- [Notecards - 8 assorted designs, vertically folded, blank inside](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/notecards-8-assorted-vertically-folded-blank-inside) - These notecards feature assorted illustrations from the 2nd Edition Illustrated version of The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. Delivered in kraft box from recycled paper / Made in USA. Card size 4" x 5.6". Paper and envelopes are white matte. Top left to bottom right: 1) Yellow Jacket Cafe; 2) Lightning Bugs; 3)
- [Notecards - 8 assorted designs, horizontally folded, blank inside](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product/notecards-8-assorted-designs-horizontally-folded-blank-inside) - These notecards feature assorted illustrations from the 2nd Edition Illustrated version of The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. Delivered in kraft box from recycled paper / Made in USA. Card size 4" x 5.6". Paper and envelopes are white matte. top left to bottom right: 1) Summer Day; 2) Nana’s Duck; 3) Wishes; 4)

## MailPoet Page

- [MailPoet Page](https://gracegritsgarden.com/?mailpoet_page=captcha) - [mailpoet_page]
- [MailPoet Page](https://gracegritsgarden.com/?mailpoet_page=subscriptions) - [mailpoet_page]

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- [Gracie Lee](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/gracie-lee)
- [Talya Tate Boerner novel](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/talya-tate-boerner-novel)
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- [The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-accidental-salvation-of-gracie-lee)
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- [Little Golden Books](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/little-golden-books)
- [vintage Halloween](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/vintage-halloween)
- [repelling animals in the garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/repelling-animals-in-the-garden)
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- [Pop-Up Book Reading](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/pop-up-book-reading)
- [recycle](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/recycle)
- [paper crafts](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/paper-crafts)
- [Gracie Lee t-shirt](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/gracie-lee-t-shirt)
- [I'm with Gracie Lee](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/im-with-gracie-lee)
- [Ghirardelli Chocolate](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/ghirardelli-chocolate)
- [Josh Cellars](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/josh-cellars)
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- [Fayetteville Arkansas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fayetteville-arkansas)
- [book launch ideas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/book-launch-ideas)
- [end of winter](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/end-of-winter)
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- [book signings](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/book-signings)
- [spring reading](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/spring-reading)
- [patty pan squash](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/patty-pan-squash)
- [squash seeds](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/squash-seeds)
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- [Frog and Toad Together](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/frog-and-toad-together)
- [Alabama Book Festival](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/alabama-book-festival)
- [book promotion](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/book-promotion)
- [Alabama](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/alabama)
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- [deep south](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/deep-south)
- [Washington Elementary School](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/washington-elementary-school)
- [Historic homes](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/historic-homes)
- [May](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/may)
- [Tupelo Mississippi](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/tupelo-mississippi)
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- [Graceland](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/graceland)
- [historic home](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/historic-home)
- [chicken recipes](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/chicken-recipes)
- [spring recipes](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/spring-recipes)
- [Florida](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/florida)
- [WWII](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/wwii)
- [book club](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/book-club)
- [me time](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/me-time)
- [Apalachicola](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/apalachicola)
- [Florida Panhandle](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/florida-panhandle)
- [Forgotten Coast](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/forgotten-coast)
- [off the beaten path](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/off-the-beaten-path)
- [Father's Day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fathers-day)
- [Keiser Elementary](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/keiser-elementary)
- [Fourth of July](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fourth-of-july)
- [Traveling Solo](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/traveling-solo)
- [Visit Florida](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/visit-florida)
- [miracle of nature](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/miracle-of-nature)
- [geology](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/geology)
- [Tarzan the Ape Man](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/tarzan-the-ape-man)
- [The Legend of Tarzan](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-legend-of-tarzan)
- [girl trip](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/girl-trip)
- [basic recipes](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/basic-recipes)
- [parenting](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/parenting)
- [Labor Day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/labor-day)
- [fall fashion](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fall-fashion)
- [white jeans](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/white-jeans)
- [Naked Cowboy](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/naked-cowboy)
- [butterfly garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/butterfly-garden)
- [Reflections from Dorothy](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/reflections-from-dorothy)
- [thrift store](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/thrift-store)
- [Goodreads](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/goodreads)
- [persimmon](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/persimmon)
- [folklore](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/folklore)
- [weather](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/weather)
- [old wives' tale](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/old-wives-tale)
- [Linus](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/linus)
- [being kind](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/being-kind)
- [Election 2016](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/election-2016)
- [Columbus Day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/columbus-day)
- [federal holiday](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/federal-holiday)
- [Devil's Eyebrow](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/devils-eyebrow)
- [hiking](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hiking)
- [persimmons](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/persimmons)
- [pineapple](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/pineapple)
- [natural area](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/natural-area)
- [BarkBox](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/barkbox)
- [The Swans of Fifth Avenue](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-swans-of-fifth-avenue)
- [Geek Squad](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/geek-squad)
- [Best Buy](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/best-buy)
- [Mac](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/mac)
- [computer problems](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/computer-problems)
- [blogger life](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/blogger-life)
- [book club discussion](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/book-club-discussion)
- [War Eagle](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/war-eagle)
- [craft shows](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/craft-shows)
- [Morrillton](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/morrillton)
- [Andrew Carnegie](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/andrew-carnegie)
- [Carnegie Library](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/carnegie-library)
- [Brenda Cahill](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/brenda-cahill)
- [Dixie Mallard Duck Call](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/dixie-mallard-duck-call)
- [trick or treating](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/trick-or-treating)
- [All Saints' Day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/all-saints-day)
- [spiderman](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/spiderman)
- [Cottonwood Corner](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/cottonwood-corner)
- [Hot Springs Book Club](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hot-springs-book-club)
- [Buttermilk Pie](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/buttermilk-pie)
- [Miami Book Fair](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/miami-book-fair)
- [Miami](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/miami)
- [The Christmas Store](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-christmas-store)
- [Fredericksburg](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fredericksburg)
- [Texas Hill Country](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/texas-hill-country)
- [Sister Schubert](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/sister-schubert)
- [cookbook](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/cookbook)
- [holiday celebrations](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/holiday-celebrations)
- [Advent](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/advent)
- [holiday season](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/holiday-season)
- [vintage Christmas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/vintage-christmas)
- [winter solstice](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/winter-solstice)
- [hibernation](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hibernation)
- [Christmas Eve](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/christmas-eve)
- [Klyde Warren Park](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/klyde-warren-park)
- [2017 goals](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/2017-goals)
- [Twelfth Night](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/twelfth-night)
- [Plough Monday](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/plough-monday)
- [Author life](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/author-life)
- [rejection](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/rejection)
- [nano fiction](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/nano-fiction)
- [writer challenges](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/writer-challenges)
- [insecurity](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/insecurity)
- [One Little Word 2017](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/one-little-word-2017)
- [Savor](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/savor)
- [The Flavor Bible](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-flavor-bible)
- [Snack Hacks](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/snack-hacks)
- [Hiland Dairy](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hiland-dairy)
- [milk and yogurt recipes](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/milk-and-yogurt-recipes)
- [La La Land](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/la-la-land)
- [dreaming](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/dreaming)
- [princess](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/princess)
- [Presidential Election](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/presidential-election)
- [Donald Trump](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/donald-trump)
- [Inauguration](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/inauguration)
- [DIY](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/diy)
- [writing space](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/writing-space)
- [quiet time](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/quiet-time)
- [Woodworx Woodshop](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/woodworx-woodshop)
- [savoring 2017](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/savoring-2017)
- [Denver](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/denver)
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- [Book Reviews](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/book-reviews)
- [Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/lillian-boxfish-takes-a-walk)
- [The Bell Jar](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-bell-jar)
- [Hillbilly Elegy](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hillbilly-elegy)
- [Denver Museum of Art](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/denver-museum-of-art)
- [street art](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/street-art)
- [chalk art](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/chalk-art)
- [murals](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/murals)
- [family owned](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/family-owned)
- [shop local](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/shop-local)
- [Collier Drugs](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/collier-drugs)
- [small biz](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/small-biz)
- [Love](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/love)
- [Scott Fitzgerald](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/scott-fitzgerald)
- [Montgomery](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/montgomery)
- [love letters](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/love-letters)
- [Southeast Arkansas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/southeast-arkansas)
- [Delta Resort and Spa](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/delta-resort-and-spa)
- [home on the farm](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/home-on-the-farm)
- [children books](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/children-books)
- [Osceola Public Library](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/osceola-public-library)
- [henbit](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/henbit)
- [travel](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/travel)
- [grace grits reads](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/grace-grits-reads)
- [early spring](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/early-spring)
- [Great River Road](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/great-river-road)
- [Blues](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/blues)
- [Hampson Museum](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hampson-museum)
- [author](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/author)
- [a day in the life](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/a-day-in-the-life)
- [time](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/time)
- [imagination](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/imagination)
- [flowers](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/flowers)
- [daffodils](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/daffodils)
- [Colon Cancer](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/colon-cancer)
- [dogwood](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/dogwood)
- [Jonquil Festival](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/jonquil-festival)
- [Old Washington State Park](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/old-washington-state-park)
- [craft fair](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/craft-fair)
- [The Aviator's Wife](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-aviators-wife)
- [Anne of Green Gables](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/anne-of-green-gables)
- [Hidden Figures](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hidden-figures)
- [March](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/march)
- [perennials](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/perennials)
- [shopping local](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/shopping-local)
- [White's Mercantile](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/whites-mercantile)
- [Morrison's Bluff](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/morrisons-bluff)
- [Seibenmorgen](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/seibenmorgen)
- [farm to table](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/farm-to-table)
- [Holly Williams](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/holly-williams)
- [Clematis](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/clematis)
- [Earth Day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/earth-day)
- [environment](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/environment)
- [gravel road](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/gravel-road)
- [backroads](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/backroads)
- [Dogbranch](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/dogbranch)
- [tiny houses](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/tiny-houses)
- [Little Custom Homes](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/little-custom-homes)
- [Mother's Day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/mothers-day)
- [volunteer flowers](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/volunteer-flowers)
- [Iceland](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/iceland)
- [Authors at Large](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/authors-at-large)
- [Reykjavík](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/reykjavik)
- [Golden Triangle](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/golden-triangle)
- [Ólafsfjörður](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/olafsfjordur)
- [North Iceland](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/north-iceland)
- [Grimsey Island](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/grimsey-island)
- [Arctic Circle](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/arctic-circle)
- [Arctic Sea Tours](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/arctic-sea-tours)
- [East Iceland](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/east-iceland)
- [Seyðisfjörður](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/seydisfjordur)
- [Dwarfs' Rock](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/dwarfs-rock)
- [East fjords](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/east-fjords)
- [Glacier Lagoon](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/glacier-lagoon)
- [South Iceland](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/south-iceland)
- [perfection](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/perfection)
- [beef](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/beef)
- [Watermelon](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/watermelon)
- [The Pecan Man](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-pecan-man)
- [garden pests](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/garden-pests)
- [Japanese beetles](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/japanese-beetles)
- [adventure](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/adventure)
- [Siloam Springs](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/siloam-springs)
- [bakery](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/bakery)
- [saying no](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/saying-no)
- [Arts and Letters Radio](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/arts-and-letters-radio)
- [Arts & Letters Radio](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/arts-letters-radio)
- [tomato](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/tomato)
- [Barnes and Noble](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/barnes-and-noble)
- [accident](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/accident)
- [recuperating](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/recuperating)
- [slow living](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/slow-living)
- [Book Lovers Day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/book-lovers-day)
- [audio book](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/audio-book)
- [Audible](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/audible)
- [Em Eldridge](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/em-eldridge)
- [Glen Campbell](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/glen-campbell)
- [Otter Pops](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/otter-pops)
- [nostalgia](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/nostalgia)
- [bully](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/bully)
- [bullying](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/bullying)
- [Lord of the Flies](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/lord-of-the-flies)
- [secret gardens](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/secret-gardens)
- [Hurricane Harvey](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hurricane-harvey)
- [Houston](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/houston)
- [flood](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/flood)
- [Goshen](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/goshen)
- [The Cobblestone Project](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-cobblestone-project)
- [Cobblestone Farm](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/cobblestone-farm)
- [non-profit](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/non-profit)
- [hunger](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hunger)
- [healing](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/healing)
- [fried chicken](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fried-chicken)
- [foodie friday](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/foodie-friday)
- [knockout roses](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/knockout-roses)
- [kindness](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/kindness)
- [fall reading](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fall-reading)
- [classics](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/classics)
- [hog dog roast](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hog-dog-roast)
- [fall fun](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fall-fun)
- [Halloween party](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/halloween-party)
- [Tyson Foods](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/tyson-foods)
- [Tyson chicken](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/tyson-chicken)
- [finger foods](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/finger-foods)
- [halloween decorating](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/halloween-decorating)
- [writing distractions](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/writing-distractions)
- [fall color](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fall-color)
- [Crystal Bridges Museum](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/crystal-bridges-museum)
- [Chihuly](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/chihuly)
- [Visit Bentonville](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/visit-bentonville)
- [Visit Northwest Arkansas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/visit-northwest-arkansas)
- [The Goldfinch](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-goldfinch)
- [winter recipes](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/winter-recipes)
- [Walmart](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/walmart)
- [Gift cards](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/gift-cards)
- [gifts for readers](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/gifts-for-readers)
- [book lovers](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/book-lovers)
- [beef stew](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/beef-stew)
- [Goldsmith's](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/goldsmiths)
- [2018](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/2018)
- [winter books](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/winter-books)
- [I](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/i)
- [West Village](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/west-village)
- [Uptown Dallas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/uptown-dallas)
- [traveling with pets](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/traveling-with-pets)
- [Visit Dallas](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/visit-dallas)
- [Tiny](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/tiny)
- [Huge Thursday](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/huge-thursday)
- [clouds](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/clouds)
- [observe](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/observe)
- [Rosa Parks](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/rosa-parks)
- [southern road trip](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/southern-road-trip)
- [southern history](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/southern-history)
- [school shooting](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/school-shooting)
- [gun control](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/gun-control)
- [Arkansas Parks](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/arkansas-parks)
- [Louisiana Purchase](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/louisiana-purchase)
- [Dr. Seuss](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/dr-seuss)
- [old friends](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/old-friends)
- [Toltec Mounds](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/toltec-mounds)
- [native american](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/native-american)
- [cake balls](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/cake-balls)
- [world poetry day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/world-poetry-day)
- [tool library](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/tool-library)
- [garden project](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/garden-project)
- [Fayetteville Public Library](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fayetteville-public-library)
- [National Library Week](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/national-library-week)
- [Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/baker-creek-heirloom-seeds)
- [bamboo](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/bamboo)
- [allium](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/allium)
- [heavenly bamboo](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/heavenly-bamboo)
- [invasive plants](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/invasive-plants)
- [Amazon](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/amazon)
- [KUAR](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/kuar)
- [coneflowers](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/coneflowers)
- [ice-cream](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/ice-cream)
- [Educated](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/educated)
- [Mason jar](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/mason-jar)
- [lightning bugs](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/lightning-bugs)
- [compost](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/compost)
- [postcard](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/postcard)
- [The Great American Read](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-great-american-read)
- [National Ice Cream Day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/national-ice-cream-day)
- [moth](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/moth)
- [Cobblestone Farms](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/cobblestone-farms)
- [late summer](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/late-summer)
- [pollinator garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/pollinator-garden)
- [silvery checkerspot butterfly](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/silvery-checkerspot-butterfly)
- [White River Nursery](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/white-river-nursery)
- [Denver Botanic Gardens](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/denver-botanic-gardens)
- [Mr. Rogers](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/mr-rogers)
- [Won't You Be My Neighbor](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/wont-you-be-my-neighbor)
- [pasta](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/pasta)
- [Barnett's Dairyette](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/barnetts-dairyette)
- [local restaurants](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/local-restaurants)
- [insect hotel](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/insect-hotel)
- [renovation](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/renovation)
- [tiny house](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/tiny-house)
- [downsizing](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/downsizing)
- [society pages](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/society-pages)
- [A Star is Born](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/a-star-is-born)
- [Visit Mississippi](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/visit-mississippi)
- [Lower Delta Talks](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/lower-delta-talks)
- [It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/its-the-great-pumpkin-charlie-brown)
- [The Sun Does Shine](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-sun-does-shine)
- [The Trail Provides](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-trail-provides)
- [Where the Crawdads Sing](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/where-the-crawdads-sing)
- [The Electric Woman](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-electric-woman)
- [Gift House Antiques](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/gift-house-antiques)
- [sugar maple](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/sugar-maple)
- [treehugger](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/treehugger)
- [Hee Haw](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hee-haw)
- [late fall](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/late-fall)
- [cloche](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/cloche)
- [cookies](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/cookies)
- [Bookish](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/bookish)
- [The Grinch](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-grinch)
- [bookstores](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/bookstores)
- [Loblolly Creamery](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/loblolly-creamery)
- [orange slice garland](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/orange-slice-garland)
- [Jord Watch](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/jord-watch)
- [MLK Day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/mlk-day)
- [Potluck & Poison Ivy](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/potluck-poison-ivy)
- [Writing life](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/writing-life)
- [dinner theater](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/dinner-theater)
- [Julie Adams](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/julie-adams)
- [Mother Nature](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/mother-nature)
- [The Daisy Oracle](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-daisy-oracle)
- [Cabin Fever](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/cabin-fever)
- [Paint by Numbers](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/paint-by-numbers)
- [Zero Garbage](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/zero-garbage)
- [propagation](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/propagation)
- [mother of the bride](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/mother-of-the-bride)
- [beneficial insects](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/beneficial-insects)
- [gardening projects](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/gardening-projects)
- [Erica Glasener](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/erica-glasener)
- [literary citizenship](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/literary-citizenship)
- [li](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/li)
- [houseplant](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/houseplant)
- [Delta Arts Festival](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/delta-arts-festival)
- [Deer](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/deer)
- [morel mushrooms](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/morel-mushrooms)
- [mulching](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/mulching)
- [typing](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/typing)
- [Mimosa](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/mimosa)
- [trash tree](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/trash-tree)
- [peony](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/peony)
- [tree peony](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/tree-peony)
- [Pyrex](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/pyrex)
- [Monarch Watch](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/monarch-watch)
- [May Day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/may-day)
- [garden tour](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/garden-tour)
- [gardener's elbow](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/gardeners-elbow)
- [climbing roses](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/climbing-roses)
- [pegging roses](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/pegging-roses)
- [old photographs](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/old-photographs)
- [WIP](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/wip)
- [Gene Everywhere](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/gene-everywhere)
- [Flower Garden and Nature Society](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/flower-garden-and-nature-society)
- [The Sweet Bee Company](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-sweet-bee-company)
- [Summer Solstice](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/summer-solstice)
- [fruit cocktail](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fruit-cocktail)
- [sweet corn](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/sweet-corn)
- [Roller Derby](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/roller-derby)
- [goldfinch](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/goldfinch)
- [Back to School](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/back-to-school)
- [Shishito Peppers](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/shishito-peppers)
- [Spicebush Swallowtail](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/spicebush-swallowtail)
- [Washington County Fair](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/washington-county-fair)
- [Garvan Woodland Gardens](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/garvan-woodland-gardens)
- [botanic garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/botanic-garden)
- [Arkansas Master Gardener](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/arkansas-master-gardener)
- [Frass](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/frass)
- [Spicy Vegetable Soup](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/spicy-vegetable-soup)
- [The Writers' Colony](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/the-writers-colony)
- [Five & Dime Drama Collective](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/five-dime-drama-collective)
- [wedding memories](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/wedding-memories)
- [Judy](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/judy)
- [pie](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/pie)
- [Fixer to Fabulous](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fixer-to-fabulous)
- [HGTV](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hgtv)
- [Hershey's](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/hersheys)
- [Red River](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/red-river)
- [Cliff House Inn](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/cliff-house-inn)
- [Camp Orr](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/camp-orr)
- [Triple Falls](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/triple-falls)
- [ochiba](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/ochiba)
- [Figs](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/figs)
- [Festivus](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/festivus)
- [Epiphany](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/epiphany)
- [One Mississippi Press](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/one-mississippi-press)
- [Super Bowl](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/super-bowl)
- [Scholastic](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/scholastic)
- [John Boerner Art](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/john-boerner-art)
- [main courses](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/main-courses)
- [Pocket Change](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/pocket-change)
- [Coronavirus](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/coronavirus)
- [tortilla soup](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/tortilla-soup)
- [baking art](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/baking-art)
- [Victory Garden](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/victory-garden)
- [recycling](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/recycling)
- [woodpecker](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/woodpecker)
- [skink](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/skink)
- [Lucy & Annabelle](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/lucy-annabelle)
- [pipevine swallowtail](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/pipevine-swallowtail)
- [Lucy](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/lucy)
- [Toad House](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/toad-house)
- [orchid](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/orchid)
- [Phalaenopsis orchids](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/phalaenopsis-orchids)
- [St. Paul's Episcopal Church](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/st-pauls-episcopal-church)
- [prayer](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/prayer)
- [2020](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/2020)
- [Trombetta Squash](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/trombetta-squash)
- [Annabelle](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/annabelle)
- [Liatris](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/liatris)
- [Fallen Leaf Art](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/fallen-leaf-art)
- [Election Day](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/election-day)
- [succulent pumpkin](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/succulent-pumpkin)
- [Mt. Kessler](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/mt-kessler)
- [turkey pot pie](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/turkey-pot-pie)
- [stocking stuffers](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/stocking-stuffers)
- [Annabelle and Gracie](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/annabelle-and-gracie)
- [Bernie Sanders](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/bernie-sanders)
- [Schitt's Creek](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/schitts-creek)
- [Edelweiss](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/edelweiss)
- [Great Backyard Bird Count](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/great-backyard-bird-count)
- [snow cream](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/snow-cream)
- [cowbird](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/cowbird)
- [frogs](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/frogs)
- [Voodoo Lily](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/voodoo-lily)
- [Pearl's Books](https://gracegritsgarden.com/tag/pearls-books)

## Product categories

- [Book](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product-category/book)
- [Notecards](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product-category/notecards)
- [Sticker](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product-category/sticker)
- [Phenology](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product-category/phenology)
- [Children's Book](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product-category/childrens-book)

## Product tags

- [coloring book](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product-tag/coloring-book)
- [adult coloring book](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product-tag/adult-coloring-book)
- [Theo Gruene](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product-tag/theo-gruene)
- [The Third Act of Theo Gruene](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product-tag/the-third-act-of-theo-gruene)
- [Bernice Runs Away](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product-tag/bernice-runs-away)
- [children's book](https://gracegritsgarden.com/product-tag/childrens-book)