Sierra Textures

Posted on January 11, 2012 by susanbabson

Meadow Grass

Everywhere we look, we encounter some kind of texture.  Texture is one of the basic elements of visual art.  Texture as the cliche goes could be called “the fabric of our lives.”  Texture is  both tactile and visual.  Whether we are in the  city, or out in nature, everywhere we look we can see and feel texture.  Along with   texture there is also color and value.  These other two visual elements add to and enhance the visual experience and the quality of the adventure

As I hike in the Sierra Nevada mountains I experience the different qualities of texture;  as the smoothness of granite, or the rough feel from the bark of a tree,  the variations of textures and color found along the bottom of a creek, the infinite variations found in a mountain meadow.  The list goes on and on.  I have compiled a gallery of  texture photos I took last summer hiking out of our cabin at 36 Milestone, which is on the American river, and close to the desolation wilderness.

Sierra Texure

Sierra Texure

Sierra Texture

Sierra Texture

53 Photos

 

 

 

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Embracing Change

Posted on January 1, 2012 by susanbabson
fall color along a fence in Northern California

Color can be found any where; Keeps your eyes open

Today is the first day of a New Year, a new number on the calendar, and  an opportunity for us to look back  at the good things and the not so good events of the past 12 months. To reflect on the new possibilities of the next twelve months.  For me, I have two goals, take each day as it comes, celebrating each moment  as it comes, as some teachers tell is, “Live in the moment”,  or “Be Here Now”  I like that, I think all to often we look too far ahead and loose sight of who we are and where we are right now.  I also think we spend too much time looking at the past, it is the past, its over and done, there are no “do overs”.  Let go of the negatives, celebrate the  positives, but be in this moment and celebrate who you are.  My second goal is to really contemplate Gratitude. I want to focus on the practice of gratitude, to be grateful for all that I have receive and what my come my way in the coming months.

The past year a huge life change .  I retired from 31 years of teaching art.  The transition is both scary and exciting.  Scary because I love teaching art to young people and I didn’t know what I was going to do with the rest of my life with out that anchor.  Exciting because of all the possibilities and choices for this next phase.    Since teaching and sharing ideas  is what I know best I might decide to teach to adults in some capacity.  I love making art, being creative, being in nature, I can do all of those things now with out having to balance them to a school year.   So who knows where I will be a year from now, life is full of infinite divine possibility and I am open to what ever comes my way.  grateful for the opportunity to embrace this new life change in a new year.

The last big action of 2011 for me was to change my web host.  I left GoDaddy because I didn’t like their politics, and the fact that the CEO is a big game hunter.  I moved over to FatCow.com because its a very green company (wind power) , has excellent  customer service and an easy to use  interface.  Needless to say about 24 hours into the process of moving everything I wished I hadn’t.  What a complicated mess I created for my self.   In the end the process was actually pretty easy once I admitted I needed help and called the tech line for support.  So this site is up and running again, needing only a few little tweaks and some time to get the gallery working again.   This process reminded me once again to practice patience, and not be afraid to ask for help

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Fear Drives Us Now

Posted on December 20, 2011 by susanbabson

Since 911, it seems to me this county has lost sight of the fundamental premise of our constitution and my individual rights as a citizen are slowly being eroded to keep me protected from a terrorist attack. I wrote this several years ago, but feel it is even more relevant now.

I recently took a short flight from Burbank to Sacramento. This was the first time I had flown since the liquid scare of last summer. I wasn’t looking forward to the anticipated stepped up security measures, but I hadn’t realized how invasive and restrictive they have become

I have always felt that removing my shoes was a ridiculous measure and as everyone obediently removes their shoes and places them into the baskets, it seemed to me that we were blindly walking off the cliff of our individual rights. This weekend I was wearing sandals with no socks, and the guard at the gate insisted I remove my shoes, they were sandals, and I said, “I doubt there is a bomb in these sandals”. That was a big no no. You never say Bomb in any context. I was reprimanded and then my carry-on luggage was searched. Of course I didn’t do the liquids and the plastic bags correctly and so I was subjected to more reprimands.

I think what upset me the most was the cost of water beyond the gate, so on I my return flight, I figured out that I could take an empty bottle in my pack and not have it confiscated. Unfortunately on the return flight, as I was gathering my gear out of the rental car, I inadvertently put a diet coke can in my pack and completely forgot about it. When we went through the line and my bags were searched again. I guess I blew a gasket when they took my coke can. It was laughable to me that an unopened and sealed container was considered a security risk. If the government thinks a 50 year old woman is a terrorist, have her drink the liquid and prove that it is safe.

There has to be some sanity in the fight against terrorism. I don’t deny the threat is real, but it seems to me that “homeland security” is making it worse, not better and and the government is taking away more and more of my freedoms. Our whole society is centered around FEAR. As more and more of our constitutional rights are taken away the guise of protecting us, the terrorists are winning because we are not safer or happier and our elected officials can use fear of attack to gain more control. In an open society we have to take risks. We can’t build walls to keep out the bogey man, we need to address the root cause of the anger Living in fear, only perpetuates the anger and solves nothing for us or for them.

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Finding Stillness

Posted on December 9, 2011 by susanbabson

My first memory of the mountains and hiking was as a 5 year old. The first hike was Finding Stillnessat Lassen with my family. My dad always wanted to explore, so he decided on an upside down hike that took me, my mom and my 2 year old sister from Summit Lake on the top down to Butte lake. On the map, it is an 8-mile round trip trek. I am not so sure if we made it all the way or not. I mostly remember the end of the hike with Sally on my dads shoulders sound asleep with her fingers in his ears. That first mountain experience imprinted in me a love of nature, high altitudes, and the stillness that the mountain experience provides.

From then on, every summer we traveled around northern California, the coast along Sonoma and Mendocino, into in the Sierras, Tahoe, Calaveras, and the Trinities. Car camping and hiking, I went to a Camp Fire Girl’s camp,: Gold Hollow, where I learned how to swim and canoe. Summer for me meant being in the mountains, being out in nature.

Over the years alone and with Jerry I have camped up and down the west coast. Always returning to California and the Sierra Nevada Range. There is a magic here I cannot describe. I only can feel and see it when I observe the granite of a distant peak pulsating with life. As far as I am concerned, there is no other place in the world I want to be. Our travels have taken us from back packing, to car camping to renting cabins, to finally purchasing our rustic forest service cabin at 36 Milestone.

One of our favorite places to visit was along highway 88 close to Carson Pass and Silver lake. Jerry and I would return repeatedly, to this area, car camping or back packing until one summer we upgraded to Kit Carson Lodge. Sitting on the deck looking out at the lake Jerry said, “We should try to find a cabin about this size to buy. Just a little place for us to come and share with our family.” That began an Internet cabin search, and scouting trips all over the Northern Sierra. Originally, we wanted to find a place above 7000 feet, close to a lake. Everything we saw was in poor condition and did not have the vibe. Two months after Jerry’s statement, we walked into a cabin at 36 Milestone Tract, a forest service cabin in a summer home tract, elevation about 5000 feet along the American River. I walked into the cabin out onto the deck overlooking the river and burst into tears. Jerry was vibrating with excitement . We knew this was the one.

The images in this little  book  I created last month are brief glances taken while hiking in and around this part of the Eldorado National Forest. Places that inspire me, leave me in awe to return again and again to what I fondly call Granite Heaven. I suspect more little books will be forthcoming.

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Finding Stillness

Posted on November 27, 2011 by susanbabson

I just self published a little book

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Granite Heaven

Posted on July 27, 2011 by susanbabson

Granite domes are the crowning feature of the Sierra Nevada. The entire range is one vast expanse of granite, with many outcroppings from old Volcanoes.  I love hiking in granite. Such a mix of colors and texture, smooth, rough, polished and decomposing with small stunted trees trying for a foothold. The terrain ranges from rounded domes that are easy to climb to sheer drop offs. The terrain is stark and from a distance white or gray. As you get closer, the colors range from black to orange, to green and white full of lichen and moss.

It is not uncommon to walk along a smooth level expanse of rock and notice one lone large boulder just sitting there as if dropped by a giant.  There can be a field of dropped or cracked stones. Nestled within these areas of granite are trees or little shady copses. Of course, my favorite walks include streams or small rivers that cascade, gurgle, and pool along the cracks and crevices; runoff from a high country lake. When hiking from below, there are huge walls blocking me, then a way is discovered to take me higher, or if I am lucky I   a duck left by a previous hiker or fisherman.

I took a trail out of Wrights Lake towards Twin Lakes and then decided to take a small-unused trail that veered off the main trail. I found a lovely waterfall, which encouraged me to continue along this poorly marked path, and I came to a wonderful area of granite and water I had never visited. Curiosity wins when I realized that this trail would take me to an entirely different part of the mountain. I came upon a stream full of the stream melt, racing over beautiful granite rimed pools. Putting me in a state of wonder at the perfection of nature.  I call this area Granite Heaven.  Many such areas exist along the Sierra Nevada Mountains from north to south.  This just happens to be the area that calls to me.

On further exploration I discovered a year round stream  that comes  from a small granite rimmed lake, Umpa Lake high in the Desolation Wilderness.[SinglePic not found] I haven’t managed to make it all the way to the lake at this time. I have a rule to not travel too far off the regular trails unless I have a partner. I have explored the lower portions of the creek, discovering some beautiful shady spots hidden along the way.  This is a perfect spot to come, and sit awhile and contemplate the beauty and wonder of  Nature and the creation of the Universe. There is a similar area over on the highway 88 corridor. This area is called the Potholes and the water cascades from granite pool to granite pool culminating in a huge waterfall that then begins another series of pools, this is called Silver Creek and merges with Caples creek and finally the American River around Kyburz.  However since this area is next to Silver Lake and Kit Carson, it can be quite crowded.

[SinglePic not found]I can be perfectly content to spend time sitting on the deck, listening to the river, swimming or taking short walks with in our tract. However, this is a diverse and interesting ecosystem.  I get restless, curious with a yearning to see what  is over the next hill or around the next bend. As a result, I selectively chose trails that satisfy my curiosity, contain a water feature (for the dogs) and give me a good workout.

To be honest, I no longer enjoy backpacking any more, and I don’t choose trails that climb straight up a mountain (with some exceptions). I hike in the mornings when it is cooler and there is less a chance to encounter crowds. I also avoid hiking on weekends in this area because it is incredibly popular with the crowds from the Bay Area. I hike for stillness, solitude, and contemplation that can be ruined when a noisy group talking at high volume talk about their latest conquest or other inane gossip.  I know that sounds snobbish, but why come out if you are more interested in the latest gossip and not take the time to   appreciate where you are.  I love this country, the possibilities it offers and the splendor of nature  it provides.  as — John Muir  said,

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”

 

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LabyBugs, Mountain Lilac and Dogs in Trouble

Posted on July 6, 2011 by susanbabson

[SinglePic not found]A few days ago I looked out the window of the cabin and there were hundreds of insects swarming in the afternoon sun.  Later that that day I took the boys, (Yoshie and Luigi), down to Big Rock so we could get away from people and I could throw sticks and they could play in the river.  At least play on the banks of the river since it is still too high, too cold and too fast.  Down by the water I realized those bugs flying around with complete joy and abandonment were Lady Bugs, they are everywhere, on leaves, bark, branches and flying into hair and faces.  It is quite a site, all those swarming ladybugs, and 4 days later they are still at it.

With Spring/summer coming to the Sierras  so late, it came as quite a surprise to see and smell some sweet and fragrant mountain lilac.  Most of the high country is still buried under many feet of snow.   Here at the lower elevations (5000/6000 ft), trees have leafed out, and some buds are appearing .  I have seen a lot of those spiky red flowers that I call a snow flower because I only see them after the snow has just melted.  It was quite a surprise to smell the lilac as I was walking along with the dogs in early evening. [SinglePic not found] I know that soon the high country will open up with color.  Right now the meadows are barren and swampy.  The trails are acting as streams for the melting snow.  Our last hike of consequence ended at a huge snow bank I decided I was too lazy to tackle.  We decided it was much more fun to slog around on the muddy trail.

Dogs can be unpredictable, and I have learned over the years that a dog in the mountains unfortunately needs to be restrained unless it is impeccably trained.  My dogs aren’t, so when we are outside of the cabin, we tie them up for their safety and the safety of our neighbors.  Unfortunately even that isn’t enough sometimes.  A neighbor came onto our property not remembering that we do have dogs that are territorial, he scared Jerry and Luigi who ran out to the end of his rope and I guess nipped our neighbor in the belly.  At the time he claimed it was alll his fault, he was sorry, should have been paying attention.  three days later he realized he had a huge bruise, and called animal control.  So Luigi is under house arrest for the next 10 days.  I think he could have talked to us before he took that action.  I do take responsibility for my dogs and will abide by the rules.  If I don’t, I could go to jail, and Luigi could be impounded.  Not fun for any of us.

None of this ties together in anyway, however, between the high river, beautiful scenery, and dog dramas, not too much art has happened and my original goal was to use this time to make are.  I am not sure if I am avoiding looking at why I am avoiding the studio, looking for excuses, or and taking this time to regenerate my creative juices.  I think I choose to believe the latter.  Ideas are flowing through my brain, and with the Luigi being grounded, I can no longer use  long hikes as an excuse.  Look at it this way, I finally managed to sit down and write something after procrastinating for almost 3 weeks.  That’s progress.

[SinglePic not found]

 

 

 

 

 

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Two short Hikes

Posted on July 2, 2011 by susanbabson

 

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foldformpendant

Posted on June 16, 2011 by susanbabson
[SinglePic not found]
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A Rite of Passage-reflections on my approaching retirement

Posted on May 25, 2011 by susanbabson

 

On the way to Umpa Lake

Granite Heaven

I occasionally give my students a sculpture assignment asking them to build a container that will hold a Rite of Passage.  This means that they need to research the cultural and societal significance and figure out how to make a container that illustrates the Rite they are celebrating. They are always initially challenged by my explanation.  I want them to think about what happens in their lives that is celebrated over time.

Throughout our lives there are pivotal moments that change our perceptions of who we are.  I find in our culture we   celebrate these life-changing events as special or unique as a culture.  Of course within the different religions, there are rites or celebrations of the transition from child to adult like a Bar Mitzvah, or a young girl becoming a woman following her first period, which is not celebrated but is a pivotal moment in her live.  In other cultures there are tests and trials to celebrate the transition from child to adult, I remind my students that one good rite of passage in our society is the “drivers license” which significantly allows for more mobility and freedom for our young people.

What do I consider significant moments of transition, the obvious ones birth, death, marriage, and less obvious but equally significant are graduation, marriage and in my case Retirement.  There are many more that I could mention, but I think the point is made that a rite of passage is a major life changing event.

I have been thinking about my retirement from teaching. I have been doing this in the same school for over 30 years.  It seems like I was just in graduate school, and then finding this great job teaching ceramics, teaching my passion.  I have been infinitely fortunate to be able to share what I love with so many great students.

I will admit I am scared; not knowing what this change is going to look like is disconcerting.  However, change is good, change makes room for growth, and the opportunity to experience and learn new things.  I thought it would never get here, and now its here, what will I do? what will it look like? Only time will tell.  I have a dream of living in nature out of the city, having the time to make my own art rather than teaching, but deep down I am a teacher and suspect I will end up volunteering somewhere.  I dream of hiking daily, reading a lot of books.

I have many great memories from   teaching that will always be with me from taking trips with students and faculty, to helping build sets for school plays and even taking a season as a cheerleader advisor.  I’ve chaperoned proms and, been a yearbook advisor and other significant school activities so as the class of 2011 graduates and I go through that one last ceremony, I too will be graduating into my new life and will embrace it and savor my entry into the world of retirement.

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