In late May I received a call from my friend Cara. "We're calling your from REI. Wanna backpack the Appalachian Trail with me and Lorrie next month?" My response was silence. Not what Cara expected from her most-likely-to-be-hiking friend. I'd backpacked -- once. Up Half Dome in Yosemite. It was hard. very hard. I wouldn't call it fun. That was one night. They were proposing 4 nights and 5 days. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE LOVE hiking. It's where and when I feel the most sane but hauling everything you need to live changes the experience entirely. That much I did know. After unsuccessfully trying to convince the sisters to opt for camping + day hiking I relented, and against my better judgement and my husband's warning ("What are you nuts? You hated it. You swore you'd never backpack again.") I bought a plane ticket. It was arranged. They would drive from Texas and meet me at my aunt's house outside of Atlanta. We would hike the southern most part of the A.T.

Lorrie was the mastermind. She sent us itineraries, packing lists and links to various sites to purchase hiking poles and the like. I assumed she had done this before. It wasn't until we were on the trail that I learned this would be her first time backpacking and that I with my 1 night some almost 10 years ago was the most experienced. shudder.

In preparation I hiked our local trails slowing adding weight to my pack. 10lbs. -- no problem. I could even still keep up with my Saturday hiking group (they have a reputation for being ruthlessly fast). As the pack got heavier my fear grew stronger. I am not sure I can do this! When the pack fully loaded weigted close to 40lbs, I may have cried. I can't do this!  I scaled everything down. Only the bare minimum. One long sleeve shirt, one short sleeve shirt, one pair of pants, etc. I was ruthless. Lorrie would bring the stove and water purifier, Cara the tent, and me the food. I purchased the 5-day meal combo. It weighted 10lbs! With water, food, sleeping bag, clothes, etc. I got my pack down to 35lbs and I boarded United flight 1446 SFO to ATL (via Chicago). It took 20 hours - but that's a whole other story.

Before departing I watched this video.

At minute 3:29: "In our avoidance of discomfort, we may become more uncomfortable." That struck a cord with me and echoed through my head. . .
 "The more you need to be comfortable, the more likely you are to be uncomfortable." Nowhere is this more easily experienced than when you are backpacking. However, the more I have considered this more I have come to believe that this is not just trail wisdom. It's much, much bigger than that.

"The more you need to be happy. The more likely you are to be unhappy."

More what? Money, fame, friends, sales, likes on facebook, comments on your blog, shoes, fine wine, fancy cars, bigger house, new clothes, remolded kitchen, praise, vacation time -- the list is endless.

The trail strips everything away. You are down to basics: water, food, shelter. Your most important possessions are your feet and knees. Wants are simple. Basic. Then you return. Back to reality and hot showers, fresh vegetables, a bed. They take on a more sacred role. It's easy to fall into wants disguised as needs. Our culture and economy is based on this. . .  but for now (and hopefully always) . . .

The trail lesson continues to ring in my head. Happy is here. NOW. :)

Tomorrow my husband leaves for Russia. He will be gone for 2 weeks. In the 20+ years we have been together this will be the longest and furthest we have been apart.

He is going to Russia as part of the Fort Ross/Kashaya Expedition marking the 200th anniversary of the 1st Russian settlement in the continental USA - which just happens to be in our neck of the woods. Sus (hubby) will be traveling with 24 other people to St. Petersburg, Moscow and Tot'ma (the home town of the founder of Fort Ross). As the executive director of the Gualala Art Center, Sus is representing our local art community and traveling with some descents of the "first artists" of the area. Part of the reason for this trip is for the Kashaya (native American Pomo tribe) to see and identify artifacts and artwork that was taken back to Russia when the fort was disbanded - over 150 years ago. They will be touring museums, meeting with dignitaries, participating in a parade, and doing home stays while in Tot'ma.

He was trying to figure out what gifts he should bring with him. The idea of tote bags came up and immediate we thought of the Green Bag Lady. We called Teresa and she sent us some Silent Stumps Sateen bags as well as some other solid bags that we could screen print the Gualala Arts logo on. Teresa ROCKS! In less than a week we had the screen printed bags. Tomorrow they make they voyage overseas.

I can't tell you how happy these bags make me! The trilogy of Green Bag Lady + Gualala Arts + Harmony Art = BIG LOVE.

I hope the Russians like (and use) them and I hope Sus gets home safely with lots of good stories to share.

A couple of weeks ago, we were in southern California. We visited the City of Los Angeles Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant & Japanese Tea Gardens. I kid you not, you look one direction and see this:

You look the other direction and see this:

From their web site: "The Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant (DCTWRP), was designed to produce reclaimed water that will meet the requirements of the California Department of Health Services and the County Health Department for specific uses with the priority to protect public health. The main function of the plant, however, is to relieve the overburdened portions of the wastewater collection system between the San Fernando Valley and the City's main wastewater treatment facility, the Hyperion Treatment Plant, located in Playa Del Rey.

The balance of positive and negative forces, Yin & Yang, are ever present here. Obvious in the skillful blending of traditional Japanese landscaping with modern Occidental architecture, less so in the way the Japanese concept of "WA" or harmony is used to unite the desires of the human spirit with our more mundane requirements—the exquisite beauty of a Japanese garden with the need for an abundant supply of fresh water."

Pretty cool, don't you think?

In late March I had the pleasure of speaking in Madison, Wisconsin.  I had never been to Madison before and I was blown away by how lovely the city is.  I thought I would share some of my favorite things about Madison:

The PEOPLE!  Here are two of the three people responsible for bringing me to Madison.  On the left is  Misty Lohrentz, Community Events Coordinator, Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center and on the right is Carolyn Kallenborn, artist, filmmaker and professor at University of Madison, Wisconsin.  (Not picture is the super talented and busy Jennifer Angus.)  

The SHOPS: 
Owners (and sisters) of my favorite store in Madison, Anthology (store front photo below).  I am not a shopper at heart so the fact that I bought 2 things there is truly noteworthy.  (An organic cotton t-shirt and a hair clip. My next post is going to be all about the hair clip!) I honestly liked just about everything in their store. They are super cute and thoughtful with what they select for their store.

The ART:
Cool photo taken my husband in the Museum of Contemporary Art.  The Museum is FREE.  We checked out the Houdini exhibition while we were there and also had a snack at the roof top restaurant.  Additionally, there was a FREE movie that night at the Museum in one of the downstairs rooms.  The movie was:
If a Tree Falls.  I highly recommend it.  Warning: it is pretty heavy.  

One of the highlights of the trip was seeing the home my mother grew up in. Here it is!  Next time I get to Madison I am going to bring my mother with me!  I definitely want to go back.  We saw a lot but there are still plenty of things we didn't have time to experience.  

Thanks Madison!  We'll be back.

I spent last weekend in Nashville with the Green Bag Lady (aka Teresa).  Teresa knows I don't sew so instead of helping sew the Green Bag Lady bags, she put me to work matching handles with bags.  It was SOOOO much fun!  I loved it.  Here's an action shot of me being the "handler". 

While going through the bags I came across this bag (below) made out of Bagette Dad's old pants and fell in love with it!  The pockets are still intact - perfect for cell phone, nano, etc.  The loops allow me to accessorize my bag with a belt to match my outfit.  After begging and pleading (not really) Teresa let me keep the "pants bag".  Here's a picture of me with the original owner of the pants.  Goofy?  Yes!  Fun?  Absolutely! 

On Saturday afternoon we had a Bagette brunch and I got to meet some of the women who bring the Green Bag Lady project to life.  They are as lovely and kind and generous and talented as you would imagine.  What a great weekend!  Thank you Bagettes for making me feel so welcome.  xoxo harmony

A couple of weeks ago I attended a lecture at the Gualala Arts Center given by Karma Singye Dorji titled Bhutan: Kingdom on the Cusp of Change with images by photographer and artist, Jeanne Gadol.  I loved finding out that in Bhutan the most common greeting (like our hello/goodbye) is So Kuzuzangpola which means may your body and spirit by in balance.  Imagine having that reminder told to you several times a day.  Bhutan also monitors GNH (not GNP) which is the Gross National Happiness.  Obviously the Buddhist roots in this country are strong.

I just liked that and wanted to share it with you.  While I am on the topic of things I like, here's a link to a recent article in my favorite business magazine, Fast Company, about Walmart and Swedish clothing giant H&M launching pilot sustainability efforts at major textile mills in China.

So Kuzuzangpola!