Tall Tales from Kansas

long and tall and that's not all

Tonight it’s a mish-mash of links, updates, photos, recommendations... take what you need and leave the rest for someone else. 

In the event that you have never heard of Lusia Harris, please do yourself the favor of watching this documentary.  It's only 20 minutes and is the story of an ordinary woman who did amazing things and I LOVE that the NYT had this in the paper last weekend to pique my interest. 
Link to the story: Long and Tall and That's not all 
She is the first woman to make a basket in the history of women's basketball in the olympics. Did I say she was ordinary? I meant extraordinary. 

It's shamrock season. Get one! You can put it on your porch as soon as it's warm enough. It will flourish with very little care all summer. Doesn't like too much sun. 

This is a lovely story which takes about 10 minutes to read, if you stretch it out. It is the perfect encapsulation of the joy of simple things.

Baking the bananas for 30 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit made delicious banana bread.  I think the baking amps up the flavor of the bananas. Poke them with a fork before you put them in the oven so they won't explode. 

We watched "This is Us" Friday night and the song below was featured. I haven't stopped humming it all day.  Oh the power of music from certain periods of your life... especially high school... enough said. 

Our dear friends Johnny and Annette were traveling through KC this weekend and Chris and I hopped over to swoop them up for a few hours before they had to catch a flight home. It was most excellent. Will we ever again take for granted the ability to see the people we love? I hope not. 

it seems like you should have an answer for that sometimes

The most productive thing I did on Sunday was flip the calendar from January to February. Yes, I roasted Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, made lunches for the week, paid the bills, sent out some mail, and changed the sheets. But I didn't really "do" anything. 

You know how on a Friday when everyone is so looking forward to the weekend and you are asked "what are you DOING" this weekend? It seems like you should have an answer for that sometimes. I am going to start making up responses. Things that are believable and possible but totally fabricated. Then I am going to write a book about it. It will be appropriately titled, This: 52 Completely Fictional Accounts of Weekend Plans. 

Other things of interest:
1. We watched the last episode of Poldark on PBS. I was thoroughly satisfied with the wrap up. 
2. Sister told me about Blackbird, a movie about a woman who has a debilitating terminal illness, and elects to take matters into her own hands while she is able. Free on Amazon Prime. Sister and I differed a bit in our opinions about some aspects of it, but completely agreed we liked it. 
3. There was a really interesting article about smell in the NYT magazine this weekend. Link follows if you are interested. COVID and the sense of smell. 

a sweet, quirky, 94 minute escape

If you are looking for a sweet, quirky, 94 minute escape from the reality of everyday life get yourself to a theatre where  Moonrise Kingdom  is playing.

 

I can't remember when I have enjoyed a movie more.  All whimsy and light.  I'm still smiling thinking about it.   Upon arriving home I informed Chris that he had to write a review as well in order to provide a well rounded perspective on the film.  Here is what he came up with. 

"It was kind-of-like Stand By Me meets the Cohen brothers by way of a detour through The Cowboys with John Wayne.  Some dialogue was a bit quick so you have to listen carefully.  Fun bits of action were well done and the director/co-writer didn't get in the way or allow the film to be over produced". 

Guess who will be writing all future movie reviews? 

the balm for all things holiday related

I rarely go to movies at the theatre.  I am one of those people who always think I don't have time for it.   Me.   So important I don't have time to go to a movie?    Ok.    That is just plain ridiculous.  So this weekend when it was 50 degrees out and we should have mowed the yard one more time and maybe washed the sheets... we went to the movies instead.

We saw the Descendents. 

My recommendation?  Go!  Watching George Clooney for 2 hours is absolutely the balm for all things holiday related.