Tall Tales from Kansas

an ode to nonsense

We like to take funny pictures in our family.  Well, let me re-phrase that.  Some of us like to take funny pictures in our family and some people know just to go along and accept it. 

 
I needed a photo to illustrate the poem below and so this is the one I decided to use.  Sorry Brother.  But really, you look better than I do in my pajamas.

"Nonsense"
        Matt Cook

His grandmother, for example, was pathologically no-nonsense.
He was aware, then, that his nonsense was
Built on the backs of a lot of other people's no-nonsense.
He would have apologized to everyone for his nonsense,
But he understood how little sense it made to apologize for nonsense.

It was difficult enough for him to drive a motor vehicle.
Driving was a function where nonsense was not permitted.
When the traffic light turns green, you absolutely must go,
Whether or not it is the truly beautiful thing to do.
He was the first generation in his family to have a problem with this.

 

When I read this last week or so on the Writers Almanac I knew I would share it.  This weekend nonsense is not only permitted.  It's encouraged. 

right here in Lawrence Kansas

Good-bye September. 

 
Hello October.

 
I have been looking for you.

 
I was so glad to see you put in an appearance today on the 900 block of Maine street.


Right here in Lawrence Kansas.

you never know what your body might be able to do today

I think you all will know this.  But just to be perfectly clear... NONE of these photos below are of me.

 
That doesn't mean however that someday,  maybe 10 years from now,  I might not be able to get myself into one of these positions.  If I keep practicing regularly.  As one of the teachers at the studio where I practice says, "you never know what your body might be able to do today".  I like her attitude.  She's in the top left corner up there.   These photos were all taken at the 2011 Kansas & Missouri Yoga Asana Championship in Lawrence last weekend. 

I have been practicing Bikram Yoga for a little over a year now.  It's extremely challenging and one of the best things I do for myself.  All of the people in the pictures teach or attend class at the studio where I practice.  It was cool to see them at their finest. 

If you've never tried a Bikram Yoga class - give it a whirl sometime.  I thought I was going to die 1/2 way through my first class.  By the end of the class I was hooked. 

covered in a fine dusting of flour

Kalmata olive bread.  Walnut sage bread.  Pecan Raisin bread.  Pan ordinaire.  Baguette.  Ciabatta.  Rustic italian round.  These are just some of the breads you can buy at Wheatfields.

 
Almost as good as the bread are the friendly bakers.  All covered in a fine dusting of flour.

 
I was treated to this vision of beauty right before I went inside.

 
I'm pretty sure they planted it just for me.   I bought 3 loaves of bread to show my appreciation.  

Lavendar infused honey

I hopped out of bed this weekend, threw on my favorite jeans and headed out the door.

Destination?  Farmers Market.  You never know who or what you will see there.  It's always colorful.  Never boring.

 
These farmers' market veterans checked out the apples carefully before selecting just the right basket.  I didn't ask them what they were making with them.  But I wanted to.  I am thinking they were probably coring them, filling them with brown sugar/butter/cinammon, wrapping some kind of dough around them, and baking them whole.  Well, that's what I'd do with them anyway.  If I knew how. 

 

This group was singing "in the summertime when the weather is high you can reach right up and touch the sky, in the summertime you've got women you've got women on your mind."  You know the song right?  I might have the lyrics a little bit mixed up, but you get the idea.  It was a toe tapping tune. 

 
I nabbed a big bundle of this bittersweet to put on the mantle at home.

 
My favorite purchase of the day was some lavendar infused honey I bought from this merchant. 

 
I came home straight away, brewed a pot of coffee, toasted up some raisin pecan bread and spread that honey on nice and thick.   Honey tastes better when you buy it from someone at the farmers market whose daughter takes your money and says ok when you ask if it would be alright to take her picture.    There was only a faint essense of lavendar there, just enough so when I closed my eyes I could imagine I was eating the toast as I sat out on the patio and one of the cats walked by and their tails brushed the lavendar plant.    I hope they are back next weekend so I can buy enough to get me through the whole winter.

I get my hair cut in a treehouse

Have I told you I get my hair cut in a tree house?

 
Well ok, maybe it's not a tree house, but it's up some stairs and amongst the trees... and when I go through the yellow door I feel like I am in a tree house.

 
Today I watched 2 squirrels chase each other up and down and all around these trees while Jami cut my hair.

 
She's been cutting my hair for 25 years.  She has a sense of style that just doesn't quit.  I swear the girl gets cuter and cuter every year.  

Friday night hanging out with a friend on 39th street

Someone told me today that it's the first day of Fall.  And since I happen to think that is something that should be celebrated.  Celebrate I did.  After work.  On a Friday night.  Right in my new work neighborhood.

 
I love exploring this whole new area of town.  Just 1 block from where I work.  Such fun.  All these interesting, slightly funky looking places - each with their own unique vibe.  I plan to visit each and every one of these places in the months ahead.  I am putting all my friends on notice that this is the new "hot" place to be.  Tonight we went to Thomas. 

 
My camera battery started flashing that it was out of juice as soon as we got there.  So annoying.  I am going to have to talk to my camera assistant about the need for available fresh batteries at all times.  I was forced to nab this photo off their web site. 

We sat up on the rooftop and enjoyed the setting sun, the breeze, the sounds from the street below.   We talked about how good change is.  Everyday when I leave my new job my head is full.  Bursting with new people, new things I am learning, new projects to participate in.  I always loved the beginning of a new school year when I was growing up.  I think it's part of why the fall is my favorite time of year.  As I have begun this new job all of those "new beginnings" feelings have been awakened.  I am enjoying each and every one of them as they hit.  The mojito martini, spicy grilled shrimp, and thomas fried potatoes were just perfect for a Friday night supper of celebrating.   Marking all that is good about an ordinary Friday night hanging out with a friend. 

I wouldn't watch it for any other reason

For the last month or so I have done absolutely no knitting.  Zero.  Zip.  Nada.  The big goose egg.  Well, except when I am at my Monday night knitting class.   Surrounded by all my knitting buddies.   Too much other stuff to do when the weather is nice I say.  But tonight out came the projects!

 
What happened? 

NEW episodes of NCIS, NCIS - Los Angeles, and some other new show that is starting tonight.   I can not lie.   I am addicted to certain TV shows.    All that high drama makes the adrenalin flow and I swear I knit faster.   I wouldn't watch it for any other reason. 

spellbound by mums

I am spellbound by mums this year.  Actually I am every year, but this year the enchantment seems especially strong.  I love that faint unmistakable fragrance of a mum.  You can't miss it when you squat down so low you almost tumble onto the mums when taking a picture.

I'm pretty sure no one saw though.   In the unlikely event that the near tumble was caused by a low blood sugar, I staggered down the street and had a little breakfast.

 
Coffee cake with maple glaze and a "brewed to order" coffee.   I felt quite steady on my feet after this.   I am calling it my new breakfast of champions.  Sorry Wheaties.  You have been de-throned. 

I just love a productive road trip

Chris and I took a little road trip today.
We headed south on 59 for the city of Richmond, Kansas in search of new furniture.

On the way we saw typical Kansas things... like cows running

 
and barns

 

and newly plowed fields

 
and old wind mills

 
and big stormy skies.

 
We also found the furniture we were looking for.  Discussions regarding fabric selections were had.  We played rock, paper, scissors until it worked out my way.  Then we drove home and had a beer and I told Chris how the furniture should be arranged and he agreed with all my ideas.    

 
 
 I just love a productive road trip.

The End.