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Sunday Letter: 05.28.23

May 28, 2023 By Talya Tate Boerner

Sunday LetterDid you think you’d never see another Sunday Letter? Oh my goodness, I’ve put lots of miles on Betty White driving way down into the deep south and back. I’ve put lots of thoughts on paper too. Some of these thoughts might even make it into my next book.

That’s the plan anyway.

After a trip, it takes me some time to settle back into a routine. And it takes some time to process all the goodness that comes from travel—I’m not sure I’ve completely done that yet. Within a week’s time, I went from strolling on the beach, to walking the farm turnrow, to treading the city sidewalks of Fayetteville, dog leashes in hand.

Three things: 1) A change of scenery is a powerful thing; 2) Every place provides its own special magic; 3) said magic becomes more potent after having been away a while.Continue Reading

Tiny Cottage REVEAL!

September 20, 2018 By Talya Tate Boerner

TINY COTTAGE REVEAL

The time has come for our tiny cottage reveal! For those of you who may not know, several years ago while we still lived in Dallas, we bought a cottage in the Washington-Willow Historic District of Fayetteville. At first we used it on weekends. Later, our son lived there. Still later, we rented it out for a couple of years. Now, with my mother planning to move to the cottage, we knew the time had come to renovate the single, seriously outdated bathroom.

At 896 sf, it may not be “tiny” according to HGTV standards. But I’m calling it tiny.

You know the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? That theme applies here. What began as a bathroom remodel morphed into a much bigger project. I’m sure this comes as no surprise to those of you who’ve updated an old house. We quickly discovered electrical and plumbing needed upgrading. We upgraded the air conditioning. A new hot water heater led to a complete redo of the laundry area.

And so on.

If You Give a House a New Bathroom...

Anyway, much like writing a book, once the construction is over and you’ve repositioned furniture against freshly painted walls, the struggle to get there almost becomes a fond memory.

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the amazing grace of AUTUMN

November 11, 2017 By Talya Tate Boerner

the amazing grace of autumn

Oh my stars. The amazing grace of autumn is truly astounding. Here we are ankle deep in autumn, and I can’t get over the trees. I’m a new mother showing off pictures of her baby. I’m me showing off pictures of Lucy and Annabelle. Nothing whatsoever wrong with either scenario. Just a disclosure of what’s to come.

Pictures of trees.

And so here I go with a few of the pictures I took yesterday.

Filtered only by the grace of God.

Amazing grace for sure.

This is the block behind our house. The only thing missing is THE Great Pumpkin. The sidewalk is buried and that equals fun strolling.

ankle deep in autumn

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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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