Tall Tales from Kansas

please let this be so

Today, when my 8:30 Zoom meeting was unexpectedly cancelled, and I found myself all dressed up with nowhere to go, sitting in front of this computer, I decided to clean up my mailbox that contained 4,897 pieces of mail. Shameful, I know. But while doing that I came across a good book recommendation that I hadn't acted on yet, and more importantly this poem (from the Writers Almanac), which is a description of my idea of heaven. Don't you just love the phrase, "... at the tag end of life ..."?

Future Plans 
    by Kate Barnes

When I am an old, old woman I may very well be
living all alone like many another before me
and I rather look forward to the day when I shall have
a tumbledown house on a hill top and behave
just as I wish to. No more need to be proud—
at the tag end of life one is at last allowed
to be answerable to no one. Then I shall wear
a shapeless felt hat clapped on over my white hair,
sneakers with holes for the toes, and a ragged dress.
My house shall be always in a deep-drifted mess,
my overgrown garden a jungle. I shall keep a crew
of cats and dogs, with perhaps a goat or two
for my agate-eyed familiars. And what delight
I shall take in the vagaries of day and night,
in the wind in the branches, in the rain on the roof!
I shall toss like an old leaf, weather-mad, without reproof.
I’ll wake when I please, and when I please I shall doze;
whatever I think, I shall say; and I suppose
that with such a habit of speech I’ll be let well alone
to mumble plain truth like an old dog with a bare bone.

along with the stock arranged in a vase

Let's just start with this shall we?

Last week the double chocolate extravaganza did not make it to the basket. No way was I passing up the orange creamsicle this Saturday.  Nope. I don't know about you, but when we were kids a frozen fudge bar or an orange creamsicle were THE summer treats at the ball park, where we spent many hours watching brother play. In the basket it went. Straight away. Right after the last container of strawberries was passed back to me by the really nice lady in front of me in line at Moon on the Meadow's booth. 

Not sure if these tomatoes are hydroponic and/or grown in a tunnel, but aren't they pretty? 

The sea of broccoli was lovely as well. 

This hat was a stunner, especially in combination with that pink "hello kitty" patch on the back of the dress.

Seeing these made me miss the days of my red/pink knock out roses... so simple, so pretty. 

Yellow chanterelles were represented as well. Sauted with a bit of onion and garlic and lovingly ladled over a piece of pumpernickel toast covered in smashed avocado is how I would eat them. Bloody Mary on the side. 



Miss pink boots below preferred a doughnut. To each her own. 

I snapped up two bunches of stock for my flowers this week. The smell is heavenly. Mrs. Peters from Peters Family farms makes my favorite sourdough and I grabbed a loaf of that too. Toasted with butter, sometimes with marmalade, equally delicious.







Here’s the unpacked photo… along with the stock arranged in a vase.

and just one more, because… well you know why.

you are so loved, already

Here's a quick update on the happenings at Tall Tales Headquarters this Memorial Day weekend.

I fell hook line and sinker for these groupings of fat quarters at Sarah's Fabrics in Lawrence - Here There batiks by Marcia Derse. 

This neck warmer, which is in no way needed right now, came off the needles and got blocked. It turned out exactly as expected. I asked the chair to model it for you and it was most obliging. Thrown over the head no extra looping, lays perfectly, wonderfully soft. Pattern is the Ensata Cowl by Amy Van de Laar from Brooklyn Tweed. Yarn is Peerie (fingering weight) also from Brooklyn Tweed. Colorway is Treehouse and is a bit greener than it looks in this photo. This yarn is a dream to work with. 



Because something always has to be on the needles, I started this Color Affection wrap by Veera Valimaki using these yarns that were in my stash and seem to go together pretty will... time will tell. Pattern available on Ravelry. 

My wonderful local bookstore, The Raven, won Publishers Weekly bookstore of the year and I couldn't be prouder. Yay for local bookstores and all those who shop there.

Strawberry season will not be lasting much longer... I am taking advantage of every local strawberry I can eat. 

Fabrics are being washed for cutting, pressing, sewing.

Succulent pots were planted out back today. All caution to the wind. Do what you want. It may work out, it may not. Angie's plastic birds that have lost their wings were added to the mix along with shells, rocks, and other morning walk finds. 

Amidst all the sadness in the world right now, the Mulvenon's have welcomed Maya Louise into the family. Hope springs eternal. Welcome to the world baby girl, you are so loved. Already. 

why haven't I made soup in such a long time

The cloudy coolness last Saturday at the market was brightened considerably in several unexpected ways. Starting with this lady's basket.

There were colorful macarons - which I had not previously spotted for sale. 

Hot dogs for breakfast! It's good to have a partner for things like this. 

There was some kind of magic in the sky, spotted by these two. I was too busy looking at them to look up myself.

Flowers - yes, despite the presence of flowers in my own yard, no market trip is complete unless a bouquet gets put in the basket.

Zydeco music was back.

I also happened to get there in time for another pint of strawberries which continue to be simply wonderful.

This lettuce on THIS tablecloth. Sigh.

The carrots from Mellowfield farms  were plentiful.  Why haven't I made soup in such a long time. Note to self - get back at it.

Here is what I came home with.

The perfect complement of greens, asparagus, flowers, strawberries, macarons, and baklava.  

I'm running with it

Happy Sunday from Kansas, where my very brief "rose season" has commenced. I cut these earlier in the week. 

Here is what they look like today. Colors fading, still lovely and fragrant.  

These were snipped this morning while I was sitting out back, having coffee, contemplating what the day would bring. Thinking about Dottie and Christy flying home from Maui today. Chatting with brother on FaceTime. Enjoying videos of Sister's new kit kats - Iris and Otto. Oh what a pair. 

It's hard to believe my part-time gig has been in place for 2 months now. I stepped right into the new routine and haven't looked back. More time each week to do whatever ...  is hard to beat. When I go to work, I continue to feel in synch with the work flow and don't wish I was retired. This balance feels right.  I am enjoying the morning commute sunrises right now, which are the very best at the end of May and first part of June. 

I just finished Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout. An enjoyable read, and just like the first book, Olive Kitteridge, it's an interesting format - interacting with the main character from her own perspective but also the perspectives of others. Excellent for reading a chapter or two before bed. I picked this up months ago from a free library in Lawrence. Going to put it back there this week. 

My sewing machine got taken to the shop for it's annual physical since it hasn't had one since 2017. Where does the time go? It's funny when you can't do something how you want to do it even more than usual. While I was scrolling through instagram earlier today I saw a photo about a red and white quilt exhibit up in Lincoln Nebraska that is calling my name. Must investigate. The Joanna S. Rose Red & White Collection here's a link if you are interested and in the area. 

Dianthus have been harvested, and I also took advantage of my friend Pam's invitation to get some of her peonies this week.

Spring feels extra good this year. At least it does today. Which is what we are given so I'm running with it.

Lawrence walks: the Pinkney neighborhood

Last year, after enjoying neighborhood walks in other cities, a vow was made to do more of this in my own town. This is the second in the series. Today I present the Pinkney neighborhood. It's a favorite for the houses, yards, flowers, and general "coolness" factor. 

Right now in Lawrence the peonies and iris are in a head to head battle as the prettiest flowers around. 

The bachelor buttons are lovely right now as well, and always remind me of Angie. 

We stumbled upon a collection of plastic crows and discussed the "purpose" of them... "just because" was our final answer. 

There is always good stuff in side yards and backyards.

We wandered by a plaque commemorating "the hermit of Lawrence" and got our history lesson for the day. Chris and I decided if we were 20 years younger we would have scrambled through the weeds and down into the woods to see if we could spot the cave referred to in the plaque. We left things to our imagination instead. 



We wandered by the 2022 KU School of Architecture and Design home, which is always interesting to look at. 

It was fun to see one of this year's graduates, who worked on the project, showing it off to her family.

Finally, as we conclude this tour, what's not to love about some hanging hand-work on a front porch?

No maker was out for me to high-five, but I gave one anyway. 

what the heck

Playing around with scraps to make this pillow sham was good fun. Though it's hard to tell from these photos, I practiced some quilting. I also tried folding over the back of the sham to make the "binding" instead of making bias binding and attaching it separately. That was a mistake, but you have to try it to know that right? This method does not lay down as smoothly, at least it didn't for me. 

I am not 100% sold on the "matching" of a sham to a quilt, but what the heck. 

In other news, this dianthus, planted at least 10 years ago, has returned yet again.

It just hangs on to the rock wall and does its thing every year. A wonderful little plant for mini flower arrangements, that also provides plenty of pleasure as I look at it from the window over my sink. 

All the flowers are done for the year from the Rising Sun redbud but aren't the leaves just beautiful? 

I also finally went through the burpee catalog and ordered zinnia seeds to plant. It feels like maybe it's a bit later than last year but you can plant them all summer long so why not whenever you get around to it?

On the reading front, I finished the first of the Kurt Wallander series by Henning Mankell - Faceless Killers. As in the previous book I read by him,  The Shadow Girls (not part of the Kurt Wallander series), I was irritated at times by the main character and yet was compelled to see how it turned out. I will likely try the second in the series... to see if Kurt gets any smarter in his personal life as he is in his professional work. Actually, "smarter" is not the right word. He just struggles so, as we all do, with what seems to the reader (anyway) like the obvious best choices. If you've read the series do weigh in. This was the first book I have listened to on a library app (Hoopla) as opposed to an actual CD, which has opened up my listening options greatly. Plus, it makes me feel savvy. 

future farmers in training

This week at the market there were women balancing cute puppies and coffee and multiple bouquets while reaching for bags of asparagus.

There were snap dragons and gladiolas, people waiting for doughnuts, wonderful looking greens, and future farmers in training. 

There was carrot cake and pottery for sale.





I also noted youngsters in sunglasses eating their breakfast. Each in their own way. 





Best Farmers market outfits for the day went to this couple. 



Here is what I came home with...



and of course, this. A moist, dense, nutty, bit of cake to help us celebrate an anniversary. 

Isn't it a rule or something that you should have cake on such an occasion? 

a typical Kansas storm

These were the skies over Lawrence Kansas Sunday morning from 6:55 to 7:30 am, when I left the house, betting that I could get in a quick walk before the storms hit. 

They layers and patterns in the clouds were spectacular.









About 5 minutes after I walked back through the door, the storm hit. Lightning, thunder, blowing trees and grasses, an old metal chair skittered off the deck. In other words, a typical Kansas storm. 

indulge thine own self

Before I get new flowers at the market Saturday morning, indulge my need to share last weeks bouquet more fully. 

 Now go forth and indulge thine own self with some blossoms from your local market that will fill you with whatever you need this week. 

P.S. These tulips are from Cook's Market operated by Matthew and Amanda Cook in Baldwin City Kansas. They are at the Lawrence Farmers market on Saturdays. 

an unburdening

One might think that working part time instead of full time would translate to more not less blogging. What I am finding though, is that the extra time is going instead to sitting and thinking. Thinking about stuff like "No Mow May" which helps the bees.  

There is also the thinking and eating activities, as in how will I use the farmers market purchases. At this time of year it's pretty much just clean and eat. Strawberries with blueberries and yogurt, asparagus with greens and hard boiled eggs in a salad with a mustardy vinaigrette.  

Deciding if one piece of cake will make 3 desserts or only 2. This coconut/lime concoction may be my new favorite from the Chonky boys. Moist with a pop of lime in the frosting and the chew of the flaky coconut. 

The annual cleaning, filling, and plugging in of the fountain. 

Watching the rain on the hosta leaves. 



What I am actually finding is an unburdening. Letting go of the need to "do" without a reason. Especially some self-imposed rule that needs to be let go of. 

Chris and I are talking about a drive to Tulsa.  Who's been? On our agenda at this moment is The Philbrook Museum of Art, a botanic garden, and I just stumbled across Knit Stars which looks amazing. What else have you done there that we should investigate? Do tell. 

I passed up the doughnuts, knowing something else was waiting a few booths over

This line below was forming at 7:25 Saturday morning at the farmers market in Lawrence.

Here's why. Moon on the Meadow always has the first strawberries of the season. Small, sweet, red through and through. Worth getting to the market 5 minutes early for.

They had some amazing poppy bouquets too. 

As soon as I snagged my strawberries, I headed to my friends over at Pendletons for the first asparagus of the season. 

Bouquets were plentiful this weekend. Something for every mother. And every not-a-mother who loves flowers. Like me. 

Flowers are an essential element in my home and walking through this selection is like having the world spread out before you for the taking. Pure bliss.  

Mellowfield farms was back at the market this week. Cue the confetti and cheers. 

My favorite supplier of greens.

Right across from Mellowfields, is where Anthony has his table set up. Reliably excellent honey and his eggs are really pretty too. 

A shout-out this week to LCG farms for my favorite sign.  Their bok choy also looked tasty.

What could be more fun than being a kid at the market and knowing that at some point you were going to be able to pick your very own doughnut from a display case filled with the stuff that dreams are made of? 

Oh the deliberations.

But the very best part of this interaction was when I complimented the woman's wrap and her daughter told me "she made it herself!".  Followed by "my mom is a really good knitter!" Sweet x 1000. What a great Mother's Day present for that mom.  You will agree I am sure that the wrap is spectacular - pattern, colors, the whole deal. 

I passed up the doughnuts, knowing something else was waiting a few booths over. Something called the Coconut/Lime cake of the week from the Chonky boys. Seriously.  How pretty is that?

It's time to get to planting around these parts... and there was something for everyone for sale at the market. 

 

Just as I was leaving, I spotted this display of bagels... which I had not seen previously offered at the market.  An "everything" was selected and added to my basket. 

And that folks, is what was happening at the farmers market in Lawrence Kansas this week-end. 



I hope your markets are filled with as many delights. 

but not just any old carrot soup

In between blissing out on the blooming dogwoods and admiring the spring window decorations, I have been finishing up a pillow sham with the leftover fabric from the spots and stripes quilt. A pillow sham is a good place to practice quilting and piecing ideas without getting all serious about it. I learn best from doing things... even if they don't turn out quite as planned, it helps me figure out the best way to make something. 

There was also time for a lunch out with friends, where I ordered the carrot soup to start. But it wasn't just any old carrot soup. It was a curried carrot soup with spiced peanuts, pepitas, cilantro and bits of curried mango chutney on top.

Can you say DELICIOUS? I forced everyone at the table to take up their spoons and try a bite. It wasn't difficult. I hope The Restaurant at 1900 keeps it on their lunch menu until I am able to get back there and have it again. Next week might be too soon, but not the week after that. 

she told me I would get down on my knees and thank her

Weekends have a new freshness to them, when every Monday is not a work day. There is time for piddling. Selecting flowers for the first mini flower arrangement of the season, sitting on the front porch after pulling weeds. There is soil to be turned and amended, mulch to be laid, all in good time. 

My mind turns to thoughts of road trips to see Brother and Dottie and Sister. How would it be to jump in the car and go. Would I decide halfway to Albuquerque that it was a bad idea? No way to know except to try...

These are the week-old tulips right before I tossed them.  Let me age like a tulip please.  

I was a few minutes late for my date with the sun this week. It started without me, which was fine.

The tree sparrows are nesting in all the houses at the Baker Wetlands.



Green grasses are pushing up. 

Trails beckon and the wild phlox is blooming.



Oat milk lattes are a new favorite. Very creamy with a nice mouth feel. 

My finds from the beaches of California are sitting on my table and I am moving them around on different surfaces. It's addictive making patterns with different combinations.



In entertainment news, which you know will be old because Chris and I are the last one's to see whatever the new thing is. We started Atlantic Crossing last night. Gripping is how I would describe it. It is based on some thread of truth - how much I don't know, but I am seriously down a rabbit hole of looking up what was happening in Norway in WWII. We are watching on Amazon prime. There is only one season, 8 episodes. 

I was telling sister about it until she reminded me that she told me about it eons ago. She also told me I would get down on my knees and thank her when I followed her advice and watched Last Tango in Halifax and Seaside Hotel when we are done with this current series we are watching.