Tall Tales from Kansas

Where I fashion a set of stitch markers from washi tape

There may or may not be pictures included with this post. Not to worry though, I will describe the content of the photos in great deal so you can see them in your mind.

I got up at an ungodly early hour this morning to head to Virginia to see my brother. Flying, not driving. Which is always a bit of a thing these days. It’s not really the flying itself. It’s all the potential for mishaps and misadventures, that can accompany travel.

The sky, clouds, sun, were beautiful from my window seat.  

While the fellow behind me chatted with his seatmate, and proceeded to drink 2 Bloody Mary’s followed by a Woodford reserve on the rocks, followed by another Woodford reserve on the rocks. I got out my knitting needles, and began to work on a pair of fingerless gloves. 

I like to knit on a plane because I can’t get up and do 17 other things instead of concentrating on the task at hand. Also, it fully occupies my mind and makes the time go quite fast. Despite the fact that I left my small bag with stitch markers, scissors, and other knitting notions at home, I got along quite well. I fashioned a pair of stitch markers out of the washi tape, which worked perfectly.

I have been meaning to replace these fingerless gloves that were stolen from sisters car about a year ago. You have to love a car burglar, who has good taste, and knows a quality pair of fingerless mitts when he sees one. I bought the yarn and pattern for the originals years ago on Bainbridge Island when we went to Churmouse Yarn. Such a lovely store that was. 

It is likely I will not post further during my time away from home. Brother and I have much to catch up on. I need his brain that is four years older than mine to help me recall things about our childhood that I have been having difficulty locating in my memory banks lately. I do not know who took the files with the visual images of all the many homes we lived in when we were growing up. And for some reason, I really want to recall the layout of the rooms in our houses.

P. S. I would like to report that it was not necessary for me to leap over my seat and handle any behavioral issues with Bloody Mary/bourbon man. I was prepared to remind him of the code of honor/good behavior when on a plane, just in case he forgot.

The End

 

satisfying on so many levels

Oh me, Oh my, what a book.

My latest finish was a story that is really several stories wrapped up in one. It has so much in it - a harsh father, an evil step-mother, star crossed lovers, the plague, the death of a wonderful boy, and on and on. It is the story of William Shakespeare (though he is never named in the book) and his wife Agnes, in a novel form, so loosely based on a part of their lives. 

Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell, is written so beautifully. The words and sentences are structured in a way that is almost musical, though that may not make sense unless you listen to it read perfectly by Ell Potter. I enjoyed this one immensely. It is satisfying on so many levels - characters, language, setting, story, all hit the mark for me.

Highly recommended. 

The American White Pelican trail

This is the perfect Thanksgiving hike that wasn't. Because of 2 days of rain that would have made it a muddy mess on the day it was to be hiked. It had everything required to make it enjoyable. 

 

Water views, leaf covered paths, and most exciting of all - a siting of American white pelicans on 2 consecutive days. 

There was a nice table for sitting or using to stretch, followed by a forest of trees whose leaves have left for the season.  

It was well marked and a good ticker pounder if you wanted it to be. 

Not to worry, this hike, now named The American White Pelican trail, will be hiked on the next "warm-enough" day when it it not snowing or raining. It's nice to have a back up trail all ready to go, that will be sure to delight all who decide to venture out with me. 

I would be remiss not to mention it again

On the day after the day after Thanksgiving, if you can, make yourself a pot of old fashioned oats. Then open the refrigerator, pull out the left over cranberry sauce, an apple, and some greek yogurt. Next, as the coffee finishes brewing, go to the pantry and take out some hazelnuts. Other nuts will do as well.  Then layer a bowl of fruit, oats, yogurt, cranberries, and nuts. Take yourself to the table and slowly enjoy this tasty treat as you read the paper, or watch it snow. Or both. I have spoken of this combination before, but I would be remiss not to mention it again while you still have some leftover cranberry sauce in your refrigerator. You can thank me later. 

The first snow of the season today is beautiful. Even more so because I am at home, finishing up an excellent book, and have a fireplace to sit in front of.  

Chris and I engaged in the first round of the Clue tournament that occurs annually around this time. I was victorious in the initial game of serious detective work. 

In other news, I soaked, stretched, and pinned my latest needlepoint finish out to dry today. With the help of my friend Mary Joan, I am going to put a wrapped cording on this one and make a pillow out of it. It feels wonderfully luxurious to have these few days to just hang out. Catch up. Nap. Read. Watch a movie. Speaking of ... we watched NYAD on Netflix last night and enjoyed it. Trailer below if you are interested. You may need to click on the "watch on YouTube" in the lower left corner to be able to see it. 

 

when watched with an animated 3 1/2 year old

Happy November 24th also known as "house re-ordering after hosting thanksgiving day". You know, where you wash all the table linens, put away the silverware, and vacuum under the table before you grind in all the lovely things that happened to fall as you sat around the table and delighted in a wonderful meal and good conversation.

Every single year I have been known to say "THIS is the best Thanksgiving meal we have ever had!" But this year I seriously mean it. I may say that every year too. After desert I sat on the couch with Alice who explained to me all the plot twists and turns of Frozen as we watched Anna and Elsa. We will have a date to watch part 2 sometime. Every kid movie is much better when watched with an animated 3 1/2 year old. 

Sending warm wishes from tall tales headquarter to every one of you over this long holiday weekend.

P.S. Happy 100 Marti Huff!

crabby appleton's

Another option for Turkey Day hike might be Rock Chalk Park. It was quite lovely this week when I scouted it out. If only Thanksgiving was going to be sunny and between 45 and 5o degrees. Partly paved and partly rough trails through the woods/prairie, part sun, part shade. There are a few steep grades that might not be appreciated though. 

I love the look of a crabapple tree after the frost has zapped it. The fruit is still so pretty.  We refer to them as crabby appletons. 

I am having the best time trying to find the perfect hike. Why haven't I done this in the past? A good scouting run makes so much sense. 

always room for a mini pumpkin

Saturday was the last day of the Lawrence farmers market for the regular season. Vendors are thinning out - less produce, cold weather, fewer shoppers... it's time to say goodbye for the year. I was really glad that I was able to snag mini pumpkins to use as part of my holiday tablescape. It's never too extravagant. We need space for people, plates, utensils, napkins, glasses - there is no extra room for anything unessential. But there is always room for a mini pumpkin. 

I was able to obtain them all from one of my favorite farm couples. 

These three were trying to decide what to have for breakfast. Sausage biscuit seemed to be in the lead, but there is not need to be hasty with such an important decision. 

I bid adieu to my favorite baklava bakers. 

As she happily waved good-bye for me she let me know that she had given some thought to a modeling career. I let her know it wasn't too late.

He was not letting the cold bother him at all. Not one bit. 

As you can see, I came home with a sizable group of items. 

Are those beeswax hive and morel mushroom candles not the cutest things you have ever seen? And with that, I conclude another year of visits to the Saturday morning farmers market. Until we meet up again, baskets in arms, at the corner of 9th and New Hampshire, on the second Saturday in April, I will endeavor to keep you entertained on this blog with other tales of mystery and intrigue. 

a nice medium hike if you will

Right at this exact moment I am meant to be doing something in preparation for Thanksgiving. Which in a way this. I am trying to decide which hike will be the best to take on Turkey day, and this requires a test run. A walkabout of the trail to be sure that it will be just the right one. Not too long or short, neither easy or hard, a nice medium hike if you will. 

If the hike has a well worn path, filtered sunlight, red leaves, and hedge apples, so much the better. 

A nice place to stand, stretch, rehydrate, and bliss out after a hike is also good. 

This one might be it. North Shore trails at Clinton Park, more specifically the white trail. But others are still being considered. 

if you are in any way related to, or know Jim Sharp

As I scrolled through pictures today of my friend Marti Huff, I noted that we have been having regular lunches together for about 5 years now. As with all things we measure in hours, days, months, and years, it simultaneously feels like a good long time and like it has gone by in a flash.

This week we ventured out East to Independence Missouri to celebrate the occasion of Marti's almost 100th birthday. Her real birthday is next week, but when you are turning 100, and you have lived a rich, full, life, there are many people who want to celebrate with you on this grand occasion. Nancy made us a reservation at Ophelias on the square and we had a lovely time. As we always do. 

Marti told us about Jim Sharp, a young man whom she considered to be attractive and worthy of her attentions. She did not say she had designs on him, but it was implied. Anyway, when he came to pick her up for their first date, as she carefully picked her way out to the car across a treacherous field of slick pavement, she hit a patch and went down, leaving her legs knifed straight out in front of her, beneath the body of the car. Oh the indignity of it all, and to think 80 years after the fact, it still makes a good story.

Next was the story about how the milkman was the person who taught her how to drive. Her dad was a traveling salesman and away from home regularly so the milkman took her under his wing and gave the lessons. He went so far as to back the car out of the driveway, prior to commencing, so she would not have to learn how to back up before they had covered the basics of going forward.

One of the best things about spending time with Marti is these snippets of stories she shares of times gone by. You can't make this stuff up. We ate good food, discussed the fleetingness of life, and shared some apple tart tatin that was divine. You must have dessert when you are celebrating 100 years of a life WELL lived. 

P.S. though it is very unlikely, if you are in anyway related to, or know Jim Sharp please let him know that Marti Huff does recall that first date, but she kept the rest of the details of the evening secret. 

someone pegged them to the clothesline

The dried sunflower head from the farmers market has been added to the front porch fall basket. We'll see if any creatures decide to have a nibble or drag it off. Which would be perfectly ok. 

The squirrel's have discovered and sampled this gourd in the last week. 

They left this one, along with the pumpkins, completely alone. 

Meanwhile, these leaves are hanging on as it someone had securely pegged them to a clothesline... to withstand gale force winds. 

The maple just said it was done and dropped most of it's pretty red/orange leaves. 

Just a few stragglers left.  Chris gathered them up and I put them all over my flower beds. A winter boost for the soil. 

Meanwhile, this beauty down the street is stunning, especially when gazing up from under the canopy. 

My experiment in eating fermented foods is going well. As in, this stuff is good! 

I like to imagine it's doing all sorts of healthy/beneficial things for my body as I eat it. 

flying in, flying out

The other day on a Marco Polo, one of my fellow midwesterner friends said she did not think she could ever leave the midwest, because of the beauty that is fall. Fleeting though it is, and sandwiched between extremes of heat and cold, I agree with her 100%.  This was a recent morning walk with a chill in the air, with mist rising up from the water at the wetlands. 

I was so happy to see more water than has been present of late in the wetlands. The ginger, nutmeg, toast, cinnamon/sugar, porridge,  colors of fall are so lovely, especially when combined with the smells of the leaves and grasses. 

There is no better way to begin a day, than with a walk such as this. 

I hope we have a wet winter and continue to replenish the water for the migrating birds. It was really wonderful to see the geese on the water again. Flying in, flying out, calling out to each other. I don't know what they are communicating, but I love to hear it. 

gone straight to the bistro dining hall in heaven where lunch is served from 11am until 2pm

This is one of those "flight of ideas" posts. You know where I want to show you pictures of things so I make up a loose story to go with them.  Or not. Basically these are all the non-leaf fall photos I have taken lately. 

First up is this pot of buttery mums with white collars. 

Followed by fall morning walks with stupendous clouds. 

This was on the way to work one day last week when I went in later than usual, and my drive coincided with this amazing sunrise. 

I did a presentation at work that day, and after something like that, I treat myself by going to The Filling Station Coffee Garage that is close to the med center. It's important after a presentation to sit, sip, and reflect.  

And then they called my name and I went to the counter and grabbed my Gillham bowl (shown below). An amazing concoction of quinoa, avocado, black beans, pickled red onion, pumpkin seeds, radish, and cilantro, topped with an egg and lime crema. 

An assortment of flavors and textures so pleasing I was certain I had died and gone straight to the bistro dining hall in heaven where lunch is served from 11am until 2pm. If you are in Kansas City, get to one of the filling station coffee locations and order one. 

prize for cute dress worn at a cold November market

If you don't have a centerpiece planned for thanksgiving this year, this idea was on display at the farmers market on Saturday. Thanks Karen Pendleton! 

When I saw these sunflower heads I made a mental note to hold back 5 dollars so I could get one at the end of my shopping spree. 

I stopped to eavesdrop on Mr. Pendleton giving instructions on squash cooking.

The prize for cute dress worn at a cold November market goes to her.

This week I stopped to investigate "Wild Alive" fermented foods. I recently listened to a podcast about the microbiome and heard this is an excellent way to enhance it. I bought a few jars to try. 

One last basket of Arkansas Blacks came home with me. 

I loved her morel candles!

Check out the super cool kohlrabi. Next year I am going to figure out how to use this wonderful looking food. 

I already know how to use Black Forest cake. 

Here is my basket for the week. I am going to investigate recipes for thanksgiving for my super large butternut squash. 

As soon as that last photo was taken I washed the greens and individually wrapped the cranberry orange scones and espresso muffins from the Chonky bakers. 

Next week is the last official market of the season except for the holiday market which is December 9th from 9am to 4pm at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Sigh. 

I thought at the time "this is something I will like"

As is often the case with books, the memory of who told me about them, or where I read about them is forgotten. BUT I do recall, when I add them to my list of books to read, that I thought at the time, "this is something I will like". This was true as well with Love & Saffron by Kim Fay. 

It's a different sort of story, about 2 women who begin a correspondence in the early 1960's, after one of them reads a column written by the other. They each get something from this relationship that causes the correspondence to continue over the course of some years. It is lovely for the discussions of food, the evolution of a friendship, and what it was like being a woman in the 1960's. It's a quick read, if you want it to be. I lingered over it slowly. One of the women lives in LA and the other in the Seattle area. If you are like me, you enjoy seeing in your mind's eye, the places that are visited in a novel.

A pleasurable little read. It made me want to be a better letter writer. 

the season of leaves

Listen, I know I just did a post about leaves. My own leaves. But, it is the fall and there are lots of trees in Lawrence that are not my own that are pretty nice. So this is a "not-mine" leaf post, because it's the season of leaves. 

That little tiny tree with the lemon yellow leaves may not be as glorious as the red above, especially with the sun coming up through it's leaves, but against the blue sky with white clouds it's holding it's own out there in a field of oatmeal colored grasses. 

if it's on the spur of the moment, so much the better

Saturday I headed out on an adventure to Concordia Kansas - to visit Dottie and Mary Fran. I take after Dad, in that I LOVE to get up early when I am hitting the road. Starting out in the dark is my favorite. When the sun comes up, it's like a restart, and the trip clock begins from there, except I already have an hour or so under my belt. Maybe it's just a mind over matter thing, but I love watching the sun come up from the road. Especially with a nice big cup of hot coffee. 

It was a delight to see Mary Fran and Dottie.  We strolled around the grounds of the motherhouse/Nazareth Convent. All sorts of lovely things to see, including a wonderful grotto I always love to visit. 

It's a beautiful spot. The sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia started Marymount College in Salina, where I went to nursing school. I have been visiting off and on here for many years. 

For dinner, we sat around the cozy table in the kitchen and ate butternut squash soup, salad, bread, and wine. We thought about trying to solve all the problems of the world but instead just enjoyed each other's company.  

Here is what we saw in the extra hour we had on Sunday morning. 

Dottie dressed up so I could take her picture before I hit the road, and just like that I was heading back to Lawrence Kansas. 

I do so love a short little visit. It felt longer than a day. I think Dottie should come up to Concordia once a month so we can get together. I will suggest this to her. If she had her way, she would do it. Our sister Dottie likes to travel, if it's on the spur of the moment, so much the better.

all the things that leaves do

My very own trees, in my very own yard, of my very own house, in my very own town, have been lovely as they changed colors this month. In the sun, clouds, rain, and frost, they have done all the things that leaves do when the seasons change. 

Absolutely delightful, I never grow tired of sitting and observing. 

he becomes forever entwined in their rich, full, messy, beautiful lives.

When I completed Rebecca a few weeks back, I felt certain I would have to muddle through a less than good next read in return for that gift of an excellent literary experience. But somehow the God's smiled on me and Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano came up as available on my library request list.

Before I dive into my feelings about the book, can we just talk about that amazing painting on the cover? Wow, wow, wow! Jessica Miller is the artist and I just absolutely love her style. 

So, back to the book.  This is the story of William Waters, a young man who was brought up in a home with no love or attention from his parents.  When he goes to college he collides with Julia, one of the close knit Padovano sisters and he becomes forever entwined in their rich, full, messy, beautiful lives. This story is told, by turns, from the perspective of all the major characters. I was fully immeshed from the get go. 

Read by Maura Tierney, who voiced these characters perfectly. 

Highly recommended.