Tall Tales from Kansas

to see if in that first novel I could have predicted where any of this would go

It is hard to put my finger on just why I love the character of Lucy Barton as much as I do. Because she is flawed? Because she openly shares all her worries? Because she says things I sometimes think in my own head? All I can say for sure is I just finished Lucy by the Sea, the 4th novel in the Amgash series which features Lucy Barton as the main character, and oh I will miss her.

In this story, Lucy's ex-husband William, takes her to Maine near the beginning of the Covid Pandemic where they isolate in a small town in an old house by the ocean. It was almost strange to be reading a book about the experience of Covid so soon (it still feels very present to me) and I found myself thinking back about many things that were happening during the worst of it all. As with everything I have read by Elizabeth Strout, I highly recommend this novel. 

Having come to the end of the Amgash series, I decided to do something I almost never do... get another book by the same author right away. After meeting the character Bob Burgess in Lucy by the Sea, and getting to know him a bit, I feel compelled to go back and find out more about him. Those of you who know (and love) Lucy Barton as I do, are aware that Elizabeth Strout has a cast of characters that make appearances in many of her books. While the name Bob Burgess has come up previously, I hadn't really started to get to know him until this book. Happily her novel, The Burgess Boys was available on the Libby App, and has been downloaded.  

When I went to the web site to find out more about the Burgess Boys, I discovered there is another Lucy Barton book coming out in August. This delights me to no end. Between now and then, I want to go back and listen to My Name is Lucy Barton again. Just to see if in that very first novel I could have predicted where any of this would go and how much I would enjoy following her life story. 

What would we do without books? I can't even imagine. 

a sprinkle of this and a dash of that

Tonight it's a sprinkle of this and a dash of that. Things I wanted to tell you about, pictures to show that do not go with what I want to say. You get the idea. 

The dianthus are blooming. They are oozing with vibrancy. Seriously. So much so that you needed 2 pictures of them. 

Last year I told you guys about the Julia Louis-Dreyfus podcast - Wiser Than Me, which I enjoyed. She has a new season and I have only listened to the episode with Ina Garten, but I loved it. In the conversation Ina admits that she (YES, even a hostess as amazing as she is) gets nervous when having people over for dinner. She worries she will mess something up and has some anxiety about things. This admission to such "humanness" makes me like her even more.

This bright yellow/green of new growth on this tree caught my eye on a recent walk. I felt you needed to see it. Yes, I know you have new growth on the trees where you live. Still. 

Not only did the short purple Iris bloom, now these old fashioned two-toned beauties are doing their thing.  I climbed up close to get a picture in case the storms that are forecasted for the next 48 hours cut short their life span. 

Clouds overhead. Because I keep referring to the rain and not showing anything that looks remotely stormy. 

I just saw something about the movie Anatomy of a Fall and watched the trailer. Who's seen it? It looks v.v.v. suspenseful. It's on the agenda for watching next week.  

If you are local, get to the Garden House Cafe in KC. It's on Southwest blvd. As the name implies they have coffee and plants. There is a really nice vibe to the place and I enjoyed a very good sit there this week. I sampled one of their bagels because someone said they were good. They were, and the cream cheese was whipped and tangy. Perfect with my latte. 

almost. not quite.

This weekend, I am working and missing the farmers market. So instead of showing you what I am not buying today, let's look at how last week's tulips held up throughout the week. 
 

I sat down at my desk at the hospital around 9am to have that perfect cup of coffee accompanied by the extra orange-cranberry scone I bought last week because I knew I would be working this week. It's almost like being at the market. Almost. Not quite. 

I am in the habit of changing the water in the vases every few days. Do I need to do this? I'm not sure, but I like the water to look clean and clear in the vases. If I like it that way, surely the flowers do too.

enjoying the zen of the moment

Chris and I went out to the Konza Tallgrass Prairie recently for a walk. It sounds funny right? Walking/hiking on the prairie? But it's a lovely way to understand that the plains of the midwest are not all flat. There are rolling hills, creeks, rises and falls, wild turkeys, trees, grasses, birds...

While we were out walking I wondered aloud about how many miles the pioneers heading west in wagon trains covered during a day. Chris said he thought maybe 20. Gosh, can you even imagine? We are so used to being whisked wherever we go, and grumbling if things get off track. 

The vista's from even a small rise are so beautiful. To stand and turn 360 degrees and have unobstructed views of the horizon is amazing. 

When we got to the first cut off, meaning we could loop back now and get in a shorter hike Chris said "I thought we'd do the Kings Loop like we did last time".  He got no argument from me, we kept walking. 

As we headed down from the rise there were trees along the creek bed, we heard the chirping of an Eastern Meadowlark and a Tufted Titmouse. 

As we drew closer to the trailhead we agreed our trek was plenty long enough and were glad we hadn't chosen the longest walk. Back at the car we opened the back, sat down on the tailgate, took off our boots, washed our hands, and proceeded to have lunch. The MOST delicious home-made ham salad sandwiches you have ever eaten in your life. There is no meal that is more relished than the one had in the out of doors, after a hike, listening to the sounds of nature, and just enjoying the zen of the moment. 

If you live close and love to hike/walk you might enjoy these trails. I have added a link below with details about how to get there etc. 

Helpful links:  Konza Tallgrass Prairie information

all these plants don't need me to tell them what to do

Spring has sprung in my garden. The flowering shrubs have started and I am actually getting blooming iris this year. Last year there were a few straggly bloomers and I thought "well that's what you get for not digging them up and spacing them out like you know you should". But maybe it was something else. They are blooming several weeks earlier than usual.  I will take them anytime they feel like blooming.

These 2 little patches of ever faithful tulips also came up again this year. I don't fully understand how it is that they have bloomed every single year since they were planted (like 10+ years ago), while the tulips and allium bulbs in front have pretty much petered out into nothing. 

Hello oak leaf hydrangea. Ever faithful, but I still thank it for doing so well each year. 

The amazing golden leaves on the Rising Sun redbud are getting bigger and bigger. That beautiful gold is such a nice contrast to the Japanese Maple on the other side of the front porch. 

The Columbine are starting to bloom. I have some returnees that Angie gave me years ago, as well as some from seeds in a little garden in Lincoln City, Oregon. 

The very first clematis blossom has appeared and I can see some tiny zinnia seeds starting to burst through the soil.  

We are supposed to get lots of rain in the coming few days. I will trust that all these plants don't need me to tell them what to do, and will not worry about them. Instead I will do rainy day spring activities. Whatever those are.  But NOT spring cleaning. That seems wrong. 

she's a gem

Recently, there was this. A 2-hour laugh fest, accompanied by good food and intelligent conversation that left me with things to thoughtfully ponder when we departed. It was wonderful.

Let me briefly mention the tacos which I had not previously tried. I had the paprika roasted carrot tacos with pickled shallots, feta, and crispy toasted almonds - they use Yoli (local KC company) avocado oil tortillas for these and they are incredible. I am a tortilla snob, having come from a home where mom used to make them for breakfast when we begged her. Damn these were good. We also sampled the tiramisu tres leches cake that was out of this world. If you think tiramisu must be made with ladyfingers; think again. 

We discussed a multitude of topics including whether you should check or carry-on your bag when traveling internationally. Which of course led to a discussion of comfort vs. fashion, and how many times you can wear a pair of jeans before you wash them (more than you think). There was also the importance of choosing your words carefully in so many situations - this after Nancy stated something really eloquently and of course with Marti - the Queen of Words at the table. After this we got off on how some people (me) have a face that can not disguise what they are thinking, and how you can learn to set your face properly in certain situations. We also talked about COVID and how our world seems to have moved on from this, though it is still here in so many ways - and whether this is something we are biologically conditioned to do in order to get through many hard, life-altering, experiences.  

There was also a good laugh about feeding the wrong parking meter on Massachusetts Street and how easy it is to do that. I will refrain from saying if this was a theoretical discussion or if someone actually did this.  

Every single time the Huff + 1 lunch club gets together, I am so grateful that I have Marti Huff in my life. She's a gem. 

my reward for an excellent mornings' work

Any farmers market that begins with a table full of vases of allium for sale is bound to be a good one. This is what crossed my mind today as I entered to make my Saturday rounds.  

Yes please to a garden full of these beauties. Tall, graceful, quietly beautiful and stunning all at once. 

Soon it will be time to plan the geraniums. I hope when I go to Pendletons to make my selection in another week or so they have some of these coral/peach beauties. 

Hurray for multicolor crochet wraps on a chilly morning. NOW is the perfect time for knitted scarves, wraps, and ponchos.

I was also seriously digging her city-vibe. 

Mellowfields farm was back at the market this week. So was the Peter's family. 

I was glad to see ample choices in the tulips again this week, and helped myself to a few bunches. 

Fresh locally grown flowers from the market are one of life's greatest pleasures and I see no need not to indulge myself. 

There were meet and greets happening at the market. Conversations all around.   

The cake this week called loudly to me from Chonky Sweets and Eats.

You gotta admire a table of carrots like these. 

Upon my arrival home, I unpacked the basket, cleaned and blanched the asparagus (which turn green after they are cooked by the way). The asparagus were squeezed with lemon and popped in the refrigerator where they will be added to salads, or just eaten as is, all week. Imagine a nice slice of toast with some of that egg/avocado/cottage cheese combo on top and a few of these chopped up for extra goodness. 

Salad greens were washed and then the brown butter banana cake was gazed upon lovingly.

I sliced it into "normal" portion sizes and then I ate that banana chip off the top as my reward for an excellent mornings' work. 

when, while, if, we can

The only problem with Spring is that it's the perfect time to walk, weed the garden, AND sit on the porch. Forcing one to pick between all these wonderful activities leaving some undone. Right now the walking is winning out on all fronts. 

I just can't get enough of it. Being out in the world, not too many people around, birds, breezes, the world coming back to life after the winter.  

This week I bought a new pair of Hoka's because I have completely worn down the tread in my non-work pair that I use for walking on paths as opposed to trails.  

I went for a pair of Bondi's just for the heck of it. Though I will admit to having my eyes on a pair of strawberry pink Clifton 9's as well. I read something somewhere about it being good to mix up your walking shoes. Like I need an excuse to take care of my feet and joints. 

Eventually, I will make time for all things Spring. What a glorious thing though, to wake up with such choices. Here's to taking advantage of the things we love - when, while, if, we can. 

oh joy

From the moment they came out of the basket and got popped into a mason jar, these tulips have been a rich burst of delicious color and texture that makes life better. 

 

The Parrot tulips are so exotic, if I close my eyes I can imagine I am in Mexico in one of those homes with thick stucco walls and open garden areas that are in the middle of the whole house and all the windows and doors are open and there are giant pots of lush ferns and flowers. (It was time for a really long run-on sentence, I don't think I have written one for a while). We could take it further with the smells of fresh tortillas wafting in from the kitchen and a radio in the distance playing some traditional Mexican music. 

We must not leave out the shorter purple or the tall straight yellow and orange tulips though. It's one of those "whole is greater than the sum of the parts" things. 

This last photo is day 6. A real stunner to the end. I think the tulips from Cooks Market will be at the Lawrence Farmers market for a few more weeks. Oh joy. 

I hope you will share in the birthday celebration with me

Today, April 17, 2024, marks the 13th year anniversary of the birth of Tall Tales from Kansas. Just as with all things related to the passage of time, it seems so long ago and simultaneously like it was just yesterday. In this period of time, I have composed 3,621 blog posts, received 15,658 comments, and had 946,773 page views. These numbers really don't mean much unless they are considered in comparison to other blogs, which doesn't really make sense to do.

You have traveled with me to Europe on 4 occasions, we have visited 12 states, hiked in multiple national parks, collected stones and shells along the beaches of California, and sampled the wares of so many coffee shops I can not remember them all.  There have been weekly trips to the farmers market, daily walks all around Lawrence, and great experimenting with our sketch books, knitting needles, and sewing projects.

As if that wasn't enough, we have discussed books, I have shared with you what it is like to be a palliative care nurse, and attempted to start conversations about the importance of making sure our loved one's know what our preferences are for care at the end of life. My family members have been good sports about being talked about on the blog as have my friends. Their great patience with my picture taking and story telling is appreciated.

There are some of you I feel "close" to even though we have never met, and there have been a few chance meetings with several of you that have been delightful. You have all shared much with me through the years and that has made this blog a better place. 

All of this is to say, I hope you will have some cake (or pie) today or tomorrow and share in the birthday celebration with me. Way back in April 2011 there were a lot more blogs than there are today, all things change with time, but for now I am still enjoying this ride. 

Thanks for continuing to read, comment, e-mail, and share in your own way, however it feels best to you.  

a perfectly perfect day

Flowering trees, shrubs, bulbs, early perennials, and all that stuff were on display at the Overland Park Arboretum recently. I felt like I had been transported to California for a second, to one of those places my sister is always going, where everywhere you look there is something to ooh and ahh over. 

It was wonderful. 

A garden like this is an outdoor museum, where all the exhibits are subject to the whims and majesty of nature and nary a security guards in site.    

You never know for sure what you will experience,  but I for one, am always happy to "just see". 

Especially when there was all this. A perfectly perfect day. 

...and it was good

I am not sure if it's because the older I get the more I cherish things, OR if it's because I have been so looking forward to this day, OR if this actually was the BEST opening day of the Lawrence Farmers market EVER. 

Seriously though... the tulips from our local grower Cook's Market. 

The lines for Slow Rise Doughnuts were in keeping with their reputation and the desire for that first fix of the season...  

There were starters to plant and radishes to go with the pimento cheese I am making for Masters Weekend. Which brother and I refer to as Holy Week. Since I feel certain Jesus loves golf, he takes this as high praise. 

These two epitomized the spirit of the market today - pure excitement + joy. 

Party dresses are always encouraged at the market. 

There was Pina Colada cake as well as cranberry orange scones. 

Oh Thuy - how I have missed you and your spectacular juices. 

There were hanging baskets of nasturtium and peppers to plant. 

Breakfast from Flory's had these two smiling. Gosh I loved her hat/dress combo. 

I got spinach and salad greens from these women. 

Oh the blooming cacti... 

There was a soulful, passionate, guitar playing singer on hand which always adds to the spirit of the market. 

Here is what came home with me. After I stored it all away and got the tulips in a vase I went and sat on the front porch and thought about all I had seen... and it was good. 

why does that sound so wonderfully delightful

A new pair of lightweight, waterproof, ankle-high, boots have been purchased for the trip Sister and I are taking to the Cotswalds this summer. The trip where we trek across fields and meadows familiarizing ourselves with the countryside and all the breeds of sheep in England. 

There will also be gardens to see, small hamlets to peruse, and of course pubs to visit. Sister and I have discussed the pros and cons of what to wear on our feet. An extremely important decision because there will be one small carry on bag that must also include journal paraphernalia.

On this trip to the wetlands recently I verified that they do indeed stay dry in a muddy field, protect the ankle when one steps in holes, and are perfectly comfortable. 

Now to figure out what one alternate pair of shoes can double as house-kicks and work for casual strolling about.  The search has begun. 

With just under 2 months until we leave, there is no time for dilly dallying. Today we discussed train schedules and delighted at the thought that we will be in Paddington Station. Why does that sound so wonderfully delightful? 

For inquiring minds per the comments here is a photo of the boots I referenced above - Keens.

on the back deck in a couple of old chairs

Chris and I thoroughly enjoyed the eclipse event in our first class seats, on the back deck, in a couple of old chairs picked up by the side of the road in Arkansas in the 1990's, with our special glasses on, and snacks at the ready. These are all the "just to see what it looks like" photos with the iPhone. You can see all the "good" shots on social media, in the papers, and on TV. 

We just enjoyed the home version of it all. And seriously, it is interesting isn't it? All we lacked in the viewing was an expert to answer all our questions. So we did the next best thing and took turns being the expert. I answered Chris's questions and he answered mine. Prizes were awarded to the most outlandish explanations. 

We did not find it essential to be in the path of totality to have a perfectly enjoyable time. 

The end. 

getting off course is different than being lost

When I ventured onto one of my favorite hiking trails for the first time this season, I was delighted to see the wild blue phlox have started blooming. 

There was also green grass and a few shrubs and trees with leaves though the majority have not budded out yet.

The trees are smart. They know when to do their thing, and that in Kansas we are susceptible to a hard frost right up until the first of May. 

There is something very wonderful about being alone in the woods. You, the birds, the trees, some squirrels, maybe a deer or two. 

At this nature park area they have added a few more trails since I visited last. They intersect with the ones I am very familiar with, so I decided to try one out, even though they are not really marked yet. I mean you can see the path, but the "correct" way is not yet clearly marked as you proceed on the trail. Which leaves open the possibility of taking a wrong turn and perhaps getting just a bit off course. Let me clarify that getting off course is different than being lost.

With all the navigation tools at our disposal these days it seems right that every once in a while we should just wander. Testing out whatever sense of direction we individually happen to have, and just explore. Even if we might get a wee bit confused and maybe even miss our haircut appointment. Which by the way, I did not. 

one of those stories that stays with you

My latest read/listen was a good one. A well developed story about Bird Gardener and his mom Margaret, an American poet of Chinese descent. She is the author of a poem that has become the mantra of those brave enough to speak and act in opposition to PACT (Preserving American Culture and Traditions Act). As the story opens, I originally think I am back in the early 1940's until there is mention of cell phones... and I realize that it is a present day dystopian novel about what can happen if we are lulled into complacency.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng is a novel about the power of story. Bird's mom has told him stories his whole life, and they have prepared him (though he did not understand that is what she was doing), to move through the world no matter what circumstances he is dealt.

I listened to this on the libby app.  It is read by Lucy Liu who has the most wonderful voice. 

Very highly recommended. I have only given you a few details so as not to spoil the story as it unfolds for you. It is one of those novels that stays with you. As it should. 

I can keep going with the reasons it was necessary but I will stop there

In between working, weed pulling, and generally wasting time in the best ways possible, there was a trip to Zeb's in Eudora, where the windows are covered with fabulous drawings, and the Rosemary Rise latte is available for a limited time. It's so unusually delicious that I will be going back asap for a repeat. 

Ignore that cherry turnover on the side. I don't know how it got there. The sprig of rosemary on top provided one of the most indulgent, sensory-inclusive, sipping experiences ever. 

My little redbud tree is having a so-so bloom this year. They can't all be spectacular. However, this specimen in front of the post office downtown is something else ... it must be in a micro-climate that got spared from a late frost or something. There are always spots of beauty to be found, even in a "so-so" year.

The light coming through the upstairs window, illuminating my first mini flower arrangement of the year, making the vinca vine and ground cover look like a million bucks is another one of those unexpected bits of loveliness.  

I got hooked by a picture from Smitten Kitchen of a New York Crumb cake... and did some baking today. Hats off to Deb Perelman for another recipe that is perfectly perfect.  I followed it to the letter. Tender, soft, melt in your mouth. Because really, we all deserve cake for breakfast at least once in a while. Especially when you are in your 60's. I can keep going with the reasons it was necessary but I will stop there. 

I took a picture this afternoon of the one tulip that came up in the front garden. Maybe this will be the year I actually get off my duff and plant some new bulbs. 

In the meantime, I sure do enjoy looking at this one. 

Helpful links: New York Crumb Cake