Tall Tales from Kansas

someone who could "hear" what people needed underneath all the shields we throw up

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood finally became available on demand in my neck of the woods and Chris and I watched it recently.  

It's really more about the reporter (Tom Junod) who wrote this article  for Esquire magazine and the relationship they had during the time he was interviewing him. I don't have any idea which parts of the movie are based in fact versus fiction, and that really isn't important. What it did was portray Fred Rogers as the most amazing listener, someone who could "hear" what people needed underneath all the shields we throw up to keep others off guard. 

Recommended. I think I have mentioned before that Ed Rogers wrote a wonderful pamphlet about talking to children about death. I like to give it to adults who are struggling with what to say, and the words to use, when talking to kids about dying. It's timeless.  Kind of like Mr. Rogers. 

making new memories to pile on top of all the old ones

Scenes from a day well spent.

If you haven't been to Monarch Coffee in midtown Kansas City, you might want to scurry over there. Nancy told me they were voted best coffee in Missouri by Food and Wine magazine so you know I had to try it. 

I broke from my usual routine and got the "malted milk latte". After the delightful fellow below described it to me as tasting like you "bit into a whopper", how could I not? He also brought us our own bottle of water and glasses. Which we hadn't even requested. Unheard of, and yet such a nice touch.  

Joan and I laughed, talked a mile a minute, filled up our eyes with all things SPRING at J'Adore and then stopped at Heirloom Bakery for lunch.

Not just any lunch. The "Melt" consisted of a sandwich on pressed whole wheat granola bread, with sour cherry bacon jam, white cheddar, thin slices of Granny Smith apple, shallots, toasted walnuts, garlic tarragon goat cheese spread, and spinach.  All toasted up, nice and melty like. If you are still standing you should call and see when they are featuring it again. It was that good. 

This photo in no way does justice to the sandwich, but what it does do is show you they know what they are doing when they toast their bread. Crispy, buttery, smoky, tart, creamy and it all went well with a kale salad.  

Flowers on the table never hurt either. Nor do pretty paper straws.

Oh it had been a while since Joan and I hung out together. Too long. Consider this your reminder to call up your old pals and go spend some time together making new memories to pile on top of all the old ones. 

when we are faced with death, we have a lot more in common than you might imagine

When I asked him to describe his pain, the 52 year old man with stage IV lung cancer, who was admitted to the hospital with severe shortness of breath, weakness, and pain, said "I've been shot 6 times and stabbed 4 times, but nothing has ever hurt as bad as this".

Our palliative care team was asked to see him to help with managing the pain, make sure he had a good understanding of what was going on with his cancer, and then figure out what was important to him.  When asked what he was hoping for he said "I want to live, I have things to do". He quickly followed that with "I don't know what I did to deserve this". During our discussion he said he has heard "I am at the end of my rope", then he looked at us, and said "do you think I am going to die right away?"  

We talked for a while, about lots of things - his tattoos (he said he now wished he hadn't gotten them all), how we do not believe anyone gets cancer as a result of something they have done (karma doesn't work that way), and that if we see signs to indicate he is dying soon we will tell him that (if he still wants to know). Right before we left he said "I hope the good lord gives me time to set things right and then lets me go peacefully" and he thanked us for visiting with him. 

My point in sharing this with you is just this - at first glance I wondered what would be the shared experience that would allow us to connect in a meaningful way? Within about 5 minutes it was abundantly clear. Every single day, I see evidence that despite our differences, at the heart of it all, when we are faced with death, we have a lot more in common than you might imagine. 

The second point (before one of you reminds me that the converse is also true) is that every once in a while, people you think you will be in synch with immediately, you are never able to establish rapport with. It keeps life interesting. I'll say that.

 

I am too practical for that nonsense

I finished "The Little Paris Bookshop" recently. If you are a lover of books, a romantic at heart, can willingly push aside your skepticism, and are ok with a slightly formulaic story (even though the setting is lovely and the characters charming), you will like this book.  

I loved the "literary apothecary" side of this tale - the idea that someone could prescribe a book for you based on how you respond to a few questions. The "romance" part of it I could have used less of. I can't help it. I am too practical for that nonsense. 

Now, all that said, I did finish it in it's entirety even though I predicted how it would end 4 or 5 CD's into the 9 that made up the book.  If you like a good love story, read it. If you think fanciful tales of love are a whole lot of hoo-haw, don't. There, I think that is an honest review.

its the least prudent ones that most appeal to me

The clouds on Sunday morning between 8:00 and 8:22am were simply splendid. It was a bit chilly on my walk, but these vista's and the smells of approaching spring, along with the chatter of returning robins made for a perfect morning.  

My endorphins were kicked up into high gear; in a way that simply can not be replicated by walking indoors. And if that wasn't enough to make Sunday great, there were also these strawberries.

Which, though far from home-grown, tasted especially good to me. The walk, followed by the strawberries, accompanied by toast and coffee, gave me the impetus to set up the sewing machine and start some guerrilla patching - to be added to by hand as the ideas come to me.

Sometimes the ideas make sense. Other times they do not. It's the least prudent ones that most appeal to me for some reason. These are my "house jeans". You know, the ones that you really shouldn't wear outside the house but sometimes do. House jeans are best for wild experimentation. 

the glorious hours spooling out in front of me

This morning my 60 year old mind is doing it's usual weekend thing. Flipping through ideas, reaching for the potentially do-able, deciding what is the thing that should occupy the glorious hours spooling out in front of me. They seem endless on Saturday morning. On Sunday I wonder where they went. My competing needs to accomplish, and sit and stare, are always fighting for the upper hand. 

A walk? Sew up the blouse that has been cut out and ready to go for over a year? Patch the holes in those old jeans with some dragon fly fabric? 

I did an early morning garden tour and see that the oriental poppies are pushing their way up. Which made me search for the poppy seeds from the Mendocino botanical garden. I recall Jeanette telling me to "sprinkle them after the threat of hard frost has passed". Maybe that time is now? I think about sweeping the front porch, getting spring pillows out for the chairs, putting out some pots, turning on the fountain. All while I sit here and just enjoy the feel of the warm coffee cup in my hand. Running my thumbs over the smooth surface...

... and thinking about how nice the flickering light from the candle looks reflecting off the mason jar with the shells from beach adventures. 

I hope your 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 year-old selves are equally occupied with contemplation of the possible while enjoying the moment you are in. 

 

unexpected twists and turns

If you like twists, turns, and Helen Mirren, you will want to see this.

Unexpected, unpredictable, unanticipated.  Whatever you want to call it. We didn't see the ending coming. Recommended.   

P.S. Ian McKellen is also very good.  

the "heavy boots" feeling

This week, on days off, I replenished myself in the following ways:

1. Enjoying the contrast between the sun overhead and the snow under my feet. Thinking about how in about a month, these branches will once again have leaves on them.

2. Roasting brussels sprouts and eating those really crisp brown single leaves right off the pan the minute they came out of the oven. Because that's when they're best.  

3. Finding new jars for beach collections. Especially the one below with a glass top with the word  Presto on it and a metal lid that fits over it embossed with the "good housekeeping seal of approval". Is there anything better than an unusual $7 purchase at an antique store?

4. While knitting I listened to this podcast about 10 nutrition worries I can stop stressing about.

5. While I was sitting there I looked over and saw a cardinal, chirping away, calling to his mate?

6. Appreciating Pam's instagram of hearts and flowers.

And just like that, the "heavy boots" feeling, that sometimes comes after a run of hard days at work, has been replaced with a sense of fullness and contentment. 

the low key - high reward plan

Happy hearts, cupid, flowers, candy, and cards day... to all my Valentines. 

We were going to dress up, go out, paint the town, you know the drill. Then we looked at each other and laughed. And decided for the low key - high reward plan. Pizza and a movie at home. A bottle of wine. Maybe a foot rub. Definitely a cookie for dessert. 

something light and entertaining to pass the time

Nine Perfect Strangers is silly, far-fetched, and bordering on ridiculous at times. In other words perfect for reading on a plane, while sitting in a waiting room, or right before you go to bed. There was a moment in there when I rolled my eyes and thought "enough already", but on the advice of sister, I rode it out to the end and was quite pleased with how things wrapped up.



Perhaps you are looking for something light and entertaining to pass the time? If so, Nine Perfect Strangers will fill the bill. Quite nicely.  

sprinkled liberally all through the house

Gosh I wish Valentines day would hurry up and get here so I could get off this ridiculous heart kick I am on. They had this package of fancy paper cut-out hearts at Paper Source and I simply could not pass it up. 

I sprinkled them liberally all through the house, on the table with shells and rocks...

pinned to the banner I had already hung up on the mantle...

and added to the inspiration board.  Along with the sequined heart.

I also found some vintage valentines when searching for more old Mason Jars at the antique mall downtown. 

A 2007 Valentine from sister, which has been hanging up for 13 years was re-appreciated.

And all of the hearts I have collected from Mary Stanley over the years are hanging up. Her hand stitched creations are one of a kind.  

Alas, my work-life has kept me from bringing to fruition all the heart ideas that have been in my brain, but even the possibility of making things sometimes is enough to bring my pleasure. 

if you like a BIG movie

Chris and I went to see 1917 today. We wanted to see it on the "big screen" even though it is sometimes my preference to watch a movie that will likely have me on the edge of my seat at home. So I can get up and move around to break the tension. And schedule breaks when needed.

The non-stop action did have me with my hand over my mouth a lot. Like that would keep something from happening? Whatever. It makes me feel better. George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman were actors I have not previously heard of. Both were great. When I came home I went on-line to see about the dedication at the end which makes you think perhaps it is based on a true story. It is very loosely based on stories told to the director by his grandfather, but overall, all fiction. If you like a BIG movie, go see this one in the theatre. Get (or bring) popcorn. It also helps ease the tension. 

the "evening years" of our lives versus the "after dinner years"

On Saturday I was going to buy a new pot and divide this plant into 2 pots because it is root bound.

Then I was going to make a key lime pie and address Valentines.

In the middle of this brother and I got into a discussion on FaceTime about whether we were in the "evening years" of our lives versus the "after dinner years".  Ray said evening, I said after dinner, which might be shorter but it still includes dessert and that is the best part of a meal so it goes to follow that it must be the best part of life too. Right? That's what made me think about key lime pie by the way.

Then while I was upstairs rummaging around I found a hot pink sequined heart patch purchased in San Miguel de Allende many moons ago.  That led to a heart arranging session.

Before the day got away from me I returned to the pie making. This recipe is from Janelle who made it for our family vacation in Sedona in 2007. It's not fancy. 3 egg yolks, 1/4 tsp cream of tarter, 2 cans sweetened condensed milk, 2/3 cup key lime juice. Mix it all up with a whisk, pour it in a graham cracker crust and bake at 350 degrees until set - 15-20 minutes. I put 1/4 tsp cinnamon in the pie crust. Because that's what Janelle did. Whipped cream optional.    

I had intended to make a felt heart of sorts, listen to a podcast about being healthier, iron lab coats for the week, and do some knitting but somehow the day got away from me and I turned around and looked out the window and the sun was setting. 

Once the sun sets it's hard for me to accomplish anything that's worth mentioning. In public anyway.  

my quota of sunrises over the ocean

These are the last of the photos from art retreat #8 in Montecito, where there are so many beautiful spots to stroll.  Like Sheffield Reservoir below.  When you pass your hands over the shrubs they release all sorts of herbaceous aromas. 

The older I get the more I appreciate what I am surrounded by on a walk. 

Because the beaches seem extra special here in the Santa Barbara area. I am closing out the art retreat posts with this sunrise.  

It was cold when we got there. And dark.

Watching the sun come up never seems to get old. 

Why do I continue to be so amazed by it?

Oh that's right because of this.

And continuing to turn around as we walked back and seeing this.  

Next year we have agreed we must go back to Palm Springs for Art Retreat #9. Which by no means eliminates the option of returning to the beaches anytime in the coming year for an extra visit. Life is short and I haven't seen my quota of sunrises over the ocean yet. 

a little flat and cliche as compared to her male counterparts

I just completed the first Michael Connelly book featuring a new main character - Renee Ballard. I have really enjoyed the Harry Bosch series as well as the Lincoln Lawyer series - with Harry's half brother (Mickey Haller) as the protagonist.

This was ok. Maybe I need a few installments to develop some rapport? Renee Ballard is a little flat and cliche as compared to her male counterparts in the previous series. Have any of you read this? Thoughts?

enjoyable and delightful

Succulents are amazing. With next to no care at all, sitting on the kitchen window sill, over the winter, this new tiny growth has emerged. Delightful.

Keeping with the theme of delightful... here are some things I have added to my inspiration board recently. Colors, patterns, a valentine card to myself. Why not? 

Kalanchoe's have arrived. Perfect in this housewarming pot from my friend Joan. Fifteen years ago. Longevity. A sure sign of a great gift... and friendship.

I picked the plant that had 3 different colored flowers in one pot last year and enjoyed it so much that I repeated it this year.  

Other enjoyable and delightful experiences this week have included a stop at Alchemy coffee downtown,

and some wonderful walks in the sunshine.  

Oh and THIS meticulously stitched pin cushion that Pat made. A miniature work of art. I love her choice of the background for the needlework. A cobblestone patio for the pot.

Once again, completely delightful.

the golden pink light on the mountains

These towering eucalyptus trees, all by themselves, are reason enough to go to the Douglas Family Preserve in Santa Barbara. Giant sentries. The first clue that this is no ordinary spot.

I will save you from reading any further what I think. Instead I take you along with my eyes and leave the interpreting all to you.

The sun setting over the ocean is dramatic, the golden pink light on the mountains delicate on your walk away from the water.

Not to be missed. Perfect for an evening stroll. Just one more reason to love this part of California.