Tall Tales from Kansas

the very definition of a perfect 3 day weekend

The memorial day weekend in Kansas started with storms and clouds and concluded with full on sun.  In between there was:  three card monty, snap dragons, and face painting in downtown Lawrence. 

The smitten kitchen's broccoli slaw was just one of the items on the menu.  Tasty, tasty, and tasty.   The perfect rescue from regular coleslaw.  Not that you need a rescue from regular coleslaw, but just in case.

I saw a man in a costume doing magic tricks while a boy on his dad's shoulders watched very closely. 

There was this sign which I knew you would want to see, and my backyard flowers in the vase from Rosendals Trädgård in Stockholm. 

What you don't see here is ribs, weed pulling, walks, banana pudding eating, vinca planting and travel discussions about slot canyon hikes and where to buy locally roasted coffee in Utah.  It was the very definition of a perfect 3 day weekend. 

at a truck stop, with grits on the menu

I am thinking about my Dad on Memorial Day.  Knowing if he were here he would be camped out on the lawn chair in back, watching Chris barbecue ribs, sipping on a bourbon and orange juice, telling us a tale of some adventure in Brazil or maybe on Big Sheep mountain, or about when he was traveling in his younger days playing baseball. It's just as likely he would just sit.   Enjoying the breeze while imagining his next road trip. 

Dad liked to get in the car and head out on the open road.  With a destination in mind, but open to the possibility of a sudden change in plans.  Dottie and Mary Ann take after him in that arena.  I am exactly like him in that when he was hitting the road he liked to leave early.  Super early.  Like 4 in the morning.  With a thermos of coffee in tow.  After watching the sun rise, maybe a stop for breakfast.    At a truck stop, with grits on the menu. 

My older self would love to have a conversation with him now.   We would forgo all the stuff about things we wish we would have done differently.  Instead he could tell me more stories about when he was a kid growing up, we'd talk about how great the grand kids are, and discuss if we should head east or west when we hit the road in the morning.  

peonies first, safety second

Eyes were on the sky Saturday morning at the farmers market. 

For extremely good reasons.  Wind, wind, and wind!

It was literally "blowin' up a storm".  Which we are used to in Kansas.

Feet were on tent poles, canopy saving moves were being made, and all hands were on deck to avoid umbrella disasters. 

Right when I got to Mimi's booth her sign came clattering down, and it was time to head home.  When I described in dramatic detail (sound effects included) the experience to Chris he said "well it's a good thing you came home when you did...  safety first".  To which I replied "no, actually it's peonies first... safety second". 

Happily, Karen was there this morning so I could make my purchase.  About an hour after I got home things blew over in my neighborhood and I went out on the front porch for coffee.  While I was sipping I came upon this great read, which I pass along in case you would enjoy reading it with your morning coffee tomorrow! 

all you have to do is pack the picnic basket

Here is a sampling of what was in my mailbox this week.  First up is this hand made book from Mary Ann.  The master book maker.   Complete with an image of yours truly from days gone by.   Quirky and delightful to puzzle through just how it opened and went back together.  You will notice my sister wondered if I was up to the task of following directions.  I was. 

Then came a fresh supply of labels (also from Mary Ann) which I adore and could certainly print myself, except that her printer is way better than mine.

My copy of the blurb book of our trip to the Amalfi coast also arrived.  Ah.  Such good memories.

Dottie sent me this book.  Beautiful and interesting.  I will share more about it when I have completed my exploration through each page. 

Last, but not least, was this message from sister.  Many would struggle with the meaning, but given my training in code breaking it was not to difficult to transcribe. 

It means "We are going to rent a boat on our trip in July".  "I am taking care of all the details, all you have to do is pack the picnic basket".

toasting you with my cocktail from the front porch and the back deck

We are a little on the giddy side tonight thinking about an extra day off.  A mini holiday.  Time for working in the garden, throwing some ribs on the barbecue, and deciding if I need a new light jacket before we go on vacation in a week. 

Maybe I will finish knitting my scarf and get it blocked, make some kind of lemony dessert, and take a nap every afternoon.

A trip to The Raven bookstore may be in order to buy a vacation read.  There are currently 54 titles on my "books to check out" list.  I will depend on my favorite bookstore cat to lead me in just the right direction. 

A coffee shop stop for people watching, eavesdropping, soul searching ... pastimes that don't get the respect they deserve. 

Happy long weekend to you.  Wherever you are.  Whatever you are doing.  I am toasting you with my cocktail from the front porch and the back deck.

P.S.  If you know someplace I MUST go when I am in camped out between Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks on vacation next week do let me know. 

I will completely die if she has cherry

If you have never considered pansies a flower to be used in a bouquet indoors, I beg you to reconsider.  My friend Nancy, left a little bunch on my desk the other day to enjoy while she was off, and gosh were they pretty.  I cut a collection on Saturday morning.  Because I could.  And since my pansies are so nice this year.  What could be sweeter than such a simple pleasure?

My other tip for indoor flowers relates to peonies.  Which of course you already know are perfect for indoors.  But before you toss the week old arrangement, make sure you cut off all the buds that haven't opened and pot them in little vases.  Because they will open.  When they are ready.  I am very patient when it comes to peonies.  

Speaking of patience, that peach pie from Mimi, that I bought at the market on Saturday, and took to work and shared with my friends Monday ... was lip smacking good.  Not too sweet.  Lots of good peach flavor.  Firm crust to contain all the goodness.  Little bits of sugar on top of the crust.  Just what I needed - another regular MUST buy at the market.  

What's a girl to do? I can't wait to see what she brings this coming Saturday.   

I will completely die if she has cherry.  

they like to lay in a big pile all together

If you do not want to find yourself talking about the unbearable cuteness of waddling baby geese all day, you will want to stop here.

I am not kidding.  And if you decide to look, do not say to yourself "oh you cwazy widdle waddlers".  Not even once. 

Because you won't be able to stop. Unless you are highly disciplined.  Which I am not. 

Don't worry mama, I am just looking and talking, not touching.

As I was leaving, the gaggle was settling down for a post snack snooze.  They like to lay in a big pile all together.

  Kinda like kittens.  Only different. 

all the sunshine I needed was right here in these buckets

It was overcast and cool on Saturday at the farmers market.  Weather does not deter diehards from coming.  Those of us who need greens and strawberries and conversation.

This is Nora, I came upon her as she was licking what I thought was frosting off a cookie.  Turns out it was hummus off a cucumber slice.  She won the best dressed prize for her winning combination of boots and jacket. 

Purple daikon radishes are pretty!  Almost as lovely as the beets.

I roasted the beets and put them in my kale salad this week, along with grated carrots and raisins.  The beet greens got wilted along with spinach and oriental greens.  If you haven't eaten cooked greens before, try them sometime.   I love a nice crunchy salad as much as the next guy, but a big old pot of cooked greens is hard to beat.  

This is Mimi.  I walked right by her and then without breaking my stride, did a U turn after reading her sign.  I did not think twice about selecting peach over blackberry for my pie.  It's going to work on Monday.  Palliative care nurses know about life being short.  Maybe we will start having dessert for breakfast every Monday.   Or maybe one Monday a month while Mimi is making pies. 

There might not have been any sun in the sky on Saturday morning, but all the sunshine I needed was right here in these buckets. 

 And you better believe I brought plenty home with me. 

Edgar and Lucy

This book.  Oh. This. Book.  When I finished listening today I wanted to pick it up and hold it very close.  Give it a big squeezer hug.  An attempt to imprint it.  I want to carry Edgar with me a bit longer.  After 16 CD's worth of listening its hard to let him go.

This is a story about loss and recovery.  Sadness and joy.  About family, death, love, tragedy, humor, grief... in other words, it's about life.  And it is told by a writer who puts words together in ways that are so right.  This Victor Lodato has made himself a masterpiece, and I for one, intend to investigate everything else he has ever written. 

I could talk plots and character and endings with you.  But sometimes it's better if you start with no ideas.  You'll just have to trust me. 

will you come over here and clean my house

Allium, blue salvia, Johnson blue wild geraniums, Japanese iris, purple salvia. 

Happy Friday night from Kansas, where we are at the height of purple tones in my garden.  If I buy one of you a truck load of peonies at the farmers market tomorrow morning will you come over here and clean my house and do my laundry so I can just sit out on the front porch and listen to the birds all day?  

their finale is something quite spectacular

This weeks bouquet.  Because I KNOW you want to see it.  From every angle possible. 

Even their finale is something quite spectacular to behold. 

the mechanics of tucking your head inside your shell

After checking out the roses, and asking this bird how she obtained ownership rights to house #1, I veered from my usual walking route around the pond the other day.

Some days just call for walking off the beaten path.

Where you can get up close to the waving grasses and see into the trees

And you might meet a turtle also on a walk,

and stop for a talk.  About turtle things.  Like the mechanics of tucking your head inside your shell and how that's such a useful skill to have. 

Other activities included tree observations, finding a plant that might need to find a spot in my garden this year, and watching the sun rise higher in the sky. 

The walk concluded at the Japanese iris's.  Which are beautiful right now.  I really wanted to stick around and observe this fellow roller blading, I thought he would be ok with a spectator given that he appeared to be geared up with all the proper stuff.  But the thought of him falling make my ankles weak.  So I left.  

what jumped into my basket at the market this week

The first strawberries at the farmers market are ALWAYS a treat.  Especially so this year, when our Spring weather has been uncooperative with sudden cold snaps right when it's time for picking.   Every single one of these was perfection.  Nary a dud in the bunch.  AND red all the way through.  I am hoping for an equally good basket next week. 

In addition to great tunes and a spectacular mounding of radishes, there were lots of tomatoes to choose from this week.  Except we are going to have to wait until we get home from vacation this year to start ours.  We don't want to plant and then leave them on their own for a week before they get a good foundation.  It's good to experiment.  That's what I am telling myself anyway. 

There was no shortage of pretty flowers this week, as well as a cute boy carrying his hand-made ninja doll with orange yarn hair in his mini baby carrier.  It's important to have your hands free in case your mom needs you to hold a cookie at the market.  And quick! can one of you advise me on what to make with mustard greens? 

Fern + impatience + begonia + super cool coleus = award for best Mothers Day flowers that will last on the porch all summer long. 

Speaking of colorful beauty... how about this?  There is something so wonderful about a grouping of well loved threads, all mixed together, waiting to be stitched into who knows what for sure. 

This basket belongs to Pam from Prairie Found Farms, creator of gourd garlands and many beautiful hand made items.   One of these Saturdays I am going to pull up a chair and just watch her stitch.  For hours. 

Here is what jumped into my basket at the market this week.  I love unpacking it, thinking about how it will all be used this week. 

There is nothing that beats a bag of tender freshly picked lettuce for salads with dinner.  Unless of course, it happens to be the first kale salad of the season that you are taking for lunch every day this week. 

the Angie re-runs #8 - call your mother

This post originally ran on 3/22/14.  It falls loosely into the Angie re-run category, but since I am the boss of the blog and make the rules, I am labeling it thusly.   

the ability to convey meaning through the use of inflexion

Angie used to call frequently and leave messages on my voice mail at work or the answering machine at home.  They always went something like this:

"Carol, it's your mother, call me right away". 

She never qualified the nature of the emergency that required a call back ASAP.   But I always got the idea that it was SERIOUS because of the tone of her voice.  Mothers are experts at cultivating the ability to convey meaning through the use of inflexion. 

I will admit to getting darn irritated when she would call and leave these messages at 7am on Saturday or while Chris and I were right in the middle of eating supper. 

So... when I saw this window display the other day I felt like I had received a message from Angie.  I think she was letting me know she had landed at her destination and was figuring out how to use the new communication system.   If she holds true to form, I suspect this will be the first of many messages. 

2017 update:  I can happily report that the messages have indeed continued.  Sometimes in dreams, sometimes when I find words coming out of my mouth that she said, or sometimes when I inexplicably do something she used to do - like this morning when one of the Harvey boys meowed at the back door, and I went outside with my coffee, and I stuck my finger in my cup to see if he wanted a taste, which he did, exactly like she used to do with her dogs Moxie and Foxie.  Go ahead, roll your eyes.  I know it's ridiculous.  I didn't mean to do it.  It just happened.  On Mother's Day. 

an all around excellent sister

Happy Birthday Dottie!  If you were here right this second we would pull down the old Betty Crocker cookbook and flip through the entire dessert section, just like we did in the old days back in Panama.  We would settle on what to make to celebrate you and Mom tomorrow.   Rest assured that since are traipsing around the southwest right now on a birthday adventure, I will choose for us.   

Thanks for being such an all around excellent sister and keeper of the Moss/Vela family history.   I think you have turned Katharine Ray on to it early and we can depend on her to carry on the tradition. 

Just in case though, I think we likely need to go and get her and bring her here and tell her stories, and show her more of Mary Ann's dancing videos, and eat cake, and go for walks, and see baby geese, and pick flowers, and talk about the importance of being a Moss girl.   Yes.  All that.  ¡Feliz cumpleaños a tú hermana!

"I believe in me, MYSELF, and I"

Happy Friday.  Here are some random pictures from this week at Tall Tales Headquarters and one short story that has nothing at all to do with the  photos. 

Today at work, I met 5 year old Madison.  She was wearing a bright yellow t-shirt with this on the front:  "I believe in me, MYSELF, and I".  There might have been a bit of bedazzling as well.  She looked quite confident as she strolled through the lobby holding hands with her mom.  Girl power at it's finest.  And I walked right up to her and told her as much, in addition to asking where she got the shirt because I need one too.   Don't worry sisters - I will be getting one for each of you as well.   I am going to have them customize the back with Moss 1, Moss 2, and Moss 3.   Brother I will get you one too if you want.  But you can not remove the bedazzling and you must wear the color I buy for you. 

do not think for one second that I don't know exactly how lucky I am

This morning began before 7am with my discovery of the new baby geese nursery.   It also involved blooming Japanese iris and a chai tea latte in a stoneware cup.

Today's lesson for the geese appeared to be "sticking your head underwater 101".  When I got home from my walk there was a cat waiting by the rose bush.  He was quite interested in playing "drop, roll, and pet",  which I am always up for.   

While I was on the east side of town, I decided it would be foolish not to stop into 1900 Barker to see what sort of bread they were making today.  It was apple/raisin/walnut.  Some came home with me.  It's important to have good bread for toast on Mothers Day weekend.  They forced me to drink a small cappuccino while I was there.   

Watching the geese in the gray morning drizzle had me chilled, so I probably needed 2 warm morning beverages anyway. 

I thought it was very nice that they had flowers on the tables at Decade coffee shop this morning.  Someone must have called to tell them I would be dropping by and am especially fond of the combination of allium and bachelor buttons.   Interspersed in this day were videos of 3 knuckleheads singing, picking strawberries, losing a front tooth, and making chocolate chip cookies while doing Groucho Marx eyebrow moves.   Do not think for one second that I don't know exactly how lucky I am. 

more than Chris can carry to the car in one trip

This puffed up peacock clearly thought he was in charge of things the other day at Henry's Plant Farm in Lawrence.  He was shrieking commands from his perch high up in the tree while his royal plumage trailed behind.  Meanwhile his buddy stood around doing some backward walking fan dance moves.  It was all quite entertaining.

Not to be outdone by all that pomp, these furry creatures let us know that in fact, it was they who were running the place.

These guys just stood out in the field and let me know that if I wanted to speak to them I should come bearing gifts.

The flower selection did not disappoint, and we had ourselves a fine time on our first outing of the season. 

My rule is never to buy more than I can plant in an afternoon, or more than Chris can carry to the car in one trip.  Which actually turns out to be the same amount. 

a soft quilt spread in a strategic spot with a bit of shade

Behold, the peonies from the farmers market in Lawrence this week.  They are making my dining room smell like heaven.  Yes, right now I am fairly certain that heaven is a field of peonies under blue skies with big puffy clouds.

And there might be a soft quilt spread in a strategic spot with a bit of shade, placed for resting and relaxing.  There's plenty of time for that in my heaven.  There may, or may not, also be a picnic basket with a jar of cool lemonade inside.  You decide about that. 

cute girls getting started early on a tradition of Saturday morning at the market

The Lawrence Farmers market is as much about the people I see there, as it is about the things I buy there.  Like this young couple from Leavenworth.  Who I hadn't seen before, but my eyes were drawn to the oriental greens they had on sale, and then to the name of their farm, and finally to this farmer who clearly cares about what he is selling and wants me to enjoy it. 

And my friend from Pendleton's farm whose name I don't know, but is always smiling, and helped me pick out a blue false indigo for my garden. 

Or this couple whose peonies had my name written all over them.

Or the guitar player with the soulful, strong voice, who I could have sat and listened to all morning.

Then there are all the people who I don't talk to but I try to imagine what they are talking about. 

And I haven't even mentioned all these cute girls getting started early on a tradition of Saturday morning at the market.

I came home with a full basket and that extremely corny, good feeling inside that comes from connecting with your people.  On a weekend morning.  When the sun is shining. 

to celebrate my Mexican heritage

The combination of warm sun, cool breezes, and the wild phlox in full bloom made for a perfect spring walk this walk.

The bluebird and the lady bug were a bonus. 

Happy Cinco de Mayo.  Right this minute I have Chris searching for the recipe for the chicken enchilada recipe we used about 2 months ago.  It was easy and delicious.  We are having it tomorrow night for Happy Seis de Mayo.  No reason to celebrate my Mexican heritage on just one day of the month.  Feel free to follow suit.  

despite the fact that there was very little to show for it when I came out of my trance

Today, in addition to renewing my drivers license for another 6 years (which was painless and only took 22 minutes), I turned the page on the calendar.  Which may not sound like much of a day, but after a night of riding trains all over the northeast United States with Angie and Mary Ann, it was plenty. 

The combination of the Saint Vincent and the Chess Pie Wednesday night gave me extremely vivid dreams which involved uncooperative ticket sellers, train routes that did not get us where we needed to go, and throwing our luggage off the train before jumping.  Whew.   As Angie would say "I felt like I had been run over by a bus" this morning when I woke up. 

Some sewing got done until I became extremely distracted by the triangle scraps from the binding and started making a paper quilt of sorts.  A very good time can be had playing with fabric and paper scraps despite the fact that there was very little to show for it when I came out of my trance. 

Seeds for the cutting garden also got planted today.  It was too wet last weekend.  Fingers crossed for some bright and colorful bouquets come mid July.   A hair-cut, pedicure, refilling the bird feeder, and changing the water in the bird bath rounded out the day.  Now here it is almost time to go to bed. 

There will be Chamomile tea and sheep counting before turning out the light tonight.  Anything that might help avoid the locomotive fiasco of last night.  

yet another of life's wonders you have schooled me on

Tonight's regularly scheduled programming has been interrupted by life.  Which involved a Quail birthday celebration.  Marked by the gathering of the covey and the ritual of story telling, eating, drinking, laughing and the like.  It also included a cheese plate.

A cheese plate accompanied by a Saint Vincent.  Which, while unphotographed, was made with stoli oranj, st. germaine, cappelletti, lemon, and sparkling wine.  Oh I do so appreciate a well prepared cocktail. 

There was also a piece of chess pie that for some reason I was thinking involved lemon, when in fact it consisted of a rich chocolate fudge-like brownie concoction in a flaky pie crust topped with whipped cream.  Oh. Me. Oh My.  

That is all I have to say on the matter.  Oh, and Happiest of Birthdays Quail Nancy.  I am writing down "chess pie" as yet another of life's wonders you have schooled me on.   

It's hard to be stern when faced with a wiggly nose and a fluffy tail

 Though you might think otherwise, there are many things to see on a rainy day walk. 

Things like rain gauges, gray skies, and heavy headed peonies.

Puddles, bird nests that have blown out of trees, and sturdy iris.

Singing robins, dianthus, and yes, more puddles. 

It's hard to beat the wow factor of rain drops on hostas, but cute bunnies come close.  Unless they are eating my flowers.  Then they are not cute.  Except I still talk to them.  I can't help it.  It's hard to be stern when faced with a wiggly nose and a fluffy tail.   

Then right as we made it back home, a glimpse of blue sky.

Which we enjoyed for every single second of the 15 minutes appearance it made on Sunday.