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Sunday Letter: Oct 26, 2025

October 26, 2025 By Talya Tate Boerner 5 Comments

Dear Sunday Letter readers,

Better late than never! I started writing this Sunday Letter on October 10 from beautiful Lake Norfork when the trees were just beginning to show their fall color. Boaters were few—mostly those fishing in quiet coves. Gone were the pontoons filled with spirited summer vacationers, music blasting. No jet skis. No hot dog roasts on the island. No cliff jumpers. Sitting around a warm fire after sunset felt cozy! (Not so much in steamy August.)

Every season contains magic, and at the time of my recent visit, the lake was wonderfully peaceful and quiet. It was about the herons trolling for supper and the hawks gliding on the cool breeze. It was about the fog lifting from the cove at dawn.

My grandparents always went to the lake on Christmas Day. Maybe I’ll go back this winter. Seeing the lake during a snowfall would be stunning. The thing is—the love of a particular place is one you always return to, sometimes in person and sometimes in your mind. Do you have a place like that?

Anyway, I finally finished this Sunday Letter five minutes ago, two weeks after starting it, and after traveling all over the state twice. I’m glad you are here!

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Sunday Letter: 04.07.19

April 7, 2019 By Talya Tate Boerner

Hey, hey, Sunday Letter friends! Today I’m writing from our farm in Mississippi County. It’s great to be home, and the good news so far is that we’ve had no snake sightings at the Bat Cave. ???

KNOCK ON WOOD.

In case you are new to Grace Grits and Gardening, let me explain. The Bat Cave is what we call our house on the farm, the place where I grew up (and Gracie Lee, too). We call it the Bat Cave because Momma’s initials are BAT. Plus, some of the rooms are dark with wood paneling, i.e. cave-like. (You can read more about the Bat Cave HERE, if you so desire.)

With respect to the snake reference, we’ve had a couple of freaky issues with snakes inside the house. Most recently, the last time I was home a long black rat snake slithered out from underneath the main chair in the den. Yes, I know rat snakes are the “good” snakes. They eat rodents. Seriously, who cares when one is in the den? I high-tailed it out of the cave and just now returned.

One snake probably has friends.

A few weeks after my sighting, a five-foot snakeskin was found inside the house. Yesterday, we found another snakeskin on the back porch. I tell myself he left his skin as he slithered on back to the field (not vice versa).

☺