grace grits and gardening - ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

During the dog days of summer, my garden is the boss of me.

July 20, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

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) the period between early July and early September when hot sultry summer weather occurs in the northern hemisphere; and 2) a period of stagnation or inactivity. Check and check! The origin of the phrase (first known use in 1538) came from their being reckoned from the heliacal rising of the Dog Star (Sirius).Continue Reading

Fayetteville Find: Blackboard Grocery & Eatery

July 17, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

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 in Fayetteville. Owner Lycia Shrum hails from Austin, so naturally, she knows a thing or two about building a breakfast taco.Continue Reading

Dancing with Myself

July 16, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

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 think I live a perfect life 24-7, I’m here to tell you it ain’t always a bed of roses. I spent the good part of Monday fighting over payment of a $125 freelance article. Finally, after being treated like I was an idiot, I chalked the whole thing up to a waste of time. I’ll admit for a while the sour experience made me wonder why I ever left my day job at the bank. Oh how nice those regular pay checks were that showed up every two weeks no matter how successful my week had been.

Of course it’s about the writing, not the money. I have nothing to prove, but still, no matter the industry, appreciation is appreciated, right? Plus. It’s about being honest and doing what you say.

I know I’m rambling and mine are first world problems.

Good things happened this week, too. Lots of good things, and it’s only Thursday. Many of my readers took the time to comment on blog posts. You have no idea how that alone keeps me going some days. I had another adventure with Lucy and Annabelle (coming soon!), and I went to a release party at Nightbird Books for the new Harper Lee book, Go Set a Watchman.