Tall Tales from Kansas

the characters captivated me right from the start

Last night I sadly said goodbye to Fransicsco and Simonopio, the main characters in The Murmur of Bees. Written in Spanish by Sofia Segovia and translated wonderfully by Simon Bruni. I don't know if it's because it is written in Spanish or just because it's the style of this author but it is lyrical. 

It is the story of 2 boys, a son and a godson of the Morales family, and their lives in Mexico in the early 1900's. It is a story unlike any I have read previously.  The characters captivated me right from the start and held me until the very last page. 

Very highly recommended. 

all you want on a saturday

Rain interspersed with bright colors. 

Sometimes that's all you want on a Saturday.

a frivolous distraction that occupies the mind and raises the spirits

Before embarking on tonight's post, let me thank each of you who left a comment on yesterday's post. I want you to know that those of us doing this work feel the immense gratitude from our patients and their families. Every single day. It is all the thanks we require. Sometimes I consider not sharing these stories. Mostly I don't want you to think I am doing anything more than being a good nurse. On the other hand, its important for people to know what it's like on the front lines.  I don't know about you, but when I read all the stuff in the paper and online it's hard to absorb it. What I CAN understand is the individual stories that illustrate the very difficult and unusual time we are living through. And, I do want you to know what that is like.

Now lets move on tonights business... a great coping mechanism.

Valentines Day decorating, much like Christmas decorating, is a frivolous distraction that occupies the mind and raises the spirits. 

Do I need to make a Valentine colored dishcloth? I certainly seem to think so. The nice thing is I am using the pattern given to me by Louise Berndt, who sent me down the path of dishcloth making when she made some for me several years ago. I like to think of her living on in my house, from way out there in western Kansas. 

Actually, as I look around at all the "heart" stuff in my house right now, I see great memories of other women. From the quilter in Germany, to Mary in Santa Barbara, to Pam's hearts and flowers from art retreat, to the hearts I used to get at the gift/coffee shop at unity village when the knitting retreat was held there and we would sit  around drinking chai latte's, knitting, and laughing. Always laughing. 

Here's to pink, red, hearts, flowers, yarn, and lots of talented women. 

to give a face to the individual experiences that can get lost in the wave of this pandemic

Last week I dived back into the COVID world at work. We currently have around 120 hospitalized patients who are COVID + or recovering but still too sick to get out of the hospital. We think it's possible that our numbers have peaked and admissions will continue to decline. It's all a guessing game. 

Here is what I am seeing:

There continue to be people dying in the ICU with limited access to family. I held the iPad up to show a husband and son their mom who was taking her last breaths this week. How is it that this has become "routine"? I assure you it is never routine for us as we work to convey the tender loving care provided by the hospital chaplain, the nurses, the respiratory therapist, all converging to be the "family" for those who can not be present.  

We were asked to get involved in the care of siblings in their 20's, both critically ill, one on a ventilator, one likely headed in that direction. Neither of them with other serious medical conditions. Their COVID + father died in his sleep this week at home, he hadn't had serious symptoms, they don't know about his death yet. Their sister tells me she prays they will get better so they can attend his funeral next month. 

On a FaceTime call a wife tells her husband that his Aunt is praying for him "using your FULL name so God will know exactly who she is referring to in her prayers", another friend of his wants him to know she is making him both a lemon meringue pie and a lemon icebox cake... hoping this will entice him to recover. So much love coming from this wife as she passes on these messages, then asks me to please take a photo of him and text it to her.

These are the everyday moments no one knows about unless they have been there themselves. I pass them on to give a face to the individual experiences that can get lost in the wave of this pandemic. 

maybe I am just supposed to think about it for another few days

Dear Pitkin County Library: Please forgive me for returning The Magician's Assistant a bit late. I LOVE that you generous people out in Aspen Colorado lent it to me through the interlibrary loan program. It's a small thing that makes me feel better about the world in general - someone in Aspen packaging up this book and sending it to me in Lawrence Kansas. So I could (at no cost to myself, other than my tax dollars) get lost in the experiences of Sabine and the Fetter family, from Los Angeles to Nebraska. 

I continue to ponder over the ending of this story. It stopped in an unexpected way. Maybe too abruptly for me? Or maybe I am just supposed to think about this for another few days before arriving at my final conclusion? 

For those of you who have not read it, it's about a woman, magician's assistant, who marries the magician, and after he is gone discovers a significant part of his past she knew nothing about. For those who have read it, tell me what you thought of the ending. Sharron we are going to have to Marco Polo about this. Please tell me you have read it. 

awesome hair, tap dancing, blue eye shadow, and wearing Candies shoes

Sometimes, you simply can not beat the feeling of working a simple pattern with dreamy yarn and a set of knitting needles that glide through it like butter. That's how I felt with this project this morning. Knitting away while listening on a ZOOM call. Though it may sound counter intuitive, when my hands are occupied, I am a better listener. Stopping to take notes freely with no worries about losing my place. 

This week's grocery store flowers. I am thinking tulips may be arriving soon for purchase? Or daffodils?

This came up while going though my email today ... the design, the colors, the shape... all wonderful. It has been placed in my Ravelry library. To one day be worked up, or not. Just looking at it is inspiring. 

The French knots project surfaced this weekend as well, for a few moments of stitching.

I continue to come back to it. Knowing that one day it will tell me when it is complete and ready for framing.

There was also a lovely video chat today with my college friends. Brought about by Peggy texting us all this photo. Which led to comments about Annette's awesome hair, tap dancing, blue eye shadow, who was wearing whose blouse, and the dangers of wearing Candies shoes. All of which required further discussion

Lifelong friendship is a wonderful gift. 

a sweet-ish, creamy smooth drink, with hints of peanut butter and chocolate

The weekend started at Tall Tales Headquarters with the preparation of a Peanut Butter Brandy Alexander. How can I describe this to you? It's a sweet-ish, creamy smooth drink, with hints of peanut butter and chocolate that all mix together nicely in a way that shout "WELCOME TO THE WEEKEND".

It may be best as a dessert, but listen... sometimes (as we have discussed previously on this blog) dessert before dinner is best. 

If you are inclined to try it - here is how to mix one up:
1 1/2 oz Skrewball peanut butter whiskey
1/2 oz brandy or cognac
1 oz creme de cacao
1 oz half and half
Pour it all in a shaker with ice and give it a good strong shake. Strain into a highball glass. Add a few of the ice cubes from the shaker if you are so inclined. You can also sprinkle with nutmeg or chocolate shavings. I wasted no time on that and just barely got a photo of it before the first sip. Which was wonderful.  

mouths, eyes, noses, all slip sliding around in unexpected ways

Tonight just a few more photos from art retreat. Continuing on a portrait theme. The joy I experience from drawing portraits is hard to explain. No matter if they look like the person or not. In my mind they do.

Each year there are always blind contour drawings. Literalism is so boring. Why draw exactly what a person looks like with the eye when the hand wants to go in another direction? 

Mouths, eyes, noses, all slip sliding around in unexpected ways. Coloring them is another thing I find extremely satisfactory.

Then there are the mini drawings of each of us on the zoom screen. Inclusion of background material required... as are waving hands. 

A self portrait using a big brush pen was also attempted.

The thing about art retreat is anything goes, there is no grading, no comparison, and lots of positive feedback for the courage to step outside your comfort zone and have fun. 

raising my glass to hope and health

While on my virtual art retreat this week, there were also lovely moments of just sitting, doing simple things. 

The satisfaction of hemming a top by hand, of recalling how to do a binding, of using up napkin scraps.

The honking of migrating geese overhead, Harvey coming to visit. 

Making muesli in the kitchen, morning sun hitting the clouds just so.

And on the very last day of my week off, being able to watch the inauguration. I have saved one last bottle of champagne for this very occasion, raising my glass to hope and health.  

picking up where we left off

Art retreat #9 has gone exceedingly well. Pam said she thought it was because we committed to it for several hours each day for 4 consecutive days. So we can keep going. Building on the day before. Picking up where we left off in terms of playing around and telling stories, being inspired by each other. 

Zoom connections have been good. We decided today that in the future there should be both an "in-person" and a "virtual" art retreat each year. Good ideas coming out of making do. I vote YES!

P.S. Artists who post on instagram provide a limitless source of ideas for ways to have fun with art. 
Ohn Mar Win is one of my favorites. Butterflies above had to be tried after watching her do them!

jump full force, without looking, into playtime

"Normally", and I use that word very loosely, opening ceremonies of art retreat begins in Los Angeles. At the Huntington, or Arlington gardens, or walking in a neighborhood with exotic flowers and cactus. This year, since we are all joining from home, I did my version of the opening ceremony with a walk through Loose Park in KC. Where the roses were NOT blooming.

But it was in the 50's and sunny (on Wednesday) for which I was infinitely grateful. There was also a rosemary/vanilla latte from the Roasterie Cafe to spice things up a bit. 

As I noticed the shadows of the trees, I hummed the theme from Chariots of Fire to myself, and pretended like the ocean was at my feet and sea breeze in my hair.

There were ducks with incredible orange webbed feet commonly known as flippers, but in scholarly writing referred to as palmate. I don't know if that is singular or plural. 

Tonight, if we were in Palm Springs, we would be having to pack, clean, and worry about getting me to the airport on time in the morning. Not tonight though. No clean-up happening here. Just more drawing, showing, exclaiming loudly, and other assorted high jinx. 

Truly, this has been a wonderful opportunity for me to draw, paint, get out of my head, and jump full force, without looking, into playtime. 

creative activities and discussions that will signal the opening of Art Retreat #9

Just because we are in a pandemic, and even though there will not be colorful cacti, persimmon toast at Superba, or amazing sunrises over the ocean, there is absolutely no reason we should not continue the tradition of Art Retreat! This is the proposal that Sister and Pam and I have discussed, voted on, and unanimously agreed to.  

 

So, beginning tonight, Friday, January 15th, we will gather on ZOOM, drinks in hand, from the comfort of our individual homes to engage in all manner of creative activities and discussions that will signal the opening of Art Retreat #9. 

One big benefit of a virtual art retreat is that we don't have to pack, there is no need to decide what journals to bring and which to leave, and there will be no internal struggle over bringing the watercolor, the gauche, or both. It is already established that the beds will be comfortable, there will be good coffee cups, and there will be no flights for me to miss. 

We are making do people. Because we still have each other. And that is something to celebrate! 

vaccination story - part 2

The chatter at work by those who “know someone” who has received their second vaccine injection, is that the side effects in terms of body aches, fever, and overall malaise were worse with the second shot. I got my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday afternoon. Once again, I had no immediate reaction - no flushing, weakness, or dizziness. Thirty six hours later I remain symptom free, except for a sore arm that is expected with any vaccine. I have not required any Tylenol or Advil.

Above is my my friendly, competent, efficient vaccine giver. Below is my sticker. I may have taken 2 so I could also put one on the new everyday journal I am getting to initiate.  

As unpredictable as this virus is, in terms of how it knocks some people on their butts, while leaving others completely without symptoms, I guess it's no surprise that the vaccine should impact us all differently. Our individual immune systems are just that - very individual. 

Consider this a public service announcement. If you are fortunate enough to be offered a dose of the vaccine, I hope you choose to take it. If not, there will surely be someone else in line thankful for the opportunity, and willing to roll up their sleeve. I see no reason to try and "convince" those who don't want a vaccine to take it. Instead lets focus our energies on seeing that those who do want it are able to get it. 

Frankly, trying to sway others to my way of thinking on this whole pandemic, is an exercise in futility that only serves to leave me feeling depleted of the energy I need to do my work, and stay healthy. Below is a great link to frequently asked questions about the COVID 19 vaccines. Only for those who are interested. 

FAQ's about Vaccines 

for going above and beyond the call of duty

I love it when I am downloading photos from the camera and come across an unexpected treat from Chris. I couldn't decide if I liked the long shot or the close up best. So I am posting both. You can decide. 

I have however let him know that I am giving him a salary increase for going above and beyond the call of duty in his role as overall assistant, part time researcher, and excellent image capturer. I am also nominating him for employee of the year at Tall Tales Headquarters. 

light hearted evening loungewear is a thing

Recent events that warrant reporting include:

1. I have a ridiculously large amount of love for this painting in the new 2021 calendar from Paper Source, not just because of the gray cat, though that surely is part of it. There was just such a good feeling that jumped off the page at me when I flipped January over and spotted it. All the books, the yummy blending of paint. We love what we love, who can explain it.

2. I have discovered that colored pencils are fun to take out of their container and arrange in pleasing patterns.

3. Have I mentioned that I am now the proud owner of a pair of unicorn pajamas? Light-hearted evening loungewear is a thing. I am monitoring the website in case they come out with a design with cats, owls, or sheep next. But please the exact same fit which is perfect for my 61 year old physique. That may be a word only used to describe the male body, but I like it. I know "athleisure" wear is all the rage these days, but I'll keep my jeans in the daytime and pajamas in the evening every time.  

4. I am going to have to try my hand at this punch needle thing.  The chairs of my very old dining room table, found by Aunt Alice in a chicken shed somewhere out in western Kansas in the 70's, refinished with her very own hands, and given to us right after we were married, NEEDS cushions. That's what I think, and feel certain Alice is smiling as she considers me building on her legacy. Who has done this and who knows where to buy the "inside part stuffing/foam" for them?  Maybe it says in the book by Arounna Khounnora (bookhou). If you have purchased it tell me what you thought of it please. Her Instagram feed inspires me greatly.

Do tell me what has captured your attention lately. In case I need to investigate for myself. 

the 5 day reset

I just completed my annual 5 day "re-set" program. You know, one of those things you challenge yourself to do for the heck of it. So you can see if your fortitude will win out over your desires. My re-set relates to eating and consists of trying to go very low calorie for 5 days in a row, no alcohol, plant based foods, and then at the conclusion resuming my usual eating habits but maybe being a bit more mindful of what I am putting in my mouth.

Food and I have a mostly healthy relationship but as with everything in life we also have our problems. I could never commit to giving anything up completely. The second I feel deprived things can go off the rails. Except with the 5 day re-set. That is a personal challenge to myself.

One of those things that is under my control, unlike so many things in the world.  The ability to focus my attention towards things that help me. That's what these seemingly unrelated photos all are. 

Strong emphasis on nature and the out of doors. 

Plus the indoor puttering and rituals that reflect the seasons. 

A good candle, fun matches, and a nice tablecloth can be very conducive to a healthy session of daydreaming.  

If you are someone who likes to collect yourself at the beginning of the year and do some kind of re-set, renew, recharge, I hope it sends you off in the direction you are aiming for.   

In a sturdy boat, with a spare oar, and a map of the stars to guide you. 

prohibition, the beginning of birth control, the Spanish flu epidemic, corsets, flappers, and on and on

I just finished listening to The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. Who by the way, is a Lawrence Kansas native. She hasn't contacted me to discuss dealing with writers block or plot pickles or anything like that, but still we have a connection. So on a stroll through the audiobook shelves recently, while waiting for my next request to be available, I spotted the title on the shelf in the library and snatched it up.

There was some of what I was expecting and a few twists and turns that I had not predicted.  Overall I found it to be an enjoyable listen. It takes place in the early 1900's and I very much enjoyed the references to history, including prohibition, the beginning of birth control, the Spanish flu epidemic, corsets, flappers, and on and on and on. I like a book with enough detail to make me feel like I am in the setting, but not so much detail that I want to say "oh come on and get on with the story". This book does that. 

 

you might wake up and think it was all a dream

Yo Sister!  Happy Birthday!  I hope you are going to be up and ready when the magic bus stops in front of Moss Cottage tomorrow morning to pick you up.  We are going on an adventure.  Stopping anywhere in the world you want to visit for a total of 24 hours. 

There is no need for sleep on the magic bus. We will be infused with boundless energy for the entire 24 hours. The driver is very friendly. She will smile and answer questions if you ask, but won't monopolize the conversation. She will just turn the wheel in the direction of the destination we name, and we will be there.  I let her know in advance we will want to visit our most favorite spots on the Amalfi coast, the coffee house in Sweden (she knew the one even though I could not recall the name - she says there are many requests for that spot),  the rooftop vistas in Portugal, the boat ride at night in Paris, the Sczechenyi baths in Budapest... you get the idea.  

If you prefer we can keep it simple and recreate the grand tour of California - with the addition of lunch on the front porch of our favorite cafe on Lummi Island and of course a ride on the Whatcom Chief ferry. Anywhere you want to go, we go. 

You will be dropped into your bed exactly 24 hours after we start. You might wake up and think it was all a dream. But we will know better. 

text messages and phone calls all ignored

In the first week of 2021, when I have not been working, I have occupied myself with an exploration of poetry.

As in reading, and also doing my own version of newspaper black-out poems, in the style of Austin Kleon.  Have you tried it? You must. It's fun in an unexpected way. Meaning the interesting finished product (I just circled words I liked without thinking how it would end up), as well as the pleasure of blacking out the unwanted words. The polka dot tape was my own idea. 

Maximum enjoyment is being derived as well from the neighbor kids' snowman,

and the filtered sunlight coming through clouds and bare branches on the day we cleared the driveway.

Red and white and green are still in evidence here at Tall Tales Headquarters. In the form of flowers as well as a house that remains fully decorated. 

There will be time enough in the days to come to slowly pack it all away. Work days are full of hurry and urgency. Much to accomplish, with only so many hours in the day. When I am at home, I feel the need to move in 3/4 time to make up for that. 

Today I was still for a long time as I read this WONDERFUL article that Dottie told me about. Text messages and phone calls, all ignored. While I sat, captivated once again by the writing of Ann Patchett. 

pure playtime joy

The tree thing, started on January 1st, continued on into January 3rd. It moved from watercolor, ink, cut... to cut out trees from old calendar, add newspaper, fire up the sewing machine. 

Then out came the toned gray paper.  Why not? Before you know it there was a small forest. 

Which begged to be set up on the water color pan before going back to the inspiration board.

These Caran D'Ache crayons have not seen the light of day for many moons. They will get more play time this month.  For sure. As will those colored pencils. 

It's hard to say exactly what it was that made these trees so much fun to me, but it was pure playtime joy. I want more of that feeling all year long. 

And while I am at it, more French toast with blueberries and raspberries on top because it was incredible. Bacon on the side. Cause you got to have the salty with the sweet. It's a balance thing.  

I have always enjoyed a new beginning

The New Years day snow arrived as expected. It's pretty, and it's heavy, and clearing it off the driveway and walkways is a most excellent way to burn up eggnog calories.  

Sister and I also did a New Years day art ZOOM. She sent me a link to someone on instagram who had made some trees that I wanted to try and do. I love it when Mary Ann sends me ideas like this. Things that make me want to get out the paints and watercolors and have a go.  

Oh boy it was fun. So much so that we are doing it again tomorrow.  Me making trees, her doing landscapes. Because as soon as I got done with these trees, I got ideas for more trees. As I was making them, having a wonderful time, I thought about how sometimes the idea of "copying" someone else seems "wrong". Then in the book below, which is wonderful by the way, there is discussion about how artists "borrow marks from one another all the time". How they have learned from each other throughout the centuries. And lets face it, these tree's are only being used for my absolute enjoyment. 

I enjoy them so much in fact, that I popped them on my inspiration board as soon as I cut them out.

I have been reading varied perspectives about 2020 on different blogs and elsewhere on social media. This one appealed to something in me. It was this sentence in particular, "It can happen in a breath, to lose what you have..." Boy is that true. This year has really brought that home. 

I don't have any deep thoughts or wisdom to share about the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021. I have always enjoyed a new beginning. This year is no different, with the exception that I am cherishing the thought of getting together with friends near and far, and hope not to take that privilege for granted ever again. 

P.S. if you decide to read A History of Pictures by David Hockney and Martin Gayford please do get the one for children.