Tall Tales from Kansas

shut the front door!!

Today the Huff + 1 lunch club met in Lawrence at Ladybird diner. Though I did not get a picture of my meal, I will describe it in full detail and you will get the idea. It was a seasonal special of fresh tomatoes, peaches, basil, honey, salt - all chopped up and scooped on top of a piece of 1900 Barker sourdough toast that was first topped with whipped ricotta. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! It was the very flavor of late summer, and left plenty of room for a slice of strawberry/rhubarb pie à la mode.

We discussed whether we needed to buy the new ", la" t-shirts which are beyond clever, the olympics and the amazingness of the athletes, and what we have been up to that is exciting. Having lunch with these 3, which you could be tired of hearing about is about as exciting as I want to be right now. Look how pretty Marti looks in her dress, jewelry, and belt - despite the heat and humidity. 

I hope you are scheduling a lunch date right now with your best pals. If they have pie on the menu, get some. 

it was a moment

Gosh Dottie and I had a good visit this past week in Concordia. Spending time with Mary Fran... one of the most amazing humans I have had the pleasure of meeting in this life. The kind of person who looks directly at you when you are speaking, who is so absolutely present, who hears without speaking. A gentle, original, rare, soul. 

We stayed at "our" little house on state street, in the shadow of the Motherhouse - the home of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia. I told Dottie "the little house on state street" would be a wonderful title for a book. I don't know what the storyline would be, but maybe it would have something to do with sneaking into the motherhouse at night, climbing all the way up to the 5th floor, and making our way to the room with the window at the very top.  

We roasted carrots, fixed eggplant with garlic, oregano, and tomatoes, made big salads, scooped up hummus on cucumber slices, sipped cold white wine. All delicious. 

There were morning walks and a visit to Jitters coffee on the main street downtown.

There was lots of time spend sitting in the shade outside, watching the wind blow through the trees, observing squirrels, and a large population of black bunnies who are present in a specific area in town. I must look up the story of how they came to be. Pet who escaped, reproduced, and now is the head of a colony? There also happens to be a lovely garden at the Motherhouse with rows of zinnias, among other things.

Of note, while I was there I had a piece of the MOST delicious pie I have ever had in my life. Raisin cream - a simple custard with a touch of nutmeg, plump soft raisins, meringue topping, perfect pastry crust. Oh my it was good. Like something you would eat at your relatives kitchen table at a farmhouse in Kansas with gauze curtains blowing in the breeze and the sun going down in the west. It was a moment.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia Kansas are the women who started Marymount College in Salina where I went to nursing school. I feel very blessed to have been under the tutelage of such smart, compassionate, no-nonsense, women who showed me what it was to care for others, always striving for excellence, and standing up for what is right. 

with no hope of replicating it

In addition to burying things in my pots, the squirrels who think they live here, and therefore can do anything they like, have taken to chewing on my front door mat.

Not only that, they have decided it is perfectly ok to act like beavers and knock over jade plants by cutting through the trunk/stem.

Rather than go ballistic, I am letting a crust form over the end of this stem and will stick it back in the dirt to re-root. In terms of the front door mat, I am hoping they get tired of it before they reach the middle. 

Meanwhile the geraniums are in the middle of another bloom, acting like the high temps and humidity are no big deal.

The caladiums with other assorted trailing fillers are also performing according to plan.

Did I tell you I found a source for clotted cream right here in Lawrence Kansas? And that I secured a jar with my mind set on replicating the cream tea experience in Bath? It was perfectly tasty, but as we all know, an experience like that simply stands on it's own with no hope of a repeat that can match the original, unless I perfect the time machine that will take me back to Bath with Chrissy and Sister, and the bridge... but it's important to try. 

The Zinnias are in full bloom with no signs of slowing down.

The more I cut, the more they bloom. 

So I do and they do and it's a beautiful thing. 

Tomorrow I am headed to Concordia, Kansas to see Dottie and Mary Fran. I can't say exactly what we will get up to, but I am pretty sure it will be low key, with a coffee shop visit, nice meals, early morning walks, maybe a dip in the pool, and a few naps. In other words a swell time. 

anywhere you want to put it

The farmers market booth bosses were on duty to answer questions today, all decked out in their tomato outfit. Looking good and prepared for the possibility of light drizzle.  I am not certain what their actual titles are so I promoted them. 

Oh sweet mother of flowers! The gladiolus. Spectacular. I don't want to be buried when I die, nor do I want a service of any kind, but if someone wanted to drop a gladiolus on my body before putting me out on the prairie to decompose, that would be ok. I am partial to these colors. 

The fennel looked healthy and had me thinking about a dinner party where I was served some kind of a light cream soup flavored with fennel that had a medium sized crostini floating in it, that one could pick up and munch after every last drop was scraped from the bowl. Crisp white wine on the side. 

I liked this flower arrangement almost as much as the gladioli stems.

She preferred zinnia's and who can blame her for that?

All manner of produce was on display, patty pan squash, peppers, rainbow chard, beets, carrots.

As I passed the line for the Slow Rise Doughnuts - always a line here... I came upon these three, waiting patiently. 

These 2 were enjoying their biscuits and gravy sitting right on the curb. Nothing better. 

Sunflowers are at their peak. These 2 varieties were especially eye-catching today.

Here is what came home with me today. 

Plus this plant and the one I was eyeing last week. They are going to live in the hot sun in a pot on my back deck. Replacing some things that are not doing well in the pot I put them in. It's always a test to see what will and will not do well out back.

No test was needed to know the strawberry lemonade cake was a keeper. Anywhere you want to put it.

my urge to visit Montreal, Quebec City, and the eastern townships..

The 10th installment in the Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny - The Long Way Home, brings closure to the dangling situation that is the marriage of Clara and Peter Morrow. Forgive me, but he is sort of a shit at times, don't you think? But I shall not disclose the outcome... most of you already know since you are way ahead of me in the series anyway. It was nice to see how Armand and Reine-Marie are faring in their new home in Three Pines, and to find Jean-Guy Beauvoir and Annie doing well after so much turmoil. I was also pleased to check in with Myrna and Ruth. 

We did not get to spend as much time in the bistro eating vicariously all the wonderful things prepared by Gabri and Olivier and described so well by Louise Penny, but there will be more of that in the next installment. I will say this reading has seriously amped up my urge to visit Montreal, Quebec City, the eastern townships, and now Baie-Saint-Paul.  A good dive into Airbnb might be in my near future. It's so much fun to look. 

As with all the books in this series - I highly recommend The Long Way Home.

charms all of their own

One of the nicest things about going on vacation, is coming home from vacation. Enjoying the everyday things you love, appreciating that someone took care of business while you were gone, and letting your recent experiences float through your mind.

Deadheading the geraniums, admiring the trailing ivy that is doing well in the pots, making a bouquet of small zinnias for a little bitty vase to put upstairs by the computer. Recalling the garden at our cottage in Broad Campden.

Getting back to the farmers market, wondering if I really have all the plants I need this year, or if a case can be made for why I need this beauty. 

Going on usual walks that don't involve going through stiles or wondering if I should turn left or turn right. 

Admiring this years crop of American Lotus at the wetlands while I think of the gardens at Kiftsgate and Hidecote. Hearing the calls of the red-winged blackbirds instead of the wood pigeons. 

Working on poufs for a pillow, remembering making these in Bath and Broad Campden.  

Getting the fountain on the front porch turned on. Successfully. No leaks. 

Yes, to travel is a wonderful thing, maybe partly because it makes you realize how the familiar routines have charms all of their own. 

 

Happy Saturday from the farmers market in Lawrence

If you are the sort that likes to make your own flower arrangement, there was plenty of raw material for this today at the farmers market. The Larkspur and Queen Anne's lace seem like a good match together. Somehow I thought Queen Anne's lace was only white. Who knew? Clearly not me. 

I

For the grab and go types, there were also plenty of arrangements to choose from. 

These bunches of flowering dill were spectacular. 

I loved the music man's outfit today. When I saw him walking in with his guitar on his back I followed until he got started so I could snap a photo. I was going to call this my favorite get-up of the day until I saw the woman below him. 

Again, perfection from head to toe. And her shoes! Swoon. 

Tomato season is clearly here. Little tomatoes, BIG tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, all sorts of tomatoes. 

The green beans I got last week were so good I got more this week. They make a perfect lunch next to pickled cucumbers and onions, and a half of anything you want to make a sandwich out of... as long as it includes mayo. 

Because I have not finished the corn from last week I did not buy more this week... but listen, this young woman wins the prize for best smile AND braids today. 

Bourbon Brown Butter + pecans was the cake of the week. That's a yes for me. 

I think these two were comparing flowers but they could also have been talking about where they were going to meet up for coffee later. 

I could not help getting the family of the week as they walked into the market when I was leaving. I felt bad that the sun was in their eyes but LOVE how they worked it. 

Here is what came home with me today.  As soon as I got things put away I cleaned and cut up the carrots for roasting. 

I made a large container of kale, roasted carrots, black beans, raisins, and pumpkin seeds dressed with a spicy olive oil/apple cider vinegar/honey/garlic dressing. It will keep for the week which is a huge bonus. 

How beautiful are these carrots? 

In case you are wondering why no flowers were purchased... my zinnia's are going like gangbusters!

No new seeds were put out this year. Just the regular spreading of the dried heads at the end of the season and some attention to water a bit as they are emerging. I think it's just a matter of finding something that likes where I put it and is paying me back with this amazing bounty. I'll take it. 

Happy Saturday from the farmers market in Lawrence. 

a dream come to life was it

Blockley was the village just up the road from Broad Campden, our home base in the Cotswolds. It was charming. Seriously. See for yourself, as you come along on a stroll.

The buildings, the gardens, the lanes, its just like a fairy tale.

Always the roses and also the lavender. Fragrant and beautiful. 

We met a nice man who has lived in the village for 70 years, he told us the story of a plaque that was carved by another resident in honor of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. 

As we were exploring, Sister stumbled upon this. Since it had a sign with a number we figured it was on a garden tour and so ignored completely the "Secret Garden" sign. Until we walked past the kitchen and saw 2 women having tea. They told us that we were indeed in a private garden so I gushed about how we were from America and loved gardens and this was the most beautiful we had seen, and after all that... how could she not welcome us to have a look around? 

Get a load of the Shepherd's nest in the back. Oh what a dream come to life was it. Though truly, in my wildest dreams I could not imagine anything so perfect. Every imaginable comfort accounted for. 

After our walk-about we headed to the Village Cafe & Shop for a spot of breakfast. Completely delicious. What you need to know is that even though this is a tea drinking country, they do make an excellent coffee as well.  

There is a church in every small town and most were open for exploring. Wonderful old graves, such peaceful places. 

We loved that Blockley was so charming and also such a "lived-in" village. We enjoyed watching the residents chatting as they met up, doing all their ordinary things, in such an idyllic spot. 

 

three weeks with no cake from the Chonky's is too long

Everyone at the farmers market on Saturday was right where they were supposed to be. Waiting, with all their wares on display. What about these eggplants? I want a whole plate of them sliced, grilled, and drizzled with some kind of tahini dressing. Warm pita on the side. 

Every week I spy a favorite on this table. 

Oh for the love of a jelly doughnut. Sticky jam in the corners of your mouth to be licked up as the morning passes along. When I see things like this I want to press her "remember this" button. Good stuff. 

Sunflowers were front and center in the flower department. 

Sweet corn season is here. No need for anything fancy here. Drop in boiling water for 5-6 minutes, butter, salt, pepper, lots of napkins. 

I LOVED her dress and made sure to tell her so.  Who knows what that fabric is? I will have to ask my friends at Sarah's. I need a dress just like that, maybe 2 inches longer. 

Kale and spinach were selected for greens this week. 

As soon as I got home cucumbers and onions were quick pickled. Then it was time for porch sitting. 

It was good to be back at my market. Three weeks with no cake from the Chonky's is too long.

Rhubarb and Custard Pips

One of the things I found very enjoyable during our days in Bath, was looking in all of the shop windows as we strolled the streets. The Moss sisters are not much for shopping, but a nice look in a window is always fun. Today I give you some of the one's that really caught my eye.

The children's shops with hats and clothes and the like were completely adorable.

I don't know what a rhubarb and custard pip is but just the name alone was magical. 

Windows of homes charmed us as well. 

I really wanted to knock on the door and ask if all these crocks could be mailed to my home in Kansas. LOVE them so much!