grace grits and gardening - ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

My garden: update after freezing winter weather

February 14, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

After two weeks of frigid temperatures including a bit of ice and snow, I visited my garden plot at Promise of Peace Community Garden. I was a bit nervous about what I would find. The last time I checked, a few kale and spinach seedlings had barely sprouted. Barely as in I had to dig around in the dirt to find them…

Yay! The pine mulch and freeze guard cover did the trick. Despite unseasonably cold Dallas weather, my seeds were happily growing. Some had grown an inch tall. These are the types of things that make me ecstatic.

See how great everything looks ==>

For the next ten days with temperatures in the 60s and 70s, things should really start to happen. I plan to plant more seeds this weekend.

Yesterday I met Natalie who was also working on her plot. Take a look at her design. I love the way she is organizing her space.

The first thing I always notice about Promise of Peace is the smell. The air smells green and fresh like spring and life because that’s what’s happening there.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Do you remember making Valentine’s Day boxes?

February 13, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

a snippet from my book (coming soon)…

Other than snow days, the only wintertime excitement was our class Valentine’s Day party. In fifth grade, we nearly lost the privilege because we were so bad. At least that’s what Miss Friend threatened each morning before first recess. The thing is, we weren’t any worse than we were in fourth grade. Or third grade. Or any grade. We were always the same, just older and bigger.

The real issue was Miss Friend.

She had no control.

After lunch when Miss Friend was worn to a frazzle, she let us work on our Valentine boxes. This was pretty smart on her part. The girls could sit for hours and hours gluing pink and red pieces of construction paper to the shoeboxes brought from home. Sometimes Miss Friend even brought out the red and silver glitter—an extra special treat.

Even though the boys didn’t care one iota about their Valentine boxes, they were quiet too. They could sit for hours squirting blobs of Elmer’s glue on their fingertips, and then pulling it off like dried skin.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Musical Pairing:

Be My Valentine, Vince Guaraldi Trio

Shop Henderson Avenue Dallas for last minute Valentine gifts!

February 12, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

Are you still shopping for last minute, unique Valentine gifts for your wife, husband, friend, neighbor, postman, teacher, favorite blogger ♥…? Why not shop Henderson Avenue in East Dallas? Here is a sampling of fun gifts only Six Blocks from my house.

And guess what?

None of these items will break the bank. Most are priced between $10 – $40.

The Gypsy Wagon

2928 N. Henderson

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