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meet Gracie Lee

October 7, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

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.

meet Gracie Lee

So who is she really?

Let me start by saying it’s true, the idea of “writing what you know”. Gracie Lee was born from a compilation of true life stories, what began as memoir. So it’s only natural that we share many memories. But Gracie Lee is her own person apart from me.

She’s precocious and mature beyond her years. And brave when it counts.

She counts the days until her tenth birthday, certain that ten will feel different than nine.

 

Her Momma sees to it that she practices the piano, a complete waste of time in Gracie Lee’s opinion. Instead, she’d much rather learn to speak French, a skill she’s sure will help her someday when she has an important job working somewhere other than in Arkansas.

She still plays with Barbie, but tries to keep this from her Daddy.

As Gracie Lee lies in bed at night, unable to sleep, her mind is chock-full of questions and notions and secrets that churn like the nearby muddy Mississippi.

Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee

The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee is available to purchase via Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Talya Tate Boerner
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:
The Five Stairsteps, Ooh Child

 

I had a God week.

October 5, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

I had a God week.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.Continue Reading

get thee to The Junk Ranch

October 3, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

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 pastureland. You couldn’t ask for better weather. If you aren’t feeling the spirit of fall, The Junk Ranch will take you there. And p.s., since today is the last day, vendors will be ready to deal!

A few pics from yesterday…

The Junk Ranch, Prairie Grove, Ar

 

vintage aprons - The Junk Ranch

 

Jacks!

 

having fun at The Junk Ranch

 

Farm Girls Only

 

Kettle Corn

my Junk Ranch treasures

  1. Big red barn.
  2. Vintage apron bunting.
  3. Jacks!
  4. Girls’ shopping trip.
  5. Farm Girls Only.
  6. Kettle Corn—a good/bad idea.
  7. My haul: a) pig wire message board; b) antique luggage rack (a steal at $15!), c) vintage coffee tin for future craft project; d) Junk Ranch t-shirt.

The Junk Ranch
11195 Centerpoint Church Road
Prairie Grove, Arkansas
Admission $5 / Children 12 and under Free
Free Parking

For a great tour of The Junk Ranch check out Junque Rethunque’s periscope broadcast HERE.

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

[tweetthis]Get thee to The Junk Ranch. Your last chance until spring! #JunkRanch #PrairieGrove [/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing: (this band is part of The Junk Ranch lineup)

The Squarshers, Never Will I Forget

 

 

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Our Garden Mission Statement
  • Goodbye, 2025. Hello, 2026.
  • Sunday Letter: 11.23.25
  • Maggie and Miss Ladybug: My New Children’s Nature Book
  • Sunday Letter: November 9, 2025

Novels:

Coloring Books:

Fiction-Themed Coloring Books

Backyard Phenology:

Children’s Nature Book:

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