Amber Waves of Grain

As we were driving to New Mexico, the wheat was incredibly golden . . . much like it usually is in mid-June.  It is hard to drive through the area without singing, "Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain . . . "  When I lived in New Mexico, I didn't get it . . . but 35 years in Kansas has made me love those amber waves. 

I don't know that I have ever known the wheat to ripen so early in the year, and Don and I commented that we thought the harvest would begin before we returned.  Sure enough, today (Tuesday) as we were coming home, many fields had already been cut, and we saw a number of combines in the others.  By the end of the week, we believe most of the wheat will have been harvested.

Harvest time in Kansas makes me appreciate farmers - their work ethic, their faith, their willingness to take incredible risks.  I hope this year's crop is a profitable one . . . they deserve it.

Corona Rita

After an exhausting day moving Diana into her new place, we decided we needed a good meal.  We went to a pub up the street.

As we were looking over the menu, two young women approached our table.  They were Corona representatives, passing out bottle openers that were shaped like limes.   The ladies then talked to us about Corona beer.  Since Don had just ordered a Thirsty Goat, he wasn't interested in another beer.  The girls moved on, and we placed our order.

The server at our table then told Don about Corona Ritas, which are margaritas with a Corona beer in it.  Unable to resist and unable to envision the Corona bottle in the margarita, he ordered one after he had downed his Thirsty Goat.  It arrived after he had finished his fish and chips, so he decided to fashion his leftover fries into the shape of fish bones . . . and this is what he got!

The drink was a rather novel idea, but I thought it was disgusting.  Of course, I don't like margaritas, nor do I like beer, so it seems logical that I wouldn't like it.  Don and Diana thought it was all right, but they aren't sure the Corona really added anything except novelty.

Now you know what a Corona Rita is . . . Di thinks you should just stick with the Margarita.  Why ruin something that is already good?

New Furniture

Well, I thought we took pictures of the new furniture.  We did take them at the shop, but the skirts weren't on them . . . and Don didn't take up close ones, so . . . we will have to use what we did take.

The little chair in the upper corner used to have blue needlepoint on it.  I love the white nubby material Carol Hertzler found for us.  Very classy.

This is the other orange chair with the table from Mom's living room.  It is in Di's bedroom.  It faces the bed, and she still has room for a bookcase, a dresser, and a night table.

I love how it has all turned out, and I think Diana does, too!

Old Furniture, New Furniture

When my mother passed away, Kenneth practically furnished his apartment with her couch, two chairs, and table.  They moved around Kansas City with him, going to four different apartments/houses that he shared with various friends.  And although he roomed with very nice young men, young men are hard on furniture at times, so even this furniture was a little worse for wear.  Then he and Melinda took it with them to California and back to KC . . . so it has had some miles put on it.

By the time we purchased the condo for Di, Kenneth and Melinda were ready to purchase their own furniture.  We talked to various people about Mom's items, and they all suggested that we reupholster rather than get new.  If the old frames were good, they would hold up much better than new would, unless we purchase top of the line furniture.  So we began to look for material.

Diana pretty much knew what she wanted, so it wasn't too hard, except that it was long distance.  She finally chose the materials she thought would look best . . . and I remembered to take before and after pictures of most of it.  Here are the before pictures of the chairs and the couch.

Tomorrow, I will share with you the after pictures.  It is amazing to me how different something can look with just a little work.

Fruity Water

I know that fruity water is not a new idea.  I have many times been to restaurants or spas where they have offered lemon water, lemon-cucumber water, or lime water.  And I always like it.

Last week, I went to the restaurant Taste and See in Wichita.  They offered a fruity water that I loved, and I am certain the key ingredient was watermelon.  Lemons, limes, oranges, and watermelon.  So I decided to try it.

I found a large clear jar with a spigot on it.  Unfortunately, it isn't mine but I borrowed it just to see what I thought.  I sliced one orange, one lemon, one lime, and a piece of watermelon.  Then with the addition of ice and water, I was ready.

I thought it looked so pretty, and with the ice in it, I didn't have to refrigerate it, at least not at first.  Then I tasted it . . . man, oh man was it good.  Since I have had this concoction in the refrigerator, I have been willing to drink much more water.

Beth, a friend of mine, makes a similar kind of water, but she puts strawberries in hers.  It, too, is tasty.

I have figured out that one of the keys to keeping the water from getting cloudy is to drink it quickly.  Then it doesn't have time to cloud up.  I have also learned that if it is kept full but being emptied, the fruit can be left in for several days.  I am still working on the same fruit I used Tuesday, and it still is good.  By the end of the day, however, I think I will have to empty it.  Imagine how good the kitchen will smell after I run all of the citrus down the disposal.

For those of us who need to increase our intake of water while decreasing our intake of coffee, diet pop, or other beverages, this is a great way to do it!

Bird Calling

I come from a family of bird callers.  My dad would bring his duck calls out and practice.  We bought him a turkey call when we went to Florida, and he and my brother would practice calling turkey.  When Bart goes turkey hunting, he is more thrilled with calling the turkeys in than he is in bagging one.  So when I went on a bird walk last week and saw a woman call in the birds, I was hooked.

Last Saturday night, Don, our neighbor Susan, and I went to Chisholm Creek to find the Indigo Bunting.  I had found its call on my iPad, and we wanted to see if we could get a response.  (Note that I use the artificial iPad for my calls . . . I can't imitate their calls in any way.)  We went to the place where we had located the Indigo bunting on the bird walks and I pulled out my iPad.  Within about 30 seconds, the beautiful bird flew in.  I kept the iPad going, and he moved in even closer.  We had a gorgeous view of him!  It was so fun.

We tried calling in some other birds with less success, but I am hooked.  The iPad is going with me to the cabin so that I can try to call some evening grosbeaks and other beautiful birds.  Until then, I am going to practice calling birds in my backyard and Chisholm Creek.

Birthday Flowers

Last Friday (a week ago), my friend Kathy brought me a vase of gorgeous roses.  I don't know that I have ever received roses this red.  She cut them down into a nosegay arrangement, used some euonymus from her garden, put them in a clear vase, and voila: an absolutely spectacular vase of flowers.  It is still as perfect as ever.  She also hand-made a card for me . . . it is on the right in the picture.  I think she should sell them . . . don't you?

Then on Saturday night, the Morgans sent me home with an arrangement of Peruvian lilies and Stargazer lilies.  Stargazers are naturally fragrant, and it has seemed that the older they get, the more beautiful the scent.  One of the lilies has increased in size and its odoriferous qualities have made its presence known.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my two vases of flowers, given to me by wonderful, dear friends.  I am grateful to them for thinking of me and for enriching my day.