The Weekend Send-Off

July 22nd, 2011 - filed under: Furthermore » Feedback

Hello hello there! Back from my mini-sabbatical, my 5-day stay-cation with my favorite little man, my week-long stab at slow and steady catch-up, I’m just popping in to say hello and drop a Love List before heading back out into the weekend, woo-hoo! I had a super-rad and much-needed week to myself, so thank you for humoring me. It’s good to recharge my batteries though, to make me a super-charged blogger!

I hope your week was a good one as well. Ours was lazy and lovely and simple and sweet. There was matching mama-baby green juice:




and there were many nannas, because the bubs is sort of obsessed with nannas:




and there were super exciting kitchen experiments that I can’t wait to share:




and there were a lot of green smoothies, and the resulting green face-painting!




There was also Tiny Tots singalongs at the Library, and bike adventures to Farmer’s Markets (yes plural) for 1st market: wheat grass shots and stinging nettles, and 2nd market: Missionary Chocolates (BEST TRUFFLES EVER), and there were long walks and evening family bike rides and a few trips to Herbivore to finish up and finalize my manuscript (OFF TO THE PRINTERS TODAY!) and there was even an artisan gourmet raw vegan cheese-making class. But of course, sometimes one is too busy living the life to stop and photograph it, so none of that is captured on film. Ah well, you’ll just have to imagine.

Now, with so much joy this week and so much to be thankful for, let’s get on to the gratitude!

Le Love List

1. Bikes, Animal Sanctuaries, and Activist Friends.    My friends are doing the annual Ride to the Light bike ride this coming September, in order to raise money for a really, really good cause (animals!). From the press release:

Ride to the Light is a bike ride to benefit three animal sanctuaries, Lighthouse Farm Animal Sanctuary, Out to Pasture Sanctuary and Hope Animal Sanctuary. On September 24, 2011 a group of 10 to 20 cyclists will ride from Lighthouse Farm Animal Sanctuary, just outside of Scio, Ore., to Out to Pasture Sanctuary in Estacada, Ore., and home to Portland, Ore., completing just over 100 miles through the Willamette River Valley.

Animal sanctuaries are facilities where animals are protected and able to live out their natural lives. Often the animals have come from abusive or neglectful environments or even experimental labs or factory farms. These cyclists are riding to raise money so the organizations can continue doing the critical work of caring for animals.


If you’re interested you can learn more at their Facebook page, and please consider joining me in donating! I would totally be there riding along with them, if I weren’t already booked up that weekend . . .


2. Rootstalk.    OH. MY. GOD. Have you guys heard of The Rootstalk Festival? I’m practically peeing in my pants I’m so excited! From the poster:

Join us for a unique experience in the majestic old growth forests of Salem, Oregon. Wander the emerald woods by day to learn wilderness skills, plant identification, home herbalism, urban farming, DIY sustainability, and more from the country’s most dynamic teachers and experts. Then as the moon glows, enjoy herbal brew under the towering trees or stomp your feet to strumming banjos, singing fiddles, and ecstatic rhythms drumming into the starry night sky.

Rootstalk is an extraordinary celebration of skill sharing, plant folklore, artistic expression, scientific wonder, and spirited community.


Hello?! Does that sound like my idea of hippie heaven or what? This 4-day festival is happening at the end of September (same weekend as Ride to the Light, unfortunately), and I’ll be working with the organizers to live-blog the event as it unfolds. I AM SO EXCITED!!!


3. My Co-Op!    What can I say, I just love them so much. I have a huge soft spot in my heart for co-ops (seriously, Damian teases me because whenever we travel, the first thing I do is find the co-op, and I totally treat it like an attraction. Some people meander through museums – I “sight-see” the local health food. No joke.) Anyways, my little co-op is spectacular and I adore them. This Saturday they’re even having a party, and that’s just one more reason to be excited for the weekend!


~~~

Alright guys, now it’s your turn – tell me what you’re loving this week!


My darlings, this happy little post will stay at the top of the page all weekend, so stop by any time to leave your Love List, ask a question, or offer some feedback! Or if you’re new, please introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’! This is your community, so get involved!

I hope the weekend treats you with kid gloves or boxing gloves, whichever you’re in the mood for!

  • Meredith

    I’m loving that we finally have a co-op in our city!! Woohoo for Indianapolis finally joining the ranks! Also, just to let you know, I ordered a box of the Missionary Chocolates and. oh. holy. goodness. It was gone before my poor husband had even gotten home (they were heaven).

  • http://www.vegansunshine.wordpress.com whitney

    Wow I would kill to go to that bbq! How fun. I love the photos of the babe, he is such a cutie!

    Whitney

  • RK

    Glad you are rejuvenated! It’s such an awesome feeling as a mom to have that extra spring in the step!

    Love list:
    1. Swimming with my kids. We have so much fun and I love the little tan lines they get!
    2. Watermelon. Just freaking love it!
    3. My husband. Playing cards and drinking wine with his handsome face. Life is SO good!

  • http://greenfeatherherbs.blogspot.com Jacqueline

    Woah, soooo jealous you are going to be at Rootstalk! I want to go but 1. I live on the east coast 2. I can’t afford it and 3. I will just have had my first baby in mid-September. Happy to hear you will be blogging about it though!!

    Love list:
    1. aloe. an amazing plant that has been soothing my sunburn
    2. chocolate milk. I don’t know why I just want some every morning
    3. cold “pregnancy” tea. Red raspberry, nettle, oatstraw, rosehips, spearmint…yum yum nourishment on a hot day.

  • Taylor

    Wow. Rootstalk sounds like a ton of fun- I hope that’s what you have!

    My love list:

    1. My new job: an apprentice on a farm in Maine! I am moving tomorrow and I’ll be there for 5 months. So excited. Maine is gorgeous and the farm is so amazing. They’ve been organic for as long as they’ve been a farm: about 35 years. I cant wait to learn more about farming and homesteading.
    2. My boyfriend. He is currently an apprentice at the farm in Maine, so it’s cool that we’ll be having our adventures side by side. Plus, seeing him so passionate about farming is super sexy. Meow.
    3. My family. This move from Seattle to Maine has been sort of stressful, but my family totally rocks (esp. mom) and has been helping me through.

    Have a great time at Rootstalk- share what you learn with us!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Meredith – Ooh, getting a co-op is seriously exciting, congrats! Also, yay Mission Chocolates, so glad you like them (but not at ALL surprised of course, haha)

    @ whitney – Thanks lady! He’s a pretty special little guy. =)

    @ RK – Your post reminded me that I have seriously not had enough watermelon this year. I need to fix that! (it’s the one drawback of biking everywhere . . . )

    @ Jacqueline – Well, um, I think having a baby tops Rootstalk for “exciting summer adventures”! =D Also, I drank the exact same pregnancy tea when I was in my third trimester, and still drink a version of it (iced of course!) almost every night. I do no rrl, extra nettle now that I’m no longer pregnant. I even have a section about it in my upcoming book!

    @ Taylor – What exciting changes. I hope your journey is amazing and that Maine is everything you hope it to be. I had a lovely time there, it’s SUCH beautiful country. Sounds like a dream – good luck!

  • http://www.sarathomas.etsy.com sara thomas

    happy weekend everyone!! i am grateful for a lot of things, but here are my biggies for this week:

    1. vacation! pete, simon & i are going to go visit family & friends in MI where my husband grew up. the last time we were there was over 3 years ago, before we got married!

    2. just recieved my copy of colleen patrick-goudreau’s color me vegan cookbook. weeeeeee!

    3. i have been addicted to the compassionate cook’s podcast. i can see it changing & shaping new thought patterns in me.

    4. my family. simon is growing & changing so fast i just can’t even believe it. he’s so smiley, laughs all the time, makes tons of (LOUD!) noises, and is just the light of my life! pete is the best husband i could ask for. makes me feel so loved & works super hard to take care of us so i can be home to raise our little buddy. i can’t believe how lucky i am!

  • http://thelittleveganbaker.blogspot.com Stephanie

    The bubs is without a doubt the cutest thing ever.
    OMG I NEED TO GO TO THIS ROOTSTALK. IT SOUNDS SOOOO COOL.

    Love list:
    1. Figs, aka the bomb.com. I haven’t had any fresh ones yet this year but I just got some dried ones today. SO good.
    2. My friend is coming over on Monday for my birthday. I haven’t seen her in over a year and she’s really wonderful. I’m making kale salad and she’s excited for it, and not at all weirded out. #ILoveMyLife and #IDoMakeFriendswithSalad :)

  • http://www.workingouteatingin.com Anastasia

    Waits is adorable with his lil’ green face!

    I always treat coops as attractions as well! haha! There’s nothing I love more than finding a city’s co-op and just looking around for awhile.

  • Hyla

    You’re going to Rootstalk?!?! I’ve been trying to figure out how to manifest the money to get tickets for months. Knowing you’ll be there = I’m more determined! ; )
    Love List:
    1. Cherries. I tried to forage for free cherries with no luck so I bought a flat and spent the whole day Saturday canning/preserving. Cherry jam (super yummy!), cherries preserved in light syrup, cherry/orange marmalade, dried cherries, frozen cherries…not to mention very purple/red hands!
    2. A great weekend spending time with family and one of my oldest childhood friends whom I hadn’t seen in a year (and we live 45 min. apart).
    3. The abundance of the season. I love, love, love my homegrown produce. So far I’ve enjoyed one small zucchini, lettuce, kale, mint, peas, dandelions, and broccoli. Lots more to come too! YAY!

  • RK

    Sayward So true! Get your watermelon on girl! And the image of you, or anyone for that matter, biking with a watermelon just hit me really funny! Laughing!!!

  • sarah

    AHHH I’m so stoked you’re live-blogging Rootstalk! :D I wanted to go so freaking bad.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ sara thomas – Aww, what a wonderful list. Especially the last one – it doesn’t get better than that!

    @ Stephanie – You should come to Rootstalk! And also, yum figs, I think I need to eat some of those today. =)

    @ Anastasia – Haha, well I’m glad I’m not the only co-op connoisseur.

    @ Hyla – Oh I hope you can make it to Rootstalk! Luck!

    @ RK – Dude that is *totally* something I would try to do. I have been known in the past to bike to the store for dog food (and I buy the *big* bag)

    @ sarah – THANK YOU so much for telling me about it!!!

  • Rebecca

    I think the first on my love list (a bit belated mind you!) is that festival—man, do I wish I could attend that (a friend of mine is moving to Portland..perhaps it is time for a visit!)

    Next, the fact that although I rarely drink or go out anymore (I am a boring 29-year old homebody!) I went out this weekend—and stuck to my guns about having fun with only 2 drinks all night. As I typically don’t go out I sometimes drink a wee bit too much when I do. BUT, I had a green smoothie talk that I wanted to be up for the next day (yes, can you imagine the chuckles when I told the group I was with that I wasn’t drinking a lot because I had a green smoothie talk the next day? These were all people I had never met before—they must have thought I was nuts..but a good nuts : ) ). Anyhoo–had fun, danced it up, left the bar sober (!) and then felt even better the next day as I was up and at ‘em for the talk.

    Last le love: finally getting through on the free wellness exam/rabies vaccine line to schedule an appointment for my dog. Took awhile, but it was worth it—I got a perfect mid-afternoon time slot AND it is at the holistic animal hospital 2 blocks from my apartment! Sweet.

  • http://salonnaturelles.blogspot.com/ Evelyn

    Do you have a homemade bar soap recipe? I desperately need one, I can’t find one online without lye or without using an already formed bar as a base. HELP! ;)

  • http://goodbyecityhellosuburbs.blogspot.com karen

    where do you live, I want to go to these markets! the truffles sound divine…

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Evelyn – I’m sorry I don’t! I love Vegan Etsy for soaps and bath products and I’ve been happy to support small craftrs, so I haven’t gotten around to learning how to make my own. Sorry!

    @ Karen – Portland! =D

  • http://bluknotsoriginals.blogspot.com @tishushu

    Free Vegan BBQ? I’m moving up there!

    My Late Love List:

    1. Family. My family and my gf’s family are both having a rough time right now, but it didnt stop us from visiting DC to spend some time. Also our created family, two friends who just moved to PA, came to DC to tour the city with us! LOVE!

    2. Hope. After 8 months of not finding work in my field (Engineering, Electronic and Computer), I have a job! I’m busy training all the time, and I quit my minimum wage job, too! Woohoo!

    3. 2 year olds. My nephew spent some time with us last week. He thinks the round skylight in the bathroom is the moon, and thinks our coasters are cookies… He’s a little spoiled and sometimes refuses my veg delights, but he’s never too spoiled to sample things, which I love. His parents dont feed him enough veggies and stuff him full of Pedia Sure and cow’s milk (the horror) and wonder why his asthma hasnt improved. If I could afford to, ‘d be his full time caregiver.

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