Tall Tales from Kansas

My name is Carol. I live in Kansas. I write about stuff that happens to me as I walk through the world. Most of it is true.

recent posts

  • I think I chose correctly

    It was raining cats and dogs Saturday morning at 7:30 am. Before getting out of the car I donned the rain hat, the rain coat, put a plastic bag in my basket, left the Nikon in the car and grabbed the umbrella out of the back seat. Mercy! It was an adventure. I took exactly one photo with my iPhone at the market. It’s of the very nice women at the Moon on the Meadow booth. I approve highly of the very sensible orange raincoat by the way.

    I was smiling as I splashed down the rows, feet and pants completely wet. If the vendors are coming, I am going! That’s my motto.

    Plus, I knew the cake of the week was going to be the lime coconut. That rose pistachio cookie next to the cake had to be sampled. And yes that small triangle behind the cookie, just adjacent to the giant radishes is a dark chocolate torte. The first one I had several weeks back was rich, dark, not too sweet, dense but not hard, extremely satisfying, so I decided to be sure that wasn’t a fluke.

    This bag of tender young lettuce is going to make a very simple salad tonight with some of those radishes and a couple of pickled beets.

    I could not resist showing a close up of the cake, to verify the moistness.

    Ranunculus was my pick for flowers this week. I think I chose correctly.

    P.S. the chocolate torte was no fluke.

  • aimless wandering

    When people ask “what did you do in Paris?”, I tell them we wandered. Wandered around, soaked up the city, all if it with only a very general idea of a plan of where we were going and what we were going to do. The thing is… you never know what you are going to find that might cause you to veer off course which makes planning totally unnecessary. Foolish even.

    We explored parks. My favorite, if I have to pick only one, was Parc Monceau. We visited several times and enjoyed sitting on these benches in the filtered sunlight, warming ourselves, watching life in a city that is not our own, float by. Wondering what must it be like to live here.

    Ducking into passageways to see what might be there.

    And of course, always, hopping on and off the metro and city busses. So much fun… just to see if you can figure things out, the right line, going in the right direction, where to transfer… it’s surprisingly exciting when it all turns out.

    On the metro we were up close and personal with all the people of Paris. Sitting, talking, reading, on their phones… all of it mundane and somehow so interesting in a different language.

    Photos were taken with ideas for painting, drawing, sketching…

    No trip to Paris would be complete without a walk along the Seine. On this day we stumbled upon the most beautiful garden, complete with roses and a man practicing on his harmonica.

    The Santa Barbara cat dolls asked to come to Paris and since their passage was included in the price of our tickets, we brought them.

    The parks in Paris are replete with all manner of sculptures to enjoy.

    Every street had smaller lanes that beckoned to be strolled.

    The spots for taking a respite were plentiful. We took advantage of them.

    Aimless wandering is a wonderful way to pass the time. So different from the ordinary “structuredness” of normal life where everything is over-planned. The important thing is to find someone who also thrives on the loose flowing nature of it. Happily, sister and I are quite in agreement on this.

  • my favorite was the pain aux raisins

    One of the most enjoyable things about wandering the streets of Paris, Fontainebleau, Giverny, and Moret-sur-Loing were all the unexpected things you just stumble upon. I am a fan of window displays, window shopping, window art, and the backgrounds you capture in photos of windows. Thus follows my favorite window shots from our trip. In no particular order and not categorized by subject. Sort of a free flowing stroll. With no where to be and no bus to catch.

    I did acquire 2 scarves while in France. One cannot go to France and not buy a scarf (or two). It’s a rule. We also purchased and consumed our fair share of baguettes and pastries. My favorite was the pain aux raisins which were sampled at multiple small cafe’s and patisseries. Alongside a cafe creme they were all delightful.

    Thanks for coming along on the tour of France windows. More photos to come as I get them sorted. Did I say this was a really great trip already?

  • they could easily blend in on the streets of Montmartre

    On my return to the farmers market this Saturday, after being away for several weeks, I was greeted by a splendiferous grouping of buckets of peonies. Peonies waiting just for me, or so it felt when I saw them.

    I carefully observed the offerings, selected a bunch, walked them back to my car, and continued with my shopping. I don’t like my peonies to get jostled in the basket.

    These heads of lettuce ranked right up there in terms of beauty. We had the BEST lettuce in Paris. Simply laid on the plate with a drizzle of vinaigrette. It was wonderful.

    We also had a wonderful carrot salad from a boulangerie in our neighborhood in Batignolles that I must try to reproduce.

    Meanwhile, back at the market, this young entrepreneur, with her perfectly tied apron, stands at the ready to assist anyone who wants to try her cookies.

    I had the best time watching this young woman carefully select her juices for the week, then I did what she did – and got the Re-root and Re-energize.

    I had been dreaming about the Rye bread I got a few weeks ago from this vendor, alas, she told me I was the only one who bought it previously so she had not made any. Instead, I selected a loaf of her French Sandwich bread. It did not disappoint. Dense, moist, excellent as toast, or just with a dab of butter on the side with dinner. I will be trying all of her breads and other baked items.

    Next I happened upon this accordion player and the young woman (who I think was with him) settled in for a session of writing and sketching. They could easily blend in on the streets of Montmartre.

    Below you have the Brown Butter Caramel Latte cake. Somehow the flavors of the coffee, caramel, and brown butter were each distinct on my palate and I enjoyed every bite. Every, single, bite.

    They were in line in front of me at the Chonky Eats booth. That little miss in the stroller had cookies on her mind.

    Oh but it is good to be home and back in my usual Saturday morning market routine. Especially with the fragrance of peonies in the air.

  • an undertone of something magic about it

    As I crossed over Newfoundland today, bound for JFK, I finished When God was a Rabbit, by Sarah Winman. I think this was her debut novel. It’s the story of Elly and her brother Joe, the childhood events that bind them together and how their relationship evolves through the years. They face tragedies, we meet their friends, and the quirky, cobbled together, family that shapes them.

    it is written so tenderly and was a perfect read for the trip to Paris. I tried to limit myself to just a few short chapters each night and then threw restraint to the wind and gobbled it up completely on the plane ride home.
    There is much to love about this book. The setting that bounces back and forth from London, to Cornwall, to New York City, the writing that is concise but never feels spare, and the ties of love and friendship that change over time. There is an undertone of something magic about it despite the hardships. Very highly recommended. Thanks for another winner of a suggestion Sharron.

  • do things like this happen to you when you are traveling

    At this exact minute, I am looking out the window of the Sheraton at the Charles de Gaul airport in Paris. An Air France flight just took off. How is it possible that 11 days have passed since I departed from Kansas City? The wonderful Daniella from My Paris Driver, scooped us up from our place in Fontainebleau and safely deposited us here to spend the night before our departure in the morning. Easy walking from within the airport to security and to our gates. More tales of our travels to come, but I wanted to show you some scenes from the Fontainebleau version of the farmers market.

    Posting from the iPad is slightly different than my usual way. Hopefully this works. Right now I must go downstairs to ask at the desk why the lights in our room have gone off and we can’t figure out how to get them on. Do things like this happen to you when you are traveling?

  • right in the middle of a neighborhood

    After a morning dash out of the apartment to the local Boulangerie and coffee spot, I sit looking out the windows to the rooftops across the way. We are wandering the streets, going to parks, riding busses and taking the metro, walking all over, looking up and down and all around. Making masterpieces in our journals, noting the wonder of it all.

    Good stuff. All of it. The 17th arrondissement is a wonderful place to stay. We are right in the middle of a neighborhood with everything we need. Plus really comfortable beds, which are a necessity for a couple of intrepid siblings in their 60’s.

  • to know better is to do better

    James by Percival Everett is my latest finish on the libby app. It’s been on my list for a bit. I read Tom Sawyer, and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn many, many, years ago. This story has me considering a re-read of the Huckleberry Finn tale. I do not recall in any detail exactly what happened in that book. Nor do I remember Jim and the relationship he had with Huck. This is the story of James as he tries to reunite with his family and escape the life of a slave. He encounters much along the way.

    This was a hard book to listen to at times. The experiences of being a slave, whether a historically accurate representation, or a fictionalized account, are difficult. I have no memory of the way we were educated about this when I was a child. Maybe differently than todays students of American History are? Well, I will just say I think I should know more. I should have asked more questions back then. The part of this book with white minstrels in black face performing songs as slaves was one of the hard parts… it now has me wanting to read Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment. To know better is to do better.

    I recommend James. It warrants your attention.

  • a garden success story

    The storms this year have wreaked havoc on peony season. That, combined with missing the farmers market due to work has left me with zero bouquets this year. Plus my friend Pam, who had the loveliest bushes, and invited me to cut annually, has moved. Well, to everything there is a season (or not) right? Next year will be appreciated even more. In the meantime, I did enjoy this one that was on a walking route the other day. I sniffed every flower on the bush. This particular specimen was the most fragrant.

    It feels like it’s been awhile since I did the solo cafe sit and think thing. I squeezed one in recently. Just made me remember to schedule it more often.

    The geranium front porch pots were planted before heading to Paris. If I wait till I get back it is likely the best geraniums will have been snatched up. I’m very happy with what I found at Pendletons Market. The rest of the pots will have to wait until I return.

    I had a happy surprise when I looked out the window the other morning and spied a few Japanese Iris. I planted these maybe 10-15 years ago and things that were around them crowded them out or something and they stopped blooming. Last year I cleaned out some bushes and will you look what happened. I love a garden success story.

    This has also been an amazing year for the Japanese maple. I planted this tree maybe 16 years ago. The first one I put in this spot got caught by a freak Spring ice storm and died. I never take this beauty for granted. Especially since my tree planting years are behind me.

    I do hope you are enjoying your spring, or whatever season you are in, wherever you are in the world right now.

  • you might want a pencil on the nightstand

    I just finished this little treasure of a book, Foster by Claire Keegan. A short story if you will, about a young girl who is sent to live with relatives when her mother is about to have yet another baby. The reader senses that things are hard at home, not enough food to go around, the relationship between the mother and father feels strained, so off she goes, to what she does not really know, or understand. She comes to see a different way of living, of being, of learning what it is to feel love. That’s all I will say about it. It’s so well written with no stereotypical trite reductions. There will be more Claire Keegan in my future. Highly recommended. Don’t you love the cover of the book? It’s the perfect size/weight to hold in your hands in bed at night. You might want a pencil on the nightstand. For underlining, or notes in the margins, your choice.

    While we are talking about books, I look forward to settling in with Michaels Pollan’s new one: A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness. Those who have followed me for awhile know I loved his book about psychedelics – How to Change Your Mind. I find the whole concept of consciousness to be fascinating. Do I understand it fully? No. Must I to be intrigued by it? No. Maybe it’s better if it remains a bit wondrous, something not be be fully pinned down by the scientific community.

    Below I am adding two links to some good podcasts related to Pollan’s book. The first one is an interview he did with Ezra Klein – it’s about 90 minutes long.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/31/opinion/eza-klein-podcast-michael-pollan.html

    The second one is an interview with Terry Gross on NPR – it’s about 45 minutes.

    https://www.npr.org/2026/02/19/nx-s1-5719479/michael-pollans-journey-to-understand-consciousness

    I enjoyed them both.