Tall Tales from Kansas

you must be prepared to change plans as circumstances dictate

On Saturday we hit the streets of Alesund to explore. Items on the itinerary: music festival, Norwegian farmers market, museum, and an old sea house that has been converted to an antique store. These two wanted us to go Sea Kayaking with them but we had to decline on account of our already full agenda.

It was overcast and sprinkled lightly all day but it wasn't cold and the light made the flowers glow.

We climbed a set of stairs that seemed at first to go nowhere but we took them anyway. Views like this awaited. Have I mentioned that the smell of the North Sea hangs in the air? In a not-fishy, intoxicating way that makes you take in big gulps.

My new sandals made good hiking boots.

And after a full day we came home so I could get to work drawing things. Important things like a flower from the patterned tablecloth at Lyst Bar & Restaurant where we went to lunch today.

Somehow we only made it to one of the things on our list. When in full explorer mode you must be prepared to change plans as circumstances dictate.

I've never picked up ANYONE going to Norway before

When I got on the Parking Spot bus this morning the driver wanted to know where I was headed. 
When I told him Norway he thought for a minute, shook his head, and said "I've never picked up ANYONE going to Norway before". I told him it was the first time for me too.  

When the plane dropped out of the clouds at 5:50am this morning and I got the first glimpse of my home for the next week I was delighted.

I rendezvoused with my sister in the Bergen airport and we headed for Alesund where we now find ourselves. We did a walk about to get the lay of the land and plan our excursions for the next few days. We are contemplating a fjord experience on this boat...



A bicycle tour of the countryside...


Or a wildlife sea safari with this crew.


All decisions had to take a back seat while we ate the best fish soup we ever tasted in our entire lives. My first official meal in Norway gets an A +.


I have now officially been up for 32 hours and it's time to get some sleep. Zzzzz

Good-bye heat wave

Bags packed.  Check.
Boarding passes printed.  Check.
Camera, iPad, phone, MP3 player charging.  Check.
Today it was 103 degrees in Kansas.  I am ready to head to the land of boat rides where the highs are in the 60's and we eat juicy strawberries with every meal.  

as you gaze upon the Kansas prairie

In case you somehow had the mistaken idea that purple coneflowers were only something to be enjoyed from your car as you gaze upon the Kansas prairie...

...think again.   They can hold their own in any "prettiest arrangement" contest around.   I love wandering outside with my flower gathering basket (thanks Dottie!) and snipping stuff to bring inside. 

drink half of it, then start packing

It turns out the key to kick-starting the packing is nothing more than a French Martini. 

In case you have some packing to do here is the recipe.  2 oz vodka, 2 oz pineapple juice, 1 oz chambord - pour into a martini shaker packed with ice, give it a shake and strain into a glass.  Drink half of it, then start packing! 

Something about the combination of the pineapple juice, vodka, and chambord made the decisons about what to bring and what to leave much easier.  Or else it's the fact that I am looking at my sisters' pictures and thinking I'll just use her norwegian scissors and paper.

distracted by everything

I am trying to organize and pack the art supplies I am bringing to Norway. 

But I keep getting distracted by the pictures I took of my Zinnias earlier today.  Who am I kidding?  I am distracted by everything.   Anything to keep me from what I need to do. 

don't be funny carol, I mean it

I just went through all the "Angie posts" from the last several years.  I am going to be re-running a few of them in the coming weeks.  This one seemed perfect for today. 

Angie gets on high alert mode when anyone in the family is traveling.  She worries about each and every possible bad thing that could happen and is convinced if she does not hear from the traveler within a very short time of their arrival in the appointed destination... it means REALLY BAD STUFF has happened!  

No amount of reassurance that all is well will suffice.  She must KNOW they are ok.   I have been known to be impatient with her when she does this.   Then she has to go and make me feel bad by calling me and saying:

Angie:  I miss you already.

Me:  Mom, I'm not leaving until the 28th.

Angie:  I know, but I am really going to miss you.  I wish you were here right now.

Me:  I will send you a picture and you can tape it on the lamp by your bed.

Angie:  Ha, ha, ha.  Don't be funny Carol, I mean it.  

the replacements

The geraniums have done very well so far this season.  I have worked hard not to overwater and they are holding their own.

I can not say the same the same for the fancy begonia that has been replaced by an impatiens or coleus #1 that was swapped out for coleus #2. 

I gave them every chance but have learned to cut my losses before the stock of potential replacements begin to dry up.   That right there is a wise and valuable rule that should be kept in mind by all veteran Kansas gardeners. 

T minus 8 and counting

It's time to get serious about going to Norway.  T minus 8 days to go.  With that in mind I headed downtown yesterday to acquire a few necessities.

This sign was not a necessity.  So I did not get it.

A rainjacket, bag, and waterproof sandals were necessities.   I got them. 

I know you have seen that big, bold, colorful, explosion of a travel journal that my Sister is bringing.  I am taking an alternate approach.  Something small, and refined.  A clean slate until I arrive in the land of the Vikings.  Then I will set to work letting it become what it wants to be.   Unless I decide to steal hers.  

pitcher envy

After seeing Leslie's pretty pitcher the other day I had a serious case of pitcher envy. 

You could say I had a pitcher monkey on my back. 

The only thing that would help me was to find a new pitcher.  Luckily Pryde's came through for me so I could rest easy and not have to make my way to Canada to confiscate hers. 

Scenes from Sunday

On Sunday while I was using these...

Chris decided to make a slow roasted pork shoulder roast with peach sauce...

 I told him I would make the sauce (I like to be helpful)...

there was about a cup of pinot grigio left over so I added some peaches and strawberries and had a little rest when I was done.  It's hard working making peach sauce.

the end.

providing a ready made trellis

You must admire the tenacity of the morning glory.  I planted some 5 years ago and it comes up every year bringing some nice color to the garden when everything else is a little tired looking.  

I like how it will grab onto anything near it and climb up to show off it's color.  That's why I never cut off the heads of the Husker Red Penstemon after it has finished blooming.   It is absolutely about providing a ready made trellis and not one bit about being lazy. 

lots and lots of birds

I did not anticipate that drawing with sketchbook pro on my iPad would made me want to work in my art journal more.   

But it has.  I want to draw birds.  Lots and lots of birds.  I think I will put a bird on every single solitary page of my Norway travel journal. 

My sister and I have been discussing our upcoming trip via FaceTime.  It's important that we be able to show each other exactly what we are bringing. 

Unfortunately it seems that Lewis and Wyatt have been watching and now know how to call each other.   Fortunately there are no long distance charges associated with it. 

middle eastern cuisine heaven

Today I met some friends at Little Egypt Cafe so I could mark something else off my "52 by 53" list that has now been renamed my "52 by whenever" list. 

Instead of taking it off the list, I added it 12 more times.  This is to remind myself to go at least once a month.  Here's why.

And if that's not enough what about this?

And don't forget about this.

The Falafel was some of the best I have ever eaten.  It took me back to the first time I was in LA and my sister took me to Zancou Chicken and I thought I had died and gone to middle eastern cuisine heaven.   Nancy, Liz, and I all agreed to add it to our "regulars" list.  

are you a chaos muppet or an order muppet?

Today I read something that has finally helped me understand why I am the driver in our family.   It makes a lot of sense.    You might want to check out the Muppet Theory for yourself.   Even if you do not discover the answer to some deep mystery you will be highly entertained.   Plus they talk abut the cookie monster. 

Photo from BuzzFeed.com

others may think there are cuter cats somewhere in the world...

Thirteen years ago today the famous duo Lewis and Clark were born.   And even though Clarky Pie is no longer here with us we can't very well celebrate one without the other can we?

I give you a smattering of the very first photos we took of them when we brought them home.   I am well aware that others may think there are cuter cats somewhere in the world... I just don't happen to agree with them. 

in your own mind

Never underestimate the therapeutic value of playing with pink and orange paint. 

Add some glue, wallpaper, black ink, and a few Pitt pens to really take it over the top.   Where it counts.   In your own mind. 

sunrise

Why I try to leave my house before 6am to go to work.

when you go to the Smoky Hill River Festival you wear your best hat

In Salina Kansas when you go to the Smoky Hill River Festival you wear your best hat, press your shirt, and absolutely say yes when a nice lady asks to take your picture.   You do not ask what she wants it for.  Instead you smile obligingly and go about your business when she's got all the shots she needs.  I saw lots of impressive art work at the festival, but this fellow gets top billing in my book. 

We made time to drive by every residence we ever lived in while we were in town.   Not to worry, I am only going to make you look at the first house we lived in after we got married.  It was 1981.  Rent was $220 a month and the house was painted a dark shade of red.  From the sounds of the ruckus I heard as we drove up,  I am inclined to believe our old neighbors still live next door. 

Last stop of the trip was here because you do not leave Salina without going to the Cozy Inn. 

I caught a glimpse of something good in the alley as we drove up and went to investigate while the burgers were being ordered. 

Sure am glad I did.  If I had seen this artists work at the festival, I would not have been able to resist. 

experimenting with making letters and espresso vodka drinks

W. E.  is code for WEEKEND at our house.  Chris and I have contests to see who is going to say "it's the W.E."  first on Friday.  W. E. means experimenting with making letters and espresso vodka drinks.

The nightcap for tonight is 1 shot of dizzy three vodka, 1 shot of creme de cacao, 3/4 shot of milk, pour over ice, shake vigorously and strain into glass.   I plan to make a different bedtime toddy  with my dizzy three every single night until it's gone or I run out of ideas.  Whichever comes first.   

we thought it would be fun

This is a common site around these parts this time of year.

  One time when my sisters came to visit we thought it would be fun to try and climb on top of them and take our pictures.   Let's just say it was a lot harder than we thought it would be... and leave it at that. 

hello dizzy three

It has arrived.  And so the mixology experimentation begins. 

For those who like to sip their vodka over ice - you are in for a treat.  It is also divine mixed 1 part dizzy three, 1 part kahlua, 1 part milk - poured over ice, shaken, and strained into a glass.  Can you say perfect nightcap?   The coffee flavor is intense but not overpowering.  Just like I like it.   

Thank you Cork & Barrel on 23rd street in Lawrence Kansas for getting this in especially for me. 

a tale of two neighbors

Raise your hand if you have ever watched a movie about someone who was dying, in the hospital, on a ventilator, and the patients husband was conflicted about whether to take her off life support.   Keep your hand up if you yelled at the screen "pull the plug you dummy, no one wants to live like that",  OR  "don't give up,  keep trying, she might make it".  

I recently cared for 2 patients right next door to each other in the hospital who had both had extensive strokes.   Betty is 75 and lives with her daughter.  She has been pretty independent  prior to admission although declining somewhat over the last 6 months.  The stroke affected her ability to speak and eat, she is now pretty much confined to bed, and is not interacting with family.   Her doctors are telling her daughter it is unlikely that she will recover to her previous state of health.  They want to know if she would want a feeding tube.   

Bill is 62 and had been pretty healthy until he had a sudden stroke and is now completely unresponsive, his kidneys are failing and dialysis has been started.   He has a tracheostomy tube  as well as a feeding tube.  His wife tells us he would not want to live like this but his kids refuse to give up on him and she does not want to go against his kids.   She is now faced with having to make a decision to transfer him to a facility that can take care of a patient with a trach, a feeding tube, and also be able to do dialysis or get hospice involved and stop dialysis and the tube feedings.                                            

There are no right and wrong answers in these scenarios.  What IS important is that your family knows what you would want.  Don't tell them to "pull the plug".  It's rarely that simple a decision.  Don't tell them "you will know what is the right thing to do for me",  they often do not.   You can make a very hard time easier by having "the talk" ahead of time.  Identify what is an acceptable quality of life to you and what sorts of things you don't want done.   

Betty's daughter was pretty sure her mom had lived a good life and was "ready to go".  She did not get a feeding tube.  She went to an inpatient hospice facility and died surrounded by her family 7 days after she left the hospital.    Bill was transferred to a facility that could care for   him.  It is not real close to his wife.  She visits when she can.  His kids are still hopeful that he will get better.                                                                                                                                                                    

I decided to "posterize" it

This sunrise photo didn't turn out quite like I wanted so I decided to "posterize" it.   When I saw the result I decided to posterize the whole rest of my day.     

Except for the pancakes.  I preferred to eat them "non-posterized".  With just a smidge of special butter from Denmark. 

play begats play?

Playing around with my iPad has made me want to play around with my journals more.  I guess it's true that play begats play?

Speaking of playing.  I hope I get the chance to use begat in Words with Friends soon.

because I doodle like a grade schooler

I simply have no explanation.   It's just all about feeling like you are in the 3rd grade again.  Oh hello there Mrs. Lindsay.  You just thought I left your class 45 years ago. 

Just a little SketchBook Pro fun.  If you haven't tried it yet, you must.   Just because I doodle like a grade schooler is no reason to deprive myself of this enjoyment.   Picasso had to start somewhere right?

you make the day before the weekend feel like the first day of vacation

Can you imagine any better place to start your Friday morning than here?   With a 12 oz cappuccino and an apple pecan scone.  Every morning meeting can be improved with this view and these refreshments.  


Filling Station Coffee Garage you make the day before the weekend feel like the first day of vacation.    If I had a personal assistant I would have him schedule all of my meetings here. 

On Saturday morning I discovered these 2 new varieties of peonies and brought them home with me.   Sunday I hope you have your act together and are prepared to compete with Friday and Saturday.  I will be waiting with eager anticipation.    No pressure. 

I will be sure to use one on YOUR thank you note

Right at this exact second I am composing a blog post, editing pictures, playing Words With Friends with my sister and my brother, and answering e-mail messages as they come in.   This is exactly what a highly distractable individual like myself should not be doing.  BUT, since I am not operating any machinery heavier than a knitting needle it's ok.  

Did I mention that I am also writing out thank you notes?  

I don't have a Smash Journal, but I can highly recommend the Smash stick that you can buy without the journal.  It works great for things like writing out and glueing these labels down.  Thanks sister for sending me a set!  I will be sure to use one on your thank you note too!