Taylor Sandquist - grace grits and gardening

three days in New York City

August 19, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner 9 Comments

We just returned from a whirlwind three days in New York City, and by “we” I mean my sister, Staci, my niece, Taylor, and me. It was Taylor’s Sweet 16 birthday trip, and I’ve declared from here on out, this is destined to be an annual girls’ trip. Not necessarily to New York, but to somewhere.

Because travel is important. And family is important. And life is over in a New York minute. For real.

We hash-tagged it up with #TaylorisSweet16 and #SistersinNY which looked a little like “sister sin” every time we typed it, so we’ll let y’all wonder about that.Continue Reading

Remembering You

January 10, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner 7 Comments

I remember you in vibrant

twelve year old eyes, hidden

behind a curtain of silk, never

quite long or straight
enough. Giggling, singing,

mad at the world. Call me

maybe? Leave.Me.Alone.

I remember you

in soulful eyes, dark and fervent,

connecting the dots

with a humorous twist. Studious

yet playful, I believe I can fly.

I remember you in determined

eyes, brilliant and focused, mature
beyond your days.

I could have done better. I will

do better. Oh the places I’ll go.

Watch and see.

I remember you

in conflicted eyes,
knowing, harried,

busy kids, busy work.
Here there everywhere.

How will I get through the day?

I remember you through

future eyes, steadfast,
amusing,

occasionally forgetful.
My most devoted
fan. How did it get so late so soon?

Sometimes I can’t remember you at all.

talya

No Such Thing, John Mayer

For Taylor

October 4, 2012 By Talya Tate Boerner 12 Comments

Taylor Sandquist, my beautiful, twelve-year-old niece, wrote the following poem for her English class.

Where Poetry Hides

In my fat, black and white cat’s crazy, teeny tiny

brain.

In the small #1 cabin on a lake in Arkansas.

In a nice, pretty resort in San Diego.

In my strange brother’s mind, who acts like a

crazy monkey.

In my pink Dell laptop.

In my nonie’s old, torn-up house.

In my dad’s clean, neat house.

In my oval/heart-shaped pool.

In the twisty, hilly and dirty campground of

Wyoming.

In the old basement of my other grandparents’

house.

Taylor Sandquist

Musical Pairing:

What Makes You Beautiful, One Direction

Taylor and Talya at the BAT cave.

Sammie