Heh, Heh!

That title is supposed to sound like a cough, but how do you write a cough? Huch, huch?
The point being that I've been down for nearly a week with what I can only describe "The Yuckies". No hiking has been done since Saturday, a little knitting took place (nearly a miracle, that one), and I took several uncharacteristic naps yesteday (I never, ever nap).
This blog is long overdue for some photos, so her we go

These are my most beloved, dear ones at my recent birthday celebration. Husband dear and my son both had fevers that day, but didn't tell anyone until after the party.

This is one of the hills near my home that I'd been hiking.....for those of you who've wondered what hills in Txas look like.
And finally, a picture of a bottle of the liquid version of the laundry soap I sold until last year. The powdered version was too labor-intensive to be done on a commercial scale, so I came up with a liquid version that I can make in larger batches.

Not the most exciting photo, I know, but I've had a lot of fun working on the project.
Saturday I'll be hiking at Eisenhower park, come rain or shine.... I'm crossing my fingers for the shine option!

I'm Going to the Grand Canyon!

One of the fun things about offering free knitting patterns is seeing what other knitters do with the patterns.

Check it out...there are lots of Ingas being knit, in all colors and textures of yarn. There are Ingas being started, like Monster Yarn's. There are finished Ingas, such as Deborah's fluffy version, Alice's Neopolitan Inga, Alice Knit Wonderland's bathing beauty.
Ther are also modified Ingas like Adrian's bright and shorter Inga, and lillmore b's ribbed one (I may make one like this). Here are lots more photos to see on Flickr.

Now for an explanation of the Grand Canyon title. I've commited to train with Hike for Discovery and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society while raising funds for blood cancer research and education. You can read about it, and make a donation if you like, on my Hike for Discovery webpage here. I just put it up!

A Happy New Year

I'm back from the trenches. It was a busy, and fun, holiday season for Tread Lightly Herbals. I entered several shows from Oct. through December, and since it was my first year selling soap through shows, I didn't know what to expect. Did I have enough inventory? Too much? As it turns out, I had made enough soap afterall, but just barely! The most memorable show was The Wolfson Christmas House, a beautiful Victorian mansion in downtown San Antonio that opens to shoppers for 1 week in November. It's fantastical with all the handmade gifts and holiday scents and decorations. They even had a quartet playing holiday tunes on the porch. I made friends with several fellow venders, and hope to participate again next year.

In personal news, we spent a week in New Jersey/ New York, and even made it to Times Square for New Year's Eve. I saw Phantom of the Opera, The Nutcracker, and visited a few museums in the city, too. Fun times....

I can now work on making soap...lots and lots of soap. My next big show is The Lavender Festival in April, but with Valentine's Day coming, I really do need to get soaping. By the way, I've added gift certificates to the online shop. You can read about them here.

As the World Toils

I've been running on a trail near my home each morning, enjoying the cooler mornings. I've taken on another couple of farmer's markets and in doing so have had to cut down on my computer time....this is my excuse for not blogging for so long. The knitting has also taken a back seat to more pressing issues, such as soap production ans sales, and studying for tests and courses. I do miss knitting, and I'm sure I'll find time for it as soon as the holiday season passes. I've signed up for every holiday market/luncheon, etc. that comes my way. Things are getting exciting!

In other news, I"m terribly worried about the monks and other protestors in Myanmar. Let's hope things don't get violent for these peaceful demonstrators.

Kauni Yarn Source

I've had a number of emails from people looking for Kauni Yarn, so I thought I'd re-post the link to the shop from which I bought mine.

I bought it from this shop in Denmark. Be sure and choose your currency from the drop down list in the page's sidebar.
It took a week and a half to arrive, which I though was really good. Shipping for my 2 balls was about $13.00.

Good luck getting yours!!