Sock Monkeys - they're fun!

I recently made my very first Sock Monkey. I have been thinking about it for a while, and finally got around to doing one. It took quite a while to make. I love it. It seems to have it's very own personality. The cats are a bit freaked by it. They nervously looked at it, and just couldn't relax around it, until Ruby decided to attack it!
Now I want a name for my sock monkey. So I'll be holding a contest to find the best name for it.
Check out this blog over the next week, for details of the contest, and who knows, you may win a sock monkey of your own!

My dear sweet Banshee died yesterday morning.

 

Farewell to my beautiful Banshee. I'm so sad that she's gone, but now she's at peace, without pain. Cancer finally took over.I miss her. She was so graceful and elegant, and a real sweetheart. She lived with me for about 16 years. I took her in as a stray, she had given birth to kittens on wasteland near my home. I found her kittens a lovely home, and she came to stay, with her sister Phoebe, who has also had kittens (I found her one surviving kitten a good home too). Phoebe and Banshee loved to sleep on top of the kitchen cupboards. they became known as 'The kitchen cats'. The last few year or so, Phoebe developed a disease on her nose. It makes her cranky. All consultations have been inconclusive, but it's not cancer. Banshe very loyally put up with all her crankness, and adored Phoebe. Banshee developed cancer of the mouth. A biopsy revealed it was not operable and the type that does not respond well to chemotherapy or treatment. We tried Apricot Kernels, but I think it was too little, too late, also because the tumour was in/on her mouth, eating was not easy. Eventually she stopped eating, then drinking. I knew it was her final day yesterday, I could see it in her eyes. I went out to get my car from the garage (needed work on it), and by the time I got home, about an hour later, she was dead. She spared me having to euthanaise her, as I couldn't see her suffer any more.It was her time to leave this world. Bless my lovely Banshee. She rests with all the other dear, sweet kitties that have come into my life and passed out of this world, and I know they'll take care of her.

Update on Banshee

This is a photo of banshee, taken today. As you can see, her top lip and mouth has an enormous tumour, which is growing rapidly. it is her second day of having ground Apricot Kernels put in her food. I've got her some extra special food, and put a pinch of the ground apricot kernels in a small amount, and stay with her while she eats it, so that I know she's definitely had some, and not the other cats! I do this 3 times a day. it's too early to notice any good effects, but I'm hoping with time and patience, the tumour will shrink. She eats well and drinks water, so I know she's not in too much pain.

Our beloved Banshee

Our beloved Banshee has just been diagnosed with cancer of the mouth (top palette). The vet said it is very invasive and the type of cancer that doesn't respond well to chemotherapy. It is situated in a place too difficult to operate, so it cannot be removed. It is just a matter of keeping her going for as long as we can until this nasty disease goes too far. I have ordered Apricot Kernels from a place that the lovely Annette from Dragon House of Yuen recommended. Thank you Annette for the info. The woman at Dayspring was sweet and talked a little bit about the apricot kernels. I have ordered them ground up, to put in Banshee's food next week. I hope they make a difference. The info about Apricot Kernels, is very interesting.
Banshee last December.

Banshee a couple of months ago, when the top lip started to swell.

EtsyVeg is hosting “Kick off to Fall,” a weeklong event, Monday, September 7th through Sunday, September 13th, with our veggie artisans celebrating Autumn's upcoming arrival with special sales and offers!
Here is a list of shops participating in the event. Check them out to see what's on offer.
aktie9
amefaust
auclairdelalune
chickscratch
CollarMeGorgeous
jackandjillsmom
jenoconnell
judysmosaicsupplies
loveluca
Karramandi
KneeDeepOriginals
krugsecologic
magglepie
midnightrabbits
movetheneedle
ThisisBexx
pandawithcookie
silentlotus
TheAwesomestPossum
veganessa
vibrantmosaics

A Green Day

The UK is well known for it's rain. Luckily this year we have had a glimpse of sunshine in between the downpours. All this rain then sunshine makes for very lush green grass.

My local park is not very pretty, but if you can ignore the rubbish and vandalism, look beyond the graffiti, which by the way is NOT street art, not here anyway, step over the broken glass and empty beer cans, switch off to the sound of screeching cars and police sirens, there is green space which can be enjoyed.
Here, the girls stop for a pee.
We like to stroll around, and maybe sometimes see other dogs that we've got to know over time. The girls love it, and I do too. I can daydream of a better world of peace and harmony, a world without cruelty and oppression.
However chaotic it is all around, our little bit of green park bring us all a little bit of peace and sanity, and makes life just that little bit better. Feel the breeze in the air, enjoy the lush green colours, smile at the swallows (or are they swifts) as they go sweeping by, and enjoy.

I need your votes!!!!!!!!!!!!

My darling Ruby is in a Pet Photo contest :)
Please, please, please vote for her, by clicking on this link: http://dazzledbeaderpetphotocontmest.blogspot.co/ and selecting number 11.
All of the cats and dogs are very cute, and superstars.
The winners get a prize plus a donation to their favourite charity. If I win, I will choose
Dr Hadwen Trust for the donation. This is their statement of their cause:
'The Dr Hadwen Trust is the UK's leading medical research charity funding exclusively non-animal techniques to replace animal experiments, benefiting humans
and animals.'

Taking it Easy!

Having spent a good part of today shopping for groceries, amongst the busy crowds of stressed out shoppers, and angry motorists, and now the weather is not so bright, I can't help but feel just a little bit envious of my darling cats. I arrived home to find them stretched out, lazing around, and generally taking it easy. They looked up at me with a 'do not disturb' kind of look, and continued in their slumberly rest. Every now and again I'd love to change places with them, and have no worries, taking each day as it comes, eating in between snoozing, just lounging, resting and generally letting it all hang out! and just once in a while chase the other cats around to play. Ah, bliss..................................

A delightful vegan picnic.

We have had a lovely sunny Sunday. Early afternoon we took the dogs for a nice long walk, through woods, by the lake and parkland. A fabulous sunny day. We all appreciated getting out in the sun at last. so many people were out having their picnics, I thought it would be nice to have a picnic when we got home. of course we had to go shopping for the food, on the way home. luckily one of us had their purse on them (not me). It didn't take too long to prepare the picnic. many hands make light work, as the saying goes, or in this case - you stay over there and so your bit, and leave me to do the rest (I usually work better when I'm on my own in the kitchen.).
The result was a scrumptious, yummy vegan feast of a picnic, and there's lots left over for later, so we are certainly well fed today!!!!!!
Look at the fabulous, tasty food, and try not to let your mouth water! This is the picnic laid out, before we devoured it !

A close up of our delicious food, and now for some detailed close ups of some of the dishes:

This is a tofu dish, which tasted a bit like an egg mayo mix, it was made of Tofu, Gherkins, Paprika, and Vegan Mayo. I think that was all, but since I didn't make it there may be other ingredients added, hmmmm, I'll have to find out.
This is the beetroot salad I made from raw beet
root and red onion, chopped very small, with a little Good Oil and balsamic vinegar added.

This is a bowl of sauteed mushrooms, with a little salt and pepper added, and Grassington's chicken style nuggets
I also made this healthy basic salad - lettuce, tomato, celery, cucumber and spring onions, with a light dressing of Good Oil and balsamic vinegar.

This is a close up of the hummus dip (bought),

and the salts I used - Herbemare and Jamie Olivers Pink Himalayan Salt, which I've wanted to try for a long time, I've only ever seen Himalayan salt in a big lump before, so it is handy to find these smaller granules in a grinder. I very rarely use Table salt, I prefer these kind of salts, they contain less sodium, and are much healthier.
After we let this yummy food go down for a while, I decided to make my version of a Strawberry Shakeaway. Even though i don't know exactly how they make theirs, they truly are delicious , and they do a good vegan variety. I used fresh strawberries, soya milk and vegan ice-cream by Swedish Glace. Blended them together, and 'voila' a scrumptious, Vegan Strawberry Shake. It was beyond delicious.
We also had some boiled potatoes, some bread, and some water. I think that is everything.
It stayed sunny, the food was all delicious, and nutritious, and it was a verrrry nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

A Super Fabulous Vegan Sample Bag

I entered a contest recently, to name the new Vegan Sample Bag site, and I won. It's being called 'It's all In The Bag'.
My prize was a super fantastic Vegan Goodie Bag. It arrived last week. I had such a surprise. As it was a sample bag I didn't know what was in it, so each time I delved into the bag, it was like dipping into a christmas stocking! it was full of a wonderful assortment of vegan goodies, including, soaps, body scrub, bracelet, flower seeds, earrings, discount coupons,
a crocheted face cloth, a wonderful VeganEtsy patch, a print, and
more, so much more. All in a pretty tote.
Everything was handmade by wonderful Etsy crafters. It was very exciting, and I am thrilled to have received it. The organiser of these fabulous Vegan Sample Bags, Heather, works very hard to get them together, and all proceeds go to Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary.
I have sent some of my own handmade samples to Heather, for the next Vegan Sample Bag Sale, which is due out very soon. To check out more info about the sample bags, such as latest contributors, and when they go on sale, click here.