grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

My Room and its View

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My Room with a View

My Room and its View

When I sit on the couch with my Macbook or journal, I am usually absorbed in my work. My view is my computer screen or scribbly writing or messy edits. A few days ago, I’d been working for several hours without a break. (I recommend a brain break at least every hour, so I wasn’t following my own advice.) Anyway, I put away my edits, took my glass of tea, and moved to the other side of the couch for a slight change of scenery.

The house was silent. The streaming sunlight made the windows glow and the floors gleam.

After days of cold cloud cover, a tablespoon of sunlight uplifts, inspires, warms, tricks me into believing winter is over even when it isn’t.

I took a picture.

And then I studied the picture.Continue Reading

Savoring November + Thanksgiving Decor

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savoring november

This year, I’m savoring November. On November 1, I began placing a few Thanksgiving decorations around so I can enjoy them all month. And I’ve been using my turkey dishes rather than pulling them down the day before Thanksgiving which is how it usually works.

There’s no rule against serving scrambled eggs on turkey dishes. Right?

This year, for whatever reason, I feel better organized, at least with my decor. And I cannot wait to have the whole family together. It’s been MONTHS since I’ve seen my kids (who aren’t kids but will always be kids). They are adults who live in Austin and Denver.

Every single day, I’m so incredibly thankful to be their Mom.

My "kids"

Every.Single.Day.

It seems the whole country has fast forwarded to Christmas, skipping Thanksgiving altogether. At least that’s what the retailers would have us believe. I hold fast to the idea that Thanksgiving deserves its own time separate from the hustle and bustle of Christmas. I never decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Don’t judge, I’m no Scrooge. I LOVE Christmas. I just happen to love Thanksgiving, too.

Thanksgiving is a time for reflective thankfulness. Quiet Thanksgiving helps me prepare for holly jolly Christmas. Its stillness and simplicity is like a prelude to Advent.

I think we all need a peaceful prelude.

Continue Reading

add a bit of Farm Flair

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Farm Flair!It’s showtime! Today is the Washington Elementary Home Tour in Fayetteville and our home is part of the lineup. All week, we’ve readied the house (mostly working in the yard because that’s what we love to do), but also we’ve cleaned and polished and straightened up things so folks can walk through without tripping over dog toys. As all this prep happens, I realize my style of decor includes not only a mix of old and new but a touch of farm flair. It’s a thing.

Here’s another thing. Being on home tour is greatness because it forces you to get your house ship shape. And if you were thinking about selling, you could probably find a buyer during the event. Your house will never look better…

Not that we’re selling.

I once heard someone say if you selected all your absolute favorite things and placed them on your lawn, your style would be obvious to you. If I were to do this, my things would look like they came straight from the home place. Continue Reading

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

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