grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Sunday Letter: 10.09.22

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Sunday Letter

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 bulk of my annual master gardener hours). Like working in my own garden that has been somewhat neglected as of late.

The weather is cool and invigorating right now, but gracious we can’t even buy a rain shower. Without a drop in over 30 days, I’m afraid our anticipated Ozark fall color will be brown and stunted instead of bright and brilliant.

Boo to that.Continue Reading

Sunday Letter: 10.02.22

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Sunday Letter

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, I shall:)

Happy Publication Date

I chose October 1st as my launch date because Bernice’s story begins in the fall. Well, technically her story began in 1938 when Bernice was born to Dorothea Greer and Bud Byrd, but Chapter One of the book begins in the autumn of 2019. So a book birthday in October made sense to me.Continue Reading

Laura Ingalls Wilder House

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Laura Ingalls Wilder House

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 learned how close the property is to us.

Fayetteville, Arkansas to Mansfield, Missouri is only 167 miles!

(Riddle me this people—how it is possible I spent my growing-up years on a farm in northeast Arkansas only 219 miles from where Laura Ingalls lived out her life, yet I had no earthly idea…??? 😳)

Since my July birthday comes during a miserably hot time, we waited for the weather to cool and road-tripped to Mansfield weekend before last. September is an ideal time to travel because once kids have returned to school typical summer crowds have dissipated. While the afternoons may still be warm, cooler mornings and shorter daylight hours make many things like walking and breathing and porch-sitting doable. Pleasant even.

I’m so glad we waited; the weather = perfect!

Also, just a reminder, you can celebrate a birthday anytime during the year.Continue Reading

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!