Tall Tales from Kansas

you can dip ginger snaps in it with me

Remember I told you I made an apple cake that I didn't love?  I kept trying.  Different recipe.  Applesauce instead of shredded apples. 

It is also lavishly coated with maple cream cheese frosting that is as light as a cloud.   

I took this to work for my co-worker's birthday.  So no photos of lovely pieces on a plate. 

There is a lot of beating involved so if you have one of these get it out.  It is SO worth it.  This cake, courtesy of "For the Love of the Table", is a WINNER.  Moist, full of the spices of fall, light but not too airy in a way that would leave you disappointed.  And the frosting, the frosting, the frosting.  Amazing.  I have never made a frosting like it before.  But it will be made again.  I happen to have a small container in my refrigerator right now.  Left over from the cake.  If you want to come over for tea, you can dip ginger snaps in it with me.  But you better be quick about it.  It's going fast. 

If you need to take a cake somewhere this fall.  Take this.  All those who taste it will bow down before you in gratitude.

enough said

There were some extra cute kids at the butterfly bio-villa out at Pendleton's last weekend. 

The butterflies were pretty spectacular as well.  But they weren't talking like the kids were.  "Hey I found the black one!  Did you see the black one?  It's over here!"

Or "I have to go to the bathroom mom, do they have a bathroom here?" And "hey be careful you almost let one out the door" said big sister to little brother as he headed out of the bio-villa to take care of his business.

If you don't give two hoots about butterflies or cute kids you can just space out and look at the fields and sky.  

Oh.  They also have a pumpkin patch.  Which opens this weekend.   Enough said. 

 

smile on your brother, everybody get together ...

Tonight was the conclusion of the PBS special by Ken Burns on Vietnam.  It has been an emotional experience.  Hard to watch at times.  I grew up during this war.  We watched the coverage on television but I mostly remember not understanding everything that was going on.  The interviews with the men and women who were in the middle of it, that are part of this documentary are compelling.  Watching the emotions move through them as they reflected on their experiences and told their stories.   If you haven't seen any of it, the clip below may make you change your mind.  Or not.  

 

In regards to the title of this post, it's an homage to the music of the times.   And, since I am embedding videos, I feel compelled to share this one as well.  Because it's that good .

 

 

red glasses in wedges telling backpack in boots

Yesterday's post was just words.  You were supposed to supply the pictures.  From your own fall-photo file cabinet.  Stored somewhere up in your noggin.   Today is pictures from this past Saturday's farmers market.  You supply the words.  

I have to say a few things of course.  But you knew that.  These green beans could not be passed up and so were a rather unconventional side dish for hamburgers at dinner on Sunday. 

I was not close enough to overhear this conversation, but am learning to read lips and I think this is what they were saying.  The lady in the black shirt was telling her friend how good her poached eggs were for breakfast.  The man in the red shirt said he wished he would have ordered them.  Mr. white shirt was taking notes so he wouldn't forget to order them, and Mrs. red pants was asking if they still had blueberry pancakes on the menu.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the market, red glasses in wedges is telling backpack in boots that she forgot her wallet and wonders if he has any cash. 

I did not eat poached eggs or blueberry pancakes for breakfast, nor did I forget my wallet.  Here is what I bought. 

Along with this bouquet.  With those gorgeous green and red stems that look as beautiful as the flowers and foliage on top.   

a booster shot of contentedness

Fall arrived while I was working on Tuesday.   Sun replaced with overcast skies.  A chill in the air.  The leaves showing signs of turning.  And just like that a file cabinet opened in my head.  The one with us Moss kids trick or treating in South Carolina in 1969, scarves tied around our heads and lipstick on.  Hilda and I driving down State Line road between 67th and 59th streets in the early 1990's with fall foliage overhead on our way to a festival - laughing about something, filled with excitement about what we were going to see.  Angie and I stopping on the side of the road to buy those rusty orange metal outdoor lawn chairs at the old red barn on Pine street in Harrison, just past where the High School used to be.  Really forcing them into the back seat of the old blue Honda, determined they would fit come hell or high water. Just thinking of all that and the possibilities that this new fall season holds is like getting a booster shot of pure contentedness. 

Sometimes life is easy like that. 

 

smartly written, but not overly clever and trying too hard

Just when I had been fretting about there only being Y and Z left in Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone alphabet chronicles, I discovered not one, but two new series of detective/crime fiction.  Both with slightly unusual sleuths in the starring role.  I already told you about Flavia de Luce, and now, there is Jackson Lamb. 

In this first book, Slow Horses,  you are introduced to a group of people, who for a variety of reasons, have ended up in a unit of the British police where you are assigned when you have screwed something up.  Jackson Lamb is the head of this bunch, who just need a chance at redemption.

If you are looking for a smartly written (but not overly clever and trying too hard, which can be so annoying) book, look no further.  While I was listening to this I felt like I had been transported to England.  Different words and phrases make the dialogue a delight to listen to.  What makes it even sweeter, is there are 3 more books in this series, plus another one set to come out in 2018.   Oh joy.  Thank you Chrissy West, my British literary connection for telling me about this.  

which had me all ga-ga-goo-goo and weak in the knees

Today, during FaceTime sketch time, which hasn't happened forever, I created a masterpiece. 

Sister in the meadow in Lummi Island.  Yes, there is the small matter of the missing portion of her right lower jaw.  My standards allow for such things. 

Shells were gathered for painting.  More on that another time.  If you have painted shells before you know what I mean.  You hate them until you look at them in a week.  And sometimes it takes two weeks. 

Other Sunday business included beginning to welcome Autumn.  I blame it all on Diana who had to go and show this on Instagram.  Which had me all ga-ga-goo-goo and weak in the knees.  Chris is now on a mission to turn my mail art frame into an inspiration board because I NEED to have one of these myself. 

Meanwhile the zinnia's are going strong but the leaves are starting to get that powdery mildew look to them.

This teen tiny zinnia the size of my thumb is as cute as cute can be.

I hope you are all having a marvelously restful Sunday.  Getting inspired.  Staying hydrated.  Taking naps.  Usual Sunday business.  

P.S.  If you haven't been inspired yet, here are two more Instagram shots you should see/read. 

Loretta and her husband "mystics in search of meaning and miracles", and Leslie exploring LYS's in Scotland.  In my mind, Diana, Loretta, and Leslie are going to get together with Sister and I sometime in a cabin in the woods and create magic. 

the first sighting of ornamental cabbage

Because of my extremely orderly and regimented nature, I feel compelled to show photos from last week's farmers market before moving on to what I saw today.  I would let it go and forget all about last week's market except there are some important things you need to see.  For example... did you know there was such a thing as an eight ball zucchini?

Or that in addition to genetic code, a key difference between males and females is that boys like to muck around in puddles and girls like to carry umbrellas?  This would likely not be born out in a scientific study or even a questionnaire, but it was so last week in my observation of these two. 

There was also the first sighting of ornamental cabbage. 

And a delightfully orange turban squash.  Who has cooked one?  And how did you do it?  Something this pretty has to be good.  Right?

With my purchases, I made a batch of carrot ginger soup and an apple cake from America's Test kitchen.  If you have never made the soup.  It is a WINNER.  The apple cake was OK.  I can't believe I am going to say this, but it was too dense for me.  I know.  Heresy.  But it was.  That doesn't mean I didn't eat it.  The best thing I learned when making it though was about reducing apple cider.  Which makes a delightful addition to a cocktail. 

In the reading arena while I was away, I read Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf which I did not love like I loved Plainsong and Eventide.  BUT, my friend Mary Joan liked it very much.  It's a fast read and you may like it.  I also worked my way through Dear Mr. You by Mary Louise Parker which had some high points.  Lots of them really.  But it's kind of like living constantly in the fast lane.  Luckily the format of the book is a series of letters.  So you can read one or two and put it down for a bit.    

a one to six ratio weekend

On the first day of fall, here in Kansas, where we got up to 90 degrees today, I present butterflies instead of decorative gourds, and cosmos, marigolds, and zinnias instead of mums.

We are going to be hanging out here in shorts instead of flannel lined jeans sipping "hole-in-ones" instead of pumpkin spiced anything.

We've got ourselves a "one to six ratio" weekend scheduled.  If you haven't heard of it, it means for every hour of house-work, yard-work, laundry, or household finance work you take six hours of "whatever the heck I want to do" time.  I recommend setting a timer for the one hour segments of time but not for the six hour segments.  

enjoyed the heck out of 'em

Let me bring you up to speed on what has been happening at the farmers market the last few weeks.  I'll be brief.  In a word ... sunflowers.  

There were also pumpkins, a bit of crooning, and apples. 

And these amazing cabbages!  Which had me thinking of majolica and needlepoint pillows.  And Andrea's cabbage rolls. 

The first butternut squash was bought and roasted and make into a fall salad. 

But mostly it was about sunflowers.  And this cute girl.

I was real glad I got to the bucket before she did. 

Or there wouldn't have been enough for me to bring these home to enjoy.  And I certainly have.  Enjoyed the heck out of 'em to be precise. 

the "hole-in-one"

It seems right to celebrate the return of the mainframe computer to Tall Talls Headquarters with a drink.

Not just any drink.  A delicious, boozy, apple, cranberry, ginger concoction.

That also contains bourbon.  The perfect fall whiskey.  Especially if you are a Moss.  We get our love of "comida mexicana" from Angie and our taste for bourbon from Wilburn Ray.  If you love bourbon you will like this drink.  If you don't like bourbon you may change your mind after trying this drink.  I am going to name it the "Hole-in-One". 

Here's how you make it:

Bring 2 cups of apple cider to a boil and simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup, then add 2 oz of that, 2 oz of cranberry juice, and 1 oz of ginger liqueur to a cocktail shaker full of ice and give it a shake.  Fill a glass with ice and pour in 1 oz of bourbon followed by 2 to 3 oz of your cider/cranberry/ginger mixture, add club soda and stir.  Adjust proportion of club soda to your liking.  I can make 2 drinks from the cider/cranberry/ginger mix.  The perfect quantity for weekend cocktail hour.  For me. 

Fall cocktail napkins are optional. 

P.S.  It's good to be back. 

P.P.S.  My brother informs me that Jack Daniels is most assuredly not bourbon but is in fact a Tennessee whiskey.  To which I responded " well it tastes like bourbon to me".  He promises to bring me a bottle of "good Kentucky bourbon" which he will procure on his drive from Virginia to Arkansas in October.  He says it will be no bother to stop at multiple distilleries on the way to be sure he picks the best one for me. 

I'm glad I didn't see any of that while we were chatting

 This Whitebanded, adult female, Crab Spider, was sitting contentedly on the flowers in the front garden yesterday morning.  We chatted while I waited for the delivery truck to bring my new hard drive.  

Just think, if it wasn't for that little computer melt-down, I would not have been out there and seen her.  Once I spotted her, I had to conduct a search on my phone to see just what kind of spider she was.   I learned they wait in ambush on flowers for visiting insects.  Then they "seize their victim in the embrace of their first two pair of legs".  Jeez.  I'm glad I didn't see any of that while we were chatting.  

it's a small small world

A true story about one of the things I love most about blogging.  

Yesterday, I got a text from my friend Pam, who lives right here in Lawrence Kansas.  She is in Squam Lake, New Hampshire.  Which, according to the maps app on my phone is 1,271 miles from Tall Tales Headquarters.  She is at Squam Art Fest, and  while hanging out in the general store parking lot (THE place to see and be seen), she met a lady from Maryland.   And when Pam told her she was from Lawrence Kansas, this lady told her she followed "a blog - tall tales" from Lawrence, Kansas and she enjoyed it.  So of course Pam told her she knew me.

And I can't stop smiling about that encounter, thinking once again, that it truly is a small small world.

Which only makes me want to get my computer back as soon as possible.  So I can continue to send Tall Tales out there.  A trail of crumbs spun out into the world from my little spot.  Right here in Kansas.  Where it ends up, nobody knows.  

The end.

anticipation is a wonderful thing

Hello friends:  I am tapping away on Chris's laptop this afternoon.  The "regular" computer is still in the evaluation stages.  Second opinions being sought, stuff like that.  Meanwhile, here are some photos I downloaded from my camera and uploaded to Typepad prior to the crash.

A walk in the woods.  Nothing better to get my mind turning in a new direction.  To fall.  Chilly mornings and woodsmoke in the air.

Imagining crunchy leaves.  

Cinnamon, apples, gingerbread.  

The upcoming annual trip to Arkansas with the Moss siblings.   Where we will take a walk in the woods and try not to trip over any roots on the trail.  

To mums on the porch and a visit to Schaake's and Pendleton's for pumpkins and gourds.

Reading in front of the fireplace on a Sunday morning.  Putting up the Halloween garland.  

All of these thoughts were playing in my head when I was walking.  A non-stop reel.  Previews of coming attractions

Anticipation is a wonderful thing.  

there are lots bigger fish to fry out there right now

A computer medical emergency meant a trip to the best diagnostician we know today.  

If it were a person, there would be a clinical exam, some vital signs (all dire on my assessment), and then a CBC, CMP, ultrasound, and perhaps a CT scan, followed by an exploratory laparotomy.  We wait with fingers crossed.  Totally aware there are lots bigger fish to fry out there right now.  

See you when we see you.  

it helps to keep the hands busy when the mind is fretful

 Monarch watching, Art in the Park, Kung Pao chicken, and bicycle rides are on tap for this weekend.  It's also hard for me to tear my eyes away from the coverage of Irma as it approaches Florida.  I can not begin to imagine what it must feel like to be in the path of a hurricane.

I started a new project today.  A knitting project.  It helps to keep the hands busy when the mind is fretful.  

if you are going to a small island and will be staying in a remote cabin by yourself

 This book (Folly by Laurie R. King) made me very jumpy when I first started reading it.  You know the feeling when there is so much foreshadowing that you think something BAD is going to happen any second and you just can't stand it?   

But one of you recommended it when I got back from Lummi Island because it takes place in the San Juan Islands.    So I stuck with it.  Reading frequently in small doses.  Kind of like a scary movie that you have to watch at home instead of at a theatre so you can get up and walk around every once in a while to break up the tension.  

If you are going to a small island, and will be staying in a remote cabin by yourself, do NOT take this book with you.  Otherwise, if you like a good thriller, you will like it.  Unpredictable ending that I did not see coming.

no summer is complete without at least one "summer tomato pie"

Summer tomato pie making went off without a hitch this week. 

If you don't usually think of tomatoes as something you would call beautiful.  You gotta think again. 

After cutting I laid them out on paper towels and sprinkled them with salt to get some of the juices out.   

These are some seriously juicy tomatoes. 

While that was all happening I made the crust.  Channeling my Louisiana Aunts and using Angie's rolling pin.

Then it was time for assembly.  This is a simple recipe.  Tomatoes, green onions, cheese (1 cup) mixed with some cornstarch (4 tsps) and some mayo (1/4 cup).

Roll out the crust.  Put 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese on the bottom, followed by 1/3 of the tomatoes, followed by 1/2 the green onions and 1/2 of the cheese mixture.  Then 1/3 more of the tomatoes and the last of the green onions and the cheese mixture, and finish with the last 1/3 of the tomatoes on top.   Get your top crust on.  Cut some slits in it.  Bake it on the bottom rack of your oven at 450 degrees for 10 minutes.  Then turn it down to 325 and cook it for an hour longer (mine took about 75 minutes). 

It looks like this when it comes out.

And like this when you cut it.  Seriously good.  The combination of flavors and the flaky crust make me want to swoon. 

Lunch, every day this week.  I best warn my co-workers that there will be moaning while I eat. 

No summer is complete without at least one "summer tomato pie", and it's a great way to use quite a few tomatoes.  

this one here has me singing a different tune

In addition to the snapdragons and zinnias from Madeline, I also got this lovely arrangement Saturday at the market.  Why just have one bouquet when you can have two? 

The dahlia is what drew me to this one, but also the lovely mums.

And what about that celosia?  It reminds me of a lovely fabric you would made some sort of fancy ball gown out of. 

And when the light hits it just right it turns from pink to orange to gold. 

I have not typically been a huge fan of celosia, but this one here has me singing a different tune. 

she is very clever, likes chemistry, has 2 sisters, and a bicycle named Gladys

When I was at the library last week, I walked by The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.  It was on a shelf with selections meant to entice.  Oh and I was.  Enticed that is.  It's been on my list of books to read for a long time but I hadn't gotten around to it yet. 

Purely delightful is how I would describe it.  Flavia de Luce is the central character and you are going to want to make her your friend.  She is very clever, likes chemistry, has 2 sisters, and a bicycle named Gladys.  Imagine how excited I was when I went to look up Alan Bradley and see that he has a whole series of books featuring her.  Hot Damn! 

So here is another thing.  This one is read by Jayne Entwistle and if there is a God in heaven she will be reading all the rest of them too.  The feeling I have about discovering these books equals the pleasure I felt when I first discovered the alphabet series by Sue Grafton.  And that is saying a lot. 

two cherokee purples and a georgia stripe

This is Jo.  I made her acquaintance Saturday morning at the farmers market.  I almost dropped my basket when I saw her hat.   She won the award for "best sense of style" at the market today.  Hands down.  No one else came close. 

There was also winter squash and a man selling watermelons despite his injured foot.  I felt certain there was a good story behind the need for crutches but I thought better of asking.   Sometimes you just have that feeling it's best to zip the lip. 

I was glad to see a good selection of heirloom tomatoes because I needed to supplement what we grew in order to make my tomato pie this weekend. 

Katie, Madeline's sister was home and helping out at the market today.  She lives in the big city now (New York) but the farmers market is in her DNA and she couldn't stay away.  

These are the snap dragons and zinnias they arranged just for me. 

These serious musicians were giving it their all as I wandered by.  I will keep this photo in my file of "people who are going to hit it big one day".  They might need it in a future special of how they got their start. 

I spotted a "new to me" variety of spinach and picked up a bag. 

This is the first box of decorative gourds I have seen.  It made me happy. 

 These two Cherokee purples and one Georgia stripe are the heirlooms I ended up bringing home.

Another lovely Saturday at the market.  The mornings are getting cooler here.  Even with highs in the 90's the last several days our temperatures have started out about 60.  Perfect for walking, and marketing, and especially for having an extra day off. 

item #14 on my list of things to do when I retire

These 11 tomatoes went through the skin removal process last week.  Yikes.  That sounds cruel, but it was quick and painless.

An X was made on the bottom of each tomato, followed by a drop into boiling water for 15 or 20 seconds, a plunge into ice water, and off came the skin. 

Then I cored them and put them in a plastic freezer bag.

Which is where they will rest with their freezer mates, the corn and the blueberries.  Waiting for just the right time to be made into a nice batch of something that will remind me of the farmers market in the middle of winter. 

There is something extremely satisfying about putting fresh fruits and vegetables in the freezer.

One of these days, I will learn to "can" tomatoes.  It's item #14 on my list of things to do when I retire.