grace grits and gardening - ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Savoring March

April 2, 2017 By Talya Tate Boerner

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 on the go for much of the month. Savoring while “going” takes extra effort and mindfulness, especially for a homebody like me. It’s easy to get frazzled.

Here’s a quick recap of my March 2017.

Savoring FLAVOR…

What can I say? In March, I enjoyed the heck out of my Girl Scout cookies. Thank you Bramell, Party of 5! I ordered quite a few boxes, gave away several, and inhaled a bunch.

When I go back through my food pictures, I realize I cooked lots of egg dishes in March. To balance the Samoas, of course.Continue Reading

BOOK REVIEWS: March, 2017

March 31, 2017 By Talya Tate Boerner

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 on Turpentine Lane. I met a quirky boy named Frank who dressed as though he channeled F. Scott Fitzgerald. Or Charles Lindbergh.

I’ve been busy.

And these books taught me things. Opened my eyes. I thought new thoughts because of these books.

Indulge me for a moment while I tell you about a sad, stab-me-in-the-heart, March experience… I recently participated as an author vendor at a craft fair, and for every book I sold, 20 people told me, Oh, I don’t read or I can’t tell you the last time I read a book, or I only read my Bible. And they said it almost with a look of disdain as though I tried to sell them whiskey at church.

Really?
I believe Jesus would want us to read all sorts of books. Not just His.

If I hadn’t read these March books, so much of what I learned or the new ideas I thought would be replaced with what? And yes, there’s plenty to learn when reading fiction. Each book represents a different place to travel and new people to meet, but even more importantly, books turn on the spigot of our minds.

Now, I’ll jump from my soapbox and into the books.Continue Reading

Almost Glamping at the Jonquil Festival!

March 29, 2017 By Talya Tate Boerner

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 book fairs with my publisher, but I wasn’t in charge. Totally different.) I wasn’t sure how this event would turn out. Local books and local crafts? Why not?

Truth: sitting under a canopy for three days subject to wind, cold, heat, humidity, rain—all the crazy Arkansas weather—life begins to feel like camping. And I prefer my camping with a touch of comfort. As in glamping.

Almost Glamping?

So what’s glamping? It’s inspired camping. Camping with glamour. Glamping is about having fun, being adventurous, stringing up a paper chain and not worrying about making things perfect.

Almost glamping is what Rhonda and I did with our Jonquil Festival booth. While technically we “camped” in town at local hotels, we glamped up our booth.

Are you an author?

I have a theory. While nothing will replace engaging writing, an interesting title, and a compelling cover, a creative vendor booth will bring folks over and allow you to visit with them. Books don’t sell themselves. I’d like to believe someone walking by might glance over to our booth and think, “My, my, aren’t those ladies creative. Their books must be magical!”

See how it works? It makes perfect sense in my mind.Continue Reading