Soap meeting

I always have so much fun at our Alabama Soapmaker meetings, and this was our largest ever: 101 attendees. At least a third of them were from out of state this year. There were so many new people that I didn't get to meet them all.

To inspire creativity, we participate in swaps. This year I signed up for the lotion bar swap, figuring that it would force me to work on my formulating. (I've made them before, but hadn't really ever been happy with them.)
Mine was still a bit greasier than what I was aiming for, but it sure worked well on softening my rough elbows. So I called it "Elbow Grease". It still needs some tinkering.

After I see all the swap goodies, I usually end up wishing I'd entered two or three more. This year it was the Shampoo Bar swap that I was especially envious of. Dianne always has such adorable packaging, and her treatment of the swap items was no different.

Cute, huh?

Shopping is one of my favorite parts of the meeting, and this year we had more vendors than ever.

This is one of those times I wish for smell-o-vision.

We also have table space for members' garage-sale items. If you're lucky, you can pay for your meeting expenses this way.

We usually have a mixture of lectures and demonstrations. Carol demonstrated her company's cutter, and Darlene (who's really from Georgia, but we claim her as an honorary Alabamian) showed us how to make sugarcube scrubbies.

There's a camera showing the up-close action during demos. This is Alison's lotion-making class. (Click to enlarge.)

But sometimes you just have to get up close in person.

Theda showed us how to make liquid soap.

Tammy is the "Mud Queen" and sells all manner of Dead Sea salts and mud products. Here she is demonstrating the proper use of gloves and goggles.

That evening, she had a mud party in her room, and I was able to take many incriminating photographs.

I'm hoping my blackmail money will start arriving any minute now.

The Good, The Distracted and The Quite Ugly...

Well... here's the good - the last of our wonderful Christmas day with family from big to small, young to old(er) heheh, and what a great day it was for all! Then we pulled out all the stops again, starting with steak. Some of you might remember what this is supposed to mean. Hmmmmmmnnnnnn.
Today I face the San Mateo County Fairgrounds gate as I try for my second leg of Novice A. Mom feels pretty confident that I will qualify.
We pass lots of doggies getting groomed for conformation classes. I barked at these. Not very polite.
I wanted to play with this cute young golden I saw! We finally found our ring, where the Open B classes were still going on. Here is "Dream" handled by Deedee Anderson. Dream won just about everything in that an obedience dog can get. Check out her heel position!
Wow!
Here we are listening to our judge's instructions before we get a walk-through of the heeling pattern. It was very easy. Because my dad was taking movies, there are no stills of my (er... ahem, cough, cough) performance. Suffice it to say, it was furry distracted, although I tried my best. I did the heel-on-leash, the figure-8 and the stand for examination just fine. But my off-leash heeling went south when I was asked to halt and I didn't sit. Weird. And then on the recall, I kinda rolled my head around like I was looking for dad, so I didn't hear mom call me - I really didn't - I was looking somewhere else. On Mom's second call, I was disqualified.
Sorry Ma, but I was worried about where Dad was (she seemed to be saying as she later nom nom-ed on steak...) Next Sunday, I'll be headed for the Cow Palace for a Fun Match to "straighten" things out a bit. (And mom says ditto for her heheh!)

Eagles at Manawa

John (ham radio, cycling, photography friend) had been over at Lake Manawa State Park to shoot photos of the eagles. My visits to Bosque del Apache and talking with birder friend Tom, I planned to bring the camera bag with me Sunday morning.

Sunday John brought a print we took at coffee. After coffee, I headed to Manawa to find the eagle. John had seen them in the area of Boy Scout Island and E. Manawa Drive.

I started on the West side where I visited with Tom. No eagles. Next stop was Boy Scout Island. A few geese, and some large birds further into the lake. Took a couple photos but was getting discouraged.

Looked there were a group of folks stopping along the East side of the lake. Drove there and parked along the road as there were several large birds flying in the area.

I forgot how difficult it is to fallow birds in flight and keep the lens in focus. Auto focus was having a fit. Switched to manual focus (which I am not accustomed to - like how to move rings to focus vs zoom). Was able to a get a couple "in flight" photos.

One immature bald eagle decided to perch on a branch right over my car. Gave me some time to fine tune the focus. Here's the best of the photos I took.

The Many Sides of Love

"...no two children, even within the same family, have identically the same parents.
That is because the personality and gender of each child
brings out different things in the same parents." ~ recently quoted by Shari Howerton, author of Breaking the ChainsI was so glad to find the above statement, because it states a truth I've been trying to convey to some of my children. We don't treat our children exactly alike. If someone does, then I want to meet that perfect person!
Just as we respond differently to other people outside the family, so we do within the family also. I act differently around different friends, because they each bring out a different aspect of my personality.
Within the last month of so, two of my children have called me out about favoring my oldest son. After giving it a lot of thought and talking extensively about it with them, I have to admit that they're right. At least I can see why they think that. Of course I don't love him more, but I do treat him differently. He just makes me happy, because he's crazy and funny. He knows no boundaries (which sometimes gets him in trouble). He's a big nut. He also drains me of energy. I can only take him in small doses. But I love him for his craziness and how he makes me feel.
I love the uniqueness of all our children. I love Laurel for so many things I can't even begin to list them. She's my best friend. I just said why I love Garrett. I love Tyler for his sincerity and gentleness. I love Dylan's thoughtfulness and courtly manners. I love Darcie because she's my baby and always will be. And I'm not forgetting my two children-in-law, Matt and Leigh Anne. Our family has been greatly enriched by having added them. I love Leigh Anne's forthrightness, truthfulness, and willingness to work to put Dylan through school and Matt's willingness to talk about anything and everything at any time. Also, he's the best salesman on the planet.
I'll admit that I need to be more sensitive to my children's feelings and watch that I don't act like I love one more than another. I'm very thankful for children who love ME enough to exhort me; painful though it may be.

Outward Bound

A day sack, a 65 litre rucksack, a Tesco bag with walking boots and gaiters, and a Tiso bag with bread, croissants (why not?) and fruit for the first night in a youth hostel. Everything a girl needs for 3 days walking and camping in the Scottish hills. This was the waiting-in-the-school-carpark-for-the-bus start of my daughter's Duke of Edinburgh expedition today. I wasn't allowed to take a photo of her ('Mum, don't be embarrassing'), but my daughter is the second pair of legs from the right. Just as I took this shot I heard a wail from nearby. 'Mum, you're so embarrassing!', and saw another mother trying to catch a shot of her daughter.
We're having trouble with our modem just now, which means that loading pages takes so long that I can't get round other blogs as I'd like. I see the thumbnails on my blog, but then can't get into the sites. Frustration.

Picacho Peak - Hike to the summit - don't forget your gloves!

While at Tortilla Flat we were told we should hike to the top of Picacho Peak and to be sure to bring gloves as part of the hike requires holding onto cables. Here it is off in the distance. Picacho peak is believed to be22 Million years old - 4 times older than the Grand Canyon

Let the games begin. It is a3 mile round trip hike. Picacho Peak has been use as a navigational landmark for hundreds of years, was the site of Arizona's only Civil War battle, is a geographic spectacle, and it haspetroglyphs from prehistoric Hohokams - but we didn't see any.

Getting closer - figure we'll get to that next level turn right and then turn andgo up to the summit.

We get up to the Saddle - the view is great. But where is the trail up?

Gary says he thinks it's this way - but wait a minute that goes down . .



and down . . .

and down.. . .



and down. Apparently after the Saddle the fun begins.

This is where the cables come into play. In 1932 a 10' light beacon was installed at the peak for air traffic navigation. Hunter trail was built the Civil Conservation Corp to facilitate servicing the beacon. It was removed in 1965.

It's a fairly strenuous hike in spots.

Then what goes down goes back up!

You can barely see the cables from here.

Here's a closer view of a group going up.

Here's a volunteer that passed us earlier working on tightening the cables.

Gary the Cable Guy



Made it!

A great recommendation and a great hike!

Till Later,

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa & Gary

A Theme...

After my swim and the nosey "play bow," I am compelled to annihilate the stink-in-the-grass by immersing myself into the job fully and joyfully! Happy Friday pups!

FMR

Friday night was the March Full Moon Ride. My count was 18 riders (per a photo). Weather was nice when we headed out. We rode the trails from Xtreme Wheels to Riverside Grille.
At the Riverside Grille, we celebrated Blaine's birthday. Then headed up to the Bob Bridge.
Turned cold while we were eating. My fingers, toes, and face were pretty cold when I got back to the shop. A 27 miles ride - but took a lot out of me. Did nothing all day Saturday.
BTW - Photos of the March and February FMRs are on my photo site.

Bike to Work Day

Yesterday was Bike to Work Day. I rode to show some support. There were several of us retirees. Of course, it was also an excuse to ride our bikes.
I think the attendance has improved each of the 3 years I have attended. Some of us assembled at Valley View Park (per the flier). We were sent over the Tazza di Caffe' for registration and refreshments (where the rest of the group was assembling). Cookies provided by Cellar 19.
Then it was over to Bayliss Park. Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan welcomed the riders and read a proclamation - designating the day as Bike to Week Day in Council Bluffs. The City also had refreshments in the park for the riders.
After the festivities, Blaine rode with me back over the the shop, where my car was parked. Blaine was able to witness the extra noise in my bike's drive train. Reworked the crank bearings.

Happy !

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Hmmmm... anybuddy got any idea what that means??? (We'll chew on it a while!) Meanwhile, we're runnin' into , fast as we can, wishing you all a very...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!