Tall Tales from Kansas

it's resting spot awaits

This morning, on my walk by the river, the water was calm. A woodpecker way up high was tapping out a message, spring green was up and down and all around, I heard a train whistle, and felt the coolness of the air on my skin. 

There were red bud trees, geese flying low over the river, and quiet birdwatchers with binoculars at the ready. 

Concentric rings spread out from the geese as they dipped their heads into the water, searching for a bite. A large turkey buzzard soared on a current overhead.

Three caps from bottles of screw-top wine were left on a bench where the friends who drank them last night watched the sun set as they listened to the birds from this very location. 

The great blue heron has not returned to the pond, but its resting spot awaits. 

A thoughtful woman in her gray hoodie sat, sketchbook open, contemplating her approach to the bridge and the sunrise in her drawing. 

These were the things I saw at 8:07 on the Saturday before Easter at the church of the glassy river where nature was adorned in all its magnificent finery. 

After all this, I sat at the Sunflower Cafe/Bike Shop on Massachusetts and sipped on a blueberry latte (sounds weird but it was perfect) and considered all I had seen. Each thing pressed onto a page in my mind that can be referred to at will when a big dose of endorphins is needed. 

why she takes cases that involve reuniting families

It is with much sadness that I report I have finished listening to Celine by Peter Heller. I got it from the library on CD and have been listening to it on a 90's era boom box, upstairs in the art room, while I work on my quilt. There is a comfortable chair in front of some windows up here and it's perfect for stitching, and listening. I have been completely taken with the character Celine. A 60 something private eye who surprises you at every turn with her ability to take command of any situation using her weaknesses as strengths. I just hate that there are no more stories featuring her as the main character, but sometimes that's for the best. I guess.  

Peter Heller skillfully crafts a story of a young woman, searching for her father, who enlists the help of Celine. While she is working on the case of this disappearance that happened 20 years ago, we learn about Celine, and why she takes the cases that involve reuniting of families. It is a well told story that unfolds at a perfect pace and in a well described setting that makes you feel like you are following along for the ride. Note to self: get yourself up to Montana, in the fall, while you are still able to amble around. 

Highly recommended. I am off to chase down this authors other books because if they are as good as this, they must get on my list.

to be used in the construction of the as yet unknown masterpiece

This is the palette I selected for my latest Maria Shell quilting class.  I have been hooked on learning improvisational techniques since doing Half Circles and Lines, so dove right in when I saw the Circles and Curves class offered. It was an on-line class (two 4-hour sessions). 

Simple curves - braided once on the left and braided twice on the right. Such an interesting technique. Shattered curves below which will be sewn back together. 

Here are a couple of the circles I did along with some double braided curves put together.  I realize this sounds confusing. But gosh aren't the colors and curves cool? 

Once again, after an improv class, I find myself with the greatest respect for modern quilters who improvisationally put a design together. In my mind it takes great creativity along with some restraint to make a beautiful piece that flows and fits just right.

I was planning to do a table runner with these pieces... except I just got an idea for a yoga bag. In other words I really don't know where this is going yet but I am super excited to start free motion quilting it. Whatever IT is.

There are also a whole lot of cut up strips waiting to be sewn together, maybe to be used in the construction of the as yet unknown masterpiece? Or maybe for another use. I will just say it's a lot of fun to mess around with wonderful colors of fabric. 

sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do

From left to right we have Jennifer, Marti, and Nancy, smiling after a most delicious lunch last week at Wheatfield's in Lawrence. The grins are as much a result of the wonderful food, as the conversation that was shared.

Items on the agenda were:

The essentialness of outright lying in some circumstances - despite the famous quote "oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive" - clearly written by someone who did not rehearse their lines in advance or keep track of what fibs were told to whom. There was acknowledgment of our proper upbringing and agreement that sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.    

How to react when you get up in the morning and there are jars of pickles on your counter that may or may not have been spilled and gotten onto the floor leaving a sticky mess to be cleaned up. There was agreement on the need to drink a cup of coffee and take deep breaths as the first 2 steps. 

Time tested methods for taking care of a pond on your farmland, and where to learn these things.

What do do about a crack in your foundation.

The best method for folding a washcloth over your hand when giving someone else a bath, and how to avoid getting wet when assisting with showering. 

Edamame hummus sandwiches, salads, turkey clubs, white bean kielbasa soup, pecan tarts, chocolate Bavarian concoctions, and vegan ginger-almond cookies were on the menu.  A good time was had by all, including (we think) the people sitting in adjacent tables who may have gotten an earful. 

a travel time of less than 30 seconds and no need to pack a suitcase

Happy Sunday from Kansas where we continue to be warm/cool, then cool/warm, with lots of intermittent wind thrown in, along with occasional clouds/sun and rain. This is normal weather in Kansas. FYI.

I have just finished a 3-day Palliative Care virtual conference from the second floor of Tall Tales Headquarters. You have to love a travel time of less than 30 seconds and no need to pack a suitcase. Good stuff. I am mulling it all over in my mind as I write this.

While I decide what I learned that is important to begin to incorporate into my daily practice I give you these things to consider. Tulips are for sale in the grocery stores. Love, love, love.

I just read a new children's book about grief. It'a a keeper. Well written, beautifully illustrated. Sylvester's grandmother has died and he decides to write her a letter. 

A wonderful thing for a child to do, compose their love into a note that can be mailed. Why not? 

I would recommend this for any child who has lost someone. I got this copy from my local library.

I continue to hand-stitch away on the triangle quilt. I think I have finished quilting around well over half of the 225 triangles.  Quite enjoyable. Especially while watching the last season of The Crown. Which we have just recently started, and are enjoying immensely.

The End. 

don't say you don't

Goodness the days have slipped by since my last post. Spring is simultaneously here and still on the way. We have a hard freeze forecast for the coming week - fingers crossed that all the emerging buds and perennials will be ok. I have a serious case of spring fever and have been visiting all my very best hiking spots. 

The great blue heron's favorite sitting spot.

First foray to see if the white pelicans are in residence. 

Cattails at the wetlands.

The church of the glassy river. 

I love how the bark on this cut log look like petals on a flower. 

Did I mention the birds? Oh the birds the birds the birds. They are busting out in song all over and are always in tune. Perfect pitch actually. Sometimes I try to fool them by responding to their calls with a whistle of my own. You do it too. Don't say you don't. 

if Greek mythology appeals to you...

I have just completed the first in a "new for me" series that my reliable book recommender Sharron told me about. She started this series at the urging of her granddaughters. I absolutely love the idea of the intermingling of the generations influencing each others' reading. I dove right in to Ariadne by Jennifer Saint and was quickly captivated. 

This novel revolves around Ariadne and her sister Phaedra. It follows them from their home on Crete as their lives unfold. The stories of the Gods are brought to life as the sister's experience the impact of the Gods on the daily existence of humans. The relationship of mortals with the Gods is so interesting. The "stories" are timeless but I love how the author calls out how women are so frequently impacted by the actions of vengeful Gods. I learned more about the Minotaur, Daedalus, Icarus, Dionysus, Persius, Theseus, Medusa etc. I think many of us, during our school years, had contact with Greek mythology. It's surprising how much of that I recalled, and it made me want to read more. There are 2 other books in this series (Elektra, Atalanta) and another one coming in May 2024. 

If Greek mythology appeals to you, check this series out. I listened on the Libby app through my library and Barrie Kreinik is an excellent reader.

you can tell me your favorite birthday memory

Below, I present Angie and the Moss kids, decked out in their finery for the "family passport" photo when we traveled from California to Greece in 1964. I post it here today, in tribute to brother, who is having a birthday tomorrow. The photo taker clearly did not tell brother that he wasn't supposed to show teeth in the picture.  Or maybe he just gave him a pass being as he had the tie on and was surrounded by all us girls. Geez did we ever have some hair.   

Anyway, Happiest of Birthdays BROTHER! I hope the lasagna turns out perfectly and K-Ray makes you her world famous brownies and you have a memorable evening with Krissy and her gang. In my mind I will be picking you up at 10am and we will go to SubRosa for a coffee and a pastry. While we sip and savor you can tell me your favorite birthday memory. It will be perfect. 

Sally Rand the famous Fan Dancer

The Huff + 1 lunch club ventured into the wondrous world of Thai Cuisine this week at Bamboo Betty's in Kansas City. Our taste buds were all awakened in a most pleasing manner, not too hot, not to mild, we "goldilocked" it just right. Spring rolls, noodles, rice, curry, warm roti, and finally sweet sticky rice and mango with some insanely delicious coconut cream ...

Please do your best to ignore the table which was definitely not "styled" and instead concentrate on the smiling faces. Marti entertained us with tales of the 1933 plane ride, when she was 10 years old, that her dad "pulled strings" to get for them to travel from Cincinnati to Chicago. Think bench seats on the sides of the plane and no seat belts. This was also the trip when for whatever reason, her parents allowed her to accompany them to see Sally Rand the famous fan dancer. Maybe they knew that it would make a great story when their daughter was 100 years old. Somehow, whenever I am with Marti, and she tells these stories from her past, her history somehow becomes part of my history. Does that even make sense? All I can say is it is wonderful, and I am grateful. Grateful that as she reminded us... when the days dwindle down to a precious few these golden days I share with you... I think that's right. 

I wish that everyone could have a Marti Huff in their life. But since that's not possible, I will continue to report on our regular lunch adventures, including the always delightful, never ordinary, topics of conversation.