veganmadre

I've highlighted exactly what I intend to do from now on. It saddens and angers me simultaneously. I've always felt a deep connection with the friendships I've developed on this board. I've valued the freedom you previously gave members to express themselves - even if just in a silly photo-diary way or in a nudity or sexually-themed thread. I always appreciated how inclusive the board was - even for lil ol' leg weight walking me who couldn't afford a gym. I can't accept the new level of political correctness now expected of board members. I can't go along with the censorship and hypersensitivity. It's a true shame that you no longer participate and run the board. When you were doing the bulk of it, I can think of nothing but positive things to say. Now, that you are relying heavily on the opinion of the "chosen ones", I feel the dynamic of the board has shifted and find that I can't sit back and continue to participate. It's sad more than anything.

Cool pics Marcina! I love food and people pictures! You look fantastic!

YES! Yes! Yes and YES! Yay John V for mentioning it before me! As I scrolled through the post I was shocked noone mentioned this cookbook. It's our definite go-to book for everything! There aren't complicated or "vegan version" ingredients. All you'll find are simple and extremely satisfying meals! We love the pizza recipe, whole wheat bread recipe, tvp "spaghetti balls", brownies...all of it! Delish!

And just to add to what vegan essentials said, the cat we fed vegan food to LOVED IT!

So basically your entire post was a commercial and plug so you can sell your product....nice Actually, he was thanking ME for plugging his product so bug off. I've used the vegecat mix and dry food in the past when caring for a cat that "claimed us" during our stay in the woods. I've been happy with my purchases from veganessentials and figured I would offer conscientious vegans a resource for cruelty free companion animal products. He makes sound arguments so it's really not fair of you to discount his post based on my plug.

Daywalker and Wannalift in 2006 http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c240/veganmadre/wannaliftanddaywalker.jpg Wannalift and MichaelHobson in 2006 http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c240/veganmadre/worksupervisors.jpg Daywalker put to work in our old kitchen http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c240/veganmadre/work.jpg EDIT: Sorry, bad camera and very yellow townhouse don't mix well.

December 2006 (Jan. 2007??) veganmadre, wannalift and odidetne http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c240/veganmadre/DSC00004-1.jpg

How extremely sad that this even needs to be a discussion among vegans. As we found in the past, discussion is futile. Personally, I don't value the life a companion animal more than the life of farm animal. I want to say more but f-ing forget it.

I'm surely not trying to instigate but that would defeat the purpose of that thread to some extent. The point of the thread, or at the very least my contribution to it, was not to post porn but to post images of beautiful, natural vegan bodies. Making it something where images are selected individually would imply that they were being viewed for sensual pleasure. I'd argue that it's probably not appropriate for this site. I've come to the conclusion that nudity isn't really in line with the values of this community. Just my humble opinion. Mind you, I assume you were joking. Just felt compelled to comment.

In my opinion - there is not a single reason on earth that one animal should justify the slaughter of infinite others. Not one. Especially not in the name of "optimal health" or "natural diet". If your pet has to live slightly less than optimal - which is only really the case for male cats- in order for many other animals to keep their lives then surely that's the most logical choice. Vegan Essentials has an entire section devoted to companion animals. VEGAN COMPANION ANIMAL PRODUCTS

I believe the relationship section was added as a disclaimer for "mature" topics - including but certainly not limited to nudity. People were nervous about any type of sexual and/or relationship content. There was a nudity thread. Zach started it and it appears he also deleted it. The extent of the pictures were a few naked guys, some naked tigress and some naked me. I don't think the discussion was boring in the least or that it was worthy of deletion but I do believe it was probably too much for this board.

I'm fully of the opinion that it's virtually impossible to be completely vegan and ethical in this society. I understand the frustration you're feeling. Making ethical purchases is something that weighs on my mind on a daily basis. It's something I also have to push out of my mind to some extent in order to function. It's hard for me to say what to do. I'd probably keep the bag and try to make it last.

I didn't either.

I haven't been on the board lately so I just spent the past ten minutes reading over the "Double Standard" thread. I'm extremely disappointed that it's been locked. I can see no other reason for the thread being locked other than thought control. So what if something is offensive? I want to know others opinions and always have the option of avoiding a thread that is too heated for my liking.

I'm a naughty food porn addict! Love it! Mmmmm. I'm wondering if raw food prep is the tantric version of food porn since its such a looonnnnnnnng process. Ok, I'll stop now.

I'm not trying to be an instigator, honest! I just saw it this morning and was amused! http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1354/1194369602_fbfa25d95f_o.jpg

Thank you - we both have really found what makes us happy this summer ! It was great to see that you made it to Vegan Vacation - wish I could have met you during your US visit! I agree, it would be awesome to be at a gathering with you and your family! As for Cascadia, not sure. Next year's National gathering is scheduled for Wyoming - exact location isn't disclosed until the middle of June. We're definitely planning to attend, life permitting! CollegeB! Hey, thanks for the note! My internet proclivity wanes from time to time but I always find my way back to VBB. It's nice that so many familiar people continue to post and check in! I still think about how much I loved it when you posted the images of you making biscuits a couple of years ago! I'm still waiting for our collaboration on a vegan college/dorm cookbook! They are a great experience - this was my first summer of gatherings and I felt perfectly at home! Instant Soup kitchen was ideal for us since we're more mellow/homebody type people not chasing a "high". Really incredible. Our home is home to you and your family any time if you are able to visit Pittsburgh. We'll be here for a while - two of our munchkins live with their mom in Washington, PA much of the time.

Why didn't I think of that?! Oh wait, I did. Just not possible - financial obligations dictate that we start working - soon! Work and Job are profanities in our household! Teheh. We're in the position now, however, to be more flexible with expenses. We'll be living in a vegetarian (communal?) house with our friend Steve. 3 veg*n adults and 6 veg*n kids! The shared costs make it less critical that we sell our souls and go back to the corporate grind. I'll do whatever, however, to make it possible to travel next summer. We both look forward to meeting the Portland crew and tried to make it work for VV this summer, but, when you're living on $400 month, you can't justify spending that on airline tickets or gas!

I was definitely envious of the photos posted from Portland! We'll make it there soon enough, though! It's one of our top "to do/places to visit"! It's neat to know that so many board members actually live there and that a visit could morph into a vegan vacation at any time!!

We loved hanging with you, too, Ed! We'll be based in Pittsburgh for fall/winter/spring. We should get together!

When we're kidless, we might as well be gypsies. We spend our time hiking, swimming and sleeping in the car. Every once in a great while we throw in some microbrews, hardcore and burrito/guacamole eating but...yeah, anyway. We stayed at the regional rainbow gathering for a few days before we needed to get out and get water/swim! One stop on the way back to Pittsburgh was at McConnell's Mill State Park. We hiked a moderate/rocky trail of about 4 miles along Slippery Rock Creek. Beautiful! I'm usually too consumed with life to take pictures this summer but I made an effort since we find ourselves preparing for the fall and I know I'll long for these "captured memories" come the cold, dark and snowy winter ahead! http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1274/1139208298_9039450f88.jpg http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1146/1138383183_63e8e47f01.jpg http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1148/1139228146_b8c9da72c7.jpg http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1323/1138388749_494a94494f.jpg http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1398/1138399555_49b785c944.jpg http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1370/1138423321_b62cea121f.jpg http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1171/1139246354_ff7e2bbc91.jpg http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1142/1139233054_3b14c00820.jpg

Other than the tasteful "nude" Michael posted earlier, we are sans pictures of the National Rainbow Gathering we attended in Arkansas. We found ourselves really at home at the "Instant Soup" kitchen - a vegan kitchen set up in the middle of the Ozarks. Michael and I met the most wonderful people at that kitchen whom we both felt an intense connection with almost immediately. When we weren't hiking the Buffalo River nude, sunning on one of the large boulders, or trekking through the mud to visit with the great guys of FairieCamp, we were chopping firewood, tending the fires and cooking at InstantSoup. We stayed up all night most nights there. One night we cooked over 100 vegan chocolate chip pancakes for hungry hippies. Who knew there were some many people wandering the woods at 4am?! The link below showcases the Instant Soup Kitchen and our new friends. I can't wait to see them again! Instant Soup Kitchen 2007 We also escaped to the Pennsylvania Regional Gathering just this past weekend. Here are pics. Home Sweet Backpacking Home http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1045/1139127052_418cc7fc3a.jpg The Earth Oven of Kitchen 44 http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1108/1138288633_e09dee5895.jpg The fire was build under the oven and the clay and metal are heated. The clay retains the heat for an extended period creating - ta dah- an outdoor oven! Neato, right?! http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1322/1138280745_d79e401b79.jpg The cooling racks http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1005/1138294033_22dc208f05.jpg Stovetop - Rainbow-Style http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1140/1139141550_dc9b16af6b.jpg Welcome Home, Kiddos! http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1130/1138309535_8d785080d2.jpg My two rainbow friends above helped me get water for this sweet fellow. He traveled to the gathering all the way from California! http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1039/1138317811_fa0babcb83.jpg Our Back Yard! Or, wait...Our Living Room...Or... http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1073/1139175098_dfbb74e9b6.jpg If you build it, they will come...to the "bliss pit" that is! Notice all the hippies sleeping outdoors and around the fire! The night before, there was no fire but Michael and I enjoyed sleeping out under the stars in that exact same spot. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1319/1139161322_a0f1f6547d.jpg Michael Carving! He spent an entire afternoon in Arkansas carving his spoon out of one of the many fallen red cedar branches! http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1060/1138326181_c7eac69ca0.jpg A Hippie Couch - occupied by Michael and our friend George. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1208/1139155010_1f6cdfdf3b.jpg Doing what we've done best this summer - enjoying the simple things - lying on the grass, staring at the trees and the sun. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1355/1138343595_e277c277b5.jpg I end with the picture I always feel compelled to take to say "hey, I was there, too"! http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1246/1138348647_efde3dce43.jpg

You Are a Prophet Soul http://images.blogthings.com/whatkindofsoulareyouquiz/prophet-soul.jpg You are a gentle soul, with good intentions toward everyone. Selfless and kind, you have great faith in people. Sometimes this faith can lead to disappoinment in the long run. No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way. You are a good interpreter, very sensitive, intuitive, caring, and gentle. Concerned about the world, you are good at predicting people's feelings. A seeker of wisdom, you are a life long learner looking for purpose and meaning. You are a great thinker and communicator, but not necessarily a doer. Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul What Kind of Soul Are You? http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofsoulareyouquiz/

It is - but the fermentation takes days and I've tried many different approaches to injera making and find this one the best - slightly fermented without excessive time needed. It's gotten rave reviews from those I've served it to in the past.

viewtopic.php?t=5614 I don't make this nearly enough but it is fantastic and makes a TON! Injera (Ethiopian Flat Bread) 3 cups self-rising flour ½ cup whole wheat flour ½ cup cornmeal 1 T active dry yeast (equiv. of one package) 3 ½ cups water *Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. *Cover and let set an hour or longer until batter rises and becomes stretchy. *The batter can sit for as long as 3-6 hours if you need it to. (3 hrs is what I prefer) *When you are ready, stir batter if liquid has settled on the bottom. *In blender, whip 2 c. of batter at a time, thinning it with 1/2-3/4 c. water. Batter will be quite thin. *Heat a 10-inch or 12-inch non-stick frying pan over medium to medium-high heat. *Pour batter into heated pan (1/2 c. if using a 12-inch pan; 1/3 c. if using a 10-inch pan) and quickly swirl pan to spread batter as thin as possible. Batter should be no thicker than 1/8 inch. *Do NOT turn. Injera is cooked through when bubbles appear all over the top. *Lay each Injera on a towel for a minute or two then stack in a covered dish to keep warm. (VERY important to rest on towel before stacking!)