grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • My Thoughts on Publishing
  • SHOP!
  • Garden
  • Food
  • Crafts
  • Farm
  • Reading & Books
  • Sunday Letter

University of Arkansas: Decking the Halls at Christmastime

December 15, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner 4 Comments

University of Arkansas at Christmas

Yesterday, I spent some time walking around the University of Arkansas. During this almost-winter, end-of-semester, Christmas-is-a-coming season, campus has a completely different feel. The Hill is no longer packed with tailgate tents. Gone is the new fall semester excitement centering around game day. Now, students laden with backpacks and plugged into earbuds rush from here to there, briskly, because the morning is cold, and there’s somewhere to be. Campus beats at a raw, efficient pace. Let’s get ‘er done and get to Christmas or home or graduation or wherever.

Buildings are decked with boughs of holly and crowned with holiday wreaths.

Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Continue Reading

Simple Pleasures #7

November 17, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 14 Comments

Saturday morning, Lucy woke me early and I dragged myself downstairs. After staying up well past my normal bedtime, I felt groggy and annoyed at having my warm and cozy dreams interrupted. A few minutes later, I was thankful to see the glorious sunrise. According to the pink sky peeping through the trees, we were in for a “red sky in morning, tigers take warning” sort of day. And the old proverb held true with winter weather and LSU headed our way.

Red Sky in Morning...

25 degrees and I forgot to put my car in the garage…but see that pink sky?

 

Game day is always a simple pleasure. Especially with friends. And to shut out LSU? Now THAT was a thrilling pleasure.

ARKvsLSU tailgating

Mississippi County Peeps. Donna Slaton Vincent, me, Craig Barnett, Lori Barnett

 

Later the snow fell.

I love the tranquility of snow, the quiet, cold landscape, the way it transforms ordinary into art.

snow in birdbath

What’s better on a frigid day than leftovers? Not much.

the joy of leftovers! Tortilla soup.

And yay for my Sorel snow boots! I walk Lucy and Annabelle no matter how frightful the weather.

Sorel snow boots

Here’s wishing you a week filled with warm memories and yummy leftovers!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

“My last refuge, my books: simple pleasures, like finding wild onions by the side of a road, or requited love.” ― Tracy Letts, August: Osage County

[tweetthis]A huge #Razorback win + warm #Sorel snow boots. #SimplePleasures I’m loving right now. You? @sorelfootwear[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

Belle and Sebastian – The Fox in the Snow

Simple Pleasures #4

October 27, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 4 Comments

This quote by author Joan Marques says it all—Simple things bring infinite pleasure. Yet, it takes us a while to realize that. Once simple is in, complex it out – forever.

It is common to get tangled in the constant activity and busyness of life, but living in Northwest Arkansas makes it easy for me to slow down and appreciate each day. The pace is much less hectic than Dallas. I marvel daily at the surrounding natural beauty just beyond my kitchen window. Sunrise over Mount Sequoyah. Brilliant autumn floating to the sidewalk. Here’s a recap of the simple things I’ve enjoyed recently.

1. In a word, bacon. I made these yummy bacon-wrapped apricot appetizers for friends using local Petit Jean bacon and White River Creamery goat cheese. (The recipe is similar to THIS one, but I used apricots instead of dates.)

Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Apricots

BaconWrapped Apricots

2. Allergy Medicine. Along with the beautiful fall leaves and cooler temperatures comes allergies. Thank goodness for meds. Can I get an Amen?

3. Planting Iris. These irises came from my late mother-in-law’s yard in Fort Smith. I transplanted them into our Fayetteville garden, and I know she is smiling down on them.

planting iris - simple pleasures

4. Football weekend with friends and family. Plus the Razorback won big. Yay.

Razorback Weekend with Family and Friends

5. Long, quiet walks with the dogs. I take in the beautiful scenery while they take in the smells.

walking the dogs

Here’s wishing you a week of simple pleasures filled with peace, friends and bacon.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:

Cat Stevens – Peace Train

Next Page »


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 (Now Available!)

Never miss a blog post! Subscribe via email:

Prior Posts

Tags

A to Z April Blog Challenge Autumn BAT Book Reviews childhood Christmas creative writing prompt Dallas Desserts Eureka Springs Fall Fayetteville Food Gracie Lee Halloween Hemingway-Pfeiffer home humor Johnson Family Keiser Lake Norfork Lucy and Annabelle Mississippi County Mississippi Delta moving Munger Place Nana nature Northeast Arkansas Northwest Arkansas Osceola poem Reading Schnauzer simple living simple things spring spring gardening Summer sunday letter Talya Tate Boerner novel The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee Thomas Tate Winter Wordless Wednesday

Books by Talya Boerner / Purchase in Grace Grits SHOP

Talya Tate Boerner books
Gene, Everywhere

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!

All content and photos Copyright Grace, Grits and Gardening © 2023 · Web Hosting By StrataByte