Tall Tales from Kansas

tis a good day to be a pirate

I would like to report that at 8:38 this morning while on my way to yoga class, I passed a pirate riding a bicycle.   He had long straggley hair and was wearing one of those three corner hats.   His coat tails flapped behind him and the sun glinted off the big buckle-looking things on his shoes.   I resisted the urge to roll down my window and yell "aiy mate, tis a good day to be a pirate!"

Have a little modesty for goodness sake

Good bye Bougainvillea

Farewell Moss Rose and Lantana

So long Coneflowers... the birds will visit you all winter

See you again next year Morning Glory

Even the mighty zinnia is no match for the frost

Oak Leaf Hydrangea stop making your fellow plants feel bad by managing to still look so good

Have a little modesty for goodness sake!

Hello Ginko Biloba

Hello Ginko Biloba.  You are not a native Kansas tree but I am glad someone thought to plant you so I could take your picture.  

my annual fall psychic reading

This weekend I will be headed downtown for my annual fall psychic reading.  I like to check in with my regular Tarot card reader about once a year.  You can't beat the $15.oo sale price.   It's always highly accurate and it's good to be informed about what your future may or may not hold in the coming year.

It is positioned strategically next to the Cupcake Construction Company.   This is a good thing.  If you don't like your reading you can simply go next door and get yourself a big cupcake with a lot of frosting and put it right out of your mind.  That's what I did last year.

The photo is not pretty.  The reading was hair-raising.  I needed to get at that cupcake quickly.  There was no time for smiling and looking nice. 

Hikey Pikey it's a good one!

I decided since the candy had been purchased, and tastings had begun, it was time to take out a few Halloween knick knacks.  Just to get in the spirit. 

Speaking of the spirit.  Today I listened to "Adventure" a podcast from This American Life that aired a few weeks ago.  I had heard part of it in the car and wasn't able to finish until today.   Got a spare hour?  Want to be entertained?  Go and listen to the episode about adventures.  You won't be sorry.  Don't miss the second half.  Hikey Pikey it's a good one... and that's all I'm going to say about it. 

the more superior chocolate covered caramel

You know what this means right?

Yep.  That's correct.  It's time for the annual candy competition.   This year we will be conducting a taste test to determine if the Rolo or the Milk Dud is the more superior chocolate covered carmel.

In the event of a tie.  Lewis will determine the winner.

Fall inside the house

Just to be clear. . . 

I like fall inside the house almost as much as I like fall outside the house.

Feliz Cumpleaños Angelina

Angie is looking pretty spunky here in 1954.  Of course that was before any of us kids were born.   Maybe that has something to do with it?   Today is her birthday.  We're going out tonight to celebrate.   Maybe we'll be extravagant and have drinks, an appetizer, AND dessert.   I mean it's not everyday you turn 83 right? 

things you can learn in your own back yard

Did you know that the butterfly has a built in straw for getting nectar out of flowers?

Well I certainly did not.  And look how they can move it around to maximize extraction.

Amazing, the things you can learn in your own back yard. 

Waxman Candles

No trip to Lawrence Kansas is complete without a visit to Waxman.  A hometown original.  

You can get anything you want in the way of candles here.    Starting with a wide variety of  votives.   You can not have too many votives. 

There are of course a selection of seasonal favorites.   Who doesn't need a corn cob candle? 

Smiley faces never go out of style.

And my personal favorites, tapers. 

Just your basic, beautiful, not so ordinary candles.  Made right here in Lawrence Kansas.  

getting in touch with my inner fall

If I didn't have to go to work tomorrow I would get up in the morning and head over to this street and lay on the sidewalk and stare up through the trees at the sky until I was covered with leaves.  And if anyone asked what I was doing I would tell them I was getting in touch with my inner fall. 

a whole new frontier to my breakfast repertoire

I like 'em scrambled.  I like 'em poached.  I like 'em sunny side up.  I like 'em hard boiled.  Before this weekend though I'd never had 'em baked. 

I was looking at Ree Drummond's blog last Saturday night and saw this and started counting the hours until breakfast.  I didn't do all that stuff in her recipe because I just didn't have time.  Instead I put some frozen, thawed, wrung out, spinach in the bottom of the ramekin, topped that with 2 Tbsp. of chunky pace picante sauce, sprinkled that with goat cheese, cracked an egg on top, sprinkled with salt and pepper and some fresh basil and put it in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes.   Next time I will only do it for 10 minutes.   Lordy, even slightly overdone this brings a whole new frontier to my breakfast repertoire.  

when window shopping turns into shopping shopping

I like window shopping in the fall at Jadore in Brookside in Kansas City.

I like it so much I usually end up going inside and then the window shopping turns into shopping shopping.   And why not?  This is one of those unique, stores where I can always find just the right thing for someone... even when that someone might be me. 

Real quilters avert your eyes

I went to a Kaffe Fassett lecture a week or so ago.  His knitting, quilting, and mosaic work are amazing.  It was highly entertaining and I left feeling as if I ought to "have a go" at doing some quilting.   Warning:  Real quilters avert your eyes now.   This is my interpretation of fall in a pillow for the front porch rocker. 

I pulled out some fabric and tried not to think too much.   I snatched the old pillow off the rocker.  I cut some strips.  I sewed them together.  I kept adding more.  I did some zigging and some zagging.  I looked at some pillow covers I have on my bed to figure out how to do the back.  Two hours later I was done. 

My back likes a little support when I am sitting on the rocker.  If it can be supported in style with a little fall pillow so much the better. 

Double duty foods are really time savers

Next to the pumpkin pie stands pumpkin bread.  Not ahead of.  Not behind.  Exactly right next to it.  So in the spirit of not showing any favoritism I give you pumpkin bread.

I should also say that just as pumpkin pie is as acceptable a breakfast food as it is a dessert - pumpkin bread is as good a dessert as it is a breakfast food.  Double duty foods really are time savers.   No home should be without them. 

My recipe is below - it makes 2 loaves.  I like to make a mini bundt cake and 1 loaf.  If you do this you will have to check the bundt loaf because it will be done about 15 minutes before the loaf is. 

Pumpkin Bread
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.  3-1/2 cups all purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp baking soda, 1-1/2 tsp salt, 4 eggs, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1-1/2 cups sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinammon, 1 tsp nutmeg, 2 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 1 can (15-oz) pumpkin, 1/4 cup water.  Raisins and walnuts are optional.  I always include them.  Mix everything together in a BIG bowl with a hand mixer until smooth.  Grease your pans well (my brother taught me this - do NOT scrimp or you will curse when it does not slip easily out of the pan- don't say we didn't warn you).  One last tip.  I like to sprinkle the top of my loaf with sugar in the raw.  It makes your bread look like it came from a bakery.  Also - I always cut mine with an electric knife to minimize the whole crumbling, messy looking slice, thing.  

I am thinking of temporarily changing my name to Orange

Just when it's time to dump the geraniums and pop in the mums, these geraniums which haven't done a thing  since I bought them to replace the ones I drowned during the dog days of summer, had to go and bloom.

Now what am I supposed to go and do? 

Why can't every flower be like the zinnia?  Perfect in all circumstances.  For example right now these beautiful orange ones just won't quit.  Right now when I happen to love all things orange so much that I am thinking of temporarily changing my name to Orange.

p.s.

My sister Dottie who is the Moss sister with the most miles under her belt in terms of globe-trotting, sent me these images to use for my meeting with the Dunn Brother executives this coming week.   I felt certain you would enjoy them. 

It's very nice to have a sister who can supply original, high quality, photos for use at such  meetings at the drop of a hat.   

You will have to send me your Brazil photos next.  I might have bought a pound of beans from there too.  


I will of course be talking to them about adding a photo to the labels.  Stand by for travel assignments.  All expenses paid of course.   

I have a very active imagination

This morning as I drank my coffee on the front porch I imagined I was on the plains of the Serengeti.  It was the freshly roasted coffee from Africa that had me closing my eyes and feeling the thundering hooves of migrating animals.  I saw gazelles, zebras, wildebeests.

Dunn Brothers should hire me to write the descriptions on their labels.   I went ahead and called them this morning and shot them a few ideas about incorporating the visual sense into their "bold, fruity, full-bodied" description of the brew I was having.  Their corporate headquarters said they would be in touch about setting up a meeting.  I am thinking I will get a call probably early next week. 

Schaake's Pumpkin Patch

One of the best things about October in Lawrence is going to the pumpkin patch.  I don't mean the asphalt fenced off area with pumpkins in it.  I mean a real, honest to goodness, pumpkin patch.

 
With acres and acres of pumpkins to choose from. 
 
And a hay ride to get you out there if you don't feel like walking.

 
If you don't want to pick your own, there are some already picked to choose from.

 
Personally, I think the best ones are still on the vine and prefer to select my own.  

 
These boys thought so too and found the biggest, baddest, pumpkins they could find.   Wheelbarrows are available to get your purchases easily to your trunk.

 
They even have a pumpkin display out there if you don't know the name of your pumpkin.

 
There are lots of good places to get your picture taken if you are so inclined.

 
I haven't even mentioned the animals you can look at, the maze you can go through, or any of the rest of the activities out there.  The Schaake family started raising pumpkins in 1975 as a 4H project and the story is that they sent all their kids to college on the proceeds.  

 
Never underestimate the power of the pumpkin.

one of the most highly addictive substances known to humankind

Today he had to go and do it.  Couldn't wait another day.   "We are 10 days into October,"  he says.  It's TIME!  So he goes to the store today and comes home with this. 

 

One of the most highly addictive substances known to humankind.  He brings it right into our very home.  And what am I to do?  I mean I have this ridiculously cute little container especially made for it.    I'll just mix it up and set it out to give the house a festive fall flair.  A little something for any unexpected guests that happen to drop by.

 

Would you believe me if I told you that within an hour of my mixing it up we had something like 10 guests?

 
Well we did.  Seriously. 

a fall leaf salad

I love fall leaves.  I love them on the trees.

 

I love them on the ground.

 

If I went into a restaurant and they had a fall leaf salad on the menu I would order it to eat. 

How to derive maximum enjoyment from a pumpkin spice latte

 
How to derive maximum enjoyment from a pumpkin spice latte:

1.  Make yourself walk a few blocks to get there, anticipation adds to the experience 
2.  Definately sit down inside to drink it
3.  Order just the tall size, but get whipped cream on it
4.  If you can get it in a real cup thats best, if not take the lid off
5.  Settle into your seat
6.  Bring it up to your mouth and catch the aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg
7.  Feel the cool whipped cream on your upper lip followed by the warm sweet pumpkin spice - swirl it around in your mouth to coat all surfaces
8.  Look at your friend and say "mmmmm can you believe how good this is?"  If you are alone feel free to stand up and make the remark to everyone within earshot, using a very dramatic voice
9.  Repeat this ritual weekly until the pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks is gone for the season

Behold the pumpkin pie

The older I get the more I like pumpkin pie.  Five years ago it would not have made it into my top 5 list.  Now it's right up there with cherry and peach.  But why do we only have pumpkin pie at Christmas or Thanksgiving?   I say fie on that.  I shall start a one woman campaign to get pumpkin pie the attention it deserves.   Starting with making this pie right here.

 
The perfect pumpkin pie is slightly spicy.   No bland, tasteless, forgettable, pumpkin pie for me.   I always add a little molasses for extra richness & color.  I don't measure, just pour some in.  I generally make mine with a topping of pecans, brown sugar, and butter for that extra texture along with the crunch it provides.   This year I decided to pre-bake my pie crust for about 10 minutes at 450 degrees, then put that topping in the bottom of the pie crust for another 10 minutes at 450 degrees, and lastly pour in the pie mixture, reduce the oven temp to 375 degrees and cook until done. 

I LIKE this version.  I like what that brown sugar and pecan mixture does to the whole pie instead of just sitting on the top.  Next order of business will be to make the edges of the crust look as good as they taste.  Photos to follow. 

P.S. a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side is also highly recommended.  If you are a whipped cream fan by all means take it in that direction. 

ignore her, maybe she'll go away

Clark:  here she comes with that camera again.

 

Lewis:  whatever you do don't look at her.

 

Clark:  can't she see I just woke up and am not in the mood to have my photo taken.

 

Lewis:  ignore her, maybe she'll go away.

 

I am easily distracted

Adding photos to my Budapest travel journal was the one task I fully intended to accomplish yesterday.   After work I popped up the stairs full of good intentions.   I looked around at the unappealing messes laying around.  I'll just pick up a few things, I say to myself.  

Then I see there are no flowers on my work surface.  That simply will not do.  So I had to go out and cut some.

 
I decided the flowering plum bushes wanted to join the zinnia's and purple salvia in the budapest jar.  Why should those roses get all the fun all the time?

Having gotten the flowers taken care of, I sat at the computer.  I logged in.  I looked up.  I discovered  that I had not turned the calendar page for this month.  No problem that doesn't take long.

 
Then I saw all the threads and stuff on the calendar and decided to go and sit with my fabric rectangles that were going to turn into a light summer cover for my bed.  "Sorry", I tell them.  "I will get back to you very soon".

And before you know it there was just enough time to get my lunch made for today before I went to bed.   My name is Carol and I am easily distracted.

forewarned is forearmed

Before I left for Budapest I was trying to decide between taking "A visit from the Goon Squad" and "Cutting for Stone" with me on the trip.  Then I went and got all engrossed in "Turn of Mind" which kept me totally occupied on all flights associated with that trip. 

 
When I got home, "Before I go to Sleep" was ready for pick up at the library.  I just took a peek at the first page and before I could help myself I was hooked.  I read it super fast.    Highly recommended.  It's one of those books you just gobble up because you have to find out what happens.

So while I was reading those 2 books, my original two books morphed into 4 books that are now awaiting my attention.

 
Does this happen to you too?  I think it's a great little problem to have.  I am completely prepared for a freak snowstorm that might hit in the middle of October.  Yes I realize the high is going to be 80 degrees here today.  Just remember, forewarned is forearmed. 

fall in a martini glass

My very favorite fall drink is the Dutch Harvest Martini.  Individually these flavors may or not make you think of October and November, but put them together and I think you will agree.  It is fall in a martini glass. 

 
I am going to give you the "Carol" version (straight up full force you may need a nap later),  AND the "Mary Ann" version (slightly less alcohol you may still want a nap but less likely). 

Dutch Harvest Martini
The glass requires rimming with a cinammon/sugar mixture.  The aroma and slight flavor of the cinammon is paramount in the enjoyment of this drink.  I rub a little cranberry juice on the rim and swirl the glass in a bowl of cinammon/sugar.

Green apple vodka (2 oz for Carol, 1 oz for Mary Ann)
Peach Schnapps  1 oz for both C & MA
Cranberry juice (2 oz for Carol, 3 oz for Mary Ann)
Shake it all up in a martini shaker with ice and strain into rimmed glass.

 
If the weather is still good where you live.  It's nice to sip one on your porch while you flip through the paper and enjoy your artful pumpkin arrangement.

something with spinach, cheese, eggs

On the first weekend in October when there are fall chores to be completed it's good to start your day well fortified.  Something with spinach, cheese, eggs.  Something like quiche. 

 

I needed some sausage and hash browns on the side to go with.  I actually really wanted some toast or a biscuit to put some jelly on too, but I resisted that urge.  This is just a basic quiche recipe - nothing special.  You can throw anything in a quiche.  I just happened to feel like spinach today. 

One thing I have started doing lately in all those recipes that tell you to put your filling in an unbaked pie shell is to prebake the crust for 10 minutes in a 450 degree oven.  I put a piece of parchment paper down and throw the pie weights on top.   I think this saves the bottom from that slightly underdone syndrome.

 

Using pie weights makes me feel domestic.  If I throw on an apron it's even better.