Talya Tate Boerner's Blog

Happy October, Sunday Letter friends!

To quote Dr. Seuss—How did it get so late so soon? Doesn’t that about sum it up?

Remember how the school year used to last forever when you were a kid? My sister and I could make our Halloween haul last until Santa put chocolate candy in our stockings, and summer felt like a geological era away.

Oh, those days are long gone. We’ve blinked and suddenly October is here, and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is one year shy of being 60 years old! (It debut...

Hello, friends. I’ve rounded up a list of fall reads for you. I always like to read a book or two that match the current season—there’s something extra-immersive about it. Like surround sound, ya know? And this collection blends spooky chills, cozy comforts, and thoughtful reflections. There’s something for everyone, for sure!

Full transparency: There are a couple listed that I haven’t read yet, but they are on my list too.

And, there are a couple I’ve read multiple times.

(This post contains ...

Dear Sunday Letter Readers,

Look at me—two Sunday Letters in a row! I know, shocking, right? Ha.

Tomorrow marks the first day of fall here in the northern hemisphere. Yes, even though we live in the southern United States, we’re still in the northern hemisphere. (The last time I mentioned this, a lady from Colorado insisted the Ozarks were in the southern hemisphere. Good grief. Some things really are facts.)

Another fact—yesterday, we finally received a lovely, much-needed rainfall. There was ...

When was the last time you sat down with a box of crayons and lost yourself inside a coloring book?

When I was a kid, Saturday afternoons often meant a trip into town with Momma to run errands. And, if we were lucky, we’d end up at Sterling Five and Dime. Before Walmart came to town, Sterling was the place for toys and candy. Honestly, it was almost impossible to not go into Sterling! The hot cashews and buttered popcorn lured in everyone milling around the courthouse square.

My sister and I al...

Dear Sunday Letter readers~

Hello, friends! Can you believe the first day of fall is almost here?
I’ve loved every minute of summer, but I’m more than ready for the new season—College Game Day, harvest, cooler days and chilly nights, and of course… sweater weather! I’m also excited to share a new project I’ve been working on since The Third Act of Theo Gruene launched in May.

(BTW, this is a sponsored post.)

First up…

As you probably know, I’ve been tracking the nature in o...

Hey there, nature lovers —I’m excited to share some fun news with you! This summer, I’ve been working on a special project, and it’s ready for YOU.

During the past three years, I’ve been spreading my love of backyard phenology to anyone who will listen—Arkansas garden clubs, master gardening groups, and other cool organizations. Now, because there has been lots of interest in backyard phenology (yay!), I’ve created a workbook and a 36-month phenology w...

I’ve been thinking about beauty in the decay and decided to jot down my thoughts and share them with you. This is the time of year some flowers begin looking sad, all shriveled up and tired to the roots. Certain perennial varieties, like blooding heart, die back altogether. This is all part of the process. And it isn’t a bad thing.

I’ve recently noticed so many panicked social media posts specifically about coneflowers. Folks are worried their coneflowers have ...

Good morning, friends! Today I’m thinking about the all-important art of piddling. It’s a year-round activity, but NOW is an ideal time to perfect it. Heat has moved into northwest Arkansas and unpacked its suitcase. Our okra and squash are super happy about it. Of course, there’s nothing surprising about swampy afternoons and a few well-placed mosquito bites, after all, we are on the downside of July. But when the humidity is this intense, piddling around in the house or garden may be the only...

Dear Sunday Letter friends~

Whew! It’s been a FULL week. A wonderful, celebratory book launch week. And, surprise-surprise, I have a few thoughts to share.  (And I’m required to tell you that purchases made from included links, will result in a few pennies to me…)

It feels surreal to know the story and characters I love are out in the world now. For the most part, it’s completely out of my control, how the book is received, who takes the time to write and post a review, who t...

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Happy May! Even though we still have seven weeks of spring to enjoy, May always feels like the gateway to summer to me. As a kid I ranked summer—no school!—and winter—Christmas!—at the top of my favorites, but now spring and autumn win out.

Of course, we should all try to appreciate every day no matter the season. These days, they are dwindling for each of us.

How can you not do a little spring dance when the roses are so glorious?

We planted these...