Christmas tree - grace grits and gardening

the trees of New York City

December 10, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

Have you missed me? I’ve been in New York City. I don’t travel to New York very often, and in between trips it’s easy to forget the sheer massiveness of it all, the pulsating energy, the throngs of people, the noise. I wonder what it must be like for New Yorkers, to actually “be” from New York. Where do they go to be impressed by a skyline. Is that even possible? If New Yorkers vacation in the country or at the beach, do they long for all the concrete? Because I get antsy without stars and fresh air and wide open space.

I have lots to share with you about our New York trip—more than one post worth—but as I look back through all the pictures I took, I realize I snapped lots of tree shots. All sorts of New York trees.

I suppose that’s not surprising for anyone who knows me.Continue Reading

Christmas Home Tour + Simple Decorating Tips

December 15, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

Welcome and come on in! Since this is our first Christmas in Fayetteville, I thought I’d take you on a Christmas home tour and show you a few of my basic decorating tips. I’m keeping things simple this year (and not stressing over my lack of outside lighting). The only decorations I’ve pulled from storage tubs are those I absolutely adore which brings me to my first tip–decorate with items that fill your heart with Christmas spirit. Handmade items. Old things with history. Don’t let yourself be the oldest decoration in your house. Know what I mean?

When decorations feel right and easy, you’ll know.

Incorporate everyday items not specifically Christmas-related, like pottery and books. Work with what you have.

It doesn’t take much effort to place vintage ornaments in a bowl. I’m loving the look of turquoise McCoy pottery combined with red ornaments.

Here’s a mix of vintage and new-ish ornaments in a glass compote that normally holds a few marbles. (The marbles are underneath the ornaments. Easy decorating, I promise.)

You probably already know about my collection of bottle brush trees. This year, I arranged my favorite trees on vintage serving platters and placed them throughout the house for simple Christmas touches in each room.

bottle brush trees, ornaments, candle atop a flea market serving platter

Hang stars or other ornaments from branches and dried flower arrangements.

Display old Christmas photos.

My imperfect (yet perfect) Frasier fir is loaded with kid-made ornaments and family memories.

Don’t forget your porches and outdoor space. My front door winter wreath isn’t holiday specific, so it will carry me into spring.

Frosty’s been with us for years.

Place inexpensive “permanent” trees in vintage flower pots to give them stability and a little extra oomph.

I would be remiss if I didn’t show off my favorite tree, the tree my parents bought the year I was born. We lived in Wilson, Arkansas on Washington Street. And guess what street I live on now? Yes, Washington Street. A fun factoid. At least I think so.

My final tip: buy one new (or old) decoration at your favorite after Christmas sale and pack it away for next year. I’ve amassed quite a collection of decorations this way.

That’s it for my Christmas home tour and simple decorating tips. Happy decorating! Happy Christmas!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis url=”http://wp.me/p58902-19q”]Don’t let yourself be the oldest decoration in your house. Holiday decorating tips! [/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

It’s Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas, Johnny Mathis

Handmade Ornament Ideas

December 6, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

I signed up for the Arkansas Women Bloggers handmade ornament exchange and immediately thought what on earth was I thinking? I had to come up with a homemade ornament idea just when my mind felt tired and blank. Ornament.Exchange.Remorse. With only a couple of weeks to made final edits and get my manuscript to my editor, I was doing everything except what I should have been doing. (Not gonna lie, it feels good to say my editor even though there’s always a chance she may return the thing back marked “lost cause”.)

Anyhoo.

I was matched up with Jessica who blogs at Life With the Bauer Bunch. Jessica, a small town Arkansas girl, is super busy working and raising three kids. She blogs about motherhood and figuring out life as she goes (her words). Jessica is real and normal and reading her blog is like visiting with my best friend.

I finished my edits, my manuscript has been sent and I managed to make an ornament for Jessica too. The season of eternal holiday magic.

Here it is.

Jessica and her kids seemed to like it. Whew:))

I sort of cheated because I’ve made this ornament before. You can get the basic pattern HERE. I changed up the process somewhat by using scrapbook paper instead of vintage book pages, and I Mod Podged it to make it a bit more substantial. The buttons and rick rack are vintage. I used glitter glue instead of real glitter which is not so messy.

Now for my surprise.

Alicia who blogs at Simple Words by A drew my name. Alicia and I met last year in Helena and even canoed the Mississippi River together without incident, a bond not many people share, right?

A self-proclaimed crafter and apparent overachiever, Alicia sent me two handmade ornaments. (Sorry, Jessica. You got shortchanged…)

Her gift included a sweet, handwritten letter. When was the last time I received a letter?

The ornament on the left is filled with Hemingway quotes because she knows now much I love Ernest Hemingway. Very thoughtful! The fun ornament on the right is covered with a soft red and white yarn. Both really boosted my holiday spirit.

Now if I could just get my Christmas tree up!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis url=”http://wp.me/p58902-1aU”]#Homemade #ornaments = holiday spirit! @SimpleWordsbyA @thebauerbunch @ARWomenBloggers [/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

Celtic Women – It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas