Tall Tales from Kansas

go with me on that logic

Summer things happening around here include the beginning of the weekly quick pickling of cucumbers and red onions. No summer would be the same without them. 

The coneflowers are looking good in the garden. I do love that the birds carry the seeds all around the garden and you never know where a good crop is going to pop up from year to year. 

First vase of zinnia's, cut from the seeds that volunteered up from last year. 

A decidedly "unsummer" thing is the making of granola, because for some reason it sounded so good and I needed to have some with blueberries and yogurt for breakfast. I only made a small batch. Just to satisfy the craving. Because I could. 

The sunflowers from last week's market are looking nice on the table. 

Oh, and another decidedly summer thing was this glass of white sangria that I had while out with the Quails at the Pressed Penny Tavern in KC a few weeks ago. 

It was tasty. If you live in the area and you decide to go, be sure and start your meal with the Brussels sprouts. They are the best. Seriously good. If you like a Reuben, they make a good one. Mary Joan ordered one, Jamie and I went for the polenta, but then ended up eating 1/2 of Joan's reuben. 

And one final more "summer" thing... I was driving over for a massage earlier today and Castles in the Air by Don McLean came on. Lordy it's been a while since I heard that. Music from the 70's always reminds me of Panama and the beach and summer. Go with me on that logic.  Happy memories. 

 

we'll see how long I keep up this new habit

I felt some of you might want to hear the full report on the strawberry breakfast tart.  The one from the Farmers Market this past weekend. 

Dangerously good. Perfect ratio of filling to crust. Lots of pure strawberry flavor and not overly sweet. The crust was firm but flaky if that makes any sense, and the drizzle of frosting was exactly right. There will be another one in my future. 

The stock and allium are doing well.  I am now a fan of dropping a pre-1982 penny in all my vases, and trying to change the water at least every other day. We'll see how long I keep up this new habit. 

In other news, let me recommend highly this new album by Joy Oladokun - Proof of Life. I read about her when I was flipping through the NYT a few weeks ago and of course gave her a listen. Then immediately went and purchased the album. I have been listening non-stop.   

And I haven't even mentioned the art work on the cover. Says the person who sometimes chooses wine and books based on the label/cover. Not this time, but it is an added bonus. 

peace, love, and a whole lot of tamborine

Tonight I have some favorites with a slight twist to tell you about.
The first is the sun setting from my view above the clouds, on my plane trip home from Los Angeles, through a dirty window. Still spectacular.

Second is my new pajamas.  A "custom" set of capri pants with a short sleeved top from Print Fresh Pajamas. The thing is the short sleeved tops come with shorts but no capri pants. Unless you ask. Which I did, and they complied. How is that for great customer service.This print is called "camels courtyard", but I refer to them as "Midnight at the Oasis" as per the Maria Muldaur song from 1973. 

Thirdly is a new for me plant. Tillandsia aka the airplant. Which actually does need water to grow, but no soil. Sister had one and I saw several tucked in interesting places on neighborhood walks with gardens. It might become my new favorite plant, strategically placed alongside some sea shells and dried American lotus heads?  

New spins on old favorites. It keeps life interesting. Which is not essential, but does add a certain enjoyment to life.

P.S.  for those of you who NEED to hear Midnight at the Oasis - here it is, in the original, no twist. Still catchy. If this isn't emblematic of the 1970's, I don't know what is. Peace, Love, and a whole lot of Tamborine. 

I am going to NEED to know which of you remember this song fondly from "the day". I am picturing several of you in your hip hugger jeans, flowers in your hair. You know who you are. 

as they say in the state of our birth

Dottie and I were both born in Hawaii. Way back when. Before it was a state. 

She's been back to visit several times and LOVES it there. 

I always say I want to go back, but have never made it happen.

Sometimes she sends me flowers from Hawaii. A unique treat.

They are colorful, exotic, amazing in every way. From the top all the way down to the stems in the water. 

Every single  thing about them is special.  At Chrismas time they are especially wonderful.

Thanks Dottie, and as they say in the state of our birth, Mele Kalikimaka!

2 place settings of silverware before Thursday

Dottie sent this to me and I am posting it here for your listening pleasure. Sort of a pre-thanksgiving treat. No calories. All joy. I have never heard of the Bengsons before, but am about ready to do a deep dive into their music. I hope to come up in time to polish 2 place settings of silverware before Thursday. 

 

in case you want to briefly return to 1971

Yesterday we motored home from the mountains, trees, lakes, and rivers of Colorado. Our drive literally flew by. The license plate game started on the drive out was finished - 45/50 spotted. Unfortunately we did not see West Virginia, Alaska, North Dakota, Alabama, or Rhode Island, but did hoot and holler when Hawaii flashed by. 

We brought three audio books for entertainment, but the first two were not conducive for travel.  Road noise, complicated story lines and narration that failed to hold our attention were the downfall of those. Rather than start #3, we listened to a couple of episodes of Twenty Thousand Hertz. The episode about the theme music from Seinfeld was great, as was the one about the evolution of accents. 

Our favorite activity though was when Chris and I alternated between picking songs from years gone by to listen to... and of course singing along. It started when I asked Chris to look up what was on the flip side of the 45 that featured "Sign Signs, Everywhere a Sign" by Five Man Electrical Band, which I have included below, in case you also want to briefly return to 1971. 

We had a wonderful time at Rocky Mountain National Park, but it's amazing how quickly we settled back into the routines of home.

Getting flowers on the table, puttering in the kitchen.

Walking in the morning.

Going through the mail, watering the flower beds, doing the laundry... getting back to the usual routines of daily life, but refreshed by what we saw and hope to do again in 2021.

I hate to do this, but I am going to have to quote Dorothy and say "there's no place like home". Heel clicking optional.  

don't stand so

High marks to the person responsible for this sign on the Granada Theatre in downtown Lawrence. I do love a good sign. Especially when it makes me want to sing. And while we are on the subject of clever and music... 

Is it just me or are Jimmy Fallon and the house band (The Roots) AMAZINGLY talented? OK and STING too.

At the end of a crazy busy exhausting day I could come home and listen to this about 50 times and never, ever, get tired of it. This health care professional says THANK YOU for doing this essential work.

keeping everyone in line proved to be too much

The Moss Family sing-a-long this morning went exactly as you might expect. Dottie was right on time and wearing a hat, so I had to go get a hat. Sister was late, but it was early in California so we gave her a break. Brother had not downloaded ZOOM as instructed until the meeting already started, and once sister joined the meeting I was forced to mute her so we could get started. Unfortunately she is familiar with ZOOM and knew how to unmute herself and thus chaos ensued.  Also, for some unknown reason, Brother decided to wear a cloistered monk ensemble using a kitchen towel in lieu of a scapular and a cowl.

There will have to be more practicing in order for this unruly bunch to pull off a REAL sing-a-long but I am not giving up yet.  I have been informed that cocktail hour would be a more suitable time to schedule it. By the way, I did record part of our session with my phone, but trying to run the camera, sing the song, moderate the ZOOM room, and keep everyone in line proved to be too much, resulting in a very unsatisfactory video.  As you will see below.  

To make up for this atrocity, I want to share this link below. Maybe you all already know about it, but on the chance that you don't, let me share Songs from Home from Mary Chapin Carpenter (and her dog Angus & white kitty who likes to nap a lot). 

Nothing heals, or touches the soul, like music. Mary Chapin Carpenter is one of the greats. Happy Saturday!

an amazingly luxurious bit of ordinariness

Up this week in the "ordinary chronicles" there was all of this.

A perfect latte in a wonderful spot where I heard "Stuck in the Middle with You" for the first time in maybe 30 years.

A glorious sunny day sandwiched between cloudy and blustery ones.

A leftover piece of that almond-poppy seed cake with cranberry glaze, served with a cup of Meyer lemon Chai tea.

And finally, the lights are on in downtown Lawrence. Kind of an amazingly luxurious bit of ordinariness, if I do say so myself.  

P.S. in case its been 30 years for you as well. Sister and Pam this is going on our playlist for art retreat 2020. 

happy to participate in the spontaneous clapping

If you are able to get to a theatre where the Linda Rondstadt documentary, The Sound of My Voice, is playing, you must go.  In particular if you are between the ages of 50 and 65, growing up with her records playing on your dorm-room stereo, or on the juke box at the local beer joint, you will thoroughly enjoy it. 

Chris and I saw it at Liberty Hall in Lawrence and were happy to participate in the spontaneous clapping at the end of the film. Such a voice. 

to everything turn turn turn

This morning, while sitting on my front porch, in jeans and a long sleeved shirt, under cloudy skies, I noticed that the leaves are beginning to turn.

Which had me singing this tune to myself, not really caring if anyone heard, wishing I could be back in Panama circa 1973 strumming it on the guitar with the "folk group".

I can still hear my dad singing along to The Silver Tongued Devil and I

Are you watching the Ken Burns Special on Country Music on PBS? We have been looking forward to it with great anticipation at Tall Tales Headquarters. 

The reviews have been mixed, but if you come from a family that listened to the radio for entertainment (Kitty Wells was my favorite growing up) and played records on a turntable in a stereo cabinet (I can still hear my dad singing along to The Silver Tongued Devil and I), then it is likely you will enjoy it as thoroughly as we have thus far. In the first 4 episodes, there has been much to learn about the roots of the music and some of it's founders. The Emmy's are going to have to take a back seat to part 5 of this series which airs this coming Sunday.  

Ray, Dottie, and Mary Ann - this is for you...

my forever February cocktail

Five days ago, on February 10th, I told you about the best chocolate martini I have ever made.  Because confirmation never hurts, I repeated the recipe on the 11th and then again on the 12th. I will also be having one today during cocktail time.  Which will commence at exactly 3:45pm CST.  

This has become my February cocktail. From now until forever. I made it the same way each time, except that I saw in the photo I showed you a bottle of Contreau and then told you I used Gran Marnier when if fact I used Contreau.  It could be that both will work just the same, but in the name of full transparency I wanted to call that to your attention.  

The other thing you MUST know about, right now, passed on to me by Dottie just this morning, is below.  I have already watched it 7 times.  

Happy Saturday, happy listening, happy chocolate martini month.  

The end.  

a moment of perfect contentment

She (one of the shrewd local librarians) found it!  And within a week or so of my request. High marks to the Lawrence public library. 

Which means I have been introduced to Penelope, Nancy, Olivia, and Cosmo.   I am not at all sure about that Nancy, or her seemingly worthless children and husband George.  But it's early on and I shall keep an open mind.  All of this means that I will be strolling through the Cotswalds, with the occasional train trip to London, and a short jaunt to Ibiza this weekend.  All from the comfort of my home, where we have gray skies and a steady gentle drizzle. 

I do also intend to plant pansies, make banana bread, and be available to supervise Chris as he prepares a brisket and coleslaw for supper. 

And one more thing.  While I am rambling on... yesterday after attending a class and having a most excellent Bloody Mary with a friend (at The Webster House in Kansas City - if you live near you should try one), I jumped in the car to head home and This is Love by Mary Chapin Carpenter was on the radio.  I turned it up full blast, opened the sun roof, and recognized that I was experiencing a moment of perfect contentment.  I love it when I can appreciate (when it's happening) these simple joys.  Happy Sunday.  

 

off to practice my dance moves

Dottie sent this to me this morning and it is SO SO SO worth watching that I am posting it here for you.  In case you haven't seen it yet.

 

More later, I am off to practice my dance moves.  Soy YO!

we all are fine musicians we practice everyday

Tonight, for your listening pleasure, I present the first live concert of the bathing Watsons.  You saw them here first. 

 

Please note they take their craft very seriously. 

orange, four footed, garden supervisors, with white tipped tails

On weekends, in February, when it is 70 degrees outside, you can be sure that oranges will be sliced, flowers will be arranged, and cats will petted. 

I may or may not begin the spring flower bed cleaning.  It all depends on whether any orange, four footed, garden supervisors, with white tipped tails, are outside or not.

P.S.  In case you missed this on PBS Friday night - go and watch it!  So many things I did not know about Carole King... and so much good music. 

if you are into that kind of thing

As much as I love going on an adventure, I crave days that are full of pure ordinariness.  Chopping up an apple, appreciating the texture of this felted tweed yarn, being able to buy flowers at the store, scrubbing the kitchen sinks, making a to-do list for the weekend, savoring a spicy chai tea latte, and watching the sun go down at the end of it all. 

Today was that kind of day.  And it was lovely.  Do you know Janalea Hoffman?  I listened to her "musical accupuncture" CD today when I was knitting in front of the fireplace.  Highly recommended if you are into that kind of thing.  Which I am. 

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.

they could march right up and perform in bare feet

 

The Kansas state fiddling and picking contest was held this past weekend in Lawrence.  We stopped by to have a listen.  August in the park, under the shade of some big old trees, listening to music.  As Ray Moss would say... you can't beat that with a stick.

We were not the only ones out enjoying the day.   Did I mention there was no admission fee?  

My hands down favorite part of the day was watching the youth fiddling competition.

The kids I watched were great AND they looked like they were enjoying themselves.  I loved that they could march right up and perform in bare feet and a t-shirt or their fanciest skirt and barette.  If I had a child I would take them right down to the fiddling and picking school and get them enrolled.  I can't remember when I have ever been as completely delighted by a group of performers.