Talya Tate Boerner's Blog, page 60

the unexpected side of Home Tour

We’ve been on home tour before. We participatedin the Munger Place Home Tour in East Dallas, so we know about the pain and pleasure of having a cleaner-than-it’ll-ever-ever-ever-be-againhouse. But there’s an unexpected side of Home Tour I’d forgotten until this past weekend when we participated in the Washington Elementary Home Tour. Things beyond the sparkle of the bathroom sink. Beyond the thrill of declaringthat honey-do list nearly (because it’s never really) completed. Beyond the perfec...

add a bit of Farm Flair

It’s showtime! Today is theWashington Elementary Home Tour in Fayetteville and our home is part of the lineup. All week, we’ve readied the house (mostly working in the yard because that’s what we love to do), but also we’ve cleaned and polished and straightened up things so folks can walk through without tripping over dog toys. As all this prep happens, Irealize my style of decor includes not only a mix of old and new buta touch of farm flair. It’s a thing.

Here’s another thing. Being on home...

hanging with Elvis in Tupelo…

Oh, you know, I’m just hanging with Elvis as one does, especially when one visitsTupelo. Quick story: I was invited to the Alabama Book Festival and immediately said YES not only because—Book Festival!—but also because to get there from here, I would drive smack through Tupelo and into the depthsof Mississippi Blues land.

Tupelo is Elvis’s birthplace. He lived there until his family moved to Memphis when he was thirteen.

Graceland is Elvis’s deathplace. And what a contrast between the two.

I...

Gracie Lee travels the world…

While Idobook signings right here in Arkansas, Gracie Lee travelsthe world. She’s free as a bird, a regular globetrotter who apparently has friends in high places. I’m thrilled that folkshave tuckedThe Accidental Salvation of Gracie Leeinto their preciouslimited carry-on space, taken a part of me on their fabulous jaunts,andsharedpictures. And OhTheCoolPlaces my friends (and friends of friends)go!

I mean,really cool places.

Places Gracie didn’t travel to via 1973 bicycle.

Places I had to goo...

Dear May,

Dear May,

Ibreathe in yourpea green freshness. I crawl on my hands and knees lookingfor every tinychange in each plantpushing through the soil.

May is for feeling alive.

I think of May Day and may poles and while I don’t know the history behind it all, I like the idea. Girls dressed in floaty, flouncy dresses wrapping Easter-colored ribbons around and around and under and over. Hair woven withflowers—clover and daisies andbaby’s breath.

Everything is good and light onthisMay Daymorning. The s...

one week until HOME TOUR!

Sometime, months and months ago, we were asked if we’d include our homeon the annual tour of homes. And by “we”, I mean me. I can’t blame John. He was out of town.

Yes! Of course. How fun!!!I clearly remember talking to my neighbor about it. I was outside with the dogs. Lucy gave me the “Boerner glare”. She knew there would be work to do.

As of this morning, we have exactly one week to get the house and yard ship shape because hundreds of people will be walking through. And by “we” I mean“we...

The Purple Ribbon

Breaking the silence is a family affair at The Purple Ribbon in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Not only does thisthrift store open itsdoors to shoppers, but the store offers a safe haven for victims of domestic violence. Hey y‘all—I don’t have many guest blog posts but this article was written by my friend, Laurie Reichart. Laurieis workingto spread the word of the work being done by The Purple Ribbon, and I agreed to help by hosting this article. Keep on reading, because this is an important topic...

my Deep South Road Trip

I just spent three days on aperfect deep south road tripsoaking upthethings that inspire me most. It was a whirlwind tour filled with music and literature and history and a heavy dose of natural beauty. And good food, too.

My perfect road tripcentered around the Alabama Book Festival and while selling books and connectingwith others authors and soaking up words was my primary goal, my two other must-see stopswere Elvis’s birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi and the Hank Williams Museum in Montgo...

Visiting Heber Springs, Arkansas

Acouple of weeks ago Ispent some timein Heber Springs, Arkansas. It was my first visit to thischarming town in the central part of the state. Not sure how that’s even possible.

When I visita new place, especiallyif I’m traveling alone, I explore. I search for the library and I seek outtheold historic cemetery because to me, cemeteries are a way to connect to the town. I walk the downtown area to see the architecture. Heber Springs gets a big checkmark for having a courthouse in the middle of...

when I think of Alabama…

When I think of Alabama, I think of Carlene, my mom’s college roommate, and her son Gary, and how we visited them a long, long time ago, and while I want to say it was summer it couldn’t have been because of the clothes we wore. Those memories are preserved forever by fadedpolaroidpictures. Ithought their house was amazing mainly because it was two-story. We took turns riding up and down the street in their neighborhoodin Gary’s go-cart which was a new experience for my sister and me. Big wh...