grace grits and gardening - ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

my twist on Twist Arkansas

June 19, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

While visiting the Southern Tenant Museum in Tyronza, I heard about a restored dog-trot house in Twist, Arkansas. I added the dog-trot house to my list of things to see. But first of all, I had to find Twist. I’d never had reason to visit.

There were more grain bins than people in Twist. And most of the barns and buildings had been swallowed in vines. But around every bend in the Delta, there is deep southern history. Twist was no different. B. B. King played in a Twist nightclub in the 1950’s. During one of his performances, two guys began fighting over a woman named Lucille, knocked over a kerosene heater and burned down the building. King’s guitar narrowly escaped. After that, he named all his guitars “Lucille”.

photo courtesy of www.weeklygrist.wordpress.com

Very cool.

But I was on a mission to find the dog-trot house. It was easy to spot in the middle of nowhere. Fully restored, the house is a historical monument to another time when cooking and dining occurred on one side of the structure, sleeping on the other. The center “dog-trot” breezeway provided a cooler place to sit when life did not include air-conditioning.

As I snapped pictures, I became intrigued by a lone tree standing in the field beyond the dog-trot passageway. Perfectly framed, it turned out to be an old family cemetery.

Richards Cemetery, Crittenden County, Arkansas

More exploring for me.

A few feet away, a fallen monument, partially hidden in the weeds. I wondered about the people who worked this land and were laid to rest on this property.

William Richards, Crittenden County, Ar, Richards Cemetery

William Richards. Born January 186x, Died 1900

Spending time in this small, nearly forgotten cemetery seemed right. It was Father’s Day. I was feeling reflective. Homesick for Dallas yet sad to be leaving the Delta again. This little adventure provided another reminder of my fleeting time and the importance of those who came before me.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

“Funny when you’re dead how people start listenin’…” – The Band Perry

Musical Pairings:

If I Die Young, The Band Perry

Lucille, B. B. King

How to make a clover bracelet

June 17, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

A few weeks ago I posted a photo of clover on my Facebook page. It was a popular picture, bringing lots of comments about playing in clover patches and making clover bracelets and necklaces. But I was surprised to learn there were people who had never heard of this childhood ritual.

Last week at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer writer retreat, our conversation turned to the importance of telling our stories. Stories that will soon be lost if left untold. Things that today’s kids may not know.

Like making homemade ice cream. Pouring ice and salt around the canister. Turning the crank until it wouldn’t churn. Covering the freezer with a thick towel. Waiting and waiting for fresh peach ice cream. The process was one of the best parts of summer.

And making clover necklaces and bracelets? I decided I’d better write about it. It’s worth remembering.

Step One. On a sunny spring day, gather clover.

Step Two. Press a small slit in the stem of the first clover about an inch from the flower. The stems are tender, so this can easily be done with your fingernail. Ideally, clover necklaces are made on the school playground surrounded by best friends, laughter and daydreams. No utensils required…

Step Three. Thread the stem of a second clover through the slit of the first stem. Repeat this process, making your next slit on the second clover. Weave the third clover through the slit on the second clover. Don’t overthink. Remember, this is a fun, easy, imperfect activity.

Step Four. Continue until your clover rope has reached the size you want for a bracelet, necklace or crown. Yes, clover crowns were all the rage on the Keiser Elementary School fourth grade playground…

Step Five. Connect the last clover to the first stem the same way, with a small slit. Now your clover ring is connected. Snip the long pieces of stem if you prefer.

I doubled my clover chain bracelet and proudly wore it to lunch.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee,
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few.
(Emily Dickinson)

Going on a Snake Hunt.

June 15, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

While home on the farm one of my favorite things to do is to walk around the rice field. My sister and I spent many a summer day at the back of our field messing with tadpoles in the ditch. Tadpoles were fun.

Saturday my goal was to find a snake. Now, just to be crystal clear, I am not a parcel mouth. I am no fan of the snake.

Not.At.All.

But, several of my Northeast Arkansas Facebook friends have recently posted snake photos. Lots of snake photos. Clearly, this is the year of the snake. As a writer, I try to be observant—listening, smelling, tasting, feeling so that my writing is believable. If I were truly observant, I would see a snake on my walk, right?

So off I went on my first snake hunt.

Right off I found “farm glass”, which I like to compare to beach glass.

The killdeer were downright noisy. “Kill-deer, kill-deer, kill-deer!” they chanted.

“Shhhh! You’ll scare the snakes,” I said. Their track patterns were as wild as the jabbering overhead.

Vibrant wildflowers filled the edge of a shallow ditch.

But no snake.

I stopped in the far corner at my favorite spot and waited. Watched. Listened. Could the sky be any more clear?

Then finally, there he was. Sunning. At least three feet long. My snake.

I leaned in close and snapped a picture. He slithered down the ditch bank. A successful farm walk. And yes, I had the heebie-jeebies until I made it safely back to the house.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Musical Pairing:

Heebie Jeebies, Ladies in Tune