Tall Tales from Kansas

I have been known to go as high as 1:4 depending on the time of day

Consider this your reminder.  If you have not yet taken down the "official" Halloween candy container, and filled it with the requisite autumn sugary/salty treat... it's time. 

If you wait much longer, the candy corn in the store will be past it's "best by" date which will lead to an inferior end product.  And do not be tempted to get the pumpkin spice candy corn to use in this mix.  At best, it is ok on it's own, but is not the perfect complement to the salty peanuts that the regular candy corn is.   

I stick to my recommendation that the ratio of candy corn to peanuts should be a 1:2 mix but I have been known to go as high as 1:4 depending on the time of day.

There may also have been a few times when I put it in my mouth so fast that I lost count of the ratio.  I try not to let that happen too often. 

P.S.  For the record I would like to point out that we made our first batch of this highly addictive combination last year on September 20th.  That said, I feel a lot better about my little binge episode this afternoon. 

since a Halloween banner has a shorter shelf life than a pumpkin

On my way upstairs today to get the wool to make the pumpkin to put on the mantel in the house that jack built in the living room, I decided instead to do another project. 

That's just how my mind works.  No straight pathways.  Many crooked side streets.

I saw this ridiculously cute banner hanging up in Sara's Fabrics downtown a few weeks ago and decided to make one myself. 

It came with all the components except directions, so I had to wait to talk to my sewing mentor Mary Joan, before I messed up the whole thing because I have never used fusible web before. 

Since a Halloween banner has a shorter shelf life than a pumpkin, it seemed only right to get this done first.

What is it about a banner with cute Halloween fabric that is so irresistible?  If I figure it out I will let you know, but I think you will understand when I show you the finished product.  If it turns out according to plan that is. 

the annual tradition of the hanging of the flag bunting

Fourth of July in the Midwest means dressing up your house for the holiday.  These were my favorites in Lawrence this year. 

After driving around taking all these pictures, I got out my own favorite 4th of July decoration, the holiday themed cocktail napkin, and proceeded to the porch so I could supervise Chris on the ladder.   

And just like that, the annual tradition of the hanging of the flag bunting was accomplished. 

things that can never be understood simply on the basis of the ingredients

Pumpkin-pecan cinnamon rolls with browned butter icing were on the breakfast menu again this year over the holidays. 

For me, making pumpkin-pecan cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning is certainly about the warm, sweet, buttery, frosted treat at the end.  But more than that, it's about the smell of the yeast, it's the elastic feel of the dough in my hands, it's using moms rolling pin and Pat's sifter, it's remembering who was here last year when we ate them and wondering who might be here next year. It's about the spode christmas plates they are served on.   It's about drinking a cup of coffee while I wait for the dough to rise. 

It's about the idea of a cinnamon roll.  The feeling of a cinnamon roll.   Kind of like Alice's sugar cookies in the round needlework holiday tin, or Aunt Lois's biscuits mixed by hand on the countertop, or Chris's shrimp pasta.  These are things that can never be understood simply on the basis of the ingredients.  

You know that saying "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts it's made of" ?    I am pretty sure the person who came up with that was referring to cinnamon rolls.  Cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning probably. 

PSPPR

Yes, I know it's after Christmas.  I can't help it.  I am still deep into my part time seasonal work with the forestry service.   The creation, care, and tending of pint sized pines.  What follows is the pint sized pine progress report (PSPPR).  Told as briefly as possible.

First there was one.

 

 Then there were two.

Number two left the house so I had to make another number two because number one was lonely.

 Then I decided an odd number was needed so now there are three.

Correction - there were three.  Until I decided I should try to make a snowy-white pint sized pine.

And just when I thought I might have it worked out of my system, I realized I have this remnant of green yarn that won't be good for one single thing other than a green tree.

So once the emerald-green pine comes off the assembly line,  I will turn in my resignation to the forestry service and shut down the pine making factory. 

Maybe I will go into the Santa carving business.   Just to even out the tree to Santa ratio.

Somehow I think learning to carve a Santa might be harder than knitting a tree.   I'll probably put that off until next year.  Give myself some time to ponder over it.   

If you missed it the first time, the link to the pint sized pine pattern is below.

Related articles

while drinking hot chocolate to stay warm

the butter police

One of the best things about the holidays are the discussions that come up around the dinner table and over appetizers.  

Like this year when Andrea admonished Bryce for buttering his ham and he told her there were no butter police in the area to stop him.  Then she told him that in fact there were butter police and she was going to turn him in.  Which prompted Chris to get out a business card and tell Bryce that he was actually a special agent in the butter division of the police department.  Bryce took the card, carefully examined it, handed it back to Chris, and informed him - "there are no B's anywhere on that card so that can't be true".  

the head elf in charge of rubbing the feet of all the tired cooks

Feliz Navidad!  Wishing each and every one of you the wonder and joy that is the spirit of this season. 

May all your dreams come true - including the one where at the end of the day after all your guests have gone home, there is a knock at the door and the head elf in charge of rubbing the feet of all the tired cooks and dishwashers announces that he is ready to begin your one hour reflexology session. 

Photo credit:  Chris Mulvenon

56 years and lots of handling later

December 1958, in a little house on Wilder Avenue in Honolulu Hawaii.  This was the Moss family before Mary Ann and I came along.  Mom was pregnant with me in this picture.  On that Christmas tree are what I have always called the "Hawaii Christmas Bells" - just because that's where they came from. 

56 years and lots of handling later, those bells from Hawaii are still going strong. 

They have survived all of us kids and every cat we ever had, including Lewis and Clark who really put them to the test.   Those bells were their favorite ornaments to swat at as they wandered by the tree innocently.  

The best part about having a Christmas tree is sitting down and staring at it, after it's decorated, while you sip a glass of wine, and remember all the stories that each ornament holds. 

the only thing these candy cane corns are good for

In case you are like me (and Chris)...

... and can't tell by the label that these red, white, and green "candy corn" taste like mint,

... I will tell you they do.  It was an entirely unpleasant experience when I popped one of these in my mouth expecting it to taste like a regular candy corn.

The only thing these candy cane corns are good for is taking to work and putting in the communal candy dish.  Which I made Chris do, since he is the one that brought them home knowing full well that we have already exceeded our 2 bag limit for the year. 

when calculating the amount of time and tape you will need to get your wrapping done

Today I proceeded to gather, wrap, box, and mail most of the Christmas presents that need to go over the river and through the woods to those that are far away. 

I am fairly certain my family will not notice that I only "wrapped" the top of the boxes and that I used old Christmas cards as "labels". 

By getting to the post office before the 12th of December I think I may have set the bar too high.  This is my way of saying - don't expect it ever to happen again.   In future years, know that I will return to my usual slovenly pattern of late gifts and cards.  

I also learned an important lesson.   You will want to know this.  It's similar to the pythagorean theorum except instead of triangles and a hypotenuse it deals with time, tape, and wrapping.   When calculating the amount of time and tape you will need to get your wrapping done, always add 1 additional hour and 1 extra roll of tape.   No matter how much "cushion" you build into the process ALWAYS adjust to my specifications. 

You are welcome.  I hope you find this useful. 

my approach to life and gingerbread house construction

Every holiday season I get an idea that maybe this will be the year I make a gingerbread house.   In my mind it seems like it would go so well.  The gingerbread would be sturdy.  The icing would dry hard.  The candy would stay exactly where I place it.  You get the idea.  The house might look something like one of these.

When I look at all of them I think my favorite is the last one.  I could never show that much restraint though.  If I am going to make a gingerbread house there are going to have to be some gumdrops, cookies, sweet tarts, kisses, marshmallows, pretzels, peppermints, ice cream cones, Mike & Ike's, life savers, twizzlers, and plain old sugar cubes.  My approach to life and gingerbread house construction leans more to the go big or go home philosophy, than the keep it simple principle.  

All photos taken at the Gingerbread House auction in Lawrence last weekend. 

things you can learn when trying to take a picture

Saturday morning I got up early to go and take pictures of the Christmas lights in downtown Lawrence.  In order to get good pictures of Christmas lights, it has to be a little bit light and a little bit dark.  This is a very fleeting time frame.  One must be armed and at the ready.  I left the house at 6:45 and was parking on Massachusetts street at 7am. 

The cars were lined up on both sides of the street already in preparation for the annual old fashioned parade.  Who knew there was so much activity downtown at 7am on the weekend?  Not me.  There were people in restaurants ordering breakfast.

I came upon a group of women getting in their morning run.   It sounded like they were having fun.  I wanted to ask them if I could join them but then I remembered I have bad knees and it's best for me to stick to walking. 

By 7:20am the sky was lightening up. 

Did you know that barber shops are open at 7am?  And that men are getting their hair cut at that ungodly hour of the morning? 

The things you can learn when trying to take a picture.  Of Christmas lights.  In December.  Between 0700 and 0732 am. 

in my elf outfit singing "jingle bell rock" somewhere in the vicinity of 8th and Massachussetts

The windows in downtown Lawrence are getting all gussied up for the holidays.   If you live in a town (instead of a city) you know the magic that is main street at Christmas time. 

If you are in the neighborhood, you must stop by and experience it for yourself.    I'll just be here in my elf outfit singing "jingle bell rock" somewhere in the vicinity of 8th and Massachussetts.   I will understand if you pretend you don't know me. 

a long line of love

In preparation for the annual turkey day celebration at Tall Tales headquarters, I did some baking today.  After which I finally took down the Valentine garland over the dining room table and put up the "rest of the year" garland.  Then I located Eleanor's cranberry serving dish, Angie's gravy boat, Great Aunt Alice's extra chairs, and Aunt Critch's water pitcher which she says belonged to her mother. 

It's important to have a long line of love at the Thanksgiving table. 

crossing my fingers that it holds strong and does not go all gooey on me

It's important to tend to your porch pumpkins that have frozen and unfrozen before they become so soft that when you lift them they turn to goo and ooze all over your porch.  Mine are now in the yard waste bags slotted for pick up tomorrow.  Except for one or two that is.

I went to the store today and got a few fresh carnival squashes and a buttercup squash to go with the gourds and one last warty pumpkin and squash I bought at the pumpkin patch a month ago.   I need some kind of Thanksgiving vibe for the porch so I dumped them all in the fountain along with some other stuff. 

While all the neighbors were putting up Christmas lights today I put out my battery operated candle and some more orange stuff.  If I knew any Thanksgiving songs I would have sang them very loud while I was doing it. 

This might be my most favorite pumpkin of any pumpkin I have ever bought.  I love that orange/gray color.   I am crossing my fingers that it holds strong and does not go all gooey on me before Thanksgiving.  I would hate for Chris to have to clean up that mess. 

 

no sense in rushing the red and green without giving orange it's full due

It is officially cold here.  As in snow flurries and frigid temperatures.   The kind of chilly weather that makes it important to eat a hearty breakfast before donning your gloves, headband, 2 pairs of socks, turtleneck, fleece, and jacket before going out to walk because you are now a slave to the 10,000 steps a day thing. 

On other fronts, I took out orange stuff today in preparation for the holidays.  The holiday that comes before Christmas.   No "Ho-Ho-Ho" is happening here at Tall Tales Headquarters until after Thanksgiving. 

No sense in rushing the red and green without giving orange it's full due. 

we have a 2 bag candy corn limit in our house

The third Saturday in September marks the opening of candy corn and cocktail peanut season.  We start the season by assembling supplies.

Step two is tasting individual components prior to combining to ensure freshness.

Once you have completed steps one and two, mix the ingredients together in a ratio that is to the liking of your particular household tastes.

Here at Tall Tales headquarters we like a 1:2 ratio of candy corn to peanuts.  When I mixed this for Angie she preferred a 1:4 ratio, being a serious lover of the peanut and all. 

Once these steps are completed all that's left is to enjoy it at will.

Replenish as needed.  We have a 2 bag candy corn limit in our house.  Once we hit that, the official candy corn/peanut receptacle has to be put away for the year.   It's for the best.   We both know it.  

 

melt in your mouth nutty maple goodness

This morning at Tall Tales Headquarters I had a scone breakthrough.  I baked a batch of the worlds best oatmeal maple scones.  I saw a recipe in the Farm Chicks cookbook and started to make that until I realized the recipe did not call for any salt and I got suspicious.  So I went to the bible of cooking (Cooks Illustrated) and did a combination of two recipes.  Here is the KEY to this recipe ...  toasting the oats before you add them to the mix.  Incredible oat flavor! 

In a nutshell, these scones are flaky and soft, not heavy.  Crispy bottom and crunchy top, melt in your mouth nutty maple goodness from the walnuts and the glaze.  Meredith, please make these for your mother and convert her from her "non-loving scone" ways. 

Served with fresh fruit it makes the perfect long weekend breakfast. 

Happy Labor Day!  Recipe for scones below.  I used the glazed maple pecan version except I used about 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts instead of the pecans and I used the Farm Chicks glaze recipe.  It is 1 T. melted butter, 2 T maple syrup, 1 T heavy cream, and confectionars sugar, I just added the sugar until I got the consistency I wanted - maybe 3/4 of a cup. 

 

my rendition of The Stars and Stripes Forever

The 4th of July is a perfect day for parades, watching butterflies, making french knots, doing patriotic blind contour drawings of your hand, drying zinnias so you can save the seeds, re-arranging sea shell/rock collections, and hanging your traditional half-round bunting.

In addition to all those aforementioned activities I impressed Chris with my rendition of The Stars and Stripes Forever, recalling all the lyrics of both stanzas.  With just one or two minor word substitutions. 

feliz día de las madres

When we were kids mom frequently would say to us "ok kids, for the next hour we are only going to speak in spanish".  This was her attempt to improve our conversational skills in her first language.   We would roll our eyes and play along for the first 5 minutes.   Dottie is the only one who has become fluent.  The rest of us can scrape by if need be.  But since it is mothers day, in honor of Angie, sometime today, in your best spanish accent, please tell your mom feliz día de las madres! 

P.S.  Hey mom, Chris and I are going to speak nothing but spanish tonight from midnight to 1am.  Also,  I am taking good care of your vase and the Iris from your house in Arkansas are having a really good year. 

 

Photo of Angie and I courtesy of Dottie Moss. 

my contingency plan will call for pulling out the sparkly banana bread and marigolds

I bought some marigolds the other day to put out on the deck.   Angie always planted them.  I haven't for years.   But I will every year from here on out until I am no longer physically able.  When that time comes I will let Krissy and Katherine and Allie Grace know that it's time for them to pick up the reigns.  These simple lines of succession in the marigold monarchy are important. 

I also made banana bread on Sunday.  Mom always appreciated banana bread, even when she was in one of those phases where she thought she shouldn't eat dessert.  Banana bread after all is bread, not cake.  Plus it contains fruit. 

I "spring-ified" it by putting pastel sugar on the top instead of the usual raw sugar.  It was a good idea.   In theory.

Pastel crystals of colored sugar actually look better on cream cheese frosting.   But still,  I didn't want to throw away that pretty sugar and I was thinking it might be reaching it's expiration date soon. 

Again, Angie was on my mind when this idea hit.   Mom would approve of using up the sugar instead of throwing it away which I had considered.  She did not believe in wasting anything that had even one ounce of use left in it. 

Can you tell I am thinking about Mothers Day coming up next weekend?  I am fortifying myself now.   If things start to get shaky at any point during the day my contingency plans will call for pulling out the sparkly banana bread and marigolds. 

I gathered items from all my nooks and crannies

Preparations for the first official Quail May Basket Exchange/Birthday celebration begain early this morning at my house.  It's been a looooooong time since I made a May Basket.  But if I remember correctly you are supposed to use supplies you have on hand.  So I gathered items from all my nooks and crannies.  

Then I embellished (dishcloth yarn makes a good ribbon in a pinch).

I was told candy is an essential part of the basket so a few Twix bars were added.  

Finally, the most important part.  Flowers.  Candytuft + tulips + catmint + an old fashioned iris = my basket is ready. 

I sure hope it doesn't tip over in the car on the way to the party.   

Dottie and I used to have our baskets pretty much emptied before the day was up

We are having a leisurely Easter Sunday around here.  Poached eggs were on the menu for breakfast followed by the annual dying of the easter eggs.   As we speak, Chris is making the Easter ham with some insanely good orange marmalade-mustard sauce to go on top.  Life IS good.  Don't think I don't know it. 

After dinner we are going to sit around and let chocolate candy melt in our mouths as I tell stories about how Dottie and I used to have our baskets pretty much emptied before the day was up and Chris tells me how he and Dan would save their candy for months - enjoying it one morsel at a time.   We didn't see any good reason for that kind of nonsense around our house.   

scottish shortbread goes quite well with Irish coffee

On the weekend before St. Patrick's Day it is important to celebrate with a bit of the Irish whenever possible.   To that end, I pulled out all the stops Saturday night for dessert. 

After brewing a fresh pot of coffee, I poured some Jameson's into my cup, added the coffee, substituted Baileys for my usual half and half, added a generous swirl of whipped cream straight from the can, and topped it off with some sprinkles.

I served a few Lorna Doones on the side.  You don't have to, but if you have them in your cabinet definitely pull them out.  Scottish shortbread goes quite well with Irish coffee even when it's made by Nabisco. 

 

Be Mine

Fancy red roses and deluxe chocolates are nice, but nothing says Happy Valentine's Day like a good conversation heart.   What's better than an orange "Be Mine" heart waiting by your toothbrush when you get up on February 14th? 

individual strings of Valentine goodness

Yesterday I dug out scraps of paper and commenced to cutting out hearts.

Old wallpaper hearts, old ledger paper hearts, scrap paper from the art retreat hearts (thanks Pam! you knew I would put that to good use didn't you?), and hearts from anything at all in the closet that looked like Valentine material.

I then hauled out the beast and threaded it with the prettiest pink thread I could find...

...sewed those hearts right down the middle as quick as I could...

...and made some of these.

All that's left now is to artfully arrange the individual strings of Valentine goodness into some spectacular looking over the dining room table garland.   By tomorrow night I hope to be hit with a shot of divine inspiration to guide the installation. 

WHO put this garland away all tangled up?

Today I finally turned the page from January to February in my calendar.  Which reminded me it's time to get out the Valentine decor.   What I want to know is WHO put this garland away all tangled up?

I lined up the dining room chairs and strung the garland out as I released the knots.  I told myself "patience is virtue" over and over as I fought the urge to cut it all apart and re-string it.  

After all, it's snowing out again today so I had nothing better to do. 

I am going to make another strand of hearts to add to this before I hang it.  Just to freshen it up a bit you know.  I have some great scraps from the art retreat that are just begging to be made into some kind of Valentine finery.    

when I have completed it and am confident of it's accuracy

We are tip-toeing into the new year.  No jumping and running around here.  The hardest thing I did today was clean off the tops of the cans of black eyed peas so Chris could open them to have with our New Years Dinner.  

I only have 2 rows left to go on my "Hazeline" scarf.  I thought it would be good to start off the new year by finishing a work in progress.  It doesn't look like much now but after I block it it should look almost like the photo except in red.   I might have made a mistake or two   individualized mine so I would be able to identify it if it ever went missing. 

Most of the day I was sitting with my new journal.  Making a highly detailed (and sure to be very useful) map of Palm Springs.  

You never know, we could lose our phones with their fancy guidance systems while we are at the art retreat.  We might have an emergency of some kind that necessitates a visit to Desert Regional Medical Center.  Or what if I go into caffeine withdrawal and need to be transported to Koffi?   I am personalizing this map to meet our every need and will show it to you in living color when I have completed it and am confident of it's accuracy. 

Until then, Happy 2014. 

she doesn't feel bad ... she just can't talk

 Merry Christmas from Tall Tales headquarters to all points North, South, East, West and everywhere in between.  

For those of you checking in for the Singing Moss Sisters Video... I regret to inform you that sister has a bad case of laryngitis she caught on the plane today.  It was brought about by an allergic reaction to the 2 wild birds that the ornithologist from UCLA was bringing to the National Bio and Agro Defence facility in Manhattan Kansas.   I can't say when she might recover.   Don't worry, she doesn't feel bad.  She just can't talk. 

trying to decide if Mary Ann would prefer to do Hark the Herald Angels Sing or The Little Drummer boy

There was a delightful (and not one bit frightful) barbershop quartet at Angie's place recently.  The music totally captivated her.  

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the music.  I have a lot of Christmas pageants, folk choir Christmas masses, and high school holiday concerts in my past.  That means I can harmonize to lots of songs and there is nothing I like better than singing along with Garth Brooks to "Silent Night" or to "The First Noel" with Suzy Bogus.  If either of them realized how much the addition of my alto part added to their performances they would likely re-record that old Christmas from the 90's CD - and include me of course.  

My sister is coming tomorrow.   I am going to talk her into singing a Christmas carol with me to post on the blog for the 25th.

I'll just be here waiting for Santa and trying to decide if Mary Ann would prefer to do Hark the Herald Angels Sing or The Little Drummer boy.   If this never materializes you know it's because she put the kibosh on it.

tender and cakey and not too sweet

I haven't written any Christmas cards, have not bought any Christmas presents, and still don't have decorations on the tree.  BUT today I did set one thing right.  I made these. 

I know they don't look like much.  They are mishapen and lumpy and pale. 

But a little buttercream frosting and a sprinkle of colored sugar and they are transformed.

These are soft biscotti cookies.  I first had them in 1992 when the wife of one of my patients brought them up to us at the hospital.  They are tender and cakey and not too sweet.  The frosting is perfect and gets a little crust on it after you sprinkle the colored sugar on and let them sit for a bit.  Simply delicious with a cup of tea.  I have the kettle on and am going to have one as soon as I hit the "publish now" button.  Recipe included below should you feel the need to make a batch. 

perfect for the person who has everything

Who doesn't have one of these classic photos?  The kids home for Christmas.  Mom insists we gather around for a picture.  Mary Ann clearly has someplace better to be.  Dottie's wearing a dress!?   Cheryl is wondering why she is thinking about marrying into this family.... everybody smile!

I came across it when I was going through stuff at Angies.  I brought it home with a few other valuable items.  I can always use another pin cushion and synthetic feather duster.

But the real winner in the photograph below is best explained by reviewing this post.

Another example of how indispensable twisties are.  Come to think of it a packet of these would make a great Christmas present.   Perfect for the person you can't decide what to get because they already have everything.  Reasonably priced, easy to wrap, and so useful.  You heard it here first. 

unspeakably delicious

In case you were like me, and operating under the paradigm in which home-made marshmallows only went in hot chocolate, I seek to inform you otherwise.

When I was given this delightful packet last night containing 2 home-made honey marshmallows and a selection of hot chocolate and hot tea I thought to myself ... marshmallows in tea?  Who does that? 

So I put my skepticism aside and dropped that marshmallow right into that cup of lemon ginger herbal tea.  Oh!  The things that happened to that marshmallow.

When paired with the home-made Nordic butter cookie, unspeakably delicious.  

the undeniable star of the show

I went shopping for poinsettias today.

I always end up buying red ones, and this year was no different, but dang if this one didn't almost make me break with tradition.

As beautiful as it was though, the Christmas cactus was the undeniable star of the show. I did not buy it because it was so beautiful. I wanted it to live longer than it might at my house. I have not had good luck with keeping them from year to year. This one needs the hands that have been tending it to continue to do so.

Meanwhile my fabric pumpkins continue to play prominently in the decorating scheme.

I'm keeping them out until we get the tree up. Chris, the tree man, says this weekend for sure. I told him not to hurry on my account. As soon as it's up, I will have to get it decorated. I like thinking about decorating it better than the hands on part.

the one, the only, christmas eve pumpkin roll

Dear Barb:  I am confessing right now that I cheated and made the Christmas Eve pumpkin roll on December the 8th. 

I got it flipped, rolled, frosted and re-rolled with no breakage. 

I didn't run into any trouble eating it either.  I made it in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Let's face it.  Without that there wouldn't be a Christmas Eve.   Right?

Barb's Famous Christmas Eve Pumpkin Roll

3 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 3/4 can pumpkin, 1 tsp lemon juice, 3/4 cup flour, 1 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 cup chopped pecans.

Beat eggs for 5 minutes on high.  Add sugar, pumpkin, and lemon juice.  In another bowl sift all dry ingredients and add to pumpkin mixture.  Grease and flour a 16x11 jelly roll pan or cookie sheet.  Pour batter and sprinkle pecans on top.  Bake 15 minutes at 375 degrees.  While hot, flip onto towel sprinkled with powdered sugar.  Roll with towel and cool for 3 hours. 

Filling:  6 oz cream cheese, 4 oz butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla.  Mix until fluffy, spread filling on cake, roll back up, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to eat. 

Enjoy!

Gobble Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving to family and friends far and near.   Brother Ray and I are heading out to spend the day with Angie.  Chris is holding down the fort at Tall Tales headquarters.  Today I am grateful for family and that Chris can manage a dinner for 20 with one hand tied behind his back. 

let the onslought begin

The notice has been posted.

We are armed and ready.

Let the onslought begin!  Happy Halloween to all.  I have heard that eating a few "fun-size" candy bars before the door bell starts to ring optimizes the fun of trick or treating.   I am going to start with a Kit-Kat and do a Reece's Peanut Butter Cup chaser.  I like to live dangerously. 

the only good reason to make a plan is to break the plan

Fall colors have arrived at last... and I must say they were worth waiting for.  I snapped this shot on the way home from the market today. 

I did find some great pumpkins at the market, however, the true object of my affection today can be found below.   

I have seen this lady at the market before.  But this morning when I saw the garlands hanging behind her I slapped myself on the forehead.  Just like in the V-8 commercial. 

Gourds, cinammon sticks, dried water lily pods, red beads, devils claw,  milk weed pods, almonds, buckeyes, wine corks, dried corn husks,  and sweet gum tree balls all came together to make the PERFECT fall garland for above my table. 

I am still going to make felted acorns but as my sister and I often say, the only purpose for making a plan is to break the plan.  I could see no reason this morning not to snap this garland up, bring it home, and settle in with my new over-the-table-decor.   Which I am head-over-heels in love with.  Plus... it is perfect for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years  day, Three Kings day, and Groundhogs day. 

 

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I have vetoed both of them

it's a pumpkin palooza

I have seen some darn cute hand-crafted pumpkins this year.  Starting with Mary Stanley's rug hooked pumpkins that I saw on Pam's blog and ending with the velvet pumpkins, glitter pumpkins, and now the doily pumpkins that she featured today from Allyson Baker.  Holy Moly - it's a pumpkin palooza! 

I bought these at MADE  in downtown Lawrence.   A store that features hand-crafted items.  When I got home I realized that I did not have the name of the person who made them.   Dang they are cute!  I had to get 3 because I couldn't decide which one I liked the very best.   If I wasn't otherwise occupied making felted acorns I might have tried to make these myself.  Then again,  supporting local pumpkin makers is as important as making them yourself.  Right?   I love the colors and patterns of the fabrics used for these pumpkins.  They are going to look just perfect mixed in with the gourds and pumpkins I will be getting soon.   

So far there have been no injuries.

Today, I did it.

I took down my Valentine Garland.  The one that has seen me through Valentines day, Presidents day, St. Patrick's day, Palm Sunday, Passover, Easter, Tax day, Arbor day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother's day, Armed Forces day, National Maritime day, Memorial day, Flag day, Fathers day, Independence day, Senior Citizen's day,  and Labor day.  Whew!  That was one hard working banner. 

It will be hard to replace.  But I will do my best.  I got out the roving and collected acorn caps.  I started to make felt balls using the hot water/friction method and found it to be most unsatisfactory.  I then tried the needle felting method and am having much better luck. 

I took a needle felting class with my sister-in-law a few years back.  Luckily one of us was able to locate the class materials. 

I am being extremely careful as I repeatedly jab these 5 very sharp needles into the roving as it sits atop the big brush looking thing.   So far there have been no injuries. 

they can never, ever, EVER, take the place of the true fall candy mix

Before it gets too far along in the season,

and before they are all gone from the target shelves (which I understand is the only place they are being sold),

I feel it is my duty to tell you about these.

They are good, not delicious, not irresistable, but good.  The M&M people should never think of trying to replace regular M&M's,  or peanut M&M's,  or peanut butter M&M's with these ... 

... and they can never, ever, EVER, take the place of the true fall candy mix... salty cocktail peanuts and candy corn.  But until it is time for that, these are a nice distraction. 

because you hate crowds and are too lazy to go to a proper display

We cooked up a whole bunch of good summer eats on the 4th of July.  Good summer weekend vittles.    Things I will be repeating as the summer wears on.

Burgers by Chris, grilled zucchini from the Pioneer Woman's recent post on her 4th of July favorite foods, cabbage and corn slaw with cilantro and orange from epicurous.  I'll just slip the recipe in here because it's so easy and you are going to want to try it.  It is light, colorful, summery, AND delicious!  Shredded cabbage, cilantro, corn, a little shredded carrot, and sliced green onions dressed with 1/3 cup each frozen orange juice concentrate, rice wine vinegar, vegetable oil, plus salt and pepper. 

There are so many beautiful summer vegetables out there right now.  My chopping board is out all the time.  Pickled vegetables above are my new go-to summer side salad (recipe from Smitten Kitchen).  Well that and the cucumbers and red onions I made last week.  

I was glad the meal turned out so good because even though Chris got the tripod all set up for me the fireworks picture-taking was a bust as you can see below.   This is what your pictures look like when you are shooting through the upstairs window because you hate crowds and are too lazy to go to a proper display where you might have a chance to see some fireworks to photograph.   

I have no one to blame but myself. 

 

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when you find yourself with a bunch of zucchini on your hands

a pair of pleated fans

Hanging up a pair of pleated fans for the 4th of July might sound simple.  But it is not.  It involves tools, ladders, caulk, eye hooks, a hammer drill, and beer.

Not to mention the project manager,  a supervisor who can provide timely feedback, and the photographer to capture it all on film.  

I don't know for sure where Chris (project manager) got the idea this is something we should do.    But I (photographer) was 100% supportive and left all feedback providing to Lewis (project supervisor). 

Truth be told, I have thought for a long time that we needed to kick the decorating on the 4th up a notch from just the flags in the planters. 

Besides, now that those eye hooks are permanently affixed in the stucco, imagine what other things I can hang up there.

there's supposed to be an unknown in a story problem

If one part green and four parts blue make turquoise, and yellow and blue make green, and the only food colors you have are yellow and blue, how many drops of each do you use to get your desired shade of turquoise?

The correct response is you just keep going until it looks right and by the time it looks right you will have forgotten just how many drops you used because you might have squeezed the bottle and it squirted out insead of each drop being released in an orderly fashion.   I also forgot to mention the unknown part of the equation which is I was using farm fresh eggs that are all different shades of brown/tan.  There's supposed to be an unknown in a story problem isn't there?

These guys turned into deviled eggs pretty quickly after they got colored.    So I am not sure why I bothered, except it was fun.  And really that's the point.   

I love deviled eggs.  I think I am going to start making them every weekend for a snack/lunch.  In case you decide to do the same... they go very well with a cosmo. 

I used the cooks illustrated recipe again this year.  Mayo, dijon, worchestershire, apple cider vinegar, pepper.   I also chopped up some pickled jalapenos and threw those in too.  I recommend you do the same.  

it hopped over to the bag and practically begged to go home with me

 Yesterday I ran into Amy on the Plaza.

She was looking longingly down the street towards this sign.   I told her I would wander by and get her something. 

Lemon macarons and almond melty somethings looked good to me so that's what I picked up. 

I had to get a bunny cookie too.   I mean it's almost Easter and it hopped over to the bag and practically begged to go home with me. 

Amy agreed, there is nothing NOT to like about a cute little frosted shortbread bunny with sprinkles on top.  

for his amusement and swatting pleasure

Today the paper calendar hearts, and the cut up felted-purse hearts, and the felt balls on bakers twine, and the pink glass hearts on old trim, all got together on the chandelier over the table.

The Valentine party is now ready to begin.  Lewis thinks this mobile/sculpture was created soley for his amusement and swatting pleasure.   There have been no casualties to date, but the night is young. 

find your button tin and thread your machine

The great valentine caper continues!

You better start cutting up your old calendars, and get out that lace trim your sister gave you 6 years ago.  Find your button tin and thread your machine.  This is a matter of some urgency.    The time for heart making is now!

as your Christmas day unfolds

At 6:45 this morning, when it was still dark and 16 degrees outside, I got up to make cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  My first serious attempt at cinnamon rolls.  Armed with the Kitchen Aid and Dan Mulvenon's recipe I felt fortified.  Certain of success.

The dough came together perfectly, doubled in 2 hours, and was easily rolled out and then rolled up, sliced and placed in the pan.  All the hardest parts done perfectly.  Do you feel the but coming on?  I think I put too many rolls in one pan.  The middle ones were on the doughy side. 

I am choosing to look upon this as a blessing.  Chris and I had plenty for breakfast, there were two for Angie and there will not be a big pan of them sitting around all week to tempt me.  Win-Win.  Next time I will use 2 pans or cut the recipe in half. 

As your Christmas day unfolds, wherever you are across the globe, we at Tall Tales Headquarters wish you good cheer and cinnamon rolls that are done all the way through.    

the lights from the tree are making the ornaments sparkle

I did not buy any ribbon this year for wrapping.

Instead I used leftovers from a pair of socks, a vest, a scarf, and a felted purse.   I feel so virtuous, is there a knitter among us who does not delight in using up stash?   

In the meantime, Chris is preparing our traditional Chrismas Eve dinner (shrimp pasta), Lewis is taking a pre-dinner nap, and I am about to open a bottle of red and cut the baguette.  The fire is going and the lights from the tree are making the ornaments sparkle.  I am listening to Amy Grant sing about a tender Tennessee Christmas and remembering many Christmas Eves gone by.    My idea of the perfect way to spend the 24th of December. 

I am a very very careful wrapper

If you have gifts to mail to friends and family far and near, and if you are planning to use yarn to tie up your packages, and if you are shipping through the post office, you better be sure you tape every single strand of yarn down.

I didn't know that yarn could "mess up the works" at the post office.  Now I do.  Not to worry.  I had most of it taped down already.  A little snip here and a little snip there and they were approved by Mr. Postman.   My family will think I planned it that way.  As you can see above I am a very very careful wrapper.