Tall Tales from Kansas

good response chris

I am not a decorator.  But that is no reason I can't pretend I am one and be delighted with the outcome.  I decided I needed to "summerize" my mantel last week.  

I went out and bought a few white vases then came home and laid them out in every possible configuration on the mantel before I settled on this arrangement.  When Chris came home I said  "honey I re-arranged the mantel to make the living room look more summery, what do you think".  He came into the room, examined the decor carefully, and said (with a totally straight face) "it looks like a whole new room".  

Good response Chris.  Very good response. 

 

for those seeking domestic bliss

Today at the Farmers market I did not succumb to the sunflowers.

I know there are many weeks of sunflowers ahead.  Instead I did the sensible thing and got another big bunch of peonies.  You never know, these may be the last of the season. 

In my wanderings through the booths I saw some amazing onions.  When I remarked to the man who grew them how beautiful they were he said "you should taste them". 

So I bought some along with a few cucumbers and I promptly came home and whipped up a batch of pickled onions and cucumbers.

 

Who knew pickling cucumbers and red onion from the farmers market could put me in such a state of domestic bliss?  


All I can say is don't knock it until you have tried it. 

Recipe (for those seeking domestic bliss)
 1/2 of a red onion - sliced, 2 cucumbers - sliced.  Layer them in a container you can put a lid on to store in the refrigerator.  Put the following items in a small pot on the stove:  1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 3 T sugar,  1 1/2 T kosher salt, pinch of dill weed (use fresh if you have it - I didn't and the dried worked fine),  a light sprinkle of red pepper flakes, a dash of freshly ground black pepper.  Just heat it until the sugar and salt dissolve.  Let it cool to luke-warm and pour over the cucumbers and onion.  Store in refrigerator.  They will be pickled enough to eat in an hour and will hold up for a week or so.  I like to eat them right out of the jar, or with some cottage cheese.  They also make a great sandwich filling. 

the restfulness of white

Clouds, cream cheese frosting, wedding dressing, mashed potatoes, towels at a spa... and flowers.  Just a few of my favorite things that are the palest of colors.  I generally prefer a bright hot mix of pink and orange, but have to admit there is a place for the restfulness of white.   Happy Friday!

we established that there would be no membership dues

If you have to do this... I have 2 pieces of advice for you.



#1. Make sure you go to a place that uses propofol for sedation with the support of a great anesthesia service.

#2. Plan your post procedure breakfast in advance, if it is in close proximity to the hospital, so much the better.



Over breakfast this morning the CCA Colonoscopy Club was chartered. After establishing that there would be no membership dues, we passed a motion to drive/accompany each other to all such future appointments. It is important to have an empathetic audience when you are going on... and on... and on some more, about how delighted you are to be done and how remarkably smooth things went.


Had I known how easy this was I would not have put it off for so long. Thanks to Kelly, Lucille, Kim, Rocky, Sandy, Holly and Dr. B who took such great care of me at the University of Kansas Hospital this morning.   Oh, and the people at Room 39 who know how to cook up a mean bacon, potato, and vegetable hash. That was important too.

EFn5 Stormwater Cocktail

This is Annette, one of my dear friends from college that I wrote about in my very first blog post.  We like to try on hats.

She and her husband (who is also a dear friend) stopped by while they were in the area visiting family.  Johnny is from Oklahoma City and he developed a special drink for the family celebration they are planning down there.  It's called the EFn5 Stormwater Cocktail.   Because I can appreciate the efforts of a good mixologist I am sharing this recipe with you.  But be warned, it is not for the faint of heart.   People from Oklahoma are tough and they like their drinks strong. 

Ingredients include:  Tequila, Whiskey (we used Jameson's), Gin, Rose's sweetened lime juice, cilantro, tabasco, and chopped pecans. 

First muddle the cilantro in the bottom of a cocktail shaker, then throw in a little ice. 

Add 1 part each of the tequila, the whiskey, the gin, and the lime juice.

Top that off with a dash of tabasco,  give it a good shake,  and pour it over a glass of ice that has been sprinkled with chopped pecans.  The pecans are a CRUCIAL ingredient.  I know they seem unusual in a drink.  Trust me.  On your second one you will ask for more pecans.   Does this not look like a stormwater cocktail - complete with debris? 

These drinks are even better when served in special glasses that you buy at the antique store you wander into after dinner where they also happen to have hats to try on.  

You can really appreciate the flavor of the whiskey and the tequila in this drink.  It is not overpowered by anything sweet.  The tabasco gives it a little kick and the cilantro adds a nice freshness.   Perfect for sipping on the back deck while you watch the fireflies.  

plan to hit the car wash once you're back on asphalt

If you happen to find yourself driving on the unpaved county roads around Lawrence Kansas these are some things you might see.

There could also be bales of hay in the fields, a red tailed hawk or two flying overhead, and a whole bunch of pale blue bachelor buttons blooming on the side of the road.   It's worth going regularly, just plan to hit the car wash once you're back on asphalt.    You can really kick up some dust out there.    Which can be fun in and of itself.  If you remember to roll up the windows first. 

P.S.  From the car the flowers looked like bachelor buttons.   On closer inspection, I don't know what they are.  Other than pretty I mean.  They are a whole lot of periwinkle pretty. 

a bald-faced lie

There is nothing that rivals the beauty of freshly edged and mulched beds at YOUR house. 

If you can sit on your porch as you admire the work and look up and see a sunset like this while you are drinking a cucumber-lime cocktail, well so much the better. 

I would like to tell you I did all this hard work myself but that would be a bald-faced lie.   I am saving myself for other jobs.  Mental work.  That is my strong suit.

feeling a paintbrush glide all slippery-smooth across the paper

Just because you are not a painter by trade, is no reason that you should deprive yourself of the pleasure of feeling a paintbrush glide all slippery-smooth across the paper on a Sunday afternoon.

Especially if you should be doing something else, like say ... paying the bills.   My sister's been telling me all about her new class coming up starting July 4th and I just had to paint a pattern of my own.  HAD to. 

shower the people

A sampling of what was happening today at the farmers market.   Cute kids, great music, napa cabbage, beautiful flowers... I never get tired of any of it. 

This fella did a fine rendition of James Taylor's Shower the People.

P. S.   A special thank you to Mike & Kitty from Whispering Cedars Farm and Gardens for supplying all the peonies I photographed to make up the new banner on this blog. 

Karl Foerster feather reed grass after a light summer shower can make you stop and catch your breath it's so pretty.  

just not serious serious

After several stutters I have come up with a decent (well it's better than decent, if it was just decent I would not feel the need to tell you about it) iced chai tea latte to make at home.  I like a chai that is not just all milky.  Don't get me wrong, I want it to be milky but that has to be secondary to the chai flavor.  

Here is what I did:

I used some STASH brand chai tea that I found at my local HyVee grocery store.   I let 2 tea bags steep in about a cup and a half of water with a cinammon stick for 20 minutes and then let that get cool.  

I poured 1/2 cup of the tea over ice, added milk (try not to let yours dribble down the outside of the glass), and then added a generous splash of Torani chai spice syrup, stirred, and drank.   At last, enough chai flavor.  This will be a nice alternative to my cold brewed, iced coffee drinks this summer.  I might add a star anise and a few whole cloves to the steeping process next time.  Just to see if that adds anything extra. 

I think I have told you in the past that "the enemy of good is better".  Just for the record that only applies in serious matters.   Not that an iced chai tea latte isn't serious.  It is.  Just not serious serious. 

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the chai tea concoction

through my windshield

Late spring mornings as seen through my windshield on the way to work.  All photos taken this month, between 06:01 am and 06:06 am, eastbound on K-10 highway.


One of the things I love about going to work early at this time of year.  Everyday, something beautiful to see. 

because it's Tuesday

This past weekend we jumped in the car and headed out to Henry's Plant Farm.  Just because I have been going on and on about how beautiful South Dakota is, does not mean I have forgotten the beauty of Kansas.

You remember when we went to Henry's last year don't you?  Well this year we saw more exotic creatures... like these box cats.
 

... and this alpaca whose nap I interrupted.

I bought some very healthy looking 1/2 price zinnias, a caladium, some petunias, and a Julia Child shrub rose that will be going in a pot on my deck.  It smells DIVINE.  I have no idea how it will do in a pot but I guess I am going to find out.

I came right home and planted everything before it rained. 

Then I sat on the porch.   

If you haven't had a Summer Shandy - you head over to the beer store right now and buy a 6 pack.  It's a lemonade beer.  Not sweet.  Extremely refreshing.  Perfect for all sorts of occasions.  For example, I had one tonight after work because it's Tuesday.  

not my idea of fun

Jumping and free falling from an airplane is not my idea of fun. However, I am glad to see that the spirit of adventure lives in my daredevil nieces.

Go Morgan and Megan - way to show us how it's done!

someone in the family had to break the fanny pack/back pack mold

Just a few last shots from South Dakota before I put that vacation to rest.   

There were plenty of things to see and do up there and I recommend it highly for a vacation spot.   Chris took most of these pictures with the Nikon.  I did all my blogging from the iPad and used it to take the photos for all my posts from there.   I took a lot of crap ribbing from everyone for taking my iPad hiking but it was WORTH it.   It fit perfectly into my Vera Bradley messenger bag along with a water bottle and half of peanut butter sandwich.   Besides, someone in the group had to break the fanny pack/backpack mold. 

I was afraid it would scare her

Scenes from the Saturday farmer's market in Lawrence.  This father/daughter duo (I think) gets top billing in honor of Fathers Day on Sunday. 

The thing I was most excited about was my favorite flower people were there. 

I missed the last 2 saturdays at the market and feared there would be no more peonies on my table for the season.   The peony lady assured me they would have them for a few more weeks.  I was going to hug her when she told me that but I was afraid it would scare her and she might put me on the "do not sell to" list.   

Picking out your own bouquet is such fun.  This lady got all the right shapes and colors in her bunch. 

On the way home I saw this sign and had to make a quick stop.  Oh dear.  Oh dear.  Oh dear.  I am so sorry there is not a Alchemy coffee shop in every town.  It really was that good. 

People watching + lettuce + carrots + beets + peonies + cold brewed coffee on a muggy june day = my idea of a perfect saturday morning. 

orange tennis shoes on a motorcycle

Sunrise, hay bales in fields, bridges across rivers, and orange tennis shoes on a motorcycle.   All these thing I saw on the way home from South Dakota.

The orange tennis shoes were my favorite. Hands down. I might need a pair just like them myself. They could be my weekend shoes. Maybe it'll catch on and I could start a trend. Walking and running shoes had to get their start somewhere. Why not orange weekend shoes?

make some this weekend and go sit in the car and eat them

Thanks for all the suggestions for how to make the best iced chai tea latte.  I am going to concentrate all my efforts on it this weekend.  In the meantime I would like to report a victory in the cookie making arena. 

Over the years I have tried many, many, many, oatmeal raisin cookie recipes.  Always searching for the one that is lumpy and bumpy and crunchy on the outside, but with chewy raisins on the inside that don't get all hard and dried out.    Sort of like this one.

My sister in law brought a bag of them along for the ride in the car on the way to and from South Dakota.  It's important to have special travel treats for those moments when you might get sleepy on the road and need a little pick me up. 

I improved slightly on the recipe below by adding chopped walnuts. 

The next time you have a long road trip planned stir up a batch of these to take along.  You could also just make some this weekend and go sit in the car and eat them.  You can't go wrong either way. 

 

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make it a big batch ok?

the chai tea concoction

Help!  I am in need of advice on how to make the perfect iced chai tea latte. 

When we were in Spearfish, South Dakota at The Green Bean, several members of our family had an iced chai tea latte and proclaimed it the best they had ever had.  I was stuck on my own personal favorite the iced latte with coffee flavored syrup (double coffee = double delicious) and did not get a chance to sample the chai tea concoction.  So now here I am trying to come up with a recipe for the BEST chai tea latte.  I used 2 chai tea bags in about 6 oz of water and let it steep for hours.  Then I poured it over ice added about 3 oz of milk and a shot of chai tea flavoring syrup.  Overall - it was good.  But I wanted a stronger tea flavor. 

What is the secret?  More tea bags?  Overnight steeping?  Maybe I should stick with the double coffee iced goodness but I feel like I am so close to breaking the code on the mystery of the chai tea.  I of course plan to do my own research but saw no reason not to send out an SOS.  In case someone has already figured it out.   

the color between blue and yellow

Emerald, lime, sage, chartreuse, forest, moss, olive, jade, kelly, pine... if it's green, I like it. 

I also have a great fondness for blue.  But in this moment I am all about the green.   

a new Mulvenon

While we were on vacation a new Mulvenon was born.
Congratulations Jerel and Sarah. Cyrenna we are planning on you for the next family vacation. We already have your hiking boots, baby backpack, and water bottle.

 

a geology field course requirement

Approaching Devils Tower, Wyoming. The first US national monument established in 1906.

It's pretty impressive up close too.

The shot I did not get was of the 3 Beloit college students sitting on rocks recording observations in their orange field guides. I talked to a young woman who was sketching the tower. She told me their recordings were a part of the geology field course requirement. I did not ask her if I had to be enrolled to get one of those orange field guides, but I wanted to.

hikes + special dinners

We set out on Friday morning ready to hike expecting to see quaking aspen, ponderosa pines, and meadows.

We saw all that, plus we found gold imbedded in rocks. Then we came home and ate grilled romaine salad and drank cucumber-lime cocktails.

Hikes + Special dinners make for the best family vacations.

one with my face as the 5th president

Thursday we took the Iron Mountain scenic byway down to Mount Rushmore. There were lots of twists and turns as well as scenic views. This route is highly recommended, except for those of you who may be prone to car sickness.

I took sixty two shots of the sculpture including one with my face as the 5th president. I'll just show you two though.

You know all those ads on TV for South Dakota? They are 100% accurate. No foolin'.

valleys, streams, canyons, waterfalls, trees, and trails

Who knew how BEAUTIFUL South Dakota was? In addition to the grassland and amazingly blue skies we found some good hiking.

Valleys, streams, canyons, waterfalls, trees, trails.

And unique independent coffee places like The Green Bean in Spearfish.

it is harder than it looks

I went fishing yesterday for the first time in 32 years.

We had a very patient teacher who untangled my line more than a few times. I had some issues with the timing of releasing my finger, casting off, and closing the bail. For the record, I would just like to say that it is much harder to do than it looks. As are many things in life. But that is no reason not to keep trying.

in a midwestern cowboy kind of way

We left early Monday morning for the hills of South Dakota. Ran into a little fog along the way.

Green fields, blue sky, fluffy clouds, rolling hills, blowing grasses that really did look like waves (just not of grain).

In Mitchell we found butter pecan shakes and the famous Corn Palace.

There were exactly 91 signs advertising Wall Drugs beginning as soon as we got on I-90. This made it impossible not to stop. When we walked in the chaos put me in the mind of the Grand Bizarre in Budapest. Kind of. In a midwestern, cowboy, kind of way.

just like these ones please

When we were kids and out of town visitors were coming to stay, Angie would try and do some baking ahead of time.  Then when the guests were at the house, she could spend time with them and still feel like she was a good hostess.  I recall one time in particular when Aunt Irene and Uncle Fernando came to visit and mom pulled out the tupperware bread box from the freezer where she had carefully hidden it away (full of brownies), only to find we had discovered it.   We didn't eat all of the brownies, but lets just say we sampled them liberally. 

Thinking of that made me get out the baking chocolate. 

I used the smitten kitchen's favorite brownie recipe.  My favorites are still the cheesecake swirled brownies  but after cutting, wrapping, and freezing these... I was reminded of how  crazy good brownies are eaten directly out of the freezer.  In other words, the perfect summer brownie. 

I modified the recipe slightly with the addition of coconut and walnuts - just to add that chewy, crunchy, element to the chocolate goodness.   When I brought some to Angie I told her it was to make up for the time we ate the ones she had put in the freezer.  She told me she couldn't remember that but ... "you can make them for me anytime, just like these ones please".     

the major and mrs. ali

I am just back from returning Major Pettigrew's Last Stand to the library and I am terribly sorry to be done with it. 

I am now ready to pack a bag and travel to a village in the English countryside.  I will rent a cottage with a garden and walk to town everyday and immerse myself fully into the goings-on of the community.   Helen Simonson has created a quirky cast of characters and supplied them with such smart dialogue.  This is the kind of book that is easy to escape into.   It is pleasant reading in the very best sense of the word.    I found myself smiling a lot as I listened.   If you have not had the pleasure of meeting the Major and Mrs. Ali you must not deprive yourself any longer. 

I am going to inform my sister that we will be moving The Cotswolds up on the list of places we have to visit. 

beauty upon beauty upon more beautifulness

I went to Loose Park last week on a field trip.  The sky was gray and overcast on the day of my outing.   

The grayness however, did not detract one iota from my enjoyment factor.  As I walked through the paths I could feel the weight of the day slipping away from me... and how could it not?

First I looked.  Then I sniffed.  Then my eyes rolled back in my head.  And it went on and on and on.  Beauty upon beauty upon more beautifulness.  

After I made a loop under the arbors I sat by the fountain for a rest.  I thought about how nice it would be to live really close to this park. 

Maybe in a storybook cottage with a sloping roof and a secret path that led right to the rose arbor.   Imagine the bouquets I could make with Loose Park for a cutting garden.  Of course I would never actually cut flowers from a public park for my own personal use.   Just a little fantasy of mine you understand. 

Besides, I have a perfectly good rose bush in a pot on my deck and 2 knock out roses that are putting out some decent blooms in spite of the whole witches broom problem.   As soon as I get back from South Dakota though... I am putting 2 more rose bushes in pots out back.  I got a rose monkey on my back and it ain't going away anytime soon.