grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Sunday Letter: 08.01.21

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Sunday Letter

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Happy August! Ready or not, here we go headfirst into the downhill side of summer. Dang, it is HUMID here in northwest Arkansas. We’ve been promised a break in the heat this week, and I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed. Gracie and Annabelle like to walk 3-4 times a day, but for now, a walk in the early morning and one after sunset has to do it.  Gracie is the first to feel the heat—her black coat heats up in no time (plus she’s closest to the scorched Earth)—and she doesn’t like it one little bit. She lies on the back porch in the shade, as close to the back yard as possible, dreaming of fall.

Sweet girl just turned nine months old in July!

Gracie

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Sunday Letter: 08.11.19

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Sunday Letter

Dear Sunday Letter Readers,

Today’s Sunday Letter is a wonder, not because it’s exceptionally marvelous or anything. Not at all. The fact that it exists is the small miracle. All throughout the past week, I’ve been overly confused about the day. Tuesday felt like Wednesday. Wednesday was Thursday in my mind. On Friday morning, John asked me, “Is today Wednesday or Thursday.”  See? It wasn’t just me. Our whole week was weird.

For the most part, I’ve been tied to my desk working on my book. Maybe that’s the reason for my confused state. Or maybe it’s the horrid humidity.

Yesterday, I did spend a few hours in Bentonville at Megaphone Summit (an influencer conference). The highlight for me was seeing some of the original Arkansas blogger ladies I met when I first began this blogging adventure. And by the way, I heard someone refer to me as “one of the old bloggers”—LOL—that’s true in more ways than one.Continue Reading

Hello, goldfinch!

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Hello Goldfinch!

Hello, Goldfinch!

This week, American goldfinches have begun feasting on our withering coneflowers. Each one is like a tiny celebration, a bright spot in lethargic midsummer. Goldfinches are found in northwest Arkansas year around, but I always notice them this time of year when their plumage is brilliant yellow. Goldfinches molt twice and year and because of that, they don’t always look as bright as they do now. And as is common in the bird kingdom, the males have the brightest plumage—it helps in attracting a mate.

With mad acrobatic skills, they are entertaining birds to watch, perching on dried stems, sometimes upside down, and then flitting into tree branches, still visible even waaaaaay up high.Continue Reading

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