Q

 I've checked through all of my (825) blog posts and I have never, as yet, expounded on Barbecue, aka Bar-B-Q, or a couple of other spellings. Kansas City is, according to a whole lot of folks.....the Barbecue Capitol of the World. Kansas City (aka Cowtown) has always been known for it's great beef. And, we cook it barbecue style. Why, oh why haven't I written about it? 

At my volunteer job, dozens of visitors to Kansas City have asked me..."Where can I get good KC "que"?" I'm tempted to say, " On about any corner, and sometimes the middle of the block!" Downtown KC, has three of the best BBQ joints in town.  Arthur Bryant's (original home of the famous KC Burnt Ends) is slightly East of the downtown area. Just a block North, of Union Station, is Jack Stack, (the sides there, are outstanding) and about 3 blocks South, of the Station, on Main Street is Gates (their sliced meat sandwiches are really good). 

Jack Stack has locations all over the Metropolitan Area. All are good, but a bit pricey. Gates, too, has several locations, and their traditional loud, somewhat forceful greeting of "Hi, May I help you?", can be a bit off-putting, but the Q is great and they serve a "nooner sandwich plate", with fries, for around 10 bucks. You can't beat that, for a bargain.

Out in the burgs, there are some trendy BBQ spots, that get lots of press. Kansas City Joe's, original location, is in a former Gas Station. They serve a Z Man Sandwich that includes a topping of Onion Rings. It's Travis Kelse's favorite sandwich, huge and really tasty. Smokestack has the best BBQ beans (lots of burnt end pieces, in the sauce)  You'll find both of these places, have several locations.

For you, Jason Sudeikis Fans, I have now reviewed the ones printed on his famous Ted Lasso Tee Shirt (Joe Arthur Gates Stack). In fact, Sudeikis was spotted eating at a Gates location this week.

Need to read about more? There's Q-39, Rosedale, Slaps and Sneeds You'd enjoy them all. We just know how to cook meat, in this town. Oh, and the guy who cooks, on our deck, does a excellent job with burgers,brats, ribs and chicken (cooked, smoked and sauced). Y'all come on by.

.........................................................................................................................................................................

 Thank You for the world so sweet. Thank You for the food we eat. 

Thank You for the birds that sing. Thank You, God, for everything.

 

 

"Life's a Ball"

Okay, so I would like to think I am, at this rather late point in my life, living slightly on the edge. I'm trying new things, going new places and basically attempting to follow a philosophy which hinges on the fact that I am not getting any younger and I do not want to regret missing experiences, that I failed to attempt.

 Last year, I went to Burning Man. I recently took two, off the beaten path, Day Trips. Trying new recipes, is something I like to do, at least once a week. I enjoy looking for new routes, while driving through the city. I speak to strangers. My future plans include a couple of solo road trips. I've even rode the backyard Zip Line, for a short distance. To my reckoning, those things are a "Big Whoop", in edgy living.

However, in spite of all this "daring do", the truth remains, that Fancy Nancy is basically a "Rule Follower".  Like clockwork, the laundry gets done around here once a week, whether or not we are out of underwear. My morning pills are ingested early, every day. The bed gets made every morning, before anything else! If the speed limit says 45 mph, I never go over 50 mph. My insurance and tax bills are paid promptly. Library books are returned in a timely manner and I send "Thank You" notes.

So, what or who am I? I guess I am a middle of the road, risk taking, rule follower. Voila! I intend to leave to leave this world having done many of things that I wanted to do. I still have a whole "lot of livin' to do".

.........................................................................................................................................................................

Dear Lord, we thank You, for providing us with many blessings. And, a life well lived is a blessing. Grant us wisdom and courage to live life to our fullest potential.

 

 

 

 

Don't Call Me.....I'll Call You (probably not)

 

Right  away, I need to let you know that I am not good with electronics or media or whatever it is that you call anything that doesn't breath. If an item works by pressing buttons, turning switches or has a pull cord, I shall or have already broken it.

Therefore, I have a love/hate relationship with my cellphone. I've owned a cellphone for around 25 years. I am not a novice. Every once in a while, I get a new one. Each newest model is supposed to be "smarter" and easier to use, than the last. Not true. If you can't figure out your current model of device, you will never learn to use the latest. Trust Me.

The thing is a leash (it never leaves me alone ). I purposely "forget" to carry it, sometimes. It's a tracking device ( it knows where I go and what I do). Just the other day, I visited a certain retail store, for the first time in a couple of years. Did not buy anything, yet upon arriving home, suddenly, my computer starts showing me ads from that particular store. Coincidence?? I don't think so. Forget getting "chipped". We already are!

It's a nuisance and frankly, I liked my life much better when I heard the land phone ring, and chose to answer it or not. People called and actually wanted to talk to me, voice to voice. Remember???? No one actually answers their cell phone anymore. It's all text and an occasionally a voice message. Cell phone tag is an every day occurrence. 

Yesterday, at my volunteer gig, I observed a very cute baby, probably 8 months old. She was just sitting there in her stroller, calm and content, scrolling through a cellphone. Tiny fingers moving across the screen. Unable to walk and talk, but using a cell phone! Amazing and terrifying.

 ....................................................................................................................................................................... 

 Dear Lord. Calm us. The world is changing so fast that it is hard for us to keep up and understand. We ask for peace and understanding. 

 

 

Day Tripper, Part 2......

Another Day Trip. This time to far northern Missouri. Trust me when I say it was...."way off the grid". Our destination was the EcoVillage of Dancing Rabbit, near Memphis, Missouri. Now, I can say that I have been to Nevada, Versailles, Paris, Manchester, Trenton, Carthage, California, Odessa and Memphis. And, they are all in Missouri, USA.

This EcoVillage was founded about 25 years ago and has a population of around 60 folks. Rick's youngest son is a long-time resident of the compound and has recently purchased a home there. Rick, his other son Craig, friend Richard, and I decided to take a day trip up there and look around.

Tess did not go with us, on this excursion. I drove my trusty Ford Escape, roomy enough for 4 adults and a couple of coolers of snack provisions. Driving to Dancing Rabbit is not a quick easy trip. It took us right at 4 hours, and only about half of the journey was on 4-lane, divided paved highway. 

Upon arrival, we had a nice tour of the village. We saw the common houses, the vegetable gardens and the swimming pond. The new house turned out to be aptly named, The Tree House. It sits on a platform, held up by large Osage Orange logs. Most homes (house, yurts, pods or tents) at Dancing Rabbit do not have running water for kitchens or bathrooms. There was electricity in some of the buildings. This is not easy living, for the 21st Century.

Citified Nancy was happy to get back on the road, and headed for civilization and flush toilets. We had one very important stop, on our way home. We drove to Sumner, Missouri, to take a quick look at "Maxie" the giant Canada Goose statue in the City Park...and visit the public facilities. Maxie is mammoth. A vision to behold. He's quite a duck!

......................................................................................................................................................................... 

Dear Lord. You have created all of us with individual gifts, graces, needs and wants. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We were created in Your image. Help us all to appreciate Your gifts to us. 

 * more information on Dancing Rabbit, can be found at their website.

 

"Day Trippers, yeah!" Part I.

                    Today, I am writing Chapter I, of my Mid-America Summertime Adventures. 

Last week, we had a Day Trip (from dawn to dusk), to our neighboring state of Arkansas. 

Our mode of transportation was the super reliable, but slightly stubborn EV. I call her Tess, and she can drive us anywhere, with only an occasional complaint from her humans passengers. Usually, our conversation goes like this....."I didn't want to go this way. Why is she taking us this way? How can this be the best route? This car is so stupid." Later, we almost always discover that there is a big back-up on our preferred route, due to lane closure or a detour. Tess has actually saved us frustration and time, as a result of her "self-driving" navigation.

But, back to the Day Trippers. Tess took us from Stilwell, Kansas, to Joplin, Missouri (Tess needed a re-charge) and then down to Bentonville, Arkansas. Bentonville turned out to be a charming little town, that seems to be booming economically. 

Our first stop, basically the reason for the trip, was Crystal Bridges Art Museum. Even though it was the middle of the week, it was packed and parking was difficult. Thankfully a shuttle was provided from the parking lots to the museum entrance. The architecture of the facility is quite stunning and the grounds (woods, paths, sculptures and water features) are worth seeing. The museum features American Art, mostly 20th century items.

Then, Tess drove us to downtown Bentonville. Lunch was a stop at the Flying Fish Cafe. Or maybe it was the "Frying Fish" Cafe. Fried fish fillets, fried hushpuppies, french fries. Yummy and greasy!!! Our next stop was right on the square in Bentonville. Lots of quaint shops and stores. It's also home to the WalMart Museum. We enjoyed looking at the artifacts of a young Sam Walton's empire, the old advertisements and some intriguing plans for the future. An amazing man with a dream. American entrepreneurial spirit at it's best.

We turned Tess off, and drove our "own" route home. We chose to drive over some familiar two-lane highways and visited some old childhood haunts. After all, living a long time, allows for storage of many memories, and it's fun to revisit them. However, I am eternally thankful that current memories can be made, every day.

........................................................................................................................................................................

Dear Lord, Thank you for our many blessings. Thank you for the opportunity to create new memories.