grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Drained of words but ’bout to get my shine on…

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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 to the birds with nothing much to do for the next few days. I’m not complaining, just explaining why I haven’t blogged lately.

It takes words to blog.

And time.

Balancing all the things can be tricky.

Why is that?

Once upon a time, I was better at juggling.

I know with a little down time, a little garden time, a little sleep-in-my-own-bed time, my words will be replenished. In the meantime, for the next ten days, I’ll be a full blown stay-at-home hermit. I’ll be reading. Pulling weeds. Thinking. Watching brainless television. Catching up on emails. Getting ready for my next events. Doing a little Florida dreaming.

Did I mention I’m going to Florida?

Beach, please. I am.

beach, please

Here’s what’s on my agenda after my hermit week…Continue Reading

Life is a Highway

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Life is a Highway
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 Dallas and Austin. We speed past the exit but I marvel at the obvious changes since I was a young college student. The interstate is lined with restaurants, Baylor’s impressive new stadium, construction everywhere, but still my eyes seek out those parts that were mine. The Brazos River. My dorm, Alexander Hall. Pat Neff, glowing green after a game day win.

I left little pieces of myself there, but we have no time to stop and visit. Not this time. Our daughter graduates from University of Texas Law School this afternoon. Her whole life has pointed to this moment. As a kid she was focused, centered, wise beyond her years. Austin is her place filled with her memories.

What’s next?

We never know. Lots of life, hopefully, and maybe someday I’ll be driving this highway again headed to my granddaughter’s graduation. And my daughter will feel as proud as I do right now.

Kelsey & her friends

Kelsey (right) and her law school friends.

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

[tweetthis]Life is a highway. Let’s do this #graduation thing! #UT16[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:
Rascal Flatts, Life is a Highway

 

Eureka Springs to Dallas.

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Eureka Springs to Dallas

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 Sunday at Books in Bloom in Eureka Springs. I was a speaker at the event, which was a fun thing for me. A few folks even told me, “I only came to hear what you have to say.”

Gulp.
Really?
Yikes.

It all worked out because I chatted about what I think and know and believe to be true about writing. Although my experience is new and very limited, it’s fresh on mind, that’s for sure. There were other author-speakers who’ve written a jillion books. I can’t imagine. I would have liked to sit at their feet and hear their secrets, but I had a booth to man.Continue Reading

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!