Talya Tate Boerner's Blog, page 48

Blowin’ in the wuthering wind

Yesterday was breezy. But today? The wuthering wind is blowing and roaring almost as though it twists from the ground up, a reminder of how sturdy trees really are. And the flowers pictured in this post? They are the wind’s answer to spring.

I call them my airmail flowers. Airmail because these flowers were planted old school. As nature intended. Seeds were scattered by the wind, probably on a day declared TOO WINDY by moi on Facebook. Probably followed by a rainstorm that woke me during the...

To all the mothers who make the world go ’round…

Dear all you mothers who make the world go ’round,

Yesterday as I cut roses from my garden, I was reminded of Mother’s Days past. How we, my little sister and I, wore a tiny red or pink rosebud to church that day. Momma wore red too, but because she was an adult in charge of things like money, she bought hers at the flower shop in town. Her corsage, a full grown rose, came in a clear plastic box with a long straight pin attached to the back for fastening to her dress. Nana wore a corsage of...

Little Custom Homes in Mississippi County, Arkansas

It’s no secret I love to share all the interesting things happening in Mississippi County, Arkansas. That’s where I grew up and where my Momma still farms. Now we can add Little Custom Homes, LLC to the coolness.

How cute are these? The only thing missing is a puppy on each porch.

Am I right?

I’ve not officially toured these homes, but I’ve driven by them, stalked them from afar, and memorized the photos on the website. And while I’m not (yet) a tiny house dweller, these Little Custom Homes...

Exhausted from the Rain

This was supposed to be my “Savoring April” post. The one where I recap April. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted from the rain. And I’m happy to move on to May. I’m expecting TONS OF MAY FLOWERS. Aren’t you? April showers promise that much, you know.

We received around 15 inches of rain the past week which has resulted in flash flooding. The fierce storm is moving on across the country leaving death and destruction in its path. I’m always fascinated by the calm before the storm, not...

Grace Grits Reads: April 2017

Here we are at the end of April. I think these monthly book recaps I’ve begun doing make my days fly by even more quickly! Grace Grits Reads for April took me across the Pyrenees and deep into the “Wood Wide Web”. I visited with old Avonlea friends and sat bedside with Lucy Barton. ♬♪ Do you know the Pee-can man? the Pee-can man? the Pee-can man? ♬♪ I predict soon you will.

The Nightingale
by Kristin Hannah

This was the first book I read in April, and it was FANTASTIC. I became so engrossed...

Dogbranch School (and the journey of the curved line)

I was never much of a math person (sorry Mrs. Meadows, Mr. Mason, Mr. Howard, Bob Irby), yet I do respect the truth of the straight line. Yes, I know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But straight lines can be boring. And  sometimes the shortest distance doesn’t interest me. Most times, I prefer the more entertaining journey offered by the curved line.

I’m easily entertained.

Point A to Point B nearly always takes me longer than GPS estimates, because GPS has no re...

10 Easy Ways to Celebrate Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day 2017!

Today we celebrate this planet we call home. Think about it. No matter our differences in beliefs, food preference, hair color, languages spoken, whatever—we all have Earth in common.  Everyone we’ve ever known, everyone we’ve read about, every ancestor who came before us, every poet and teacher, every couple in love, every villain, every knight in shining armor, every painful and joyful experience, every pet cherished and lost, every youthful dream, every discouraging...

Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

Where have all the flowers gone?

I can always find flowers at the historic Headquarters House in Fayetteville. The girls and I walk through the gardens almost daily. Only two blocks from our headquarters, we consider the grounds to be our personal secret garden. I’ve written about the period gardens and the house HERE, and I won’t repeat myself other than to say the place it holds in Fayetteville / Civil War / American history fascinates me. No matter what’s going on in the world (or in Arka...

Shop Locally in Wilson (plus exciting news!)

(This post is sponsored by Designsensory, Inc. Opinions are my own.)

I’m a big believer in shopping locally and spending my money in small towns. I’m also a believer in making the best use of my time. I have better things to do than fight traffic for a parking spot in a crowded mall lot. Don’t you?

Sit back, grab your favorite beverage, and let me show you how fun it can be to shop locally in Wilson, Arkansas. Even with only a population of 903, I think you’ll be surprised at the unique shop...

Spring Porch Pizzazz: a happy thing.

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I’ve been working to add a little spring pizzazz to our porches. In Northwest Arkansas, the weather has warmed enough to mix annuals into containers. My empty containers have been patiently waiting for warm temperatures. Empty containers are sad, sad things.

Totally pizzazz-less.

I planted a few of my favorites including salvia, petunia, calibrochoa, asparagus fern, and lobelia. The large containers look sparse now, but within only a few weeks, we’ll have a stunning display leading to our ...