Tall Tales from Kansas

something pleasing that allows the mind to drift off in the proper direction

I just popped the last disc of The Night Fire, out of the CD player in my car and returned it to the library. It's another pairing of Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard solving crimes in their own way, which is never in synch with the system, but generally leads to them puzzling things out. When no one else seems able to, I might add. I was a little worried near the end that Michael Connelly was going to take things in a direction I didn't want him to. But he didn't. I don't want to say more about it and spoil things for you, so if you are a Harry Bosch fan, you will like it and I leave it at that. Mickey Haller (his half brother, the Lincoln Lawyer), makes an appearance too.

On the bedside table right now, I have this wonderful collection of poems, put together by James Crews. It's a fine way to close out the day. A simple (appearing!) reflection on some aspect of life that makes you pause and smile.

I know of no better way to close out the day. Something pleasing that allows the mind to drift off in the proper direction for a good rest. Very highly recommended.

crisis standards of care

If you live in the Kansas City area, you may have seen this in the newspaper. It represents a cooperative effort from health care providers across the city, requesting help from our community, so we can continue to care for them.

While we work on this, we are also talking about "Crisis Standards of Care". When a crisis goes into effect as mandated by state leadership, we must be prepared to make hard decisions. For example, who will benefit most from limited resources in order to save the most lives possible. What tools/scores/algorithms will help determine this in a responsible/ethical manner? If there was ever a committee I would not want to be on, it would be that one. Palliative care teams will be charged with helping care for those seriously ill patients who are not selected to receive therapies that might save their lives. Maximizing comfort is something we know about. The lack of a choice to focus on comfort, is something we are NOT familiar with. 

I am trying to put myself in the place of having a conversation with the daughter whose mother is dying and has been told that she will not have access to the most aggressive ICU care possible. Can you even imagine... the grief, anger, pain, frustration, rage, that daughter will be feeling? At the same time I am still telling myself that it is not possible, that things will not get that bad. 

I am not allowing myself to go to that place yet. At the same time, I am grateful that our leadership is trying to prepare for it so we are "ready". As if we ever could be.

necessary shields that can be drawn upon as needed

The best of the regular stuff these last days has included:

Deciding this yarn and this pattern should go together. Both have been in my possession for years but for some reason didn't find each other until this week. It's funny how "stuff" can get buried and rediscovered. I am having the best time with the #2 double points.

A campanile walk on a cold late morning, no one around. Just me and my frosty breath.

The pumpkins have been properly stored away and a fond farewell said to the one from the farmers market that served as a perfect base for an arrangement of the best of the fall foliage. 

The Christmas table runner came upstairs to grace the table for the month and the holiday mugs have made an appearance. 

 Every year it's like opening the best presents again. 

I am making the MOST of every second of outdoor time. This vine creeping up this tree with those red berries was a little moment of perfection. I took it in deeply, like every other one of the things I described above. Necessary shields that can be drawn upon as needed to deflect any situation that calls for it.  

that's how we are made

Some of the mighty oaks in our neighborhood are holding on to their glorious golden/yellow leaves with everything within them. When I walk underneath them and look up, it's as if I am in a cathedral. Seriously, what could be better? If you just whispered under your breath "10 degrees warmer today" I am with you. Kansas wind is serious when it blows. 

These temps combined with frosty mornings have me waiting until later in the day for walking. Sister and I are in agreement that jumping out of bed and heading for a walk early is our preferred modus operandi. But we adapt. That's how we were made. Even though we forget that sometimes. 

I am enjoying the spontaneous concept art installations I see on walks. Especially on the trail by the river. I named this one "painted tennis shoe on tree stump". Thank you creative people who do this. It's appreciated. 

I hope you all had a happy and safe holiday. While I am thinking about it... I may have shared this chart previously. But, with cold and flu season upon us, and with recent family gatherings, it could help sort out symptoms and guide you either not to worry, or to determine if you need to get a COVID test.  

I am not going to let myself worry about what the next weeks will bring in terms of numbers of cases, admissions, and deaths. I have jumped over all that to anticipating being vaccinated sometime in January. Fingers crossed.

This quote below was in the latest O Magazine. I cut it out and put it in the calendar/planner I carry with me all the time. It seems like such a healthy way to manage all the emotions that are circulating in the world right now. If you see me walking around with one hand out in front of myself and one hand over my stomach, you will know I am trying. 

That's all we can do. Thank you Hope Gaston from San Diego for sharing this bit of wisdom.  

an ode to pie

In case you were wondering, which you probably weren't, but pretend like you were, because I want to tell you about it. The thanksgiving pumpkin pie was very good.

The crust was not soggy or underdone, but nicely browned through and through. Crust is important. 

There was just the right amount of filling. It was not flat, nor did it overflow the crust and create a mess in the oven. There was a proper mouth-full in every bite. 

This pie was gently seasoned with fresh ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It was not "spicy", nor was it bland. Not too sweet and it did not leave me wanting anything different. Whipped cream is of course optional. I find myself liking a bit of it these days. 

Finally, the texture is not rubbery or too soft. It is not a pudding nor is it a flan. It's a perfect creamy smoothness that can stand on it's own, yet melts in your mouth. Thank you for listening to me wax poetic over one of my very favorite things about thanksgiving. The PIE. 

Which brings me to my VERY favorite thing about thanksgiving... the hike in the morning. Even though we cancelled our family dinner, we did hike with family in the area. Outside in the sun and 40 degrees, it was nice to say Hi after so many months. 

A good hike before the meal makes me feel virtuous. It gives me license to indulge myself with no guilt. Tom and Jan have volunteered to find the Christmas Day hike for us in the Kansas City area since there will be no big family gathering for that either. It's a great way to see family with much less risk of passing the virus between us. 

For entertainment, after dinner, Chris and I watched Grumpy Old Men, our first "holiday" movie of the season. I do hope the rest of our list turns out to be as entertaining as this was. Light and amusing, it required neither heavy thinking or Kleenex. Though at the very end when they showed out-takes of Burgess Meredith running one scene over and over, I did laugh till I cried. 

bottle #4 is a wild card

In the days before Thanksgiving, the pumpkin pie was made. When it's a celebration for two, my usual pie making expert will not be bringing her beautiful pies. Therefore I must buckle down, woman-up... aka whip one up myself. I used my "go-to" recipe from Cooks Illustrated. 

What makes this recipe great is the use of fresh ginger and the addition of sweet potatoes along with pumpkin. If you are wondering, the vodka above is for the pie crust. They said to use it so I did.

It looks promising. We shall see on Thursday. 

The Farkle Zoom practice round went off without a hitch. The Moss's will be having a cut-throat tournament stretching from Virginia to California as part of our Turkey celebration. It's a good game to play on ZOOM.  We all raised our hands and took the "on my honor I will do my best to follow all the rules of this game even though it would be easy to cheat when playing virtually" pledge.  Rally hats required. 

In other news, I made a new friend because I switched up my walking routine in order to make the pie in the morning. What's not to like about a friendly face like this?

Cuttings from a walk were put in the "holy water" bottle that reminds me of Angie. 

Here is the yarn for my next project. More details to come, but isn't that a lovely color? I might start it after dinner tomorrow. Perhaps while watching a movie. With my feet up? 

Any and all suggestions for favorite holiday movies are requested. Please!

P.S. I have discovered they make champagne in 6.3 oz bottles. Chris procured a 4 pack for me. Bottle #1 was raised in a combination birthday/whew I made it through the day toast tonight, bottle #2 is slated for sipping while cooking and maybe a little cheese/nosh pre-dinner appetizer on Thursday, bottle #3 is on the menu with orange juice for a Saturday mimosa along with avocado toast, and bottle #4 is a wild card. 

the experiences of starting a restaurant and living life

I had decided about 1/2 way through this book I wasn't going to write about it here. It just wasn't grabbing me the way it did the person who told me about it. But I persevered, for some reason. Then about 2/3 of the way through I found myself sitting on the couch, on a day off, not wanting to put it down because I had finally figured out why she recommended it. 

Somewhere between chapters 17 and 18, I found myself drawn into Molly's reflecting back on the experiences of starting a restaurant and living life. All of a sudden there was so much to relate to, the difficulties of being part of a work group that is like a family, the struggle for excellence and how you get there, and how life throws curve balls at you and you learn to catch them.

This book was published in 2014 when the author, Molly Wizenberg, was also writing about food on her blog. When I finished reading, I went to see what she was up to these days. Which it turns out is a lot. She is in a very different place than she was at the conclusion of the book. In some ways. Some things remain constant. Just like life itself. 

In the end, this is a book that I am glad to have read. Thanks Cheryl Jean for telling me about it.

a piece of pumpkin bread to go with

On Sunday's walk at the Lawrence Nature preserve there was not one other car in the parking lot. Not one other person on the trail. Nary another human voice did I hear. For the duration of my walk.  But there were jumping, scampering squirrels,  

and trees,  

and paths,  

and growing things, 

and sculptures, 

and the fragrance of fall moving into winter. 

These paths, covered with leaves and lurking roots and rocks, are my favorite. The slight incline makes my heart beat faster.

Just as I neared the end of my ramble, the sun came out.

The sky turned blue. 

The clouds, fluffy and soft, went from gray to white. 

And then, if all that wasn't enough, at the very end there was the long shot finale.

Followed by a cup of coffee and the Sunday papers at home. Maybe a piece of pumpkin bread to go with. It doesn't get better. 

P.S. Happy Birthday to you Marti Huff. I am glad in the dice roll of life, our paths crossed. 

2 place settings of silverware before Thursday

Dottie sent this to me and I am posting it here for your listening pleasure. Sort of a pre-thanksgiving treat. No calories. All joy. I have never heard of the Bengsons before, but am about ready to do a deep dive into their music. I hope to come up in time to polish 2 place settings of silverware before Thursday. 

 

who's making what this year

This was my recent "scouting expedition" for a turkey day hike. We haven't hiked at the wetlands before on Thanksgiving. Something new is always fun. The potential for getting lost (highly unlikely) always adds an element of excitement to a hike. 

Plus the golds and blues are sure pretty right now. Who among us doesn't need a reminder that the world remains a beautiful place.

Wearing my new gore-tex lined shoes for trail walking, I got adventurous and took a few turns off my "usual" route. My reward was a lovely view of the river and an alternate way to the lotus ponds.

Which are of course looking very different right now. As are the cattails below. I happen to think the dried lotus pods and the burst open fluffy appearance of the cattails are just as interesting in every phase of their life-cycle. 

I just read that the shoots and rhizomes of cattails are edible. But I am going to pass on looking for a recipe for them to add to the turkey day feast. Speaking of... who's making what this year? Let me know if your family favorite should bump something off my menu which includes: turkey, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes/gravy, thanksgiving slaw, some other green vegetable (maybe), cranberries, rolls, and pumpkin pie. Just because there are only 2 of us is no reason to diminish the celebration.