Passionate about.....

I think when you share your life with the four-leggeds, you realize that "animals are my friends" - and in my case, then, how could I eat my friends?  I have my sweet pup, and my beloved cats, and even a rabbit (long story, but thanks to my niece, Mack, about 6 years ago).  I also feed the wild ones - the squirrels who eat peanuts from my hand, the birds who literally flock around me and aren't fearful, and even the geese when I see them.  

I have been vegetarian for about 14 years and became completely vegan early this year.  I always wanted to be vegan, but was convinced that I couldn't live without my eggs and cheese.  How wrong I was.  I am eating better and healthier and yummier than ever.

I have reawakened my love of cooking this year.  I have some awesome vegan cookbooks and have also been having fun "veganizing" traditional recipes.  My carnivore friends and family are amazed that my food tastes good.  Gasp!  --- you mean vegan food tastes yummy?  :)

Now to get this weight off.... It's great that I have nothing but healthy, organic, good for you food in my fridge and pantry, but......hello.....earth to Lolly....if you eat too much of it and have major portion distortion, you are NOT going to lose weight.  Sigh....I am a work in progress.

And don't worry, my friends.  I am passionate about animals and my veganism, but would never push it on anyone.  I like to share what I know and what I have learned, but it has to be a personal choice for each person.

Blessings,

Lolly

Now back to our regularly scheduled blogging…

Oh yeah....I do have a blog.  After too many months away, I am ready to blog again.  I have a new blog look, a new outlook on life, a desire to lose weight and finally get healthy, and a desire to build a thriving and creative business.  Currently I am a work in progress, but for the first time in a very long time, I am feeling optimistic about...well, everything.
 

First, my weight.  I am tired of being fat.  There...I said it.  I just don’t want to be fat anymore. High blood pressure, arthritic knee, feeling ugly…..no more. I know it will take time, but I am ready. Finally, at the age of 44 (45 in January), I can say that I am ready.  In addition to other things, I want to document my journey to good health and happiness.  I have more than 100 pounds to lose and I know that I can’t think long term. Those numbers can be overwhelming.  I need to take this one day at a time, maybe some days even a minute at a time, but I need, no I WILL, get there.

 I am also going to use this blog to document some of my yummy vegan cooking, wonderful recipes that I have "veganized" myself and others that I have tried that my wonderful blog friends have shared with me.  I love to cook and I love organic.

And finally, I will use this blog to document and share my crafty creations, as well as those of my mom and brother (who I run etsy sites for!!).  We haven't officially opened my mom's etsy store yet, but am planning to do so Thanksgiving weekend (when I have 5 days off in a row!! woot!!).  She has some aprons that truly rock!!!  I will share them here when we get them up.  I also run an etsy site for my amazing artist brother, so will share some of his work as well. And when I am ready to open my etsy store back up, I will share that as well.

OK, glad to be back to blogging!!  Now it's time to catch up with some of my favorites!!

Love, Lolly

It's been a while........

It's been a while...I have been a bad blogger....but I will be back soon to blog again...in the meantime, enjoy these pics of some of my beloved furry children....oh, how they make my heart happy!

My heart cat, Freida...

My big sweet boy, Bob...

My little baby, Henry...

My dear, gentle Baby Spike...


My loveable and oh, so nosy Jack...

My funny old girl, Sharlet...

My gentle giant, Marty...

My aloof cutie, Buddy...

Talk to you all soon,

Lolly

My Sweet Girl, Bess

Bess 2/23/03 - 2/15/09

I am so sad to tell you that sweet Bess passed away on February 15. I have been so devastated and shocked by the loss that I haven't been able to post about it until now. She had been in the hospital since the Thursday evening before and fought so hard, but in the end it was just too hard for her. They had gotten the diabetes under control, but her body was just ravaged with infection and her breathing couldn't be sustained without assistance. I was with her as she took her last breath.

I wish you all could have known her sweetness. She was a good little sister to Lily and boy did this girl love her cats, especially her newest kitty, Henry. Her joy was in being the tattletale and letting mom know everything that everyone was doing. :) She loved her toys (she and Lily especially love their stuffed purses!! - typical girl) and she loved her biscuits and she loved her mom! She looked at me always with such love and devotion. From the moment I got her from a rescue almost exactly 5 years ago (she was only one at the time) she was all mine and we adored each other. I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved this furry four-legged child of mine, for it was boundless. There is a hole in my heart today.
Be blessed my sweet girl, Bess. Mommy loves you.

I'm still here....

I have much to post, and am ready to get back on track with everything, including blogging. Not today :) but before the weekend for sure.

In the meantime, Oh happy day!!

Christmas Card Swap 2008

Happy Holidays to you! Although I have been taking a break from swaps for a few months, I just had to participate in a fun Christmas Card Swap hosted by Jan & Tom. It was a lot of fun. I sent to 12 folks and so far have received 8 cards. In our cards, we were to send "little gifts" with each card...here is what I have received so far!

This lovely card, ornament and yummy recipes are from Lisa. I just noticed on her blog that her mom passed away yesterday, so my condolences go out to Lisa and her family. What a terrible time of year to lose a loved one.


This cute card and fun handmade tags are from Awtem Nymf


This lovely card and vintage hankie is from Deb, aka Garage Sale Gale. Love it!

This fun card and little ornament and proverb card are from Cary.

This amazing crocheted angel is from Jan, the hostess with the mostess! Thanks, Jan!


This amazing crocheted cross bookmark is from Linda.

This handmade card and tags and cute cupcake notecard are from Missy.

And finally, this fun little package of a cute card, note cards and gift tags are from Lady Jane.

AND I also wanted to thank my dear friend Kai, who sent me the sweetest package with this adorable handmade ornament. Thanks, Kai! You are the sweetest!!

A Pretty Little CAT FRIENDLY Christmas

pic of me on 12/13/08 in front of mom's xmas tree...

Welcome and Happy Holidays!

Heather at Pretty Petals is hosting a Pretty Little Christmas Blog Party today. I don't have lots of "pretty" holiday things around. I have cats. I used to have a beautiful, Victorian tree every year. I have cats. I used to have lots of glittery pretties around for the holidays. I have cats. I used to have pretty garland coming down the stairs. I have cats. You get the idea.

So, now I have a few key holiday decorations that so far are completely cat-friendly. And truth be told, while I love to look at pretty decorations and I do sometimes miss it, my pretty little four-legged furry children make me just as happy at the holidays and year round.

So....
These are some sample cat holiday cards that some company sent just this year in the mail that I thought would be great cat-friendly decorations, so I purchased some $3 black frames at Walmart and voila! (that's my sweet kitten Henry snoozing in these first two pics)


A cute little Santa (who may not be as cat friendly as I first thought) and a cute little prim stitching project framed up on the wall.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.... (well this is really my faux fireplace that we had growing up)

And finally, this is my tree now... a two-foot pinecone tree.... :-)



Have a wonderful peaceful holiday, my friends!
Lolly

pic of my sweet girl, Teddie