AfricanKelli

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I was having lunch today at one of my favorite weekend haunts when I noticed a woman approach a nearby table. The cafe was busy; I’d waited several minutes for a two-top, where I sat reading and occasionally glancing up at the odd variety of Tempe folk who come and go from the accompanying bookstore.
I thought I recognized this woman, so I looked at her intently, trying to place her. Although their table was quite a bit away from mine, and the cafe was humming along with lunch traffic, I could hear her introduce herself to the pair she was joining for lunch. Immediately after shaking their hands and apologizing for being late, she began a 45-minute conversation about her health history, including her mastectomy and gynecological issues. She did all of this, in what my mother would say, in an “outdoor voice.” Loudly and inappropriately, everyone having lunch learned the sordid details of her life.
Of course, as much as my faced burned with annoyance and frustration at hearing such personal details from a complete stranger, I couldn’t for the life of me focus on my book. It seemed her dramatic words danced their way to my table, polkaing and eventually moshing their way to my attention. Fed up, I quickly finished my lunch and left, wondering who in the world this couple could be and why in the world they could possibly want to sit and listen to this nut and her lists if issues — including having “bad energy.”
The scene reminded me of the time I was on a date with a cute OBGYN when I made the mistake of asking him how his day went, just as the appetizer was served. We were eating at a busy Italian restaurant in Phoenix during the dinner rush. Like a scene from a movie, he began talking about ovarian cysts in voz alto when management lowered the music, sending his words crashing into the diners around us. With the same wonderment I fought today, couples cast odd glances our direction as he laughed as his gaffe. I stared down at the antipasto, deciding in that moment that OBGYNs and prosciutto should never mix.

~K

Dear Finny,
I miss writing you my monthly In Stitches letter — you know, since this time we have two months to finish the project (phew!). And really, I just miss you. Remember when we went to New Mexico in April and spent the weekend gabbing, knitting, drinking margaritas and laughing a the snow flurries that fell on our open-toed shoes?
Well, going through the towering stack of magazines on my nightstand this week, I thought of you and that trip a dozen times over.

For one, did you see in the October issue of Country Living they featured our lovely New Mexican getaway? The very ravine where we took such silly photos is shown. I snorted remembering us running through the freezing rain to take that photo.

In the same issue, they actually had a small featured titled In Stitches. If Ms. Butler wasn’t a regular contributor, I’d think they were ripping us off.

What did you think of the October issue of Martha? I’m letting my subscription go. I love her and her craftiness, but I need a break. Her recipes are often too complicated and the practicality of her projects questionable. I find myself much more of a Real Simple girl these days. That said — I’m still itching to cook up two Fall recipes featured: pumpkin chiffon pie and sweet potato cannelloni. Yum.
I also got my new Ikea catalog and picked out a purdy new couch and kitchen.

The couch is much more of a reality, but how I covet those dish racks. Those Europeans certainly know how to make simplicity elegant.
And then there is the new Lion pattern catalog. Never mind I won’t use the Lion yarn, these designs caught my eye. What do you think?
Needless to say, I haven’t even thought about starting the September/October project. I hope to have at least one of these babies done come Halloween. I could fill it with candy and be the Fairy Bag Mother. Hmm…
~Donk

It is beginning to look quite a bit like autumn around my house. I tried a new Malbec last night, bought myself a handful of gorgeous orange sunflowers and cooked up a Fall feast.

Main course: roasted butternut squash lasagna. I’ve made this before, but this time I added a couple grilled chicken breasts and a layer of zucchini. {Yep, I’m eating meat again. And you know what? All of a sudden, I am not nearly as hungry. Protein is a good thing.}

This was one of the best lasagnas I’ve made. We also had spinach salad and pumpkin empanadas for dessert. I used this recipe for the pastry and it came out light and just right.

I filled them with pumpkin puree, a dash of all spice, a dash of cinnamon and a pat of butter. Served with vanilla ice cream, they were a hit.

I’ve been sewing and knitting a bunch this week too. Alas, my sewing machine was recently in for repair and they have incorrectly adjusted the presser foot so it jumps and hits the plate. It only took me a dozen (no joke) broken needles to figure out what the problem is. Back to the shop it goes today.

I am so in love with autumn and the cooling weather, I am tempted to create an all pumpkin week. Eating squash, wearing sleeves and socks and coming up with great pumpkin carving ideas… The next six months of Arizona weather is the reward for having emerged in tact from the oven that is our 6-month fiery summer. Three cheers for survival!

~Kelli

Heidi sent a message a few months ago — would anyone be interested in a “back to school swap?” With fall right around the corner, did anyone else feel the desire for new paper, pens and a school bag? Yes. Not surprisingly, yes. Not only have I always had “a thing for bags” as my mama says, but also love correspondence. I am constantly writing and sending letters, and keep a journal. (You know, where I talk about all the non-Cleaver stuff inappropriate for the Internets.)
When I was young, you couldn’t buy Hello Kitty stationery in Arizona. But there was one shop at a mall in California I found when visiting on vacation. An entire store! Pencils, paper, cute little Japanese characters that made me want to sit down and write a pen pal letter to every girl I’d ever met at camp, in part just to show off my pretty paper. And then seal them with monkichi stickers!
I spent the next few years saving all my babysitting and car washing money to go hog wild in that store each summer vacation. And so yes, I’ve always been a dork — but a dork with sparkly pencils.

Imagine my delight when I received this swap from Marian. Not only did she use African fabric for the bag, but she also made a clutch and a moleskin cover. She spoiled me rotten! I simply love her creativity and attention to detail.

Thank you Heidi for organizing and thank you Marian for your generosity!

~K

Yesterday I logged 450 miles in my car, crisscrossing (jump! jump!) across Southern Arizona. I had four freelance travel articles I’m working on for the local paper, and a free day to gather a bunch of photography and interviews. Voila — a day with lots of coffee, lots of driving and catching up on podcasts, and several times when I caught myself feeling a bit like Nancy Drew, out on the hunt for a clue.
Here is a random assortment of photos taken during my day, including the two hours I spent with a nun at a monastery. Nope, that’s not a punch line. And no, I’m not Catholic. It was a peaceful yet unsettling experience.

Tucson:

Coffee shop at the Hotel Congress.

Floor made of pennies!

Bisbee:

I love the historic details in these old hotels.

St. David:

That cross is gigantic — about 6 stories tall. Luckily, St. David has a population of less than 1,000 I’d guess. So no one is complaining too much about the showy monks.

~K