Tall Tales from Kansas

I tried it raw, then seared and hot

I bought the bitter melon it looked so cool
an exotic food, it made me drool.

I tried it raw, then seared and hot
I sought to like it, but I could not.

The taste akin to old cold tar,
to soothe my mouth, a candy bar.

 

a combination between a green bell pepper and dandelion greens

Tomatoes were well represented at the market today.  Heirlooms.  Big, beautifully irregular, with cracks and such.

I went for the ox heart heirloom below.  Front and left.  BLT's are on the menu tonight.  First time this summer. 

It was 70 degrees and sunny this morning.  Unheard of in July in Kansas.  The perfect weather for a dress, apron, and hat.  

The peaches were also looking good today. 

Those will have to wait until next week to come home with me.  The basket was too full by the time I spotted them. 

It's important to only buy what you can cook AND eat in a week.

I was intrigued by the bitter melons.  The farmer selling them told me they were like a combination between a green bell pepper and dandelion greens.  Say what?  Will give you the 4-1-1 on this new-to-me food item, as soon as I figure out what to do with it.  I only bought one. 

Gosh it was good to be back at "my" market after a 2 week hiatus.  Beginning Saturday with good people always gets the weekend off to a great start.   

a perfect moment of simple happiness

Before I head to the farmers market in the morning, here are a few glimpses from the market on Lummi island, as well as some of Charlotte and her fresh flower stand, located (handily) one turn up the road from our cottage on the island.

We stopped on our first night on the island and every few days after that.  The Shasta daisy's are like mutants there.  Big, white, gorgeous, standing straight up on sturdy stems in large groupings. 

One evening, after our 2nd our 3rd stop, Charlotte came out from her garden to chat.  "Six" came with her. 

She and her family have been on this land for 50 years.  She was kind enough to answer all my questions and we discussed the differences in growing flowers on the island and in Kansas. 

I had never seen or heard of Godetia before.  Stunning. 

Oh I do love a bouquet of sweet peas.  Almost as much as I loved the brown sugar short bread we bought from these two at the farmers market and that pretty pottery mug.  Which I did not buy because I already have way too many.  But that did not stop me from admiring it.  We did also get a little carton of the most delicious raspberries ever.  It was a small market, nothing like the one in Lawrence.  Enjoyable, none the less. 

For the rest of my life, this image of the sign for Charlotte's flowers, will call to mind a perfect moment of simple happiness. Happy weekend all.  Hope your Saturday and Sunday are filled with many good moments.  No matter what you are doing.   

the smooth stone that Julia and Caper, the 6 year old's from Canada, that I met on Sunset beach one evening, gave me

The 11.6 pound box of treasures from the beach, that I mailed home from Lummi Island arrived at my doorstep in Kansas at 11:09 am today.  Such perfect timing.   In between unpacking, doing laundry, and sweeping the front porch, I arranged and re-arranged them several times.

Then, because I had this old tin strainer pan outside to gather zinnias in, I put them all in there to be a part of the back deck flower pot area. 

Just until I get something different you understand. 

I was sitting out back for awhile.  Waiting for the Harvey boys to come over so I could tell them about my trip and we could play re-arrange the fishy smelling shells.  But they didn't make an appearance.

That didn't stop me from carefully examining each item.  Touching the smooth stone that Julia and Caper, the 6 year old's from Canada, that I met on Sunset beach one evening, gave me.  "It's really, really, smooth - you can have it" they said. 

If you have a 3 hour plane ride coming up anytime soon, I recommend Everything  I Never Told You for reading on the flight.  I chewed right through it on my trip from Seattle to Kansas City last night.  I was completely engrossed.  Exactly what you want on a plane ride.  Anyone else read it and have an opinion?  Chime in. 

I am looking forward to finishing up my travel journal as dive into Sister's StitchBookery class which starts tomorrow.  Can't wait to to see what everyone creates!

the view doesn't get any better

The waves are choppy this morning, I could hear them as soon as my eyes popped open with the 5:30am sunrise.  

The beach remains deserted at 7am when I venture down for a last walk.  A few more shells or rocks.  Maybe another eagle sighting.  

Yesterday I explored the top of Lummi island. Baker Preserve to be precise.  There is a lovely, if exceedingly steep, trail that you can take to an overlook of the San Juan Islands.

The islander I met on the trail was not lying when he said the view "doesn't get any better".  

The rest of the day was about walking, listening, seeing, stacking.  

Just the usual things you do on the day before departure. 

 

the combined scent of crushed dried pine needles and salty sea breezes

Our days up here in the cool, sunny, occasionally cloudy - but still exceptionally pleasant, Pacific Northwest are drawing to a close.  Time to savor each vista and store it up in my head for easy retrieval when needed.  

Today we went back to Fidalgo Island.  Exploring a few of the trails at Deception Pass State Park.  The combined scent of crushed dried pine needles and salty sea breezes was completely intoxicating. 

Someone who knew what they were doing placed a bench right here.  At a height that coincides with my being able to swing my legs.  Win and win.  

This is a Peruano Sanguch from Cafe Rumba in Bellingham.  We stopped for lunch on the way back to Lummi Island.  All I am going to say about it is get yourself there if you live in the area.  Warm, spicy, crispy, mmmmm-inducing gastronic delectableness.  This is not fast food... and oh is it ever worth the wait.  

Our day concluded at our home away from home.  Sketching.  Walking.  Talking about Mount St. Helens, cutting up tomatoes, pouring wine, watching a mama deer and her two babies.  Keeping it simple. One full day left before it's back to civilization.  

the first time we have had a bear on the island in 80 years

In addition to water and beaches and waves and sunsets, Lummi island is about meadows, forests, sheep, poppies, and lavender fields.

The people are also pretty great.  Like the two women I met on my low tide exploratory walk today, who told me that the eagles are plentiful here because of the clams, and about the group of whales that came through Hale Passage at the end of May.  They also told me about a bear who swam over from Portage Island and hung around for about two weeks before it was sited on Orcas Island.  "The first time we have had a bear on the island in 80 years!"  

and yes, the sunrises and sunsets are pretty spectacular too.

so they can advertise it thusly

Oliver's granola with yogurt and fresh fruit at the Mount Bakery cafe in Bellingham is how I started my day.  The wisdom of this choice will become evident.  Keep reading.

At Glen Echo Gardens Dick Bosch gave us a lesson on very old trees.  He likes to use the question and answer method in his story telling.  Sister almost got one right

At this local letterpress shop we were charmed by the wares of an Orcas Island book binder.  

In Ferndale, on the way to Birch Bay we saw this place.  If you know the history do tell.  

At the end of the day we drove around Lummi island on our nightly tour.  When we got home we discovered the house was locked with the keys inside.  Which gave the perfect opportunity to test the power of the granola.  Unlocked window found.  Rickety ladder moved.  Hoisting to the sill, wiggling legs, careful hand placement on the floor, a highly undignified landing on the floor inside.  This is a testament to the power of Oliver's granola.  I must tell them so they can advertise it thusly. 

grab the afghans and head for the chairs by the water

Whatcom Ferry watching and examination of marine life occupied us Wednesday.  

There was also a tour of fishing shacks.  I need to read about these.  Who, what, when, why, and where are the occupants now.

The flowers continue to delight and amaze us, as did the brief history of this reef net boat built in 1952 by Warren Granger who started reef netting in 1937.

We followed the signs to the island knitwear and gift shop as well.  

And right before turning in for the night, we grabbed the afghans and headed for the chairs down by the water.  Good stuff here on Lummi Island.

marionberry pie to sustain us

 Wednesday we jumped on the Whatcom Chief ferry early, before they closed from 10-3 for maintenance.  Destination - Coupeville, with a stop at Deception Pass State park.

We found flowers, the Knead and Feed, felted bird houses, boats, and a sand beach with beautiful driftwood.  All around us water.  

After a stop in Bellingham for supplies, we head back to our beach bungalow.  

Snuggled in, ready for the wind and rain.  Coffee and marionberry pie to sustain us if we get stranded.   

curating the expanding collection

Tuesday dawned most magnificently over the Puget Sound.  A perfect day for scrambling over rocks, discovering starfish, making avocado toast and kale salads at home, listening to Eva Cassidy, working in our travel journals, curating the expanding collection, and reading about the history of Lummi Island.

A trip to the post office may be in order. 

as told from the perspectives of two moss sisters

This is a story, in pictures, of what can happen when you don't know about the need to make a reservation ahead of time for a ferry.

 

 As told from two perspectives, by the Moss sisters.  Who did make it home by 11:30 pm and are spending the day today, doing absolutely nothing.

Except filling up this book stitched for me by my sister, and of course walking on the beach.

The end.

Come look at the stars!

 On our first full day on the island we collected things with our hands and our eyes.  There is more here than is possible to hold with either.

The flowers.  Gahhhh!  What to say about a giant daisy or a blue thistle?  Best to just show you.

After driving by it 3 times we found the Otto preserve.  Lush, sunlight dappled, you pick the adjective.  They all apply.

It is our intent to walk every beach on the island.  When you live in Kansas you take advantage of any opportunity to hear lapping waves and smell the ocean.  

Mount Baker has been playing hide and seek with us through the clouds.  Last night at 3am sister tried to get me out of my warm bed ... "come look at the stars!  They are so bright! You can see the Milky Way".  The bed however, would not release me.  Maybe tonight.

There may be typos, variations in font, any all other manner of grammatical snafoos in these posts from Lummi Island.  This will be the only disclaimer.  

 

a car hadn't rolled off the front of the ferry into the drink yet

We left Seattle at one o'clockish yesterday and headed north on the 5 to begin our Pacific Northwest adventure.  

So far we have stopped in Bellingham for a hippie bowl at Brotha Dudes, met a pacific northwesterner who prefers rain to sun, talked to an Air Force man on the Whatcom Chief ferry who reassured us a car hadn't rolled off the front of the ferry into the drink yet, bought flowers at a roadside stand, found our house, been delighted with the view, drove around the island as the sun was setting, opened a bottle of wine, rescued a bird, slept a deep sleep, and walked on the beach in front of our house this morning.  Ahhhh.

little red flowers with the white things sticking up in the middle

Since I am "zinnia rich" these days, I enjoyed getting a totally different bouquet from Madeline (the zinnia wizard) at the market last weekend.  Lord help me these little red flowers with the white things sticking up in the middle are amazing!  If anyone knows what they are, please do enlighten me. 

In combination with the red and white snapdragons the whole thing was pretty spectacular.

And the gomphrena!  They are on the list of seeds for next year. 

So many flowers to get better acquainted with.  But now I am off to finish packing.  Then dive into bed.  Sister and I are meeting up in Seattle tomorrow morning to head up to Lummi Island for 10 days of laughing, exploring, star-gazing, drawing, painting, and who knows what else.  In the event that WiFi is limited, I will be posting on Instagram.  Sweet dreams and happy weekend!

looking at this book and dreaming about gardens will make you happy

Because the proof, as they say, is in the pudding, you must look at these today.

A selection of extremely simple flower arrangements that include the cosmos and zinnias grown from seed this year!  I am so excited that both the zinnias and the cosmos are tall, with long stems, that go so well with the marigolds,  roses, and basil that are old time favorites. 

The inspiration and credit for my cutting garden this year is from Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden that I already told you about.  But something this good deserves a second telling.  I have gotten so many good ideas for how to improve my garden from this book.   Even if you don't have a garden, looking at this book and dreaming about gardens will make you happy.   

they are all so different, and wonderful

I can't recall how I heard about this book.  Maybe on Brain Pickings Weekly?  All I know is I went straight to the public library site and requested it immediately after reading about it.  And now I find myself in the quandary of being on page 133 of 327 with 2 days to go before it's due and unable to renew it because 5 people are waiting for it!  Plus I am leaving on vacation in 3 days.  What to do ... what to do?

So, "the Moth" is a venue where people get up and tell a story about something that happened to them.  True stories.  Told honestly.  By real people putting themselves out there because they have something to say.  About life.  Something you might want to hear.  It seems wrong to try and rush through any story like this.   So I am going to return it to the library tomorrow and check it out again and pick up where I left off... or maybe I'll buy it and download it on my Kindle app so I can read some to sister when we are on Lummi Island.  

I highly recommend this book.  Seventeen stories in, I find it impossible to pick only one to tell you is my favorite so far.  They are all so different, and wonderful. 

once a month at a minimum and twice a month during gardening season

Today I learned a very important lesson about gardening that warrants passing along.  It is this...  the secret to being a successful gardener lies not in picking the right plants for the right spot,

or continually trying new flowers to spice things up,

nor is it feeding the birds. 

It is not about planting fragrant things near the comfortable chair you will be sitting in regularly in order to survey your garden, or the table close by to put your beverage on. 

It's not about taking garden statues from older ladies who need to be sure their treasures land in a new garden when they are ending their gardening days.

And finally, it's not about being a ruthless and unflinching pruner who fears neither bees nor snakes. 

All of these things are important mind you, but the single most important thing every successful gardener needs in order to endure and have flourishing gardens is.... someone they can go to regularly that knows how to give a fabulous hand massage.  Once a month at a minimum and twice a month during gardening season.  Trust me on this. 

a hot time in the old town tonight

Yellow flowers, in all makes and models, were front and center at the Farmers Market on Saturday in Lawrence.

Blackberries, cherry tomatoes, and the cutest summer squash you ever saw in your life were also available to buy.

This industrious farmer in training was bagging up sweet corn as fast as she could.  Please note that her necklace was not slowing her down one little bit. 

But, lets get back to the flowers.  Conversation overheard as I was walking up to look at all of them....  "THESE are much more important than vegetables".

A mixed bouquet of yellow was just what I needed.   I couldn't decide between three different varieties.  So I did what any sensible person would do - and bought all three. 

Seriously, they were 3 for ten dollars.  It was clearly a best buy. 

I am off to saute these beauties with garlic and parsley - side dish to the smoked brisket and potato salad Chris is making.  We are gearing up to watch this documentary on the History channel tonight about Amelia Earhart.   As dad would say "it's gonna be a hot time in the old town tonight!" 

my partner in creativity

Yesterday, in between a lot of yakitty- yak about gardening, needlepoint, knitting, books, food, trip-taking, and everything else under the sun, Mary Joan and I made hand sewn puzzle balls.

Supplies were laid out, directions were read, felt was cut, and we got started. 

We did of course break for lunch (zucchini salad with arancini and garden fresh tomatoes in marinara sauce at Limestone Pizza), but we brought our supplies with us and kept right on working. 

After lunch, there was a stop at Decade coffee shop for a cold brew with ginger syrup (it tasted just like a molasses cookie).  Sewing continued between sips.  Before you know it, we were each back at our respective homes completing our projects.

Hand stitching is very meditative.  Hand stitching with a friend who loves it as much as you do... well that is over-the-top. 

The felt from Purl Soho is wonderful to work with, and the colors are divine.  The instructions include pictures and are very well written.   We ordered the pattern and a few of the felt bundles because we already had all the rest of the supplies that were  called for.  If you don't, they have a kit that includes all the supplies.  (I am not on their payroll by the way, just a well satisfied customer).

I hung mine up this morning, over the dining room table of course.  I used embroidery floss instead of ribbon, but may yet use ribbon after I rummage around in my stash a bit. 

I like the way my puzzle ball looks with my pom-poms made from fabric scraps.  Of course, I will need more than one. 

Which should not be a problem at all.  I am starting this one tonight and already have the colors picked out for #3 as well.

Thanks Purl Soho for a really fun idea, and to you Mary Joan - my partner in creativity! 

don't know about you, but I like to "grab and go"

Today my friend Joan came over so we could work on a new project.  She brought her "sew together" bags at my insistence and I was blown away by her fabric choices.

I must make another one.  Soon.  I need one for small sewing projects.  My current one is for small knitting projects.  I don't know about you, but I like to "grab and go" when I am taking a project somewhere to work on.  I can't be messing around with transferring contents between bags. 

Chris and I did the annual sweet corn run this week.  We each played our parts... based on our talents.  Because he is a more meticulous cleaner, he shucks.  I cut, freeze, and bag. 

One side dish for Thanksgiving dinner, done.   

Happy Friday.  Have you read this excellent commentary from one of my favorite bloggers - Kristin Nicholas?  I have been thinking about it since I read it earlier in the week.  In the event that you don't follow her, I am sharing, because it's worth a read.  Whether you are putting up corn, making a bag, starting a project with a friend, or staying home to read a book this weekend, I hope it fulfills your idea of "making the world a beautiful place".   Thanks Kristin for a lovely piece of writing. 

you never know when you will discover something you didn't know by only doing what you always do

Over the holiday, in addition to eating cake, I made my first batch of Watermelon Salsa.  Ann made it a few weeks ago when they had us over for dinner and it was addicting.    Since it's salsa season, and we have no tomatoes yet, it seemed like the thing to do.  

I don't know who first came up with the idea for fruit salsas but they deserve a prize.  This stuff is seriously good.  I used this recipe except I also added a red pepper.  It seems like you could individualize it in a whole lot of different ways depending on what you have on hand, and what you like.  Although, I am not a huge watermelon fan and I loved this.  

Hopefully you have a cute dish that your sister Dottie got you on one of her trips across the border to serve it in.  In between eating salsa and putting out the flags, we also took a minute to appreciate a little red, white, and blue.   Oh and there was paper gathering and cutting too.  I haven't figured out what I am going to do with all those fish from last year's paper source calendar yet... but I will.  I just need to stare at them for a bit. 

Right before all the booms and pops started I went outside to look at the sky and didn't take any great photos but sure had fun playing around with some options on the computer.  Playing around is important because you never know when you will discover something you didn't know by only doing what you always do.  If that makes any sense at all. 

In other news, while I wasn't looking, Allie Grace, who was born when sister and I were in Norway, turned FIVE! 

We must get out to see her before she is fifteen which is going to happen before we know it at the rate time is flying by. 

with all the frosting and some sanding sugar plus tooth pick flags

You may or may not recall from last year that Chris gets ideas on the 4th of July.  Cake ideas. Cake ideas that are hatched following late night web surfing sessions.

When he first showed it to me and said "hey look at this", I said "don't be ridiculous".  In other words, we are not making that, no way, no how. 

Then I said "ok, maybe we could make it but not put all that frosting on it". 

To which he replied "of course, that's way too much frosting". 

So of course we made it.  With all the frosting.  And some sanding sugar.  Plus tooth pick flags.   Because it is after all a firecracker cake.  And the 4th of July only comes once a year. 

It's quite tasty, and despite my initial reservations, I am doing my part to eat my fair share.  Every night.  Sometimes with ice cream.

Chris would like you to know that it pairs well with a Miller Lite. 

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the annual tradition of the hanging of the flag bunting

we thought we had died and gone to heaven

This weekend while I was sitting out back, under the shade of an umbrella, admiring my weeding/trimming, sipping coffee, and wondering if the red, swollen, patch of skin on my arm was poison ivy, I discovered that I like bouquets of flowers out-of-doors as much as I do indoors. 

And since we should keep cutting them so they will continue to produce (I don't think I am making that up), I made myself a nice big arrangement.  These are Echinacea "secret affair" and they are extremely showy.  This is their 3rd year in my garden.  I have moved them once, and last year there was a family of rabbits who kept eating them, but this year... this year makes up for all that.  

Don't think I have stopped with the indoor flower arrangements.  I bought this little vase at the flea market in Budapest on an extremely hot day, when sister and I got our bus lines a bit messed up.  Every time I look at it I am reminded of that day, and the really nice couple who sprayed us with their "mister" and we thought we had died and gone to heaven.

but what fun would that be?

For me, there is as much enjoyment in trying to figure out what to do with my farmers market buys, as actually going to the market, and hanging with my people.  This week Nancy brought a shredded carrot salad to work from Andre's, a KC favorite lunch spot.  It was completely delicious.  All about the carrots with a bit of parsley and a very light dressing that stayed in the background.  I knew I was going to try and copy it. 

After washing, peeling, and shredding (I wasn't sure if using the food processor was a good idea or not, but it worked perfectly), I chopped the parsley and got to work on a dressing. 

I had looked in all my cookbooks to find something similar to use as a guide, but came up empty.  Until I searched on-line and found this.  Which was delightful reading by the way even if you don't want the recipe. 

In the end, Chris and I both found the salad good.  Not great.  I added some chopped cashews on top because I think cashews and carrots go together well.  The lemon juice was too acidic for my liking - the next time I am going to try a champagne vinegar, I will not add the tiny touch of dijon, I am going to substitute honey for the sugar, and add maybe a tablespoon of creme fraiche.  Alternately, I could go to Andre's and see if they sell the dressing for the salad and use it.  But what fun would that be?  

I have a sixth sense about these things

Today was an exceptionally good morning at the market.  It was sunny and 64 degrees at 7:10 am when I pulled into my parking spot.  The one that says "reserved for Carol" in red letters.  In my mind. 

Madeline and I got caught up on everything that has happened in each others worlds since we saw each other last summer.  I like having a 16 year old zinnia-growing friend. 

Cabbages, beets,and kohlrabi were on display.  Plus giant hanging garlic.

I bought cucumbers from an extremely cute red-headed girl with a very sweet smile, and flowers with a flag from Karen to kick off the 4th of July decorating. 

When I arrived at the Mellowfields Farm booth, I was just in time to get the last head of lettuce.  And my usual kale, and an amazing basket of green beans.    

Right when I was getting ready to leave I spotted these two.   Such friendly faces and a great sense of style. 

They don't know it yet but we might be destined to be friends.   I have a sixth sense about these things.