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Evolution of a Neighborhood

August 10, 2012 By Talya Tate Boerner

 Evolution of a Neighborhood
I walk Lucy and Annabelle several times each day. No matter the weather. They sniff and strain on their leashes, never pulling in the same direction while I study the houses and trees and yards. Munger Place was developed over 100 years ago. We have lived here ten years. In ten years things change. The cute neighbor boy who was kicking around a soccer ball ‘yesterday’ ran down the steps from his front porch this morning and drove off behind the wheel of his dad’s SUV.StoppingMeColdInMyTracks!  In ten years things change.
Trees grow, babies are born, people move, new families settle into the neighborhood. Marian is no longer sitting on the swing with Harry.
Marian Gibson
Kids go off to college in the fall and a collegiate flag proudly pops up in the yard to signify the final choice. LSU, University of Texas, Arkansas, Texas Tech.
Our son was a 3rd grader when we moved into this house. Playing with legos and struggling with spelling words. Now he’s a sophomore Razorback and speaks of change management.
Our daughter was a 7th grader. Now she’s preparing for law school. Preparing to change the world.
In June, a huge hail storm pelted the neighborhood wreaking havoc across landscapes and rooftops and windows. The sound of roofers pounding in the heat has become commonplace, drowning out the city traffic noise. The houses will continue to stand strong.
Soon, children will return back to school wearing matching uniforms. Number 2 pencils were long ago replaced with iPads. Families will be buzzing with fall activities, football, cheerleading, homework.
Munger Place Historic District
The neighborhood continues to evolve. Things change in ten years. Things change in one hundred years. We are only caretakers.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Musical Pairings:

Temporary Home – Carrie Underwood

Don’t buy the house, buy the neighborhood – Russian Proverb

Book Club

June 29, 2012 By Talya Tate Boerner

Finally, after 10 long years of wishing and hoping and thinking and praying and dreaming, I’ve been invited into the exclusive Munger Place Book Club. Through the years I’ve dropped innocent little hints about this nonchalantly with other club members, making sure they realize how much I LOVE to read. Hey Debby, I read the best book this week… Or, Sandy, what are you reading this month in your book club? (emphasis on ‘your’)

Smooth, I know.

Could they really not squeeze one more person into the fold? Someone who would bring wine and make homemade desserts or appetizers if requested. Or host for God’s sake.

I was forced to start my own book club with my former Lake Highland neighbors. We had been friends for years through marriages, divorces, childbirth, death of parents and neighborhood drug busts. It was great. We took turns hosting, sometimes meeting at my house while our Munger neighbors continued to gather and read all around us. Sometimes we met at a neighborhood restaurant or wine bar. Sometimes we actually read the books.

John and I are good neighbors. We have been good stewards of our home. We’ve improved it and try to keep our yard nice although we did have a bit of erosion in the front yard last winter. But we re-sodded, correcting this eyesore. John sometimes drinks too much at the neighborhood parties, but doesn’t everyone? We have hosted neighborhood porch parties and the New Year’s Crawl. We always help with the annual home tour. But still, it took 10 years to earn my way into this cloistered club. 

Munger book club chicks

I imagine the conversation was much like a sorority rush meeting as these women, my neighbors, friends, sat around discussing my merits and whether or not I was worthy for inclusion… She really does want to participate….She knows how to read…..She likes wine….I heard she is writing a book….

Just when we bought a house in Fayetteville and I am only in Dallas part-time, they invited me. And then I was out of town and missed the first two meetings… So now they probably think I’m a flake. But I will be attending the next one tonight. And I’m almost finished with the book, which I love!


It may be the only one I attend, a part-time flake is probably not allowed in the Munger Place Book Club. But at least I was asked.


MustGoFinishTheBookNow.


talya


Musical Pairings:

Who Wrote Holden Cauldfield?, Green Day
Wishing and Hoping, Dusty Springfield


Books are useless! I only ever read one book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and it gave me absolutely no insight on how to kill mockingbirds! Sure it taught me not to judge a man by the color of his skin… but what good does that do me? – Homer Simpson

breakfast chat

June 27, 2012 By Talya Tate Boerner

6:30 a.m.
in the kitchen 
dallas, texas

Breakfast

John: I hope you didn’t miss me too bad last night. He leans against the kitchen counter eating a slice of pound cake for breakfast.

Me: Don’t you mean, you missed me? I am staring at John as he leans against the kitchen counter eating a slice of pound cake for breakfast.

John: No, I wasn’t in bed much last night. Couldn’t sleep. He washes down pound cake with a drink of milk.

Me: When did you leave the bed? I make coffee.

John: I got up around 3:00. From 3:00 to 6:00 I wasn’t in bed. He eats another bite of pound cake.

Me: I was never there. I slept in Tate’s room all night because you were snoring. I smell the coffee.

John: Oh.

Me: Yeah. You never noticed I wasn’t there. I pour coffee. I need coffee.

John: Yeah I did. That’s why I couldn’t sleep. He eats another slice of pound cake.

Me: Uh-huh… I sip coffee. Steaming. Hot.

John: I forgot we had this pound cake. 

Me: And so you are gonna eat the whole thing this morning to catch up?

John: Maybe.


Me: Ok.


I
need
more
coffee…

talya

Musical Pairings:

Black Coffee in Bed, Squeeze
Don’t You (Forget About Me), Simple Minds

I ate a pound cake today, but I gained two. – Jarod Kintz, This Book is Not For Sale

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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:

Coloring Books:

Fiction-Themed Coloring Books

Backyard Phenology:

Children’s Nature Book:

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