Arbor Tour

I recently attended a tree tour with an arborist at a park downtown. There have been several moments since when I've caught myself checking out tree bark.

The Sawleaf Zelkova

The bark of the London Plane makes me think of maps.

A Red Oak half my age and three times my height.

Jigsaw bark on the Chinese Elm

 

Leaves on the Valley Oak.

I really want a tree-house now.

I've also added trees to the list of things I need to learn more about. You know, so I can "impress" people by randomly naming the tree we are walking by with accuracy. I'm sure there is nothing more thrilling than being in the middle of a story and having the person you are talking to interrupt with, "look at the bark on that Plantanus X acerfolia".

At the lake: Book edition

I can't resist a cabinet full of curiosities, or shelves full of oddities. Because my grandmother can't part with anything, especially anything "antique" or of value, her house has always been full of various yet to be discovered objects. Though heaven help anyone who searches, you'll have to dig through boxes of wasted time in order to find the interesting needle in the haystack.

As a child this provided hours of entertainment. I went through a good mountain of post-it notes labeling my name on the contents of grandma's house.

There is one specific cabinet, now in her office, which as a child she always prohibited me from exploring. It's mostly full of office supplies now (heaven knows what happened 90% of the contents) and she has a second sense for anyone going through anything. A constant state of alert that her children might be "cleaning out" things she needs. When I found myself alone for a significant chunk of time with the cabinet I decided the more interesting contents which remain needed some documenting. At least if things now get lost in the rubble, or packed off to some secret storage unit - I will know they did at least at one point exist. I have only vague memories of some items, now gone - including a set of photographs of my great-great-grandmother in Germany at the turn of the century which have apparently been moved to a "safer" location. Mom, any ideas where?

Locked without a key. Frustrating! 

Velvet autograph book with metal accents.

Love this.

Inside.

In lovely hand:

To My Friends,

Write but a name, a word or two,
That memory may revert to you.

Sincerely Yours,
Cora Lantz

Who I only know as "Cocie" - pronounced "Co-key" - I know you were wondering.

Love this little "Down on the Farm" sketch.

Inscription: When in this book you chance to look, Just think of me and close the book. 

(Dated April 18, 1892)

Another autograph book.

Love this print.

Friend Rose,

When distant hills divide us And you no more I see Remember that ??? W.C.B who wrote these lines to you.

Truly Your Friend,

W. C. Black
Stevens Point July 9th / 89

The tome below is an interesting case of multiple ownership.

Inscription:

This is the property of Ms Christenah Lantz - Written this 18th day of January 1837 - by her son John D Lantz.

On the opposite page:

This would be that same Cora (Cocie) from the first autograph book, née Lantz.

Also note - this is book no. 352

So far we have:

Christenah Lantz - 1837 (Guessing Christina, née Maphis)

Mrs. Geo. W. Giede (b 1875, d. 1956)

Pfalmen Davids (1814)

Here is where the provenance gets interesting.

Because, if you recall this piece of art, my Nana (whose hand I'm guessing this is) isn't the most accurate in her.

She writes:

To Patsy (my grandma)
Psalmter belonged to Anna Hosteller Wissler 1829 (Mother of Elizabeth Henrietta Wissler Myers-Lantz) and daughter of Bishop Jacob Hostetter of the Mennonite Church and wife of Christian Wissler. (Your Great Great Grandmother).

First off the only Mennonite Bishop I could find names Jacob Hostetter died long before Anna was born. And I have no idea where the 1829 came from since the opposite page clearly shows that in 1837 John Lantz was writing in the book.

Cora is the daughter of Elizabeth Henrietta Wissler Myers Lantz, so I'm curious how the book belonged both to her father's mother or grandmother (Christina Lantz ) and her mother's mother (Anna Wissler).

My vote would clearly be for this book to have clearly come from the Lantz family and not the Hosteller-Wissler side...except, in faded ink at the back of the book I found this,

Anna Wissler (written 3 times) Is my name

I'd draw a diagram to figure out how the little book transferred in-laws, and make some conjectures, but I have given up on the pages giving me the answer and honestly it makes my head swim keeping the names straight.

At the lake

Last week would have been Papa's birthday, so we all headed up to the lake for a weekend visit.

Stopping for gelato on the way.

Saturday morning reading on the deck. 

 Dipped cone stop in the afternoon.

G and B were nice enough to let me drag them away for a break. 

 J and Q arrive and are brave enough to swim in the lake.

G and i went back tot he hotel and swam in the algae-free water.

 Bubble time.

If baby books are to be believed (and I like to think my mother did not completely invent my entire pre-memory life) my first trip/vacation was to the lake when I was about a month old. This weekend I spent a lot of time reviewing my memories of the place. My mother's cousin was discussing some of his memories and spending the summers of his teenage years there. It's something that binds my entire extended family. Though the current decor leaves me longing for the more minimalist furniture of my youth, it's always familiar. Going is a kaleidoscope of new memories imposed on old ones. A toilet seat with shark teeth decals, giant cowboy boot wall hangings, glitter on the ceilings, bathing suits full of algae, seemingly hundreds of jelly shoes lost in the lake, pineapple upside down cake, hours of atari games, sinking boats, sunburns, and laughter.

The Proposal

Last Saturday D and N got engaged. D sent out an email the week before informing his 10 co-conspirators of the schedule. I provide an edited version below, since it is close to what actually occurred and those of you who know D will appreciate it.

4:00pm: Be sharp! Meet at the parking area for the Environmental Education Center in Tilden Park in Berkeley. In the parking lot, you will pick up supplies. ​Bring a small backpack. Dress comfortably.​ ​The hike will be short. However, the incline is steep in some places. M will lead you to Wildcat Peak. He and I scoped out the trail. He will put K, M, and S in their hiding place.
4:30pm: D and N begin hike.
5:15pm (apx): D and N reach the junction to the peak. D speaks loudly so Sac folks can hear him beginning up toward the peak. After D​ and N pass, Sac folks should follow - but wait until D and N are out of sight.

At the Peak:
D and N are surprised to find friends enjoying the view. This will be played off as a chance encounter. D might be upset he wasn't invited. Soon after Sac friends come up. This is also treated as a chance encounter.
After talking, D says he would like to have some music. He and J turn on romantic Italian music with a phone connected to a portable speaker.
Then W says he thinks it would be nice if we had candles. He, T, S, and M quickly set out candles and light them.
Then K says she has rose petals and would like to spread them around. She does so.
Then B says he has champagne he'd like to share. He pulls out the bottles, but realizes he doesn't have any glasses.
J and M happen to have some glasses. They announce this and pass them around.
Then D says, "Wait! We can't have champagne without something to toast." This is his lead in to the proposal about which the content you will have to be surprised.
After N says yes (hopefully) and there is clapping and cheering, champagne bottles should be popped.
Champagne (and cider) are distributed. We then toast! We can hang out for a while before hiking down together.

Now, my commentary - Naturally, after receiving the schedule I was highly curious for the big day to arrive. S and I carpooled down to Berkeley and found our way to the park. The weather appeared perfect - overcast but warm, with a lovely breeze. As we walked from the car (we had to park quite a ways away as I was fairly certain a green fiat with Sacramento might catch N's eye) we met B and M, the four of us proceeded to visit the rabbits and goats at the farm until everyone arrived. We gathered and took our 'before' excitement photos. 

B and I waiting to hike out.

Unfortuntialzy W and T did not appear and as time passed we had to leave without them or risk begin overtaken on the trail by D and N. Only at this point was it made clear that this would be a several mile loop. Not expected based on D's description of the hike as "short" though the steep incline was spot on. The haze also decided to clear only for the period of upward hiking and there was much dripping of sweat as well as some mild grumbling from several of the group. At last, we made it to the top. At a fork just below the turn towards the top S, M, and myself were hidden behind the brush. Waiting. More waiting. More waiting. Luckily the view was nice.

Eventually D and N passed and we slowly crept out behind them. We'd taken only a few steps towards the top when we were hailed by a gentleman approaching us. In his arms was the most enormous gardner snake I think I've ever seen. In our lengthy talk (which, I'm sure, left everyone at the top, except N, wondering where we were) we learned that he had had the snake for 12 years and often brought it into classrooms or to other events for display. 

M and the snake (S stays safely away)

Because the gentleman was headed the same direction he accompanied us up to the top. Much to the squeamish horror of several of the group awaiting us. 

Besides W and T getting lost, the next issue was that when the three of us reached the top the candles and music were already out. Which left me without my cue for petals. After confirming with B I said my line (which went unheard by half of out ten person gathering) and brought out the rose petals. Which later was proclaimed several peoples favorite part because it was so hilarious. The breeze had picked up as the fog was on approach and rose petals kept getting picked up by the breeze and launched at people. N may have taken a few in the face. Finally the half filled paper grocery bag of petals was emptied. 

This is after most had blown away, verified by the fact that the champagne is open.

B brought out the champagne and J and i worked to assemble the plastic glasses. At this point worried glances towards the snake sunning itself on the outer ring of stone continued and a helpful woman on her bike decided to stop and yell her inquiry:

"What are you all celebrating?"

*crickets chirping* 

"Nothing..." (sheepish replay from several of the group). Looks of horror and awkwardness pass between everyone. 

Bike killjoy: "You have to be celebrating something! What is it?"

Full awkward laughter is happening as one of the group carefully leads the curious woman away explaining that D is about to propose but has not yet done so and sends her on her way. Finally glasses are distributed and D begins his speech.

The highlight for me was the use of "awesome-ist" in the proposal.

N says yes. Well actually he smiled and kissed D, after which D asked, "So does that mean yes?" which N affirmed, then there was cheering. 

Naturally, it was then picture time.  

M, me, B, and J

B thrilled with our reflection photo.

K, S, J, D, D, N, J, M, and M

We had a much lovelier hike down the mountain, where we came across W and T on the way down. D and N both seemed pleased. I was happy to provide some diversity to the group, being both the only female and only straight member of the group, which I find hilarious. 

Wedding planned for August 2014 - crossing fingers I'm still in the US at that point.