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

  • off galavanting

    As dad used to say when we were kids, and off on some adventure in the world… I have been “off galavanting” for a few weekends and have thus missed my usual trips to the farmers market. This is why you have received no photos of my purchases, which is really a shame at this time of year when the bounty is plenty and colorful. Let me try to slip these colorful shots in as a substitute.

    Peggy and Annette and I swooped in to the big town of Salina Kansas for a trip down memory lane, in the form of “Dinner at Saga”. Saga was the food service/dining hall at Marymount college where we happily consumed what we thought was some fine cuisine between the years of 1977 and 1981. A group of alums who are still in Salina, and do a great job of coordinating things like this, put the festivities together. Thank goodness for name-tags. We didn’t even try to fake like we knew names, instead immediately looking straight at the name on tag, and then back at the face, trying to find a trace of the people we knew back then. We are flabbergasted as to why some people could easily identify exactly who we were though.

    Even though these things are all about the people you hung with in college, going back to the buildings, the town, the dining hall, the cast of characters on the periphery – all of that contributed to the entirety of what was (and remains) at the heart of all that was good about college. I am incredibly grateful to still have these women as friends 47 years after we first met.

    Chris and I also motored down to southern Missouri/northern Arkansas for the annual sprucing up of Angie and Ray’s spots at the Maplewood Cemetery. The leaves were not as stellar as they have occasionally been in the past but that did not stop us from our appointed duties of grass clipping, whisk brooming, scrubbing, and flower changing.

    We did not let the drizzle and overcast conditions keep us from the appointed Moss Family Putt-Putt tournament. We blamed our poor showing on the course conditions, but I still beat Chris by 4 strokes and claimed victory. There might have been a fair bit of cursing, but I am chalking that up to the 2 glasses of wine before we played. Highly recommended by the way when you don’t have to drive and the weather is less than stellar.

    Back to regular programming from the farmers market next week.

  • the story of a young teen-ager who disappears in the woods

    I just finished listening to The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. It was 15 hours of “good book love”… as in I couldn’t wait to get in the car to go run an errand so I could listen. I put this on my list of books to read after I read a review of it somewhere, probably the NYT book review. After reading it, while looking for an image of the book to use for my post, I ran across some reviews that were less than favorable. Such a great example of how a good meal, a walk, a painting, a piece of clothing, and finally a work of fiction can be such a different experience for every person that encounters it.

    This is the story of a young teen-ager who disappears in the woods while at a summer camp. Her brother disappeared from the same woods 14 years earlier. The reader moves back and forth in time between the 2 searches for them and the impact on the family, the camp, members of the community where the camp is located etc.

    I was very engrossed in the story from the get go. I loved the setting in the Adirondack mountains and the idea of the summer camp where kids learn some good life skills. Let me also say that I was a young teenager in 1975 and kids today are not like the kids of 1975. I feel like we were much more self sufficient, but maybe that’s as dependent on how we were parented as the times. One of the criticisms I read was about the “believability” of the book, to which I would reply, “It’s a work of fiction“. There were also comments about the ending, which I actually LOVED.

    Personally, I highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed my time listening to it. The narrator has a wonderful reading voice that was a pleasure to listen to.

  • it took every ounce of fortitude within me

    If you have never saved dried sunflower heads and added them to a wreath along with bittersweet, okra, leathery brown leaves, wheat, and some greenery… well now is that time. Except if you don’t have all the supplies you need or the wherewithal to accomplish it, not to worry, Karen Pendleton’s got you covered. This wreath stopped me in my tracks on Saturday at the farmers market.

    The pots of mums right below were equally gorgeous.

    As soon as I collected myself and was able to walk along, I spotted this cute fellow holding ever so tightly to a bag of pecans. I think his mom was going to take them home, toast them, and make some kind of apple, pecan, brown sugar, butter creation. He was happy just to be at the market – with his person.

    Another good week for dahlias! Above from Cook’s Market and below from … drat, did not get the vendor name, but don’t you love those tan and pink cosmos? Such an unusual color combination in a flower.

    Squash, pumpkin, gourd season continues. In ALL of its glory.

    The morning light on this swiss chard was a thing of beauty. The rutabagas were holding their own as well.

    It took every ounce of fortitude within me not to lift the lid and grab one of the caramels right off the top of this brown butter caramel apple cake and pop it in my mouth, close my eyes, and just delight in the pleasure of it all.

    The only thing that stopped me was this woman ahead of me in line paying for her cake. Her hat caught my eye and I wanted to get her photo and was pretty sure she would run away if I acted like a person with absolutely no manners. When I saw her dress I was extra glad I hadn’t done that. The fabric, the cut, the color, how well it fits her… all of that.

    Besides, I knew cake was coming home with me and I could have that moment of total bliss in private.

    P.S. If you can’t make it to the farmers market, you can always run out to Pendleton’s Country Market to snap up one Karen’s fall wreaths.

    https://www.pendletons.com/

  • It was the pumpkin swirl blondies that made me write this

    Important October things I have been doing include, staring at the bittersweet, mini pumpkins and zinnias on the table. All of these while I sit at the table, read the paper, eat breakfast, and stare out the window at the top of the wall that needs to be weeded. Right now, while the weather is not too hot and not too cold. But the bittersweet casts a spell, and I keep sitting.

    Fall-ish walks have started.

    I tried a recipe for pumpkin swirl blondies. They were ok. At the outset I told myself to just make pumpkin bread, the recipe that calls for a whole can of pumpkin puree, not just 1/4 cup that is mixed with cream cheese and spices to make a swirl. I am calling this my “try something new” baking for the month.

    The third session of the the Block Studies Collective has started. Above is the palette, some strips, the pattern in the background, and I am diving in. With great delight. Tara Faughnan knows how to do an on-line class. Great written instructions, video demonstrations, zoom sessions, a place to show your work, and most of all – a chance to play with small scale quilts. FUN!

    Chris and I went to the Linda Hall library in KC this week to see the “Life Beyond Earth” exhibit before it closes. We remain undecided on what may or may not be out there in terms of life beyond our planet. I am thinking we may need to send the current occupant of the oval office out on a one man investigation to finally settle the matter. If he is scared to go alone we will let him take his pals JD, and one additional advisor of his choosing. Also, we must throw RFK Jr in the mix so he can continue to uncover bold scientific discoveries that no one has previously thought about.

    Good idea huh? I couldn’t help myself. It was the pumpkin swirl blondies that made me write this.

  • flowers and pumpkins

    It is entirely possible that the photo above is my absolute favorite picture I have ever taken at the Lawrence Kansas farmers market. I think it’s because I want to live in a world where a big sister is given some money (note the careful carrying of it in her hand) and told to head off with her little brother so he can pick out a pumpkin. He likely thinks it’s the best pumpkin ever, in the history of pumpkindom, and is so happy he could pop, and she was in charge but let him decide what to get.

    The Cook’s Market folks had some spectacular dahlias this week.

    These two were just chillin’ with their pup. LOVE their expressions as they clearly were enjoying the morning.

    Corn bundles! Grab them while you can, no front porch fall display is complete without them.

    How about some fresh young ginger. It’s so pretty and makes me want to get out the wok and chop some veggies and make some rice…

    Above and below – women LOVE their flowers and pumpkins. I stand united with them.

    Pumpkin spice latte cake. I do not know how he manages to get the pumpkin and the coffee flavors to play so nicely – neither overpowering the other, but he does. It’s a favorite. Heck everything is my favorite at this time of year.

    Kind of like these two below. Everyone is happy at the market on Saturday morning.

    Yes, some of these came home with me. It’s officially time in case you missed it. Fall candles came out as well… woodsmoke, clove, oak, leaves.

    As I was about to get in my car with my basket, I spied this family coming in. Please make sure you look at the daisy sandals. Squeal!

    Here is what came home with me this week. A very good selection if I do say so myself.

  • a wooly worm, an abandoned snake skin, a couple of solo monarchs

    It was a Cat Stevens Morning Has Broken start to the day at the Baker wetlands today. I went to see if there were any unusual birds waiting for me there. This is the time of year when migrating birds move through the midwest. Isn’t that a wondrous thing to even think about?

    I heard killdeer and saw red-winged blackbirds. There were also some geese flying overhead. I did not spot any white pelicans. I will have to head to Clinton lake soon and see if there are any of them hanging around, taking a rest along their journey.

    The sun was hitting the grasses, the breeze was nice, there was a hint of highway noise in the background but I ignored it. My attention was called to other things.

    Things like a wooly worm, an abandoned snake skin, a couple of solo monarchs, and a dragonfly or two.

    There was a leaf hanging in the middle of the trail, suspended there with the the aid of the long tail from a spiderweb. I do not know if the leaf hit it on the way down, or if it deliberately used it to ease the descent.

    The filtered sunlight on the fallen leaves on the trails is just so beautiful. No words can describe it. It’s one of those external cues that trigger a cascade of memory and feelings that together make up an entirely unique experience for each viewer.

    The leaves are starting to turn but small flowers continue to bloom.

    Today I saw some large shallow pools for the birds, but compared to 5-6 years ago, it is much drier at the wetlands.

    I was delighted to catch one great egret stepping carefully along.

    This was a most excellent start to a long weekend.

    Now I am off to dig an old Cat Stevens CD out of who knows where… Dottie if you are reading this do you remember how much Gracie Villanueva loved it when we sang Morning Has Broken at mass in Panama? I can see her as clear as day right this second.

  • I have worked out in my mind how the intertwined futures of Esme and Iris play out

    Tonight it’s an update from what I have been reading. As usual it’s a mish-mash of things that catch AND hold my interest. First let me tell you about The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell. Sister told me I must read it; sometimes I listen to her about books and sometimes I don’t. This was one of the did listen times and I am glad I did.

    First let me say that I knew it was about a young woman who was committed to an “asylum” because of her “behavior”. That is all I knew about it, and in retrospect I am glad. I finished it this morning on my way to work and immediately sent a Marco Polo to sister to discuss the ending, never mind that it was 4am on the west coast when I sent the message. I listened to this book and the Scottish brogue was completely wonderful and added to the whole atmospheric feel of the story.

    I am reluctant to tell you a lot about the book and instead encourage you to dive in with an open mind and let the story take you where it will. THEN I will want to hear what you thought. The ending caught me off guard, but I have worked out in my mind exactly how the intertwined futures of Esme and Iris play out. Highly recommended.

    I finished The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose in the last week too. It is one of those “nice” little reads about a quirky character in a familiar place and it was a lovely thing to read before bed. As soon as I finished that, I put my head down on the pillow for a few minutes, let it all sink it, ran my hands over the cover, then took out the bookmark and put it in Italian Shoes by Henning Mankell.

    Dianne told me about it, it sounded intriguing, and they had it at the library. I read another book by him several years ago and enjoyed it very much. The older I get, the more I like to read authors from other countries. It takes place on a small island in the Swedish Archipelago and I love the references to all the places in Sweden that sound familiar after Sister and I visited there, back then, whenever it was, I can’t remember the year, but I remember everything else. I am about 6 chapters in and completely caught up in it. Something happened to the main character that caused him to isolate himself on the island – I don’t know what that was yet. Right now I just love saying the names of the places out loud in my best Swedish accent and imagining living on a small island inhabited by me alone, with a dog and a cat. Or maybe 2 cats. That right there is a good reason to get caught up in a book.

    This concludes my first book report on WordPress. The end.

  • where my mind goes in September

    It’s almost the end of September and I am willing myself to sit in it. To luxuriate in my memories of all the September’s that have come before this one. Each anticipated start of a new school year complete with freshly sharpened pencils, notebooks waiting to be filled, making covers for textbooks out of brown paper grocery bags, a few new items of clothing. No matter the numbers of years that have passed since I last started a new year of school, that is where my mind goes in September. It’s a great place to visit.

    But let me get back to the farmers market for a minute. The morning light on the eggplant was splendid. As were the carefully lined up pots of mums in front of these tables.

    Every market these days is a smorgasbord of flowers, take your pick, they are all colorful, vibrant, plentiful. This Saturday there was also the wonderful sound of a vaguely familiar tune played on an accordion.

    There amidst the steam and partially obscured by the lid, was a maker of tamales. I haven’t sampled hers but will make it a point to get some soon.

    This celery was beautiful, I love all the leaves. I was mostly interested in that bag of “tween kale” right above it though. It holds up very well to a roasted vegetable, bean, pepper, combo that can be dressed and taken to work for lunch and tastes as good on day #4 as it does on day #1.

    Death by Chocolate this week. As the baker told me about it “I don’t really crave chocolate, until I do…” and when I do, nothing fills the bill like this cake. Moist with chunks of chocolate that you bite into at random.

    The pot of succulents! I can’t stand it, it’s so cute. It came out of a barn on some property out in the county where it had been hiding for the last 50 years. In my mind.

    These two got the award for the most colorful AND friendliest at the market this week. I didn’t know about the friendly part until I asked to take the picture.

    Let’s end this market post with some more fall bounty shall we?

    Until next time, I will just be doing my thing, but mostly thinking about September, and October.

  • I’m so glad we had this time together…

    The latest Huff +1 lunch took place in Lawrence this week. I decided both an inside AND an outside photo were needed just because, and in case. Small factors like glare can sometimes creep up unawares and leave you with not quite the result you had hoped for. I don’t like to do too much fiddling around with editing of photos either, so inside and outside. You didn’t need all that information, but now you have it.

    Gosh we had a good time. I reminded Marti that she told me a year or so ago that the thing she would tell her 21 year old self if she could go back in time was “this too shall pass”. Gosh if that isn’t the phrase we all need tattooed on our arms right now. We decided as well that the watchword for our time is “cope”… and figuring out how to do that. Which brings me back to this monthly lunch. I look forward to it knowing it will be a time to breathe out, breathe in, say what needs to be said, ask for input, eat good food, laugh, and be thankful for the immense comfort it provides. There’s usually a bit of singing at lunch too. Last month it was “so long it’s been good to know ya, but I’ve got to be moving along“. This month it was “I’m so glad we’ve had this time together“. We usually sing loud, because we like to encourage anyone in the joint who knows the words to join in.

    The sunlight on this one leaf, right in front of me, as I sat on the porch today was a thing of beauty.

    As are these pots of geraniums that are enjoying the cooler temps.

    I recently finished installment #12 in the Inspector Gamache series. I don’t think I already told you that. Another insight deeper into the characters’ pasts, a glimpse of what may be some new recurring players, a visit to the lovely village of Three Pines, ongoing clean up of the corruption at the Surete du Quebec, descriptions of delicious foot… just another day in the life. Thoroughly enjoyable.

    I hope that each of you have found just as suitable, companionable, parts of life to keep you buoyed this week.

  • In my next life I am coming back as a warty pumpkin

    Because today is the first day of fall, how about we start this post with some gnarly looking pumpkins? These were on display in the back of a pick up truck at the farmers market on Saturday. Ooooh how I do love a good warty pumpkin.

    There were also some really nice looking flowers. I am a sucker for the bouquets with dahlias. I like how these whisper “fall is coming” but they are not shouting all-out fall yet. If that makes any sense.

    Butternut squash has arrived. I just saw a recipe from Forks over Knives today for a Moroccan Bean salad that had chopped roasted winter squash along with … oh let me just include the recipe here instead of telling you everything in it. You might want to try it too.

    Screenshot

    A couple of zucchini made their way into my basket, dipped in hummus or grated over quinoa with some pickled red onions, and a fried egg on top, both sound very tasty to me.

    How about this dynamic duo? I love me some hand-holders.

    Mums will be coming soon to my front porch. My geraniums still look too good to dump… but soon.

    Apple Spice cake this week. That little red hot on the top was the perfect accompaniment . Reminded me of a nice warm apple cider with a splash of cinnamon schnapps on a cool fall evening.

    I listened to a podcast the other day about the health benefits of foods like red peppers which only reinforced that I should get all these peppers.

    Just one more shot of the pumpkins. There will be more as we work into October. Lots more. In my next life I am coming back as a warty pumpkin.