Tall Tales from Kansas

Happy Kansas Day

Happy Kansas Day everyone from Tall Tales Headquarters.  I think this is what they term a "minor holiday"... but any excuse to celebrate the beauty of my state I feel obligated to share.

some years I am immune to the fever

I am possessed with a desire for hearts. As in red, pink, flowery, paper, hearts. All things Valentine really. 

This doesn't always happen as February approaches. Some years I am immune to the fever.

I can walk by window displays, card racks, conversation hearts, and pink/red/white M&M's with no urge to grab them all.

Not this year. Maybe it was the pom-pom garland at Upstairs at Pierre LaFond's. I can trace the symptoms back that far.  

Luckily, I have lots of trip-trap collected through the years that can be retrieved from storage, and arranged in new and old ways. 

This pillow (from a store downtown in Lawrence) and these small sewn hearts (from Santa Barbara) have me wanting to make something else though. 

What about you? Are you crafting a cupid inspired item that I should know about? Do tell. 

hats are hard

On Day 2 of Art Retreat, sister burst into our room at approximately 6:16 am and informed Pam and I that "sunrise is the absolute BEST time at the beach", and "we are pulling out in 15 minutes".

We rolled out of our teeny tiny (but very comfortable) twin beds and obediently followed. Nary a groan escaped our lips. Jackets and hats were donned, scarves tied, gloves grabbed. 

We sped through the streets, racing against time. It was us, the moon, the birds, and the rising sun.

We filled our eyes with all they could hold,

and then filled them some more. Every second of the sunrise changing the view.

Thusly inspired, we headed to breakfast, sketch pads in bags, ready to capture each other at the table, as is our routine each morning at art retreat. 

It was the hat that really tripped me up on this one. Hats are hard. So are glasses, and hair, and noses and coats. Hard, but very fun.  

and wants nothing more than to walk and talk with me along the way

I love nothing more than diving right into all the marvels of California when I am visiting. The sky, sun, ocean, rocks (and treasures among them), and moist wonderful breezes that are gentle and do not bite.

Then, as soon as we arrive at our home-away-from-home, checking out the neighborhood.  

Architecture, pots, plants, gates, shadows, smells.  

And when I am really, really, really, lucky, on the first day, I may encounter a very soft pettable kitty living right down the road...

who thinks I am her very best friend and wants nothing more than to walk and talk with me along the way. 

they don't make toast like this in Kansas

For the last couple of years, on the eve of art retreat, Sister and I generally go to the Huntington gardens. It's a wonderful break from the winter landscape for me, filled with of all sorts of amazing specimens which I never tire of seeing.  

However, this year, after reading The Library Book we veered from that tradition and visited the Los Angeles Public Library on the day I flew in. It was an excellent choice. The murals, the architecture, the light fixtures, the green space, the elevators wallpapered with the old cards from the card catalog files! 

Did I mention there was a wonderful art exhibit up? Plus this collection of Ansel Adams photographs from a shoot he did for Fortune magazine in 1940. I had not previously seen his photographs of "regular city life". He donated them to the library in 1962 for the sum of $150.00 saying he didn't think they were very good.  

The painted ceilings and the murals in the children's section (that I didn't take any pictures of) were simply splendid. The paper mâché puppets, the teeny tiny tables and chairs, oh seriously... what a place to light the imagination of a child on fire.

The splendidness of a good field trip, even when you are a grown up lady person, can not be overstated.  

Especially when paired with a creamy rich latte, accompanied by a piece of brioche toast, spread with a layer of whipped ricotta, and topped with apple butter, sliced persimmons, and pomegranate seeds.  Oh. They don't make toast like this in Kansas. No siree they do not. 

where they can be stared at and meditated over

Re-entry into the cold that is Kansas, was softened by the unpacking of bits picked up California, recalling the sound of the ocean while looking at pictures, and putting all treasures on a plate on the table - where they can be stared at and meditated over.   

There was also picking out of zinnia seeds to be done, coffee to drink, plants to water, the Sunday paper to read, 

and a garland of colorful pom-poms to hang over the table. I tried to resist the purchase, "I have a pom pom maker and could make them myself" I told Pam... "but look how pretty these are" she said. And of course she was right. Plus, when I look at them I recall the fun of our shopping adventure together. 

As much as I love Art Retreat, I do also love to come back home. To the ordinary and familiar, and the luxury that was Chris having chili and cornbread ready for supper when I pulled into the garage from the airport. 

and they never ever ever get old

Here is a quick glimpse of the gloriousness that is a sunrise at the beach. Pink, golden, violet, blue, red + the soundtrack of the breaking surf + the call of the shore birds + the smell of the ocean. All for the cost of jumping out of bed early and racing to the beach in the semi-dark. This may be the most fabulous one ever.

I will admit to saying that regularly though. Which ever one I am experiencing is often the very best ever. And they never, ever, ever, get old.

Tall hot coffee recommended for on the way home for warming the hands as you exclaim over what you have just seen. Surely that helps foster imprinting these experiences into the long term memory bank.  

we follow the "better safe than sorry" policy

These are the 8 sketchbooks I have decided must be packed in my suitcase for Art Retreat #8.

While it likely seems excessive, we follow the "better safe than sorry" policy when it comes to the number of sketchbooks that are packed. 

I have also, finally, discovered the best way for a person who detests the packing part of going on a trip, is to start packing 5 days ahead of time and complete the task 2 days before departure. No last minute add-ins. No exceptions. 

Right before the suitcase is zipped up for the last time I have have Chris give me a pop quiz to be sure I have included those things I can't do without. Extremely helpful. Mostly in putting my mind at ease.  

There may or may not be any postings here during art retreat.  Photos will be available on Instagram. 

why they are getting their fair share of screen time today

Routine activities this week included walks in the fog and toasting pecans. 

Oh, and the pantry was cleaned and re-organized.  A big can of 2013 diced tomatoes was discovered as well as a can of pumpkin that expired in 2017. The tomatoes I can see happening, but NOT the pumpkin. I am slipping.

I told Chris to do his very best not to put anything in the wrong spot while I am gone on the art retreat. He may have rolled his eyes. I can't be sure. 

While I am looking forward to more color in the landscape than we have in Kansas right now, I do think browns and grays sometimes get a bad rap ... which is why they are getting their fair share of screen time today.  

it's purple persistence and vigorous nature

Before we get too far past December let me share this with you.  

From American Life in Poetry: Column 771

December
    by Sarah Freligh

On the fire escape, one
stupid petunia still blooms,
purple trumpet blowing
high notes at the sky long
after the rest of the band
has packed up
and gone home.

P.S. I know this is a thistle.  Not a petunia. And yet it's purple persistence, and vigorous nature, is the flower photo in my files that seemed best suited to the spirit of the poem.  

engaging in artistic endeavors, seems so much easier when you have someone to do it with

It's a winter wonderland at Tall Tales Headquarters today.  

Leaves, branches, limbs, and dried flowers all encased in ice.

Snow and ice are so much more enjoyable on a weekend, when I am not working, and don't need to be out in it, and can leisurely clean the driveway with Chris. 

Ice is also good when it is not so heavy that it causes damage to the limbs of your lace-bark elm tree.

Later in the afternoon, while Chris worked on baked Ziti for dinner, there was time for catching up on my everyday journal. Just a few things I don't want to forget about December 2019.    

Making, then coloring-in, letters is an exceedingly satisfying activity that I must make more time for. I was talking to someone at work the other day about how engaging in artistic endeavors, seems so much easier when you have someone to do it with. Happily, next week at this time, I will be seated at a big table piled with books and paints and brushes splashing some color around on paper with my art retreat pals.  A winter wonderland is also easier to take when you are escaping to a warmer locale in 5 days.  

let this be the reason you check all the expiration dates on your pantry goods

Some things that have happened this week include the following.

Sister's birthday. We intend to celebrate in high style when I go out there next week for Art Retreat #8 (more about that later). There may or may not be hootin' and hollering'.  There will be cake. Or some other birthday dessert. For sure. Pam and I will also sing Happy Birthday to her in perfect harmony.  

This poinsettia continues to shine and delight. Plants are complex and wondrous. 

Several things that were not photo worthy included getting a 20 year old crown that I cracked eating popcorn (darn the bad luck) replaced. Christmas decorations were returned to the basement and we bought some new pillows for the TV room. Back support is important. 

I finished listening to another installment of the Flavia de Luce series.  This is such delightful, easy, pleasant listening. So perfect for decompressing after a day of work. 

A lovely walk was taken on Thursday, when the temps were up to 60 degrees. The memory of it will be stored and relived if the expected snowstorm hits on Saturday. 

And finally, there was the exploded can of grapefruit segments in the pantry. Happily, Chris discovered it while I was at work and tended to the after effects. Who knew that a can of grapefruit segments with a pull top lid would expire after only being out of date for 5 years?

This is the photo Chris took after removing all the surrounding casualties and before serious cleaning began. Let this be the reason you check all the expiration dates on your pantry goods this weekend ... and purge accordingly. Clostridium botulinim is a powerful bacteria. 

amazing artists in our midsts

At Decade coffee shop in Lawrence this week, a magical collection of woven textiles is on display.

They stopped me in my table-searching tracks when I spotted them.

Causing me to interrupt the conversations of all those sitting at the tables in front of them,

in order to take photographs. 

Calmly reassuring all individuals, that they of course, would not appear in any pictures. 

Every ounce of my color, texture, fiber-loving being was engaged by these works of art.

Then, when I walked over to read the artist statement, I squealed with delight because these were made by Bea Bonanno, who also happens to work at my local yarn store - The Yarn Barn of Kansas. I wanted to dance a jig and run right over to see if she was working and high 500 her! Instead I just went to her social media and expressed my deep admiration of her work. 

I should have known that inside the talented knitter brain of hers there also existed other dimensions of artistic know-how. 

If you are in the area, an in-person inspection is highly recommended. The tables at Decade are the best for sitting and writing, talking, knitting, and of course staring at the work of amazing artists in our midsts. 

Helpful links:

Bea Bonanno's website

Decade Coffee

I will forever want to read ever single thing that Max Porter writes

Lanny, by Max Porter is not a book for everyone. A few years back, I told you about Grief is the Thing with Feathers which he also wrote. This book, on a different topic, also requires you to suspend what you think you know about time in a linear sense, and about boundaries between life and death.

This is the story of the relationship between a boy named Lanny and his parents, mad Pete the artist, and Papa Toothwort who has been dead for many years. It's a small piece of their lives that intersect. Just a glimpse of events in a village where "...one thing leads to another again and again, with no such thing as an ending". You will likely race through it in a few short sittings, because you won't be able not to. 

I will forever want to ready ever single thing that Max Porter writes. That is how much I have loved both of his books. Highly recommended for that population of readers who (as stated above) are open to thinking about things they have not considered possible. For sure, you will HAVE to read it, if you were touched by Grief is the Thing with Feathers.  

if the rest of 2020 turns out to be this productive/instructive

Sometimes when I start making photo collages, it's hard to stop. I made this one the other day when I made the one of some of my favorite moments. All these moments were lovely too. 

I would also like to report on two other things I accomplished the day I arranged photos into a pleasing grid.

#1: Got rid of the fake tree in the basement (neither Chris or I have any memory of) that we had before we got the one we have now which by the way, we may (not today) need to replace because a whole section of lights isn’t working and has been deemed “unfixable”. 

2: Opened a bottle of champagne even though I was only going to drink several glasses with orange juice for breakfast and the rest went to waste. 

If the rest of 2020 turns out to be this productive/instructive it's going to be a BANNER year. 

sweater perfection

Tonight I am sharing Mary's masterpiece sweater, which totally bowled me over. First of all with the colors. I marvel at her ability to put these colors together in such a pleasing manner. The right combinations of dark and light and bright and subtle.

In addition to all that, the shaping is flawless, the neckline and placket where the buttons go perfectly coordinate with the rest of the striping.

Not too baggy and not too fitted.  Just right to go over a turtleneck or blouse. 

Sweater perfection. That's what this is.  

Bravo Mary!

in the manner I am most capable of at the moment in time when I am undertaking it

After contemplating how in 2020 I could strive to be better, kinder, healthier, more productive, less frivolous, neater, and more fit, I have decided instead to just keep on my present path. Waking up each day, tending to what needs done, in the manner I am most capable of at the moment in time when I am undertaking it. Which is why this post was sorted into the "completely mundane" category. Also because there is not a "totally lame" category. But one could be added. I could certainly strive to do that in 2020.  

Below are some of my most favorite moments of 2019. All accomplished despite my imperfections and foibles. Somehow confirming my plan for the coming year. 

Happy New Year!