Granny Hat

Little things bring Granny Hat so much joy.  The deeper she feng shuis (can that be a verb?) the pile of tiny, forgotten treasures grows.  Each one of them is the key that opens a story door.  Our newly embraced minimalism tasks us with ditching the little things and simply saving memories.  Granny used to read a delightful, whimsical book to her kids titled Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge in which a young boy visits an elderly friend named Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt with an odd collection of things to refresh her memory: sea-shells, a string puppet, a military medal, a chicken egg. His plan works like a charm and as Miss Nancy holds those silly items in her hands, she recalls stories from her life to share with the boy. Even little,  foolish things can become treasures if they are powerful enough to bring back a sweet memory.

#1 Favorite Little Things:  bits of fabric, buttons & lace

For her readers who love to “paint” with fabric, Granny Hat wants support for hoarding tiny bits of left-over material.  She likes the idea of the fat quarters waiting backstage until curtain time, a good old quilting project.  Her friend, David Johnson, once expressed confusion about the art of quilting.  “Why take perfectly brand-new, beautiful fabric, ruthlessly cut it up into tiny pieces, only to sew it back together again? It doesn’t make sense!”  And yet, as the great impressionist himself, Vincent Van Gogh, observed, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” So, most of Granny’s fabric gets to hang out a bit longer because truly beautiful things are born when they get “sewn back together”. And adding a little lace or a well-placed vintage button doesn’t hurt.

 

 

Granny has quite a collection of quilts made of well-loved dresses and shirts by Great Grandma Grivey and Aunt Violet.  They have graced the foot of her bed for years and have helped keep everyone warm through many long winters (California style winters, that is). Each one reminds us of something Grandma Grivey often said, “waste not, want not” and she dutifully stitched up those nine patch squares on her old manual Singer sewing machine.  Granny has made some of her own quilts too, for weddings, grand-babies, and just for fun.  There is a certain dotted Swiss creation with splashes of pink and green in process right now for a sweet, new little lady in the family.

The beauty of quilting is that you can never completely predict what “great thing” is going to emerge when all the tiny pieces have been sewn back together.  Granny once set out to fashion a Double Wedding Ring quilt for her eldest son, Christopher and his new wife, Mandy, who loves daisies.  She found three companion fabrics that featured daisies on blue, yellow and green fields.  In the interest of fairness, she cut up those fabrics into equal piles and sewed them back together, with a few other colors added for pop and spark.  But Granny had committed a color wheel sin; she neglected to remember that blue and yellow make green and sure enough, when she stood back and admired her finished product, it was very daisy but very green.  Some people like to name their quilts. Much like a trail name (PCT section of this blog) these titles reflect something about the personality or process of the finished product.  Granny had no choice but to name that quilt Green Grow the Daisies. She will never forget the real daisies at that September wedding  or the harvest moon shining down on her son and new daughter in law, a favorite memory.

#2 Favorite Little Things:  sheet music

Right in the middle of Granny Hat’s feng shui joy, a friend dropped off multiple boxes of old sheet music, a truly vintage collection that had belonged to Miss Shirley, a lovely, local lady who accompanied musical theater shows, played for USO concerts and shared her music all over the Bay Area.  Granny’s sentimental hoarding tendencies shot through the roof; there were songs from the 30’s and 40’s, classic movie themes, Gershwin, early Disney tunes, folk songs, USO favorites from the World Wars. Granny remembers her father crooning Red Sails in the Sunset, White Cliffs of Dover and her mother playing a rollicking version of Buttons and Bows or Tea for Two on the piano.  These songs CANNOT be forgotten, they tell stories of another era, another life.

 

Some of them were performed to boost the spirits of brave men and women fighting for freedom.  Others were sung by some of the most talented musicians to grace our stages and vinyl records; Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, the Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Al Jolson, Burl Ives just to name a few.

 

 

And then a few are just old – school funny…..

 

 

or even a bit awkward…..

 

 

But the artwork alone keeps Granny from dropping them into the recycle bin.  In today’s download – E copy –  sheet music dot com world, we have lost some artistic expression.  So, what to do with these musical treasures?  Granny kept a few…. well, OK…. a pretty big pile but she is sharing the rest with her fellow musicians in the community and she just may frame some for her piano studio. She promised herself to make room for the new collection by getting rid of music that no longer brings joy, maybe some duplicate copies of Reader’s Digest Song Anthologies or heavy folders of audition e prints like Part of Your World in 8 different keys.

#3 Favorite Little Things: out of the jewelry box

Mother’s dresser top was magical to young Granny Hat.  There was nothing fancy or valuable, just a couple of Avon perfumes and a beautiful comb and brush set that had belonged to Grandma Lloyd sitting on a round glass mirror tray. There was also a jewelry box with such interesting little treasures; rings, necklaces and pins. Mother was taken away too early in life, her laughter is missed every day.  Don’t want to forget, the little things bring back so many memories.

Granny opened her own jewelry box this morning and the memories just spilled out, clear as childhood.

There was the little burro pin that Grandpa Lloyd brought back from his business trip to Mexico City.  He told us about the music in the streets and the smell of the tortillas cooking in the open air. It also reminds Granny of a certain little donkey she used to sing about in the 4th grade, you know, the one that sang and danced and could eat with a knife and fork, Tingo Lay-O!

Does anyone remember the IXOYE fish necklaces of the 70’s?  Granny wore one every day in high school on the days she wasn’t wearing her choker. She put on the necklace and just like that she was back in the Calvary Chapel Tent in Costa Mesa listening to bands like Love Song, Children of the Day, 2^nd Chapter of Acts, Barry McGuire.  Maranatha!

 

 

Mother’s bracelet with the “going west” charms was a favorite as was the reindeer pin, a gift from the Norwegian doctor and his wife who lived in the mansion in front of  Granny’s first home, a cottage on the Santa Barbara Riviera.

 

 

The unique and beautiful necklace made of pinon seeds was handmade by Granny’s friends on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona where she went several summers for a Bible Camp.  She can still smell the fresh fry bread and feel the warmth of the campfires as songs were sung into the night. And when the fire began to die, our friends would tell us tales of the mesas, about the scary “skin walkers”, while the women tied our hair up with string in traditional Navajo fashion.  A very little thing can start the tales spinning in our heads, “it only takes a spark to get a fire going”.

Do you have some little treasures, memorials to your life story?  Granny Hat’s story isn’t over yet, but it grows and changes every day.  Old memories are sweet, some are sad, all filled with hope and longing of days to come. Repeat them to your children and grandchildren.  Granny thinks a little trove of keepsakes can be as good as a therapy session any day, hold them in your hand while you remember.

Top Photo:  Granny spotted these delicate flowers in a mossy hollow at the base of a raging waterfall.  They were standing so bravely in the pouring rain, simple, small, yet so powerful. She won’t forget them.

“but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise”                                  ICorinthians 1:27

Zechariah 4:10

 

 

 

 

Granny Hat is a trophy mom.  She has been harboring quite an annoying accumulation of trophies, saving them for posterity, for the memories, for who knows what.  Before cavalierly sweeping them away in the Feng Shui tradition, she paused to wonder…..where does our habit of giving and displaying trophies come from?

The word trophy derives from the Latin word “trophaeum” which means “a monument dedicated to a victory”.  Certainly, throughout history, trophies have been a way to commemorate milestones and winners. In ancient Greece, the victors would gather captured arms, banners and sometimes more gruesome spoils to display, humiliating the defeated enemy and serving as a warning, don’t mess with us!  It was common to inscribe details of the battle on such  monuments documenting victory and declaring supremacy.

Later, trophies were awarded to winners in the Olympic Games, laurel wreaths, amphora containing olive oil, bronze shields or silver cups.  Silver medals were given to first place winners when the modern Olympics were formed in 1896. This was because silver was a more precious metal than gold at the time.  If only the trophies Granny found the other day were made of silver, gold and bronze. The awards of modern times may glitter under the stage lights but they are cheaply made, really flimsy and fake.

Granny’s children accumulated their share of trophies over the years, largely for Instrumental Music Festivals, Community Theatre and County Science Fairs. Granny’s daughter Melody admitted that she noticed that different colors of trophies were given for each field of science represented at the fair and it was her goal to get one of each. Granny had no idea that this was the motivation behind choosing a botany experiment one year and a chemistry the next.

Granny’s other daughter, Corrie, remembers that certain community organizations and companies would donate monetary prizes or gifts like Bushnell binoculars. She loved the gifts more than the trophies and would spend hours musing about what sort of science project would catch the deep pocket eye. Her experiment with homing pigeons titled HOME SWEET HOME, won her the coveted binoculars.

Still, walking about wearing Bushnells around your neck is hardly a billboard that says “I just won first place and best of show in the Zoology division of my San Benito County Science Fair”.  But a gleaming trophy with a bronze muscle man, angel wings, a bowling ball or a harp! Now that announces WINNER loud and clear for all to hear! Maybe this is why Americans love trophies so much, we love bragging rights! Maybe the glow of firelight on their polished surface warms our hearts. Maybe a trophy brings out the conquering hero in all of us, reminds us that we can and have achieved something. Or do we just love to dust and polish?  Granny got tired of that, which is why the awards have spent the last 10 years in deep dark boxes where they aren’t bringing joy to anyone.  They can’t even inspire admiration or jealousy from our friends and enemies hidden away like that.

Anyway, the kids never looked all that happy holding their trophies or certificates high for the photo shoot after a music invitational festival or honor band/honor choir concert. Granny suspects they were thinking, “I just gave up an entire weekend, stuck in a musty ancient auditorium for hours of rehearsal surrounded by geeky band kids and driven to distraction by an eccentric director dressed in flowery silk with orange-ish hair and huge hoop earrings. Can we go home now? And can we stop for pizza or a burger on the way?”

Ribbons are the way to go, they lay flat in scrapbooks, take up no space and weigh nearly nothing.   But if you insist on bragging rights, a fleet of “my kid did such and such” bumper stickers are a great choice.  They come in all shapes and sizes but are still low impact. They proclaim your kids’ talents and achievements to a captive audience, the other motorists who can’t refute your claims to your face.

Wonder what Marie Kondo would say about bumper stickers?  They look messy and you can’t neatly roll them in color-coordinated rows so she probably doesn’t approve.  However they DO send messages and sometimes even cause fender benders.

Granny’s trophies themselves have run out of sparkle but what they represent is joy that can’t be lost.  All the music, the shows, the friends and teachers, hypotheses and experiments are not forgotten.  Beloved teachers and friends that participated in the success made an impact on Granny’s family.  Those memories are trophies indeed, the lessons learned are monuments to childhood well spent.  Granny Hat can kiss the trophies and say goodbye.  The photos, ribbons and the Bushnell Binoculars stay!

 

 

2019 is still in its infancy and Granny Hat has already broken the resolution rules.  She vowed to begin her feng shui throughout the year a-la-Marie Kondo just like everyone else on Facebook (Have you heard that thrift stores across America are in flood state? Some are refusing to accept any more donations!). But instead of beginning by purging clothing, then books, saving the sentimental journey for last as advised, Granny opted for a walk down memory lane first….. and all because of Groundhog’s Day.

See, Granny’s family, especially Dad the farmer, just loves Groundhog’s Day.  So every February Granny makes a chocolate cake in a round mound with a little stuffed marmot sticking out of the hole, complete with snowy coconut with a tinge of green for spring. There once was a papa marmot that Granny’s daughter hoped to find for this year’s centerpiece (Groundhog’s Day is a legit holiday around here) so Granny agreed to open THE CLOSET, the one packed tight with boxes and bins of childhood treasures, the one no one wants to tackle. She never found papa marmot but she couldn’t believe how many cubic feet of treasure came out of that closet.  She called for Dad to come take some pictures.  He made a comment about how there was enough memorabilia in there to launch a new museum. That got Granny Hat thinking.

 

You see, Granny and Dad just returned from one of their annual epic road trips.  It kills Dad to drive by any “hysterical” landmark.  He avoids the interstate if possible and stops for small county museums,  visitor centers, scenic turnouts and country flea markets. But mostly they stop for museums…..and old cemeteries.  Both are ripe with local history and stories. Granny knows everyone loves a good story so as she meandered through Dixie she collected a few. (Hendon Family Cemetery Kentucky)

 

She strolled through the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park along the Suwanee River in White Springs, Florida looking at a fabulous collection of pianos that really could only boast remote connections to the famous American balladeer. Check out the strange piano keys, Steinway only made a few of these, with a Von Janko keyboard.

 

Granny was surprised to learn that Foster never set eyes on the Swanee River, as he renamed it and never even visited Florida.  His original song Old Folks At Home was penned in his hometown, Lawrenceville, PA (now a Pittsburgh neighborhood) and sang “way down upon the Pedi River”.  The name “Pedi” didn’t ring quite right so Foster’s buddy suggested the Suwanee as a substitute.  The rest is history and Foster’s story attracts thousands of visitors to the beautiful culture center that literally sits on the banks of the river we have been singing about all these years. His original manuscripts, sheet music with I Dream of Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair, Oh Susanna and Camptown Races are all on display including art work inspired by his folk music.  Granny highly recommends a visit to White Springs, Florida.

 

A couple days earlier, Granny Hat dragged Dad down to Honky Tonk Row on South Broadway in Nashville.  They listened to the blue grass bands and happened upon the Johnny Cash Museum a small but delightful tribute to the great musician.  There were rooms filled with his life story, photos with admiring Presidents, collaborations with other famous musicians, love notes from June Carter Cash, a vinyl collection to die for, guitars, autoharps, military memorabilia and show costumes.  No stone of Cash’s life was left unturned, the good, the bad and the ugly.  That’s why we all love him; he was human, made huge mistakes, turned his life around and just kept singing through it all.  The museum’s collection makes his story come alive and adds new depth to his songs.

 

Then Granny remembered a visit to another museum a year ago, a lovely day spent at Ivy Cottage in Tuscumbia, Alabama, the birth place and home of Helen Keller.  Granny loved walking through that house seeing all of Helen’s toys and clothes, her braille Scrabble Game, the famous key to the dining room, remembering again the inspiring story of Helen and her teacher Annie Sullivan, so much heartache, sacrifice, love and endurance.  That old water pump made Granny cry.  Museums are for remembering.  It is a good thing someone had the foresight to save all the treasures of Helen’s life so we can remember everything that she accomplished.

 

Suddenly the light dawned upon this wanna-be ultralight Granny Hat! There IS a way around feng shui!  You get to keep your stuff IF AND ONLY IF you or someone close to you becomes famous.  Because then a foundation or something will open a museum with ample display cases for all the interesting hoarded stuff. Then and only then will your report cards, your prom tickets and even your tooth brush be worth saving for display. But here’s the dilemma; how is Granny Hat supposed to know if one of her kids or grand kids is going to be famous someday?  What if, in a fit of feng shui energy, she accidentally donates stuff that would look really good on a museum wall or in a sealed glass case?

 

What if hundreds of thousands of people wanted to touch this O.J. Simpson Pog from the 90’s the way we all touched the moon rock at Kennedy Space Center the other day.?  Do we really want houses that only contain serviceable items? Or do we need a few conversation pieces sitting around, things that tell a story or evoke a funny memory?  If an inanimate object can make you cry or make you laugh until the tears roll down your cheeks, it becomes priceless.

Take these Nicklelodeon Moon Shoes for instance! Listed in Bustle’s 11 Stupidly Dangerous Toys of the 90’s Our Parents Probably Shouldn’t Have Let Us Have, these personal trampolines “designed to be strapped onto the feet of uncoordinated kids” gave our daughters no end of hilarious fun and yes, they got hurt a few times. Supposedly E Bay is swimming in these shoes inspired by NASA moon walks.  When this pair fell off the top shelf of the closet (they were behind the roller blades) Granny Hat had a hearty laugh and said a “thank you” to all guardian angels.  But now she isn’t sure she wants to cavalierly chuck them.

Then these delightful fluffy dog marionettes popped out of a box!  Granny Hat barely remembers them and had to text the kids real quick to find out who they belonged to.  Imagine her surprise when Stephan, Mr. Ultralight Mission himself, admitted to being the proud owner.  Granny joined in the sibling teasing until she realized that the pooches had been ordered and delivered to HER and were a birthday gift for Stephan so many years ago that they had been forgotten.  They never brought Granny much joy until today; they inspired such a hilarious back and forth on the text thread that now she is tempted to keep them forever.

Granny would like to bet that no other family on earth has a pair of homemade Sinbad the Sailor shoes like these.  They were fashioned from a cut up pair of old espadrilles for a character costume in a church musical called Cool In the Furnace. Guess we were so very proud of the way they turned out we couldn’t part with them. They are currently in the trash, sure hope when the museum opens there won’t be any regrets.

Please don’t worry, Granny Hat is still going ultralight whether any of her loved ones get famous or not.  Besides, they are already famous in her book.  She just has decided to slow down, take lots of pictures, laugh and cry over the possessions that just tumbled out of the closet.  Granny’s house is already a museum, she just needs a cultural foundation and some grant money to keep it open.  And instead of hiring Marie Kondo or inviting Mike and Frank from American Pickers over to haggle, she needs a historical curator to advise her on which things to save…..just in case!

Happy Groundhog’s Day!  May every day be a memory making day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granny Hat didn’t mention this museum above because she doesn’t know how to begin to describe it.  It is in eastern Alabama, only visit if you happen to be in the area.

#my middle name is MARIE

Granny Hat is enjoying a quiet day sipping some coconut milk nog, listening one last time to the Carpenter’s Christmas Portrait and musing about Christmas past, like yesterday! She had a lovely celebration with family. There can be such GREAT EXPECTATIONS every Christmas season. Of course, Granny loves quiet reflection on God’s grace and mercy that sent His son Jesus to be our Savior. Granny has to admit though, that like everyone else, she also wants a fresh tree, magical lights, merry entertainment,  and delicious traditional food that looks too lovely to eat.  She dreams of spending Christmas Day with as many of her children and grandchildren as possible and loves to find or make that perfect gift for each person on her list. Guess we all have “visions of sugarplums” dancing in our heads as we shop, dance, sing and wrap gifts. 

But this year Granny has vowed to embrace a more ultralight life.  So many things about Christmas don’t mix well with minimalism. Gifts equal more accumulation, more dusting and more pride of ownership. There isn’t time today for a full review on the next Feng Shui book but one of the most common bits of advice is to ask yourself some important soul searching questions as you gaze at your treasures wondering how you will ever part with them.  One of the best ones is “does this item still bring me joy?”  Granny Hat thought and thought until she came up with a new spin on that question –  “Since this item brought so much joy to me many years ago can it now bring joy to someone else?”

When Granny was a girl (once upon a time) she and her siblings would often enjoy “bequeathments” from an aunt or a kind friend.  These previously loved treasures were welcomed into our lives, such as a set of vintage Nancy Drew books.  Granny can’t just donate them to the Salvation Army, as noble as that is.  Toy Story ruined her ability to cavalierly toss when there is the possibility that those books have feelings and memories.  So, this Christmas there were quite a few “bequeathments” under the tree, jewelry for the granddaughters, books, and beeswax food wraps made from old fabric pieces.

Of course, there were also gifts that came from a store and there may have been a few packages that arrived from Amazon Prime, well, actually several a day throughout December.  But it was the simple gifts that were the favorites.  Flashlights from Auntie Corrie and REI headlamps from Uncle Stephan (Mission) were such a hit.  Before the adults could grab another piece of pie four little granddaughters had made a tent out of a fuzzy blanket that was glowing with headlamp light.  They were perfectly happy under there and didn’t need any more gifts.  The excited giggles shouted “Merry Christmas”!

Granny Hat’s niece Holly recently shared that her favorite memory of coming to visit years ago was the cinnamon toast! That gave Granny pause, the cinnamon toast!?!  Really?  It wasn’t the toys, dollies, Legos? It wasn’t riding the Giant Dipper at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or the rails at Roaring Camp? What about Granny Hat’s new curtains, enchiladas, pies, cakes, cookies?  Nope, it was the cinnamon toast!  Such a simple thing, yet a favorite memory! Our piles of treasures may not be remembered but the cinnamon toast, that is timeless.  It brought joy then and will go on bringing joy.

Christmas celebrations aren’t quite over, Granny Hat and dad get to spend some time in Nebraska and then in Miami to see the kids and grand kids that couldn’t come to California.  Finn’s parents celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas and last year included The Feast of Stephen (from Good King Wenceslas) since Uncle Stephan was visiting.  This year Finn says it can’t be called “The Feast of Stephen”  because Uncle won’t be there.  Instead it is to be called “The Feast of Grandma” since Granny Hat will be one of the guests.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

Granny Hat just happily spent two weeks GivingThanks for her sweet, newest granddaughter and 9th grandchild. She slept swaddled up through most of the visit but snuggled with Granny whose heart is full. Big brother played Chutes & Ladders, enjoyed The Grinch at the theater, and read countless books with Granny Hat. So much fun, a real vacation for Granny! Now back to work!

Mission update: It’s a Small World After All           

The thru-hiking world is indeed a small world. These days Mission studies Biology by day and works at REI by night and weekends. While closing up at the Tustin, CA store the other day, Mission watched a last-minute couple hurry in. The man looked vaguely familiar and when Mission asked how he could help him, he explained that he was hoping to buy a new pair of Hoka walking shoes for his wife. While grabbing the shoes from the store room, it dawned on Mission! He knew the guy!

“One Shot?” Mission inquired as he handed the shoes to the couple.

“Yes, I’m One Shot!”, exclaimed the man, scrutinizing Mission’s face.

“I’m Mission! From the John Muir trail!

“Mission! Good to see you! Did you finish the PCT?”

They had hiked together from Pinchot Pass to Mather Pass, exchanging trail stories. One Shot was out backpacking the JMT and had summited Mt. Whitney a day or two before Mission. While on the slopes he came upon a team of medics treating some serious injuries caused by ice and inexperienced city folk. Some of the rhinestone adventurers even passed the injured right by without stopping to help. One day an urban hiker high on life and short on trail etiquette lost his footing on the icy slope and as he tumbled down the hill, bowled over several people, then picked himself up, brushed the snow off his designer pants and fled the scene. One Shot berated his fellow Los Angeles basin neighbors, greenhorns who spontaneously drive up 395 to conquer the mountains with no wilderness experience, no common sense, not even common decency.

The two hikers plan to get together for coffee. Just talking about the wilderness is a breath of fresh air for Mission!

FENG SHUI

Mission can thru-hike from Mexico to Canada faster than Granny Hat can make any dent whatsoever in her attempts to travel through life lightweight.  For the last two months she has been making a half-hearted stab at the daunting task of purging, re-purposing and donating. Granny’s little Red Prius is always full to the brim these days with bags of old clothes, linens, stuffed animals, trophies, magazines, sewing patterns, lamps, extra dishes, fabric and old curtains for trips to the Salvation Army.

She started with closets, you know, the ones that spill and tumble when you stand three feet away then slowly turn the knob. Next, she tackled the bookshelves which weave a time-honored tale of childhood classics and home-school days.

Years ago, when Granny Hat and dad noticed that their tax dollars weren’t teaching Dick and Jane to read, write, add or memorize, they decided to be pioneers and home-school their children.  One of their first purchases was a beautiful navy blue set of World Book Encyclopedias with Science Year upgrades(still have them, does anyone want them?) When word got out that the family had gone absolutely rogue, boxes of book donations from friends and family came pouring in: National Geographic kids books, subscriptions to National Wildlife Federation publications like Ranger Rick and My Big Backyard, poetry, Shakespeare, art books and atlases. They didn’t need library cards anymore, the library had moved in, Granny Hat and dad still live in their homespun, homeschool library.

Many books have been donated or given to friends and still the shelves are full. And while the closets can’t bury people or pets alive anymore, they are still snug.  Granny Hat has pared away some of the junk fluff and is down to what she calls THE MEMORY LAYER, the accumulation of nostalgic gifts and handmade treasures, some crafted by loved ones who have passed on. Granny Hat has hit a brick wall. She needs guidance!

Granny’s daughter recommended some motivational reading material (don’t worry, these books were borrowed from the library.) This is the first book on the subject she read.

CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER with FENG SHUI by Karen Kingston

First Granny had to learn to say the word, it’s not “Fang Shwee” and it’s not “Fehng Schweye”, it’s more like “Fung Schway”.  Beware, this book advocates more than just self help say-no-to-clutter. It introduces a veritable religion with sin, guilt, rules for redemption, adversaries, prayers  and chants, even holy water. Kingston defines feng shui as “the art of balancing and harmonizing the flow of natural energies in our surroundings to create beneficial effects in our lives.”   She goes on to explain that our hoarding and clutter traps our energy, saps our strength, causes disharmony and embarrasses us. Granny Hat certainly resonates with that last one, it is embarrassing to be a hoarder, they even have a TV show about it that she refuses to watch.

Kingston outlines a plan called a “Bagua”, (sounds like something from Aladdin) essentially a grid designed to help someone like Granny identify her clutter zones at home or work and then begin to “heal areas of life and relationships by removing the excess”. She writes that a cramped wardrobe blocks energy vibrations in our clothing!  Piles of forgotten documents in an office impede financial success, long forgotten treasures stashed under your bed are “in your energy field” and will affect your sleep! (This may explain why dragons usually sleep with one eye open.)

There are even claims in this writing that your health is affected by junk. Clearing it out promises to renew strength and cure what ails. The author advises her readers to never ever keep items that dredge up unpleasant memories because the goals are tranquility and happiness.

Kingston doesn’t just stop with advice about the accumulation of inanimate objects, but takes a giant leap into human relationships, explaining how to clear out friends, bad husbands, and anything that keeps one “from connecting with their higher self.” And when this is done, she recommends sprinkling empty areas with essential oils to further cleanse and restore energy to them. Guess that part is OK, lavender smells wonderful in closets and drawers, even under the bed. Granny keeps sachets in her dresser.

Baguas and energy fields are way too “sci-fi” for Granny Hat. She just wants a cleaner ultralight house, less junk to dust every Saturday, not so much ownership and more freedom.  The goal isn’t a “higher self” or even happiness, such a fleeting, circumstantial feeling. Granny better keep reading to define her strategy and gain courage for the next step. Besides, the more Granny reads, the longer she can put off what she knows she needs to do. At some point research should inspire results.

But  beware, while purging your life of clutter, you may inadvertently and carelessly discard real treasure.  Granny Hat had a moment of panic December 1 when she couldn’t find her Christmas CD’s.  She searched high and low, texted family members to see if they had pinched them, finally found them deep in a “cleaned closet”.  She is happily listening to Mannheim Steamroller and Josh Groban while writing.  There are some things you can’t cavalierly apply a “bagua” too, especially people and Christmas CDs, they are treasures.

Next on the reading list:

THE LIFE CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP (the Japanese art of de-littering and organizing ) by Marie Kondo, Japanese cleaning consultant.

 

 

 

It has been a month since Granny had to hang up her Pacific Crest Trail Mom Hat.  It was a fun, exciting hat to wear, making fruit leather, mailing re-supply boxes, checking GPS coordinates and having so many of you follow that NOBO trail with her. The PCT gave the summer of 2018 extra purpose.  But fall is here, Mission is back in school and Granny  needs a new purpose and a Hat to go with it.  Someone once wrote a book about a life driven by purpose, but a purpose shaped life may be more what Granny Hat is hoping for.

A dear friend, recently retired from a long and very successful elementary school teaching career, expressed feeling a certain lack of purpose these days.  Her life went from being scheduled and micro-managed to being wide-open and flexible.  Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?  Our day dream Utopias always consist of plenty of time to spend doing whatever it is we never have time to do.  No deadlines, no stress, and please, I’ll take a palm tree on a beach.  But Granny Hat suspects we are creatures of habit and thrive best when we have a trail and a map, a goal and a purpose.

By the way, everyone should learn to read a map.  Our Google maps app can be useful but we are losing some basic navigational skills such as north-south-east-west awareness, calculating distance, having an overview of where we are going and what we might see when we get there.  Following that voice on our hand-held device (Granny’s guide has a pleasant New Zealand accent) keeps us in the dark until we are told to turn.  We aren’t anticipating, planning or even being observant, just blindly following.  It is alarming!  But Granny digresses.  Back to goals and purposes….Granny is contemplating taking up a new challenge but it will take a bit of background to explain it adequately.

The Pacific Crest Trail is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.  The latest association magazine featured an article by PCTA information manager, Jack Haskel in which he stated that “modern ultralight backpacking was born on the PCT.” He tells the story of Ray and Jenny Jardine who “started the ultralight movement during the era of heavy packs, introducing radical ideas about weight that jump started an industry.”  This power hiking duo trekked from Mexico to Canada in 1987 and again in 1991, then authored a book titled The PCT Hiker’s Handbook. The book was largely about the art and skills of power-hiking.  After through-hiking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) in 1992 followed by the Appalachian Trail (AT) in 1993, they became convinced that packs and gear were just too heavy for long distance treks and even sewed their own smaller, lighter backpacks.  The new improved 1996 edition of their book detailed their new ultralight approach to hiking and launched the gear revolution.

Granny Hat has never ever been good at traveling light, somehow the comforts of home just jump into her suitcase un-aided when she looks the other way.  That extra sweater or two, jewelry that doesn’t even match the outfits she planned, lotions, good books to read, three or four pairs of shoes, tea bags.  She has always been amazed at how little her backpacking husband takes on a trip. She is also ashamed that he always has to help carry her heavy suitcases.

Traveling light through life is an art.  Granny Hat watched Mission return home and promptly purge his room of all non-essential possessions.  His goal was to move back to Orange County will all his belongings in one backpack. He donated piles of clothing, fishing gear and books. His closet has extra room in it now and looks amazing.  Granny’s closets tell the tale of having lived in her present home for 36 years, accumulating five kids worth of books, stuffed animals, nick-knacks, toys, games, craft supplies and scrapbooks.  The burden of it all is getting hard to carry, impossible to keep dusted and polished.  It is time to go ULTRALIGHT!

But now Granny Hat has a problem.  It was easy blogging and bragging about PCT progress while Mission did all the work.  For Granny to go Ultralight and share the experience she will have to do the work herself.  And then so many of the hoarded possessions tell sweet, memorable stories.  Granny may be wearing this new hat for some time. She is pretty sure this journey is fraught with danger, not bears or rattlesnakes, fire and ice but separation anxiety and perhaps a spider bite or too in a dark closet.

Just a few images of some of Granny Hat’s cramped closets.  A lot of stuff has to come out of the closet, just saying.  Keep posted.  You can help keep Granny accountable.  Or be inspired yourself.  Let’s go Ultralight!

 

Granny Hat asked poor Mission a million questions as they traveled US Interstate 5 from Seattle back to San Juan Bautista, CA.  He was patient and well spoken, answering while he massaged his swollen feet. As he talked, Granny was struck by how faithfully a thru-hike mirrors real, everyday life.

So, did you learn anything?

When asked what he learned, Mission laughed and said, “Well, for sure I learned that we can’t expect to be comfortable all the time.  And pain isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”  He talked about how many mornings he felt heavy like bricks were piled on top of him, experienced intense pain in his feet and had the idea that he couldn’t hike another day.  But then, after some oatmeal or a Probar he would take a few steps down the trail and decide that well, maybe, at least, one more day. As long as he was moving, the pain was less severe.  And Vitamin I didn’t hurt. Mission had originally intended to complete the Pacific Crest Trail in 100 days, but fire detours and heavy Sierra snow pack took their toll.  Even in this there was a lesson: “thru-hiking is different than most other sports, the purpose isn’t to ‘win’ but to see what your body can do, what you can endure.”

Our friend, Mike Paddy put it this way, “so proud to know a young man who committed to something bigger than himself and one step at a time….finished.”  Mission says “most anyone can start hiking the PCT but to finish, you will have to change along the way.”  Your gear may have to change, your route will surely change, your expectations will change and your attitude must change.  Mission used podcasts, audio books and favorite songs to help motivate him on the trail: In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins, Shout by Tears for Fears, and for downhill, Around the World by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Who in the world is out there thru-hiking anyway?

The PCT community is an interesting slice of culture made up of all ages, hailing from countries all around the world (mostly U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, Korea and Japan) and represents a variety of careers, economic status & educational achievement.  Granny Hat wanted to get to know a few more of Mission’s fellow hikers so she asked nosy questions about their Trail Names, where they were from, how old they were, what they did for a living etc.  Mission explained that so many of them were his “tramily” just for a day, then everyone would hike on or take a zero or just part ways never to meet again.  But then occasionally one of his fellow trekkers from the desert would suddenly show up at Crater Lake and together they would hike and catch up. Often the SOBO hikers would leave messages for the NOBO folks, thoughtful and creative.

Some of Mission’s favorite trail buddies were Peanut Feet(pictured to the left, showing Mission the huckleberries), Nocello, Gilligan (and yes he wore the hat) and Trashbath.  Gilligan is in the USAF and hikes when on leave.  Before he ever thru-hiked, he hitch hiked across America going whichever direction his rides took him.

There was one story about a group of five thru-hikers from Israel, nick-named the Israeli Army because they were indeed in military service and they hiked in step up the trail as if they were marchin’ to Zion, ate together, slept on the same tarp and defied fire closures, claiming ignorance due to language barrier even they all spoke decent English.

Granny asked if Mission ever witnessed any arguments or fights on the trail and he told of one brawl in Sierra City that was out of the ordinary.  It seems that after mixing a few beers with catching up on the latest national news, three thru-hikers got hot-headed about border issues and school shootings.  There was quite a bit of yelling, dogmatic statements about racial tendencies, blaming Trump and taking God’s name in vain, you get the picture.  Even though they almost came to blows, Mission said it was funny the way they had a few more beers and then hiked off together as if it had never happened.  This is what comes of spending too much time in a vortex, some hikers just can’t handle civilization as it draws you in with yummy food & spirits and then delivers bad news.  Maybe staying on the trail and keeping our eyes on the goal will keep society’s downer dust off of us.

Mission was privileged to meet Halfmile, whose profile is listed below, at Snoqualmie Pass.  This famous thru-hiker is often on the trail to update his maps and collect data & statistical information.

Home is Where the Heart Is (and where the stars shine at night)

On the way home, Granny Hat and Mission made a quick stop where the PCT crosses Highway 66 in southern Oregon near Ashland.  While there, they met a SOBO hiker named Goss, a cross country runner from Danville CA.  He and Mission swapped some trail information and he accepted a soda and some trail snacks from us.  Then he was on his way down the skinny path, heading toward California.  These thru-hikers are elusive, now you see them, now you don’t.  Mission met a man on the trail who was out hiking for several days with his family.  He hosts a morning radio show in Eugene, Oregon that recently won the Country Hall of Fame award.  Over the years of taking short trips on the trail, he said that most PCT hikers don’t stop to talk so they enjoyed Mission’s company and conversation. “We finally caught one!”, they said.

Granny Hat asked Mission if there is such a thing as POST PCT Resolutions.  He said he didn’t know if it was a thing or not,  but he has one.  He resolves to hike another day.  He reluctantly went back to college but Granny noticed he took his Backpack and his Puffy with him. His heart is still on the trail, he misses the stars looking down on him at night. He hopes to do some trail running on the weekends between study and work.  And he says yes, he will hike the PCT again and hopefully the CDT and AT too.  He’s counting the days.  He has this wish for all of you, family, friends, followers: Go take a Hike! Get outdoors more, walk, run, bike, rock-climb, swim, sail!  Granny Hat is taking the challenge to be outdoors, to enjoy the beauty in creation, to stand barefoot in the dirt or sand every now and then, to go where there are no cars.  And avoid Vortexes at all cost.

DIFFERENT

 

Granny Hat told you there was a dragon.  She wasn’t just imagining dragons. This one stands watch over Interstate 5 north of Shasta, near Yreka, CA.

 

Halfmile: The trail name of a PCT hiker who provides accurate maps to the PCT community in electronic format at no cost. Many hikers feel that halfmile’s maps are the best maps available for the PCT. Before the beginning of the hiking season, many hikers will pool their money and pay to have Halfmile’s maps printed in bulk at a discount.

Vitamin I: Ibuprofen.

Vortex: Anything off trail that draws hikers into it, and hikers find difficult to leave. Usually a town stop, restaurant or trail angel’s home.

Now go take a hike!

Granite Peak Wilderness

Granny Hat and her Mobile Mission Control team didn’t quite make it to Canada but they wore their maple leaf shirts for the reunion anyway.  While fires kept the PCT trail closed for the last 30-40 miles,  Mission obtained a permit from the ranger station at Stehekin to hike north to the border on alternate North Cascades National Park trails, ending at the top of Ross Lake.  While he trekked on, Granny Hat, Melody and Brighton enjoyed beautiful drives through the Washington Cascades and some delightful visits to green, woodsy communities like Lake Stevens and Granite Falls. Mission Control’s job was to stay flexible and get within a few hours drive of Mission’s terminus. Mission reports that the less traveled alternate trails were quiet and beautiful and he saw several more bears bringing his bear sightings on the trip to 8!  Here are some of Granny’s favorite photos from the Washington Cascades trails.

Near White’s Pass

This beautiful pass was wreathed in smoke from the fires and Mission spotted this SOBO deer on his path, perhaps trying to get to cleaner air.

 

Cloudy Pass

The outlandish flowers are known as Dr. Suess flowers, even the forest ranger nearby called them by this name.  The beloved children’s author must have trekked in the Cascades and been inspired to create his famous truffula blooms. (real name is Western pasqueflower (Pulsatilla occidentalis or Anemone occidentalis)

Stehekin

This remote community on Lake Chelan is only accessible by boat or plane and boasts a bakery/cafe, a post office and a ranger station. It is nestled in between steep snow-capped peaks reminiscent of the Alps.  After obtaining his special permit to the Canadian border Mission sampled some of the bakery’s offerings including two delicious cinnamon rolls.  He told Granny Hat that his biggest regret of the trip is that he didn’t just re-supply at Stehekin with enough of the rich buttery pastries to get him to the border.

North Cascades

This abandoned mine was most likely a silver venture.  According to a National Parks Service article, gold and silver were periodically mined in the North Cascades between 1850 and 1950, mostly a tale of broken dreams.  A few rich silver deposits were found in the area but most were abandoned due to short working seasons, unpredictable weather and difficult transportation.

As Mission approached the Canadian border the moss and ferns grew thick and rain fell lightly one day.  It was quiet, not many thru-hikers and just a few short term backpackers.  His goal was Ross Lake, a long skinny lake that crosses the border into Canada.

While at Stehekin, Mission and a few of his Tramily had planned  to meet at the border, then charter a Water Taxi to the southern shore of the Lake which borders Highway 20, accessible to rides into civilization.  There were clouds of mosquitoes at the USA/Canadian border so they took quick pictures and got out of there.

The boat ride cost close to $200 so it was a good thing there were seven hikers to share the fee.  The Pacific Crest Trail might be a HYOH type of athletic adventure but these trekkers learned that every now and then you have to SWTR.

Once they hiked up from the lake to the highway, they began hitch-hiking to get back to Seattle area to catch planes and meet friends.  Mission Control was there to meet Mission, wishing we had more room in the car to give at least one or two others a ride.  While we got a bit acquainted with the hikers, one of them came back from the highway and asked the one female thru-hiker among them to join him trying to get a hitch, “we need you out here!” he said.  It is understood that if a ride is difficult to obtain, adding a ride bride into the mix increases the chances of success.

A Merry Meeting and a Picnic with Mission

 

After our picnic, Mission Control with Mission on board headed back to Ballard (Seattle) for a comfy rest at “Ballard Bunkhouse” our downtown Airbnb and a delicious dinner at Chinook’s Seafood Restaurant.

A beautiful seat by the harbor,  fish and chips, foccacia bread, salmon with peach salsa and peach slump for dessert, even Mission was full.

Granny Hat’s heart is full and her map is complete.  Thank you, each and every one, for following, praying, laughing and crying with me, adding up the miles, watching the weather and dreaming of bears.  You have made this so much fun.  Who is going to be next to take up an epic challenge that we can all enjoy from “our armchairs” as my childhood friend, Kim Kostka says it?  Mission has so many stories to tell, characters to describe and some really great “take home” lessons to share.  So keep posted!  While he heads back to Vanguard University, Granny Hat will keep sharing a few more photos and some cool, inspiring stories.

2680 MILES FROM MEXICO TO CANADA!!!

113 days, May 8 – August 28, 2018

(the extra miles are due to fire detours in all three states & the alternate route at the end)

Those LA Sportiva Akyra trail runners though!  They walked 1000 miles.  Granny Hat ordered them from REI Medford, Oregon and niece Holly delivered them to Mission in Ashland, Oregon.  The tread is still great!  He said they were the best of the four pair he wore on the trail.  A big thank you and shout out to Trail Angel Santana Bandana from Washington for helping Granny Hat choose and order them.  Mission never met her at her Magic spots on Whites Pass and Chinook Pass but she encouraged “Mission’s Mom” and her Trail Angel Facebook page is full of great information.  Moms back at home need trail angels too!

 

Ride Bride: A female hiker who accompanies a male hiker when he attempts to hitch a ride. It is thought that people are more likely to pick up a male hitchhiker if a female is with him, and that a female hitchhiker is safer if a male is with her. ( Scott Bryce, PCT Glossary)

HYOH: Hike Your Own Hike. An encouragement between hikers to hike according to your own dreams, goals, expectations, etc., and not have your hike determined by other hiker’s expectations. This is your hike. Hike it your way. (Scott Bryce, PCT Glossary)

SWTR: Share Water Taxi Rides, because it is cheaper and more fun. (Granny Hat PCT Glossary)

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OREGON

Granny Hat found a beautiful mountain lodge called Green Springs Inn near Ashland Oregon, up highway 66 and very close to the PCT. She spotted a SOBO hiker and realized Mission had passed that way just weeks before. Thru-hikers are quiet, almost stealthy, the last of the Mohicans leaving very little trace down their narrow path. The Inn hosts many PCT travelers and their home-made sourdough bread, pies and jams are probably the reason, not to mention their jet baths complete with rubber duckies, just like home.

Next on Granny Hat’s itinerary was a very restful long visit with her brother Nathan and sister in law Glenda in Roseberg, Oregon followed by an overnight visit with their children in Portland. Nieces Hannah and Sophia took Granny to Anna Banana downtown for really fabulous coffee and breakfast. Granny enjoyed her visit with nephews Benjamin and Jackson also. A quick drive across the mighty Columbia and it was “welcome to Washington”.

WASHINGTON

Skykomish, Snoqualmie, Stehekin are just a few of the odd sounding but absolutely beautiful alpine towns of the North Cascades in Washington. Granny Hat along with her daughter Melody and granddaughter Brighton are touring the countryside waiting for Mission to finish his epic trek. They are keeping their eyes open for Sasquatch, this is his territory.

Uncle Stephan, where are you?  Brighton looks to the mountains above Leavenworth, not the worst place to be marooned waiting to hear from Mission. The last 40 miles or so of the Pacific Crest Trail remain closed due to fires. Mission hoped to obtain a new wilderness permit to hike north to the Canadian border west of the North Terminus. Meanwhile Granny Hat and her crew ate their way through Leavenworth enjoying Bavarian food, Thai food, Chai Honeycomb ice cream and  shopping, of course.

We stayed at the Linderhof Inn and met Tenderfoot and Sideways,  PCT thru-hikers taking a zero in Leavenworth. Granny Hat decided to be a Trail Angel while Melody and Brighton shopped, giving them a ride back up to Stevens Pass.  They had met Mission back at Goat Rocks Wilderness and called Granny “Missions Mom”. We enjoyed swapping stories and Granny loved giving back just a little, so many family, friends and total strangers have helped Mission along the way.

Mission was able to call from Stehekin with the good news that he was granted his wilderness permit for the North Cascades National Park trails that will take him to the border just miles west of the original PCT trail. He plans to hike through beautiful country up to Ross Lake, reach the border, then take a boat ride back across the lake to Highway 20 where we hope to meet him at Ross Lake resort.  With some extra time before we head north, Granny Hat and her Mobile Mission Control crew drove east to Wenatchee to catch up with dear friend Laurie Krueger. What an absolute blessing that was!

🎶listen to the rhythm of the falling rain🎶

Mobile Mission Control reached Lake Stevens north of Seattle and a light rain has been falling off and on all day, showers of blessing for the fire fighters and perhaps some muddy hiking for Mission. 🎶he’s hiking in the rain, just hiking in the rain🎶. Already the sky is clean again, smoke has been washed away. And Washington will stay beautiful and green!

“Who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains” Psalm 147:8

Does anyone see Mt. Shasta in the photo? No? Well it’s there, Granny Hat has been to that same viewpoint before and marveled at the beauty of the Lonely Mountain. Today, however, Smaug the Mighty Dragon was very perturbed over a riddle or some treasure or something and breathed his fire and ash over all of the Northwest. There are signs everywhere thanking the forest fire fighters for their tireless work. Dear Lord, send rain.

From Travels With Charlie by John Steinbeck: (because Granny Hat certainly cannot say it better nor would she even attempt to go up against the  master, it might incur his wrath…)

“When I was very young and the urge to be someplace else was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch. When years described me as mature, the remedy prescribed was middle age. In middle age I was assured that greater age would calm my fever and now that I am fifty-eight perhaps senility will do the job. Nothing has worked. Four hoarse blasts of a ship’s whistle still raise the hair on my neck and set my feet to tapping. The sound of a jet, an engine warming up, even the clopping of shod hooves on pavement brings on the ancient shudder, the dry mouth and vacant eye, the hot palms and the churn of stomach high up under the rib cage. In other words, I don’t improve; in further words, once a bum always a bum. I fear the disease is incurable. I set this matter down not to instruct others but to inform myself.

When the virus of restlessness begins to take possession of a wayward man, and the road away from Here seems broad and straight and sweet, the victim must first find in himself a good and sufficient reason for going. This, to the practical bum , is not difficult. He has a built in garden of reasons to choose from………..Once a journey is designed, equipped and put in process, a new factor enters and takes over. A trip, a safari, an exploration is an entity, different from all other journeys. It has personality, no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip, a trip takes us.”

Mission’s trip has certainly taken him down roads he never planned, to places very few people have seen and introduced him to new ways to survive and thrive in the wilderness. Now the trip is trying to master the Mission but he knows that the joy is in the journey not just in the finish. He sounded positive and hopeful today on the phone. So while forest fires, trail closures and Forest Service mandates threaten to disappoint, Mission is determined to either find a way to the Canadian border through detours or finish with celebration and gratitude as far north as possible. Granny Hat has Plan A, B and C all lined up for meeting him, but it will probably be Plan D or E. It’s an adventure! It’s a trip!

Long Way Home, David Dunn

This life feels like the longest part
Even though eternity is ours
And on our way to streets of gold
Let’s savor every mile of this road

We’re not where we’re going
And we’re not lost where we are
Taking the long way home
Just taking the long way home
There’s beauty on the backroads
Even when this journey’s hard
Taking the long way home
Just taking the long way home
Celebrate what we have now
Living life like every moment counts
Here on earth with Kingdom eyes
Treasuring the gift of borrowed time

No, we won’t miss the view while we’re on this climb
Oh, the stories we’ll take to the other side
No, we won’t miss the view while we’re on this ride
Oh, the stories we’ll take to the other side
The other side

Granny Hat appreciates all those prayers and urges her followers to read Travels With Charley, but beware, you may get struck with wanderlust and then “once a bum, always a bum!”

Mission’s coordinates tonight: 47.86377, -121.14886