Tall Tales from Kansas

a different sort of lunch followed by a drink on the porch

There is something new happening almost everyday right outside my door.   The garden in the spring is so pretty it makes me regret that I don't put forth a bit more effort on it's behalf all year long.     

The alium continue to delight year after year.   A truly spectacular sight.  I'd like to put a time lapse camera on them. 

Last year the columbine foliage turned all blotchy white and I wasn't sure what was going on with them.  So far so good this year.   If anything, they have multiplied and I seem to have more colors than I did last year. 

The dianthus out back has 2 blooms on it but is covered with buds.  The pink is so intense it's surreal.  Especially against that silverish green foliage.  I don't know what was going on with the focus in this shot, but I like it. 

Wandering around looking at the garden is my favorite thing in the spring on a day off. 

Having a different sort of lunch followed by a drink on the porch around 3 isn't such a bad thing either.   It gave me the strength to go around and have another look at the Iris in the afternoon. 

 

I just tried my best

In Spoleto Mary Ann and I had a grand time in our travel journals.  I mostly had fun watching her create some masterpieces and then I tried to copy them.   When I was done I would show her what I had done and say each time,  "I just tried my best" and we would fall on the floor laughing. 

Have you seen a porcupine quill before?  I hadn't.  I picked up one on the path into town and taped it down along with a pottery shard I found on the way to Monteluco and the top of our wine bottle from Montefalco. 

I am a "process" journaler.  I don't really care as much about the outcome as the enjoyment in the moment of doing it.  When I look at this travel journal in years to come, I will think of staying up late into the night in the kitchen of the artists tower in the middle of the sacred woods of Spoleto laughing my head off with my sister.  If you haven't already seen her pages you should probably go and look here.

she promptly returned to eating the frosting

We went to a "super hero" themed birthday party last weekend, as in... dress up like your favorite super hero.   It is only because we love the super hero who was being honored that we went.  We are NOT costume party people. 

Chris, recalling the "cool cat club" of his childhood days, created his own unique super hero get up. 

He had an idea for me too but I put the kibosh on it and told him I could figure out my own outfit.   I then went into my closet pulled out a comfortable shirt and proclaimed myself the Flower Power Super Heroine.   I thought it was an extremely clever idea.

The Green Hornet let me know in no uncertain terms that it was lame. 

Then she promptly returned to eating the frosting from the Iron Man 3 layer birthday cake. 

*Please note that no hyphens were used in the spelling of super hero in this post so as not to infringe upon Marvel Comics trademarked use of the term. 

make it a big batch ok?

Chris told me tonight that he read today was chocolate chip cookie day.  I do not know who proclaimed it so.  I just know that it was. 

The reason what you see above is not chocolate chip cookies is because last night I got this phone call at 8:36 pm.

Angie:  Carol, it's your mother.  Can you do a big favor for me?

Me:  Well it depends on what it is.  (my standard answer for the "can you do me a favor" line). 

Angie:  I was just looking at the jar of peanut butter in my cabinet that is amost empty and I was so hungry for some peanut butter cookies.

Me:  You want me to bake you some peanut butter cookies?

Angie:  Would you?

Me:  Sure.  I'll try to do it one night this week.

Angie:  Make it a big batch ok?

Recipe is here:  peanut butter cookies

something I should put on the research assistant's list

The reason to have a Japanese maple in your garden is because it is soooooo pretty in the fall.  I gotta be honest though, I think it's almost prettier first thing in the Spring. 

I suppose that could be because I am so happy it is finally spring, or because it just looks so darned pretty today, but I don't think so.  

I guess I will have to take a photo of the tree every single day until the end of the year.   Come November I will put them in a pile of "pretty" and "prettier" without looking at the dates.   Then my research assistant  will analyze and tabulate the data and we will let you know if the "prettier" pile has more spring or fall photos in it.   That should put an end to the controversy once and for all.   

I was oozing healthfulness from my pores

This weekend I did something different with the spinach I scored at the farmers market.   I wilted it with a bit of water, a smidge of white wine, and a pinch of butter.  It gave kind of a high class feel to the usual poached egg with bacon and toast on the side. 

With what I had left after breakfast I whipped up a cream of spinach soup.  I added some broccoli because I didn't have quite as much spinach as the recipe called for.   Tell me this isn't the most beautiful color of green you have ever seen in your life. 


I took some to work today.  I am not exagerating when I say I was oozing healthfulness from my pores after eating it.  As a side dish, may I recommend some kind of delicious, european style, crusty bread.  To balance out the green-ness factor.  

As usual, recipe below if you want to experience what it's like to ooze healthfulness from your pores.

they were going cheap

I love the smell of lilacs and highly approve of a nice big fat bunch of them in a vase on the table.  I was glad to see some for sale at the farmers market yesterday.  They were going cheap as they won't last long. 

Three dollars for this bouquet.  What a bargain.  Once my rose bushes that have been afflicted with witches broom are removed I will have space for lilac bushes.  Something to look forward to next spring.  Oh joy.

Happy Mothers' Day to all mothers out there - including mothers of fur children of course.   I am sending lilacs dreams to each of you. 

I have to figure out what a pour over is

I got up early today because my cat Lewis Mulvenon had a serious case of it's spring and I NEED to go outside NOW.  This was at 6:30am.  Finding myself up and ready to go for my 8:30 haircut at 7:30am, I headed for the Farmers Market first.

The thing I like most about the farmers market is the people.  I love looking at what they are buying and selling.  My favorite today was this young girl in her apron, at the ready with answers to any questions about the baked goods she was selling with her mom.   My second favorite were the ladies in their very stylish hats.

I also saw Morels and was tempted to buy some, but then thought it would be best if I knew what I was going to do with them first. 

****Between now and next Saturday I would appreciate it if any of you who have cooked with Morels would let me know the 4-1-1 on them.**** 

After the farmers market I had just enough time to check out the newest coffee shop in Lawrence.

When I ordered my usual cappuccino without looking at the menu they kindly told me they don't have espresso but talked about a "pour over" and a french press.  I was in a hurry and didn't want to ask exactly what a  pour over was so I got a french press and headed out the door after snapping a quick photo.

My french press was perfection and I will definately be back to this place.   I have to figure out what a pour over is and that is going to take some observing.   Don't worry.  I will be reporting back with the details.  

P.S.  These fellows behind the counter were very nice.   I love good coffee.  I really love good coffee and friendly baristas.  

some things are best not discussed with the cardiologist

When my sister was here in April to see Angie she got her a new walker.  This was done despite protests from Angie who insisted that she did not need one, would not use one, and that "is the end of that girls".  

Guess who LOVES her new walker?   She moves faster, can turn on a dime, and there is a place to sit if she gets tired.  The seat also works well for transporting laundry or a carmel pretzel crunch. 

We went to see the cardiologist today.  He told mom to try and avoid salt.   He asked her if she used salt in her cooking.  She said "well I like chips".   He laughed and wanted to know what kind she liked.  She guiltily said "doritos... but I am not going to buy them anymore".   He said a few wouldn't hurt her. 

He didn't say a thing about limiting frozen custard.  But then again we didn't tell him we were going to Sheridans.  Some things are best not discussed with the cardiologist.   

I have found a solution to the problem and it's name is Ceramiche Umbre

Thursday night a package arrived.  A package with Italian writing on it. 

A package straight from Umbria.  Delivered unbroken within 10 days, just like Chiari Bonini said it would be.   I am not 100 percent certain where I will hang this yet.  

But I do know this will be going to work with me for my business cards. 

I will also put some of the stop talking cards in there.  I like to keep them handy.    One never knows when they might need one. 

Finally, I got this cute little jar for garlic.  I was so tired of those heads and cloves laying around looking so messy on the spoon rest.   No more peeling garlic skin all over the place ever again.    No siree, not at Tall Tales headquarters.   I have found a solution to the the problem and it's name is Ceramiche Umbre.