Tall Tales from Kansas

share some details

Things that are occupying me lately include a nice sunset...

... and the emergence of the queen lime red zinnias.  These are from new seeds that I didn't plant until later in the season. The whole queen lime series of zinnias are simply divine. 

Probably most importantly is the trip that Sister and I are planning to England. It started with a Marco Polo from sister in which she said "we're going to the Cotswolds aren't we?" to which I replied "YES!" and it hasn't stopped since. We did a FaceTime art session and drew maps. Well she drew maps while I drew A map. More of those to follow. The Cotswolds is the area in green. Next up is a map of just that area. Drawing maps is extremely fun. As long as no one is going to use them to try and get somewhere. 

There was also a nice long walk last Sunday. I like a long walk one day a week. Especially when the weather is cooler early in the morning. This one was spectacular. 

Now I am off to go investigate more cottages in the Cotswalds. It's important to find just the right one... and there are so many to evaluate.

If you have been on a walking tour of the Cotswalds do share some details. 

it sounded that good

As I passed this beautiful basket of purple eggplant at the market yesterday, I heard John Pendleton telling a woman how he likes to chop it up with other vegetables, toss it in a skillet and make an omelet.  Unless he finds himself short on eggs, in which case he scrambles one egg into it all, and it makes a wonderful breakfast like that.  I almost carried the whole basket away with me. It sounded that good. Accompanied by a slice of Mrs. Peter's sourdough toast with salted Irish butter on top. Hot coffee with cream on the side. 

I ambled over to wait in line for peaches next. In front of me was this young girl rocking a head scarf like nobody's business. I snapped her from the back because I didn't want to interrupt her while she was eating her breakfast sandwich. When I was in college, many moons ago, I would roll out of bed some mornings, throw a bandana on my head (exactly like this), and head to class. Bandana's are way cuter these days. 

About 10 minutes later, when I was grabbing my peppers for fajitas tonight, she came over to the same booth, and was quite agreeable to post for a photo from the front.

Her future may include something to do with the fashion industry. I love her confidant demeanor. 

Next up were these two - on a mission, but prepared for the chance of rain, in case. 

How about a kimchi grilled cheese for breakfast? This one smelled crazy good. 

I stopped for kale bundled carefully by this basket straightener and sign fixer. She's the perfect helper. I need her to come and live with me. 

I wondered what these three were discussing, so I had to ask... BOOKS! What better topic? 

That gorgeous heirloom tomato above was purchased at Moon on the Meadow from the farmers shown below... who are always smiling and have the BEST background for photos.  

Next stop? Cake of the week... or at least that was the plan, 

until I saw the brown butter blondies with macadamia nuts and white chocolate. 

Finally, as I headed to the car with a very full basket, I came upon these 2 headed in to the market for a guaranteed good time.  

More peaches for the week, plus green beans, kale, cucumbers, baklava, and that blondie.

Blondies herald the beginning of autumn baking season. Don't they? Who is looking forward to fall? Raise your hand!

Clara is finally wising up

I just finished listening to A Trick of the Light, book # 7 in the Three Pines series with Inspector Armand Gamache, by Louise Penny. I do enjoy a quick visit to the Eastern Townships and a chance to catch up with a most interesting group of characters. I love how they continue to develop as the stories unfold. This particular book involves the murder of a woman Clara knew when she was young but had fallen out with long ago.  

As they work on the case, flushing out all possible suspects, we find the Chief Inspector and Jean-Guy Beauvoir continuing to recover from past injuries.  The culinary delights served at the bistro remain tantalizing to read about, and it appears that Clara is finally wising up about that no-good (in my opinion) husband of her’s, Peter. 

A most satisfying listen, and of course it is highly recommended. 

a quilt of lunches

The other day, the Huff lunch club met. It was actually the Huff lunch club plus 3 minus 1 and one of the plusses was a teeny tiny sweet great grandson who slept in his stroller and paid us no never mind as we feasted and gabbed. How it is that I missed getting a photo of Devin, Meredith, and Marti is beyond me, but that's the honest truth. Stuff happens. It gave me the opportunity to go back and review lunch photos from the last few years, pick my favorites, and piece them all together. Like a quilt. A quilt of lunches. 

Marti told us about a neighbor she had when she was a single working girl. His name was C.J. Doney and he was quite a character... one of the things he was most known for was "never issuing a noun without a God Damn before it".  As in the "God Damn stools" at the Harvey Diner at the old Union station that were apparently quite uncomfortable if you had hemorrhoids. I'll say it again, it's a joy having someone bring history to life with tales of times gone by. She also introduced us to this little ditty as a commentary on our current run of hot days ... "we'll weather the weather whatever the weather whether we like it or not". I wish I would have gotten a video of her rendition, but you should know Marti has perfect pitch, along with all her other talents.  

while I have another cup of coffee

The 100 degree temperatures we have been having of late have not deterred me from sitting on the front porch. It's the best spot for contemplating. About anything, from the state of the world to the health of my plants. Which by the way, you will note below, are tolerating the temperatures just fine. As long as I don't fuss over them to much and try to drown them. 

The fan directly above my chair is set on "4". A speed I have not needed before this particular hot spell. It's the perfect amount of air movement to keep things tolerable, and the bugs away. 

The Swedish ivy agrees. I stuck a twig in the pot the other day to encourage upward growth. Can you do such a thing? All gardening is an experiment, why not try? 

Meanwhile the geraniums have started a new phase of blooms, despite the heat. 

This sansevieria trifasciata needs to be transplanted into a larger pot. I am always amazed at how much it, and my jade plants, prefer being outside instead of indoors.  They all put on a big growth spurt while on the porch over the summer. 

Hmm what bigger pot to put it in? Surely there is one somewhere in this house that is just right. Something else to think about. While I have another cup of coffee. 

a story of hardship, faith, tragedy, love, and miracles

When I look back in December at all the books I have finished in 2023, Peace Like a River by Leif Enger will be a top contender for my best read of the year.  I have completed many good books this year, but this is one of those in a class by itself.  Reuben, Swede, Jeremiah, and Davy are characters written in a way that stay with a reader. It's a complex (and yet simple) story of hardship, faith, tragedy, love, and miracles. Leif Enger knows how to turn a phrase. I found myself re-reading things, sometimes out loud, to more fully enjoy how he puts words together. 

I am giving this a quadruple highly recommended rating, and am glad I have my own copy to keep on the shelf for a re-read in the years to come. 

all bases covered

This morning, at the farmers market, for the first time EVER, I stood in line for peaches! Never in my memory has there been a line for peaches. But clearly the word has gotten out about them. 

They were sacking 'em up and handing them out without missing a beat. I hate that I did not get the name of this farmer.  Next week. 

In the meantime, look at this gorgeous basket of greens. This week I am making kale salads with red pepper, zucchini, and a container of Lebanese bean salad.  I love that it can sit in the frig for days and holds up so well. 

This foursome was discussing something important, probably how they were going to keep cool later in the afternoon when the temps are getting up to 109 degrees Fahrenheit. I told them to go by and each get a bottle of Thuy's turmeric water while they were there. 

This week I decided to feature "guy on bike" since last week it was "girl on bike". Truthfully it was the t-shirt that caught my eye. He talked his friend with the beard into joining him for the shot.  

I got a tomato because how can you not when they look this gnarly good? 

I admired her selection methods. I like to act like I know what I am doing when making my choices of what to purchase. 

This musician was crooning "... oh I get by with a little help from my friends"...  as I strolled by.  I was tempted to drop my basket and harmonize with him but then remembered myself. 

The flowers above were colorful... almost as lovely as the dresses of the arrangers selling them.  Oh I do love a cute dress, especially in the summer. 

Yep, one more succulent came home. 

Here's the basket contents for the week.

All bases covered. 

how 'bout you?

These are all the "things" from this past week. Good stuff that caught my attention or flitted through my mind. Possibilities dreamt about. Some have pictures to go with, some don't.  This way you have to insert your own visual which is likely just as good. Maybe better.

On a morning walk I spied a group of 5 neighborhood kids who met up at the corner to all ride their bikes together to school. Backpacks on their backs that you know were likely filled to the brim with stuff they can't wait to get into.  Oh how I loved my new supplies.  Right this second I can smell a freshly sharpened pencil as if I were standing in front of the pencil sharpening apparatus in Mrs. Berg's second grade classroom. The metal kind you operated by hand, that was affixed to the chalk board near the front of the class. 

Above are the the pickled peppers and garlic I mixed in with the grilled corn from last week's market. It turned into a most pleasing simple salad. 

You may not want to hear more about zinnias, but holy moly! They are on fire.

The peach/blueberry/yogurt/honey breakfast that happens almost every single day during fresh peach season in Lawrence Kansas. 

It's gonna be a hot one this week here in Lawrence. Temps in the 100's. There is a quilt I want to work on. A top I want to cut out and start sewing. A needlepoint I want to finish. The spirit wants many things but the body wants to sit and stare. I am almost done reading one book and listening to another. I am in that predicament of wanting to know what happens but dragging things out because I will miss these casts of characters when I am done. Ideas for trips to the ocean, or the mountains, or the desert, or a quaint village in a foreign country want to be fleshed out. This is the current state of mind/body/spirit in Lawrence Kansas. How 'bout you? 

 

treated unfairly at every turn

Since the beginning of May, the Kansas Summer Reading camp has finished 9 books. The last selection, was Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I could not stop listening to it, in the car, on my walks, while needlepointing, unloading the dishwasher - you get the idea. It drew me in from the first few pages, kept my attention, and I really liked Elizabeth Zott (the main character). Elizabeth is a chemist in the 1950's/60's and is treated unfairly at every turn based solely on the fact that she is a woman. 

I feel certain that many of you have read it, and I will want to know what your thoughts were. I don't think it will spoil anything to tell you that all the things got wrapped up pretty neatly at the end.  Endings are hard. When they are all tidied up that sometimes feels the same as when too many things are left for the reader to figure out. All that said, I highly recommend this book.  If you have one last trip to take this summer pack it in your bag, you will not regret it. 

that darling little donkey tale succulent

Peaches were front and center again this week at the farmers market. Lucious, juicy, and perfectly ripe. I love a basket with some ready to go when I get home and a few that are a bit more firm to take me through breakfasts for the week. I used to make peach cobbler with most of the peaches from the market, now I just peel them and eat them for breakfast. 

This week I am attempting to pickle some peppers with garlic to go along with some grilled corn for a slightly different take on the corn salad I made last week. 

Sausage biscuits for breakfast below with a baby saying they are ready to hold their own if you don't mind please. 

Carrots, zucchini, and cucumbers were picked up here - I like being able to get just the amount of each I want. I also had a great conversation with her (below) about why it makes sense to bike to the market. 

I chased the woman below down so I could get a photo of her along with her bag. This is what I mean about my people being at the market. 

One of these heirloom tomatoes was picked for sandwiches this week. I do love a good cherokee purple. 

They have a scavenger hunt for kids each week at the market and these 3 were all over it. 

Pina Colada was the cake of the week. Yes please. I also got an espresso muffin because even though it's still summer that slightly molasses, dense, not too sweet concoction was calling my name. 

Here is what came home with me. 

I was happy to get juice and protein balls this week from Thuy, then there was that darling little "donkey tale" succulent. Yes, it's August. No, I don't need another plant. But still, my succulent pot out back felt like it needed it. Who am I to argue with a potted plant?

I have them trained not to rely on being over tended

Before I head to the market in the morning I feel compelled to show you a few things related to last week. Starting with the elderberry lemon cake which was fantastic. The elderberries add a little pop/crunch and a very faint blackberry taste that paired perfectly with the lemon. 

My zinnias are pumping out the flowers like nobody's business and did not suffer from lack of attention while I was gone. Zinnias are tough, and I have them trained not to rely on being over-tended. 

The sweet corn last week was stupendous! I did make the grilled corn, zucchini, red onion, pickled jalapeño, splash of lime thing I told you about and it was like eating summer in a bowl. Will make again. 

The succulent pot out back also survived perfectly fine without me and in fact, is starting to send up some spikes with flowers. You gotta love that. 

not having the generation above me to confer with

Since the trip to Shenandoah was a "family" vacation. You are likely expecting to see photos of kinfolk, which is excellent because of course I am going to show you some. However, I have combined multiple photos into two mosaics, for ease of viewing. Mosaic #1 is the Mulvenon clan on hikes or at the house we rented. Owen, Maya, Chase, and Bryce kept us entertained with the things that kids do... Bryce would be aghast at the reference to being a kid, he's doing geometry after all, but still...

Mosaic #2 is the Moss clan. That's brother Ray and Cheryl, with their daughter, daughter in law, and all 5 grandkids. We met at a halfway point between Richmond and Shenandoah - at a great "cidery" with wonderful outdoor seating under big trees. It was like we were hanging out in someone's back yard except you could order off the menu. And no one had to do the dishes. 

It was really great to be able to actually see and spend time with everyone and catch up on what's going on in our respective lives.  When did I become one of the oldest generation when I still identify (in some ways) with the 40 year olds? And how I regret not having the generation above me to confer with about all of it. 

This is where I close with a thoughtful comment about the cycle of life... which I leave to you to add on your own.

the puffy whiteness of clouds against the background of the earth or sky

While I dislike greatly the "traveling" part of travel, as in the hassles of getting to the airport, the possibility of delays, missed flights, cancellations, and re-booking... I do like very much the actual "flying" part of travel. I like a window seat and also happen to be one of those geeks who likes to take photos of the clouds out of that usually dirty, little porthole, that doubles as a window. 

I like rising into the clouds, getting above the clouds, and especially being sandwiched between layers of clouds. 

Sometimes you can catch a sunrise or a sunset which can be glorious, but I am equally happy with the puffy whiteness of clouds against the background of the earth or sky. 

the views into the valley were especially nice

Shenandoah National Park did not disappoint. With multiple hiking trails, for all skill levels, and easy access to the trailheads off skyline drive, where you could also stop at many points to just stare off into the distance, it was just so easy to enjoy. 

The weather was perfect, the trails well maintained but not overly crowded, lots of shade overhead, and fragrant flowers blooming. 

The views into the valley were especially nice for someone from Kansas who doesn't do a lot of looking down into valleys... 

The hikes we picked were moderate, which were plenty challenging enough for me.

If you go, you will want to stop at the visitors center and pick up a book with a listing of the hikes, where they start, the total distance, a rating, and some good tips for the specifics about the trail. We found it to be helpful. 

the story I made up in my mind about them

As always happens, when I am out of town and miss a market, the first trip back means a heavy basket. This week was no exception. Especially with bags of corn, cantaloupe, and boxes of peaches for sale. 

Dryer balls, red cabbage, and a basket of lovely breads that would have been perfect for a bread plate starter (accompanied by olive oil, salted butter, and an olive tamponade) were all for sale today.  

A bowl of perfect peaches were snatched up as well as a bundle of curly kale. 

These two caught my eye with their groovy tee shirts. 

I do not know what these orange spotted spheres are, but aren't they cool looking? The farmer who was selling them was deep in a conversation about something else with another customer so I grabbed the photo and kept walking. 

The cake of the week was an elderberry lemon number. Could not pass it up. 

Here's the haul for the week. I am going to turn some of that corn into a salad with zucchini, red onion, a squeeze of lime, maybe some finely chopped pickled jalapeños. 

I was delighted that the cantaloupe I picked was exceptional. Soft but not mushy, flavorful without being overly ripe, it will be perfect with salt and pepper as part of lunch for work this coming week. I might need to make myself a red and white checked napkin to tuck into the neck of my scrubs while I am eating. 

The corn and the cantaloupe were purchased from the sisters in photo #1 at the start of this post. I saw them the minute I walked into the market this am, and circled back as I was leaving.  I hope they are back next week so I can see if they story I made up in my mind about them is close to the truth. 

It's good to be home!