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Sunday Letter: 04.11.2021

April 11, 2021 By Talya Tate Boerner

Sunday Letter

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Every spring day brings a bit more magic. In our neighborhood, those who came decades before us had the foresight to plant redbuds and dogwoods in parkways beside the street. Now, anyone who happens by is surely blown away by the blooms. I certainly am. Even though I see them every day, every day they are new to me.

That’s what we gardeners try to do—leave the world better than we found it. Gardener or not, that should be everyone’s goal.

This picture of our street doesn’t do justice to the reality.

Continue Reading

Lucy and Annabelle go Downtown

July 14, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

Lucy and Annabelle go Downtown

 

Lucy and Annabelle love their walks and, lucky for me, Fayetteville is a very walkable city with a fun downtown area. We’ve been living here about ten months now, and so yes, people are beginning to recognize the “girls” when we are out and about. They’re popular that way.

Recently, we explored downtown starting with Fayetteville’s Farmer’s Market. And by the way, Fayetteville’s Farmer’s Market is THE place to be on Saturday. Like the Wal-Mart in my hometown only not. People bring their dogs and babies and the local farmers sell wondrous produce and flowers. There’s live music and crafts, too.

Lucy loves the crowd and activity. Annabelle gets a little nervous and prefers to hang out in the peripheral area. All in all, it’s a good dog watching / people watching place with the bonus of fresh veggies and fruit.

Lucy and Annabelle go to Downtown Fayetteville

After the excitement of Farmer’s Market, they pulled me toward Chunky Dunk Milk + Cookies. I think it was the signage that lured them over.

Lucy and Annabelle go to Chunky Dunk, Downtown Fayetteville

Seriously. Look at that cookie sandwich. It’s called Regina George Got Hit By a Bus. Ha. If you are a fan of Mean Girls, you know she so deserved it. Ingredients = 2 chocolate chip cookies, fudge sauce, vanilla icing, and crumbled sugar cookies. Wowza.

Lucy and Annabelle liked the picnic tables and water bowl.

Lucy and Annabelle check out Chunky Dunk

I gotta admit I kinda loved the garden on the back of the Chunky Dunk food truck. Food truck gardens should be a thing.

food truck garden!

Next stop, The Curious Book Shoppe on Block. First of all, I’m partial to any shoppe with an “e” on the end. That one extra vowel makes the place seem more quaint in an enchanted sort of way—like maybe tucked within a secret shelf they sell magic wands or crystals than cure allergies or something equally exotic. And the fact that this shoppe is smaller than Harry Potter’s room underneath the stairs makes it even more intriguing.

The Curious Book Shoppe on Block

Lucy and Annabelle enjoyed their visit, but it was their first book shoppe so they really had no frame of reference.

Lucy and Annabelle go to the Curious Book Shoppe

On the way home, Annabelle stopped for a quick drink in this natural tree root dog bowl. Water slurped out in the wild is always best. Or so I’m told.

natural dog bowl in tree root

Naps all around when we got home. Stay tuned for Lucy and Annabelle’s next adventure.

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

[tweetthis]Lucy & Annabelle go exploring. @ExpFayetteville #ChunkyDunk #CuriousBookShoppe #FayettevilleFarmersMkt #schnauzers[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:
Rufus Thomas, Walking the Dog


Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: 11.23.25
  • Maggie and Miss Ladybug: My New Children’s Nature Book
  • Sunday Letter: November 9, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Oct 26, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Oct 5, 2025

Novels:

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Fiction-Themed Coloring Books

Backyard Phenology:

Children’s Nature Book:

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