grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

M is for Munger Place

By

established 1905

More a feeling than locale, we live
Under one hundred year old rafters
Nestled beneath a canopy of spreading oaks.
Graced with classic columns, our prairie-style homes
Encompass history. We are humbled,
Respectful, thankful to the visionaries, those tireless

Pioneers who created and fought to preserve these
Long-standing homes, wrapped with perfectly
Aligned porches, built where
Cotton once grew. We are only caretakers,
Each of us.

our home
our neighborhood 

Munger Place – our friends!

talya

Musical Pairing:

Sugar Cane, Scott Joplin (1908)
A to Z April Blog Challenge. M is for Munger Place!

L is for Lake

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Lake Norfork, Arkansas. Ahhhh!

In my family, we count down to our annual lake trip as though we are jetting off to Bora Bora.

Those not born into our family (i.e. husbands*) do not share in our delight. Oh, they are supportive of our lake love, and once every five years or so even accompany us, but they see little charm in the rustic cabins with fickle plumbing. Finding no thrill in worshipping the blazing sun, they prefer to stay inside and read until their talents are requested at the grill.They just aren’t big boat people, we say about these landlocked husbands, even as our crippled boat is being towed into the nearest dock. Our vintage boat with her smashed bow and tired motor is no beauty, but we love her anyway. Being towed by a sympathetic boater is all part of the adventure, we say. We don’t need no stinkin’ new boat, we say.
They humor us, these dry-land men, but try as they might, they don’t get it. And, how could they, really? Lake water doesn’t flow through their veins.
Grace Grits at the Lake
They weren’t around when we watched and watched for the first peep of the lake through the Ozark Mountains, then waited and waited in the long line to ride the magical ferry across. They missed the thrill of climbing the cliffs for the first time, the first time we JUMPED!
 Norfork Lake, 1970s
They never shot bottle rockets under a globe of stars. They weren’t lucky enough to taste Daddy’s melt-in-your-mouth ribs or hear Uncle Ted’s hilarious rendition of Blue Moon broadcast along the streets of Mountain Home. They weren’t part of the family when 80-year-old Aunt Virgie jumped in the lake and lost her wig.
They never fished in the foggy cove before sunrise or roasted marshmellows at midnight.
They weren’t there…
Lake Norfork, Arkansas
with my sister, 2012
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
P.S. Since this was written in 2013, we did buy a new boat and she’s FABULOUS.
[tweetthis]L is for Lake. Party in slow motion… #arkansaslife[/tweetthis]

*current, ex or pending

Musical Pairing:
Little Big Town, Pontoon

A to Z April Blog Challenge. L is for Lake:))

K is for Keiser

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Keiser, Arkansas
At first glance, my home town may not look like much. An hour from the nearest mall and surrounded by rice fields, Keiser is a small speck on the map of Arkansas, a blur to those driving somewhere else. Yet filtered among the watchful cottonwood trees, memories live—memories of cheerleader practice, Halloween carnivals, best friends, the Yellow Jacket Cafe with mouth-watering burgers and onion rings. 
I drive the streets to recharge and refill, to remember the place rooted deeply in my mind. To remember myself.

Talya Tate - Keiser Elementary

Although the gin is boarded-up, I imagine the highway once lined with over-filled cotton trailers, the wind blowing and spilling a trail of white along the side of the road like snow. The stadium lights went dark years ago, yet the buzz of junior high football lingers in my heart.

I feel your smile, even though you’re gone.

Keiser Elementary School
I remember.

talya

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

K-E-I-S-E-R-J-A-C-K-E-T-S, hey-hey, clap, stomp, clap clap, repeat. Keiser Jackets sting ’em!

“There are some important things to remember always, no matter how hard life presses at you. One of these things is that wherever you are, and no matter for how long, there must be a home to hold you.” – Sheila Moon, Knee Deep in Thunder

Musical Pairing:

Turning Home, David Nail

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!