Carol's Profile

I filled up all those spaces inside that needed replenishing

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

Posted 2 days ago at Tall Tales from Kansas

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I could smell the beginnings of spring

At 7:29am, under a dense fog advisory, with temperatures holding steady at 38 degrees, and NO wind... outdoor walking season resumed in Lawrence Kansas today. Birds were singing, no other humans were about, a squirrel ran up a tree and then came back down. It was GLORIOUS. Cobwebs that I... Continue reading

Posted 3 days ago at Tall Tales from Kansas

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number 3000

Happy Friday all. As I sit down to write tonight, it's worth noting that this is the 3,000 post I have sent out into the world since the inception of Tall Tales from Kansas, almost 10 years ago. If you would have asked me at the time if I thought... Continue reading

Posted 4 days ago at Tall Tales from Kansas

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well worth the month or so I waited my turn for it

Here are my latest "kid book" favorites. First there is The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse, by Charlie Mackesy. It is lovely for it's sweet and tender message of goodness about a friendship, between ... you guessed it, a boy, a mole, a fox, and a horse.... Continue reading

Posted 6 days ago at Tall Tales from Kansas

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throwing my desires out into the universe

This goldfinch and I had a staring contest the other day. So unusual that he did not take flight when I quietly crept outside to take his picture. You can see he still has his winter colors on... but they are beginning to turn. We have been doing our best... Continue reading

Posted 7 days ago at Tall Tales from Kansas

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eight lovely, warm, crispy, soft, nutty, scones

The toasted oat, maple/nut, scone above came about recently because of snow. Glittery snow. Which of course made me think of sparkly sugar. And it was all downhill from there. Oats were toasted with pecans, chopping was done, an egg was mixed with cream and milk, my hands got all... Continue reading

Posted Feb 22, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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I have no answer

This is another COVID story. It's a hard one. Don't read it if you can't take another single bit of sadness right now. The thing is, these losses matter. Whenever I hear or read about someone thinking the number of deaths related to COVID are inflated, or the virus "isn't... Continue reading

Posted Feb 20, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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somehow very enjoyable

Sister, Pam, and I had such a good time playing around together during the annual art retreat in January, a decision was made for a repeat in February. We converged on ZOOM from our respective homes this past weekend, with a priority of having fun, and for me... doing things... Continue reading

Posted Feb 19, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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neighbor with cat, former wife, and a bookstore all figure into the puzzle

This morning I finished listening to Monogamy, by Sue Miller. She also narrates this audio version by the way, and I quite enjoyed her voice. I liked this book, a lot actually. It was interesting to follow along as Annie (the main character) dissects her relationship with her husband after... Continue reading

Posted Feb 18, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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bird tracks in snow

I can not recall the last time I was grateful for temps in the 20's with sunshine. Interesting what you are happy about when you have endured worse. Today before shoveling the driveway, photos were taken. Self portraits, snow studies, snow on the Chinese elm with that amazing bark. Plants... Continue reading

Posted Feb 17, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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Snow Fall

Tonight it was 3 below zero on the car thermometer on the way home. That's without a wind chill factor. To say I am sick of the snow and cold would be an understatement. I am dreaming of sunshine and warm breezes. In the meantime how about a reflection on... Continue reading

Posted Feb 15, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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telling stories of our most romantic moments of the past 40 years

Happy Valentines Day from the deep freeze that is Lawrence Kansas today! Chris and I are staying warm today by eating chocolates, dancing the jitterbug, and telling stories of all our most romantic moments of the past 40 years. Continue reading

Posted Feb 14, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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something very delightful about having all these adventures lying in wait

Oh I do thank those of you who told me about Maisie Dobbs. To start with, this is a lovely story, set in post WWI England, a little bit of a mystery, a charming main character, excellent supporting cast, and a reader with a great voice. AND, on top of... Continue reading

Posted Feb 9, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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I tucked and stuck and called it good

Sunday Art ZOOM focused on hearts for me. Kind of like the tree's I got addicted to around Christmas time. When I find something that appeals to me, I like to work it. For all it's worth. Watercolor, ink, scissors. I was going to sew them together for a garland,... Continue reading

Posted Feb 8, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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a sturdy, farmhouse cake, with a tart lemon flavor, moist crumb, and buttery undertones

Yesterday, when our temperatures dipped into the single digits, and it was generally unpleasant outside, we tucked ourselves in, cozied ourselves up, and stayed put. There was this lemon meringue slab cake to make and heels to turn. No matter that the only color of reinforcing yarn I have is... Continue reading

Posted Feb 7, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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to let the day go while laughing

Today during "Feedback Friday" session, Margaret and Shauna and I did a blind contour round robin. To mix things up we drew "post-it note" sized drawings with a thick line (sharpie marker). I have decided that an individual's response when faced with the suggestion of doing something like this is... Continue reading

Posted Feb 5, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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no end to the fun

ZOOM art experiments continue. Self portrait with colored pencils here. Sister is drawing what's on her tables at home. Chris is downstairs sneezing loudly. Wyatt is trying to get on Sister's table at Moss Cottage. Below is last week's portrait. No end to the fun. Do tell us what tour... Continue reading

Posted Feb 3, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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it seems like you should have an answer for that sometimes

The most productive thing I did on Sunday was flip the calendar from January to February. Yes, I roasted Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, made lunches for the week, paid the bills, sent out some mail, and changed the sheets. But I didn't really "do" anything. You know how on a... Continue reading

Posted Feb 1, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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the characters captivated me right from the start

Last night I sadly said goodbye to Fransicsco and Simonopio, the main characters in The Murmur of Bees. Written in Spanish by Sofia Segovia and translated wonderfully by Simon Bruni. I don't know if it's because it is written in Spanish or just because it's the style of this author... Continue reading

Posted Jan 31, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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all you want on a saturday

Rain interspersed with bright colors. Sometimes that's all you want on a Saturday. Continue reading

Posted Jan 30, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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a frivolous distraction that occupies the mind and raises the spirits

Before embarking on tonight's post, let me thank each of you who left a comment on yesterday's post. I want you to know that those of us doing this work feel the immense gratitude from our patients and their families. Every single day. It is all the thanks we require.... Continue reading

Posted Jan 28, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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to give a face to the individual experiences that can get lost in the wave of this pandemic

Last week I dived back into the COVID world at work. We currently have around 120 hospitalized patients who are COVID + or recovering but still too sick to get out of the hospital. We think it's possible that our numbers have peaked and admissions will continue to decline. It's... Continue reading

Posted Jan 27, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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maybe I am just supposed to think about it for another few days

Dear Pitkin County Library: Please forgive me for returning The Magician's Assistant a bit late. I LOVE that you generous people out in Aspen Colorado lent it to me through the interlibrary loan program. It's a small thing that makes me feel better about the world in general - someone... Continue reading

Posted Jan 26, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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

Sometimes, you simply can not beat the feeling of working a simple pattern with dreamy yarn and a set of knitting needles that glide through it like butter. That's how I felt with this project this morning. Knitting away while listening on a ZOOM call. Though it may sound counter... Continue reading

Posted Jan 24, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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a sweet-ish, creamy smooth drink, with hints of peanut butter and chocolate

The weekend started at Tall Tales Headquarters with the preparation of a Peanut Butter Brandy Alexander. How can I describe this to you? It's a sweet-ish, creamy smooth drink, with hints of peanut butter and chocolate that all mix together nicely in a way that shout "WELCOME TO THE WEEKEND".... Continue reading

Posted Jan 23, 2021 at Tall Tales from Kansas

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