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.

There are some benefits to a lack of focus

When I was supposed to be working on a powerpoint presentation last night, that I was to turn in last week, but now have agreed to turn in on Monday, I somehow found myself here.  I am very susceptible to photgraphs of this nature.  So you know what happened.  It started with peaches going on the list for the store. 

 
Which led to this after 50 minutes in a 375 degree oven.

 
And the final result after a decent 15 minute cooling off period.

 
 All of this, just from a momentary lapse in concentration, which led to distraction, which led to some blog surfing.  There ARE some benefits to a lack of focus.  This is my new favorite peach cobbler recipe which I would have never found had I been working ... which actually I should be doing now as well. 

In my day we called that hitch hiking

Every year as fall approaches and it starts to get darker just a bit earlier, and you have to wear a sweater to work in the morning, and you see boys riding their bikes after school with shorts and jackets, and you notice that the pumpkin spice latte is back on the menu at starbucks... well I don't know about you, but I get excited.  I love fall.  Fall is yellow plus orange plus brown plus red.  It's the sound of leaves crunching on the ground when you walk.  The taste of candy corn and peanuts mixed together.  It's the smoke smell from fireplaces, holidays approaching, and getting to work on knitting that sweater because I could have worn it this week for sure.    

 
I saw these mums today.  Braked.  Turned around.  Got out of the car.  Marched right up.  Took a picture.  They are the first ones I have seen on a porch.   I wanted to go and get some right then and there.  But I was on a mission.  A "take Angie to the grocery store mission".    Fall was apparent at the store too.  They had mini pumpkins and gourds out.   I told Angie to stand in front of them and smile.

 
I don't know what came over the girl.  She started making hand gestures and the whole thing.  I just kept on snapping.

 
I guess she's all jazzed up on Fall too.  Alternately it could be her new found sense of freedom after her escapade to the optometrist yesterday when she decided to flag down a total stranger to give her a ride.  In my day we called that hitch hiking and would have been put on restriction for doing it.  I don't think she remembers that. 

Urban table gets almost everything right

Went to a new restaurant in Kansas City last night.  Urban Table  got almost everything right.  We started with a pitcher of Sangria that was delightful.  Fruity without being too sweet and losing the essence of the wine.  It paired nicely with a selection of cheeses that was served with thick slices of crusty, grilled, slighty buttery bread.  Did I mention the olive oil and orange marmalade on the side?

   
I resisted the urge to order the scallops knowing that someone else would and I could taste theirs.  I was right.  They were seared properly and very good.  BUT - I ordered the Napa garden salad because I had to taste the combination of dates, golden beets, roasted red peppers, goat cheese and almonds with romaine and a pistachio vinaigrette.  I know it sounds a bit "kitchen sink" doesn't it?  Well, the sweetness of the dates and the roasted beets combined with the smoky vinegar of the roasted red peppers and then the soft mellow goat cheese was a uniquely delicious experience.  The dressing did not overpower and the almonds added the needed crunch.  I am always impressed by a good salad that I would not dream up myself at home.  Dates?  Who woulda thunk?

I'm not going to go on too much longer but I have to say that the Tomato salad was also mouth wateringly good.  Heirloom tomatoes, avocado, chunks of focaccia bread all dressed with a lemon/mustard vinaigrette.... ooh la la!  Heirloom tomatoes people!  That vinaigrette glossed the tomatoes beautifully and was addicting.   Next time I will get one of those all for myself. 

The shrimp nicoise salad had this creamy, dreamy parmesan dressing that was unfortunately undone by the shrimp that were not quite cooked enough.  Well... I did say almost everything right didn't I?

I'm stopping any minute now but not before I tell you that one of the great things about this place is you don't feel too full for dessert and dessert you must have.  We split a peach cobbler sort of thing that had this crazy addictive, not too sweet, spicy, warm,  crunchy crust AND a dollop of whipped cream with a hint of rosemary in it that made me sit up and go "oooh!"   Then my friends had to pry my fingers off the plate so I would pass it.  The chocolate dessert depicted above was also good.  But the peach number totally had me with one bite.

 
Yes by the way, in case you are wondering, since reading "Born Round" I have decided my next career path will be restaurant critic.  The quails have already signed on to be my eating companions. 

Introducing.... The G-Force!

It occurs to me that I have not yet introduced you to.... The G-Force!  Well shame on me.  Here they are in all their tow-headed glory and I will TRY not to get all "great aunt" on you and show them to you too often... But SERIOUSLY.  Can you blame me?

Garrett and Gavin Moss will be coming to Kansas in December to meet Lewis and Clark (ok they say they are coming to meet Angie but really we know who they are going to want to hang with). 

 
They skipped walking and went directly to running.   I better get Lewis and Clark in some sort of training program now so they will be able to keep up with them.

 
I don't really know what to say about this except that popsicles and kitty fur are NOT going to go well together.  

You can only ask so much from one flower

It's getting to that "fall garden" time of year.  You know, when you really should get out there and put forth a little effort.  But you are tired of fighting with that pesky bindweed.  The more you pull out the thicker it comes in.  The volunteer trees are enough to make you curse and grit your teeth, and you have already worn holes in the fingers of 2 pairs of gardening gloves. 

 
It's also time to evaluate plant selections and consider whether you will repeat them again next year.  This honeysuckle plant was pretty.  Pink and orangish/yellow is one of my favorite color combinations.  But it didn't knock my socks off.  Plus... it's on my back deck and there is no fragrance to it.  I might have to go back to the moonflower in that pot next year.  It's smells heavenly at night.  I like to smell heavenly smells when I am trying to take pictures of the moon in the middle of the night. 

 
This red zonal geranium perked up after almost succumbing to death by drowning.  The pink replacement for the one that didn't survive never did much and will be replaced by a nice mum in the next week or so.  It's almost pumpkin time too.   I try to hold off on getting those until the first week in October so they won't have turned to mush before Halloween.   

 
The thing that I am happiest about this year in terms of gardening is my zinnias and knock out roses.   Next year I am going to plant more colors of zinnias.  They are self sufficient and showy.  I can't think of a better combination in a flower.  OK - if they killed bindweed that would be nice, but you really can only ask so much from one flower.   

I suddenly have this insatiable desire

 
The relationship that began between Frank Bruni and myself on August 31st has only grown deeper in the last 10 days.   I love listening to someone who describes food so perfectly you can taste it.  His struggles with weight, and the completely illogical reasoning he employs at times when trying to lose those extra pounds, are also something I can relate to. 

 
In the meantime, I talked Chris into making meatballs tonight for dinner.  I suddenly have this insatiable desire for pasta with red sauce and spicy meatballs...

 
It might have something to do with the description of all the different types of pasta Frank experienced while living in Italy and the ensuing discussion regarding how particular sauces cling to the various shapes in differing degrees.   It took everything I had not to whip up a box of kraft macaroni and cheese while I was waiting for dinner to be ready.

 
I settled for a nice glass of wine and tried not to tap my foot or drum my fingers impatiently as I waited for the garlic bread to come out of the oven. 

Central Kavehaz

If you happen to find yourself in Budapest, on a warmish afternoon, in the middle of the summer or fall, and your stomach tells you it's time for lunch... you should go to Central Kavehaz. 

 
It's where my sister and I found ourselves on August 28th at around 2pm.  We were just a little bit tired from the mornings explorations and needed rest and refreshment.    After being seated at a lovely table we perused the menu and selected Aspagagus soup with goat cheese and ricotta gnochi, cesear salad with grilled chicken, and for dessert coffee with a blend of milk and cream. 

I can hear you now.  Cesear Salad and asparagus soup????  In Budapest???  What are those two thinking?  Oh judge us not.  You can only eat so much sausage, streudal, goulash, paprika chicken, and other traditional Hungarian fare. 

This was one of our favorite meals in Budapest.  The soup perfectly flavored, the gnochi tender and creamy.  The Cesear salad was topped with a juicy grilled chicken breast that had been seared perfectly and was doused with the most tangy delicious dressing I have ever wrapped my lips around.   I sipped on my chilled white wine and was perfectly content as I sat there and watched the goings on around me.  When the 2 ladies adjacent to us ordered coffee after their meal, we did too.  Why not - we had copied everything else they had for lunch and found their choices quite to our liking.   This was a meal I will remember long after I have forgotten my name and my telephone number. 

just the now

The view out the back door tonight was nice.   There were plenty of things I could have done that might have been more productive, but instead I sat and just enjoyed the moment.  Not the past, not the future, just the now. 

 

the proven health benefits of frozen custard

Yoga at 9am followed by pancakes at 11am is a pretty good sign that it is not a normal Monday.

 
Someone waiting on the front porch at 2pm for a little outing is another good indication that it's not a work day.  Incidentally, that smile on her face is NOT because I'm visiting.

 
It's because she knows where we are going...

 

Angie is one of 9 kids.  Today while we ate custard she reminded me that there are only 5 left.  "I think I am going to be the next one to go".  When I asked her why she thought that she said "because I keep getting worse and worse".  We talked about it some more and decided that if we came to the custard place at least once a month she might make it to 90.  I told her I read a study about the health benefits of custard. 

"They think it's a real fountain of youth" I told her. 
"Really" she said. 
"Absolutely, positively" I replied. 

If she calls to ask about this, back me up.   

A two cat nap

In a vase from a hungarian flea market a bit of moss rose looks right at home.   It's good to incorporate the charm of Budapest into the everyday.  

 

The travel journal needs to be finished but today I had important things to do. Like taking naps with cats.

 
Seriously, can you blame me?  If you haven't had a 2 cat nap, you really haven't lived.  

P.S.  Thanks Chris for capturing me at my finest hour. 

the shadows resting on the walls of the city

I am about done posting pictures of Budapest.  But maybe just a few more.  As you can likely tell I was fascinated with all the architectural features from classical to gothic to rococo to art deco.  I couldn't really tell you which was which.  But the jumble of them together was quite pleasing to my eye. 
She stood guard over the city.  On top of the Liberation Monument, palm branch held high over her head.  Happy with what she saw below her.



 
I loved the accessible majesty of Budapest.  You don't need to go to a museum to see grandness.   The city is littered with it.  The windows with their flowerboxes, the signs with exotic writing, the bounty of the market...

  
 
... and my favorite, the shadows resting on the walls of the city.

Nothing beats public transportation to get the feel of a city

I guess if I had to depend on it everyday I wouldn't think it was so cool.

 
But I am here to tell you this friends...  in a foreign country NOTHING beats public transportation to get the vibe of the city.   I enjoy feeling as if I am just like everyone else ... going to work, going to the market, hanging out with my friends, going on a date.  A tram, a bus, the metro,  you name it - we did it.  

As we bounced happily down from the Citadela my sister and I commented on the very capable, meaty hands of the bus driver as they deftly maneuvered the  hula hoop sized steering wheel.  He navigated the hairpin curves like he was playing music.  The bus his instrument, we the audience.   We clapped and bowed when we disembarked at the end of the concert.  

Budapest as National Park

 When I get back from exploring a city on vacation I am often asked "what did you do?"  When I say that we walked all over the place and looked at stuff the next question is often... "yeah, but what did you DO?"
 
 
On this trip I realized that really exploing a city is no different than taking a vacation to a national park.  You hike all over the place - in sandals instead of boots.  You take lots of pictures.  You use a map.  You try not to get lost.  You sometimes go off the trail.   You look up and down and all around.


 
Sometimes you come to a fork in the road/trail and have to pick which way to go.  Some paths lead you up high to a spectacular view.  You stop to take obligatory photos of yourselves in front of these views. 

 
You refresh yourself often so you don't get dehydrated.   One very large difference is that instead of trail mix, you stop at a sidewalk cafe and get waited on.   Ahhhhh.  I'm not saying that raisins and peanuts and pretzels aren't good.  They just don't quite measure up to paprika chicken with potato dumpling noodles with sour cream and bacon. 

 
Budapest as National Park.  I think I may have stumbled on to the way to finally explain what it's like to fully explore a city... and why it's a whole lot of fun.