Tall Tales from Kansas

something wholesome and sweet

I do not believe I have ever used the word "wholesome" in a book I am telling you about.  Until now.  But it is the perfect descriptor for The Whole Town's Talking by Fannie Flagg.  It's a sweet story about a town in Missouri whose founders come from Sweden and start a dairy.  

If something wholesome and sweet appeals to you, I am going to recommend it as the book you take with you for reading over the Thanksgiving holiday.  The perfect antidote for stressful travel, a family spat, or any unpleasantness that may arise.  As you know it will, at least once, over a long weekend, with the people you love.  

as we thought about Ray and Chas

Chris and I went downtown today for the Veterans Day parade.
 

Things got started off with a fly-over.  No matter how many times I see one, I am always simultaneously impressed and choked up.  

There were people walking and riding and smiling and waving.  

 Mostly we wanted to show our respect and gratitude as we thought about Ray and Chas (our Dads) on this 100th anniversary of Armistice day.  

more than ordinary in their kindness

Ordinary things from the week.    Lets start with this dahlia shall we?

By itself, or with it's companions.  

This sky.  

These veggies.  Have you roasted delicata squash?  

This banner.  Which gets fall leaves added to it, thus extending hang time into Thanksgiving.  

Forgive the cuteness overload here.  But seriously.  

This Japanese maple.

This coffee, in this cup, on this Saturday morning.

All your really nice comments about this blog post.  They were more than ordinary in their kindness.  And for that I thank each of you.  

making simply for the pleasure of it

Here is another quilt I saw in someone's room at the hospital in the last month.  I haven't seen a "flower" made like that before. It was so pretty.  

The delicate hand stitching for the appliqué of the leaves and stems is a thing of beauty. It is unlikely that I will be able to make something this pretty, but it will not stop me from trying. This gets back to my whole philosophy of participating in the act of making simply for the pleasure of it. Which reminds me that I meant to include a link to a great read along these lines.  In Praise of Mediocrity. Well worth reading. Enjoy.

I tell the leaves to hang on for another week

Many walks are being squeezed into these most beautiful of autumn days. 

Early morning, late afternoon, or middle of the day.  

On a trail or in the neighborhood.  They are all good.  

Sometimes alone.  Sometimes with Chris.  

Red. Orange. Yellow.

As I walk, I tell the leaves to hang on for another week. If they can. I am pretty sure they can hear me.   

unless you insist on wings

A little mid-week poetry.  Courtesy of Matthew Ogle and Pome.

the angels have no wings
they come to you wearing
their own clothes

they have learned to love you
and will keep coming

unless you insist on wings

Lucille Clifton (2004)

 

Helpful links:

Pome

"Do Not Destroy"

When the Prairie Makers met at Mary Joan's house recently we got the chance to examine this treasure made by her great aunts Emma Dunagan-Thompson and Martha Dunagan-Thompson.    They lived in Georgia and were of English/Irish descent.  

We have all seen Crazy Quilts, right?  

And I think we can all agree that this is ABOVE and BEYOND what is normally thought of as a crazy quilt.  

Such attention to detail, even on the back.

All the fine hand embroidery, variety of stitches, and consistency in the repetition is simply remarkable.  

Truly a museum quality treasure.  Beyond compare.  

Mary Joan was given this by her Aunt Eva Barker.  Who, in a very smart move, pinned this note to the back of it. In the event that it would somehow end up in the hands of someone who did not recognize the true art that it is. Bravo Eva Barker!  

my fountain needed to have something in it

Marcy and Al were at the Farmers Market on Saturday in their warm hats.  I first spotted them a few years back, and since then, have taken a picture of then in their cold weather headgear every year.  It means that the season is coming to an end.

This year I talked to them. Al explained they get the hats when they go to New York, where there daughter lives, and run the 5 mile Turkey Trot each year.  

Chestnuts were also being roasted this week.  

Bright orange buttercup squash caught my eye.  I am going to make soup out of it.  The woman selling it tells me it tastes more like pumpkin than squash.  

I also got delicata squash to roast.

I did not get any turnips, but I did get a big bunch of broccoli raab that I am going to sauté OR try to use in salads.  Do any of you eat broccoli raab greens raw? I need to know this stuff.  

This arrangement screamed at me as I walked by.  And was immediately snatched up.  

One more pot of mums came home as well because they were only 5 dollars, and I decided my fountain, which has been turned off for the season, needed to have something in it.

Other selections at the market included decorative bundles of corn and lovely heads of Napa cabbage.

I also spotted this couple enjoying their breakfast burritos, but what really caught my eye was her coat. It reminded me of one that Angie used to have, except hers was a pinkish/gray color. What happened to that coat? 

There were whispers that there may not be a market next week. The number of vendors is dwindling. If you are in the area, the annual Holiday Market will be on Saturday, December 8th.  Link below for more details if you are interested. 

Helpful links:  Holiday Farmers Market - Lawrence Kansas 

to spread her quilt over her in the last hour of her life

This week at the hospital I spied some especially lovely handiwork in the rooms of a few of the patients I was seeing.

Quilting and love of fabric art is an immediate way to connect with people.  It lets us know we have a common language.  I bonded well with the woman who made these quilts during our very first visit.  She knew when she told me to be honest with her about what she was hoping for, and I told her I would, I meant it.  We had good talks during the week I knew her.  About what was possible, what was likely, what her family would need as her body was shutting down.  And we talked with her family when she not able to talk, about where was the best place for her to be if she could not be at home. Which is what they really wanted to make happen for her.

This quilter took matters into her own hands, as is often the case.  Early one morning this past week she died.  While her daughter and husband were on the way to the hospital.  It was a gift for me to be able to be there with her.  To spread her quilt over her in the last hour of her life.  To be sure her mouth was moist and her hair was combed.  To make sure she was not suffering, to whisper that her family was on the way, and wanted her to know they loved her, and lastly to let her know I would be sure to tell them how peaceful she was as she was dying.  

Dottie sent me this poem by Saint John of the Cross last week.  

And I saw the river
over which every soul
must pass
to reach the kingdom
of heaven
and the name of that river 
was suffering:
and I saw a boat
which carries souls
across the river
and the name of that boat
was love.  

I am not sure at all about the concept of heaven.  What I am certain of, is that the most important skill you need when you are with someone who is dying is just to care.  I was not with Angie in the last moments when she was dying. You have no idea how much I loved paying forward the caring that another woman showed my mom.  

a name change was proposed

Attached, complete with photographic evidence, are the minutes from the latest meeting of the Makers.  

Agenda:  Make a table runner from the "dots" edition of Making Magazine or perhaps a needle book.  All our members must have options.  

Maker Joan provided guidance by starting her project early in order to assist her fellow makers as needed.  I love her orange/red colors that will be so pretty from now into Christmas.  Instructions were consulted.  Errors were made.  

Maker Carol used this time to plan out her needle book.  In other words, though she thought the table runner was an EXCELLENT idea for a project she did not bring material to actually do the project.  Her supportive maker friends thought this was funny so did not revoke her status in the group. 

As of this writing, I have received photos from Ann and Joan of their finished projects.  Meanwhile, I have been happily stitching on needlework, figured out the difficult part that had me stumped with my knitted vest project, AND am back on the straight and narrow.    

You may recall that when last we met, it was the inside outside bag that we worked on.  Ann, took it over the top and made a few more.  Because she could.  She also made a motion that we should change our name from The Makers to The Prairie Makers.  To differentiate us from all the other Makers.  This motion was voted on and passed.  

There were no photos taken of the chicken salad sandwiches or the killer brownies that Maker Joan served as refreshments.  Trust me, they were good. I am hosting next month.  She sets a high bar to follow.  

The best part of this day, for me, was picking up projects that have been languishing and getting excited about working on them again.  Sometimes you need to be surrounded by a creative force to do this.  

Minutes submitted for your approval by Prairie Maker Carol

P.S.  Projects being undertaken by other groups of Makers are appreciated for our future consideration.