Tall Tales from Kansas

it's going in our 3 ring binder wedding album

This past weekend, Chris and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. How is that even possible? 

We look pretty much the same as we did back then huh?

We celebrated simply here at home. Champagne on the front porch, a three layer cake (because occasions like this call for cake), and trying to remember just exactly what happened that day.

We flipped through the 3 ring binder that is our wedding album. We bought film for our friends and family and asked them to be our photographers. It worked. 

We went to the basement to look for our cake topper but were unable to locate it. Maybe by the 50th? But here is what I know for sure. THIS cake (made by my new favorite baker at Alchemy Coffee & Bake Shop) was fabulous. If you need a cake for a special occasion, I recommend them highly. 

But let me get back to the photos for a second. For some reason I find this shot of me throwing my bouquet extremely hilarious. 

Chris and I are now in possession of the 40th wedding anniversary plaque. It originated with Chris's parent in 1986, then went to Tom & Jan in 2011, Steve and Janelle in 2014, Mary and Ron in 2015, Dan and Ann in 2018, and now we are in possession of it until 2032 when John and Sheri will take it over. After that it moves to the next generation of Mulvenon's. 

Please let me remember exactly where I put the card and list that goes with it. Actually let me just tell you, it's going in our 3 ring binder wedding album. Please write that down somewhere in case I need to call any of you in eleven years.

thank you Pam

Last year, at the height of the pandemic, my friend Pam reminded me that she had peony bushes in her garden... with more blooms than she needed. This year, she again invited me to come by and assist in the harvest and transport of these amazing blooms to good homes.

On Friday, after work, armed with my trusty vase and clippers (that live in the back of my car, always at the ready when needed), I stopped at her lovely home.

You can not imagine the sheer pleasure of approaching a bunch of blooming bushes with full permission to harvest. 

When I got home, I dug out the pink vase, re-arranged my collection of peonies, and sat back to admire them. 

There are so many wonderful flowers in the world.

Peonies are top on the list of favorites of many flower lovers.

How can they not be?  Bold, vibrant, and fragrant. 

Such a wonderful specimen.

I love how the buds, can also be clipped, and when placed in the right location, will open and bloom as well.

Thank You Pam for this wonderful experience. Sharing in the harvest of your garden is like going to a wonderful art gallery and being told that you may take what you like, such an extravagant gift. 

I asked mom's permission, he performed, no direction needed...

This week at the market it was all about the umbrella. Design, color, coordination with outfits and face masks, and of course umbrella as prop.

I begin with my favorite which needs no explanation. So none will be given. 

Planned or a happy coincidence? I like to think planned - and hoping someone would notice. Check. 

This kid has a future in the theatre. He saw camera, I asked mom's permission, he performed. No direction needed.

There was also some wonderful produce and booth umbrellas. 

These edible flowers were a bright ray of sunshine in the rain. 

Experienced tandem umbrella walkers. As evidenced by the ability to hold a coffee and an umbrella simultaneously, while shopping. 

What came home with me today is below. 

When I saw it was raining this morning, for about 10 seconds I considered not going to the market. That clearly would have been a BIG mistake. Especially considering that lunch this week will consist of fresh spinach, Lebanese beans, and falafel. Snap peas on the side. 

best seen in person to appreciate the intricacies of the work

There is a not-to-be-missed exhibit up at the Lawrence Public Library right now. If you are in the vicinity, you will WANT to check it out. It's a selection of dresses made from maps - all the work of Liza MacKinnon. Her web site is listed below in the links section. Here is a taste of what you are in store for...

The collection is best seen in person to appreciate the intricacies of the work. For the life of me, I can't understand how she does it without the maps tearing or ripping. I stand in awe of her creativity. 

Links: https://www.mackomics.com

they are worth the drive

Important things (not really) that happened last weekend.
#1. I pulled out Angie's rolling pin to crush the graham crackers for the crust for the first key lime pie of the year. The red handles help the crumbs be more uniform. Trust me on this. 

#2. The fuchsia dianthus started blooming.

#3. Cards/letters were written. 

#4. My favorite pew at the church of the glassy river was open when I arrived for services. 

#5. The stars aligned and Wheatfield's bagels (which they only have on Sundays) were purchased. Oh. My. Goodness. Toasted with plain cream cheese, they are worth the drive. 

#6. White lilacs were in the farmers market bouquet chosen for the table. 

#7. Corn muffins from America's Test Kitchen were made to go with the last batch of chili in the freezer from this winter. 

It's likely I have provided this recipe in the past, but if not, it's below (in really tiny print but if you click on it and print it, you can read it without a magnifying glass). They freeze really well. 

In addition to going very well with chili, they are also a fine accompaniment to any spring/summer soups you plan to try this season.

it's fun to invent alternate lives

On a recent trip to the Kauffman Gardens near the plaza in Kansas City, my inner gardener was awakened, re-vitalized, and motivated.  Raise your hand if you want to make a bunch of key tassels like these and hang them up somewhere in your garden/porch/patio. Aren't they just simple and fabulous? Imagine them on a sunny day with the light filtering through. Sigh. 

I do not feel the need to have a buddha's hand citron in my garden, but a gardenia would be welcomed. The one below was covered with blooms and smelled heavenly.

Yes please to the argyranthemum above, especially with those artfully arranged curly branches. As soon as I win the lottery I am also getting a dancing girl in a water feature. 

Columbine, iris, allium, pansy's, and coral bells were all in top form. 

A peach iris is not generally my favorite, but this one was the exact color of an old "party-dress" we used to dress up in when we were kids. Hadn't thought of it in years. I remember none of the specifics of the playing, but the dress I recall in great detail. 

When I told Joan that these flowers looked like a dutch girl with braids, she told me her grandmother used to tell her they were "the bleeding heart of Jesus" when she was a kid way up in North Dakota years ago. 

Window shopping at the Crestwood shops is always enjoyable, especially after a spring salad (butter lettuce, grilled shrimp, avocado, orange, grapefruit, candied walnuts, dried cranberries) eaten out of doors at Aixois. We sat and imagined the lives of the other diners around us. What they did, what kind of house they lived in, what their relationships were like, what routines they had. You know, just the usual stuff you do when you go out and see PEOPLE again. 

We passed by a house while we were out and I had to screech on the brakes to take photos of the poppies. The house next door was for sale and we discussed the pros and cons of buying it, how we would decorate, rockers versus a swing versus regular chairs for the front porch, etc... It's fun to invent alternate lives. 

It was a lovely day. Not taken for granted, each detail tucked in a special folder to be opened again when needed. 

"...one must always play these things by ear, tuning and adjusting one's story to the reaction of the person being lied to..."

It is with some sadness, that I conclude my listening of that I believe to be the last (for now), of the Flavia de Luce novels. In The Golden Tresses of the Dead Flavia and Dogger take on their first client, who winds up dead quite early in the story. Which, in no way detracts from the delight in the reading. 

These stories are read purely for the enjoyment of finding out what is happening with Flavia and her sisters Ophelia and Daphne, the house staff (Dogger and Mrs. Mullett), cousin Undeen, and the rest of the characters from Bishop's Lacey, the town closest to the family home of Buckshaw. 

Jayne Entwistle gives such character to the wonderful writing/dialogue of Alan Bradley. Case in point is demonstrated in today's post title in which Flavia describes the subtle art of interacting with a lie-ee. 

As I await the next case brought to Arthur W. Dogger and associates, Discreet Investigations, I will keep these lines in my head and imagine Dogger and Flavia motoring through the English countryside... "we were purring our way home and the day was drawing in, a light mist played across the fields and smoke hung in the lanes..."

Pure delight. Highly recommended.

"carol sure eat's a lot of baklava"

I was delighted to finally meet Adelaide this morning at the market. She of the colorful-lid banners. As I suspected, she had important details to convey about the what and the why of the banners, "I'm putting them between that booth (as she pointed) and that booth to make the market pretty". Was her response to my question of the reason she was hanging them.

She also let me know that there are 12 school days left before break, she is 6 and 1/2 years old, she is going to do the summer reading program at the public library this year, and her favorite writer is Mo Willems - especially any book with Piggie and Elephant. There you have it. Excellent interviewee. 

As I was snapping up the last of the strawberries, these two got the last poppy bouquets. We were going to high-five over our good fortune but all our hands were full.  

The heads of butter lettuce were spectacular this morning. 

This smart couple is using the two basket method of shopping so as not to smash anything, including the amazing greens on the top of those beets.  

How about this for a Mothers' Day bouquet? 

Above and below are my favorite shots of mothers from today. Above for that fabulous baby foot, below for the smile the mask could not hide, and the tip on where to get a good sun hat. 

High marks to this vendor for the hanging turnip display. 

For those wanting bread, check out Miss Roxy's wares.

My haul above. In case you are thinking "Carol sure eat's a lot of baklava", you are 100% correct. I require my 4 pieces per week during market season. It's the perfect balance for all the greens. 

This week's purchases were rounded out with an arrangement of hydrangeas, allium, and lilacs. In a junk shop vase that I am pretty sure is quite rare and valuable. 

a reminder of Angie's back yard in Harrison

This morning, before I took a walk, and watered the zinnia seeds, and dug up some red husker penstemon, and filled the car with gas, and got a massage, and took a shower, and met Joan for an adventure, I took a million pictures of the iris in my garden.

I love how they reliably return each spring, emerging from their parchment-like wrapping, some years more bountiful than others. Always a reminder of Angie's back yard in Harrison, coming up along the back fence, where she could see them from the patio where she loved to sit and drink coffee, and admire the fruits of her labors. 

baby necks are just so darn kissable

The Mulvenon family hiking club got together last weekend for an exploration of the trails around Lake Lenexa. Most of us have been vaccinated, some still have a week to go before "full immunity" has set in. Hence some masked and some not. 

We wondered around the lake, through the woods, and over a dam. 

All in all a very enjoyable outing. Time to catch up on what is happening with everyone. In person. Somehow conversation is so much more enjoyable when you are not each having to mute and unmute.

But the highlight of the day by a LONG shot, was getting to meet Alice. In person, for the first time. She is already walking and has teeth and it is so strange that it took a whole year for us to be able to welcome her to the family. She took it all in stride. Even when I sneaked up on her and kissed that neck.

Because lets face it, baby necks are just so darn kissable.