Tall Tales from Kansas

plans, ideas, dreams, to look forward to

Beauty, coffee, history, laughter, the search for potential acquisitions, and culinary explorations have become the essential agenda items for days devoted to adventure. Curiosities should also be sought out if possible. 

These crested euphorbias filled the curiosity bill nicely recently.

One will be on my back patio this summer. I feel certain.

These "pop your eyes out" fuchsia geraniums were spectacular. Too early here for planting them, which in no way lessened my enjoyment at gazing upon them.  

This months history lesson was a visit to the Avenue of Murals in downtown Kansas City, Kansas. This project was begun in 2004 with the help of professional artists in residence and involved local high school kids. How cool is that? We only got to 3 of them, there are a total of eight. Shown below are a celebration Mexican folkloric dancing, one which honors the building that housed a local newspaper and features a printer, and one representing modern and traditional Hmong culture. Vibrant and beautiful. 

Below, in the realm of culinary experiences, is one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. Butternut squash hummus. I must puzzle out a recipe to try at home. Holy Smokes it was good. 

While we were eating it, we came up with a whole list of things to do in the near, and not so near future. It's good to have plans, ideas, dreams... to look forward to. 

P.S. if you live in the KC area and you want to try the butternut squash hummus - get yourself to Brown & Loe in the river market area. 

I filled up all those spaces inside that needed replenishing

Last week when Joan and I met up for an adventure, I told her "tell Chuck you won't be home until at least 3:30, I have plans for us", without missing a beat, she assured me she was up for it. 

If you live in the KC area, and you go to Family Tree Nursery, you probably already know about the coffee spot that's there now (Equinox). Outside! With distanced tables! Among the plants! Some kind of a genius thinker put this plan together. Win-Win. 

After getting a couple of "blue moon" latte's we hit the road for a history lesson. 

We headed to City Hall, where I had planned for us to have a view of the city from the Observation Deck. Which, it turns out, has been closed since COVID hit. 

No matter. This extremely nice security guard and one of his buddies told us to go up to the 28th floor and look out the windows and then go to the 26th floor and look at the photos of all the previous mayors. 

Which we did, and found enjoyable as well as informative. I did not know that Kansas City was "chartered" in 1850. But now I do. The building has a cool Art Deco style with interesting details. A return visit when the deck is open will be planned. 

Next up - the West Bottoms and a trip to the new (to me) Hammerpress location.  I do so love all things letterpress and this store never disappoints. 

We drove among the warehouses and spotted places to return to on some "first Friday" when most of them are open. Antique stores, art spots, places I couldn't say what they were... all interesting looking. 

We cruised by the Crestwood shops to see what was in the windows. 

Then a stop for lunch at Aixois. Which by the way, has the best French onion soup. Their drink menu looked intriguing and when it warms up, cocktails on the patio will be happening. Gosh it was good to get "out" just a bit.  in a way that can only be met in the company of a dear friend. 

P.S. Less you think I am out and about and behaving indiscriminately, Joan and I have both received vaccines (me as a health care provider, she as a volunteer vaccinator), are well versed in social distancing, and are masked up. All the spots we visited had mask requirements, and they were well enforced. 

awesome hair, tap dancing, blue eye shadow, and wearing Candies shoes

Sometimes, you simply can not beat the feeling of working a simple pattern with dreamy yarn and a set of knitting needles that glide through it like butter. That's how I felt with this project this morning. Knitting away while listening on a ZOOM call. Though it may sound counter intuitive, when my hands are occupied, I am a better listener. Stopping to take notes freely with no worries about losing my place. 

This week's grocery store flowers. I am thinking tulips may be arriving soon for purchase? Or daffodils?

This came up while going though my email today ... the design, the colors, the shape... all wonderful. It has been placed in my Ravelry library. To one day be worked up, or not. Just looking at it is inspiring. 

The French knots project surfaced this weekend as well, for a few moments of stitching.

I continue to come back to it. Knowing that one day it will tell me when it is complete and ready for framing.

There was also a lovely video chat today with my college friends. Brought about by Peggy texting us all this photo. Which led to comments about Annette's awesome hair, tap dancing, blue eye shadow, who was wearing whose blouse, and the dangers of wearing Candies shoes. All of which required further discussion

Lifelong friendship is a wonderful gift. 

who knows what could be found there

Chris and I recently took a field trip to the museum of Natural History in Topeka.

At museums I do not read or look at everything.  Nor do I follow a prescribed path through the exhibits. I am a jumper.  Moving here and there to whatever my eye is attracted to.  

Then I pick something to learn about.  Like the fact that two Native American women could set up a teepee in 15 minutes.  

This sewing bag and display of accessories was most interesting, and I thoroughly enjoyed studying the needlepoint sampler below. The colorful border may be my favorite part.  

The hand pieced quilt, circa 1860, was also most pleasing. The combination of dark and light fabrics and especially that orange and blue.

There is a lot to see here.  And plenty of benches where I could sit and wait for Chris as he meandered through at his own pace.  

There is a nature trail outside the museum.  We are going to come back in the spring (with peanut butter sandwiches), and walk through it. They also have an old train inside the museum that warrants further investigation.  

Plus, a whole building that houses the State Archives. Who knows what could be found there. The older I get, the more interesting I find history.