Shedding Light on Soy

When I returned from Christmas in England, the lodge was full of mason jars. They were everywhere, on every surface, and throughout the kitchen. They smelled phenomenal. It was Becca's new project - soy wax candles.

Using soy for candles instead of wax has several benefits for your home (less soot than parafin wax), your bank balance (longer burn time so buy candles less often), the environment (the wax is biodegradeable, and soy is a renewable resource), the economy (supports soybean-growing American farmers, and your health (non toxic and little or no carcinogens produced). Plus they smell strong.



Becca bought her soywax from Mill Creek Soy Wax Candle Supply who have a great step by step instructional page on how to make the candles. She bought the essential oils fromScentable.com.

Becca bought a ton of different fragrances. Although Lavender is one of my most favorite scents in the world, the candle didn't seem to do it for me. Jeremiah and I both agreed that the Nag Champa was our favorite. So Becca made us an extra one to pack in our suitcase and bring with us to California. It is burning right now as I write this and is the same mason jar in the first picture on this post. We have been in California for two months now and I have burned it every night for at least a couple of hours. It has been one of the longest burning candles I have ever had the pleasure to relight.

Pound Dogs - Why adopting is the right thing to do.

In a coffee shop in Galt last night, I overheard (as I'm sure the whole place did) a man talking very proudly about the dog he was going to get. From his dialogue I established discovered that he didn't yet know the name of the breed, he hadn't ever owned a dog, he didn't know how much it cost, he didn't know the breed's temperament, he didn't know how much grooming the dog required or whether it needed long walks. He knew he wanted a puppy. And it had to be a lassie dog.

He wants something that will make him look cool. It is a shame that there is no Irresponsible Dog Owner of the Year award. He'd be a finalist.


Meet Chocolat and Simon. Two of the most grateful and loving dogs you'll ever meet. Both mutts. Both intelligent. Both loyal. Both adopted.
Because they have been rescued, they are not one of the 7 million adoptable dogs and cats that are killed each year due to overpopulation. Simon came directly from the pound. Chocy was a stray.

Seven Great Reasons to Adopt
1. You save lives.
When you adopt a dog or cat, you save not just one life, but possibly the life of the animal that will fill its space in the adoption cycle.
2. You know what you are getting
What you see is what you get. Unlike puppies and kittens that develop habits and personality traits, an adopted cat or dog can fit straight in to your family.
3. Instant Friends
The bond between a rescued dog and it's owner is just as strong as in those situations where a dog was raised from puppyhood. And you have the added advantage of a grateful dog. Go adopt a dog and then tell me dogs can't be grateful.
4. No inhumane puppy mills or backyard breeders involved.
The above are so irresponsible and disgusting, that is all I will say about them. Sure you can buy from a reputable breeder, but why? There are plenty of purebred dogs waiting to be adopted (for a lot less money).
5. Adoption Counseling
This is something you don't get from a breeder. If you haven't ever owned a dog, or even if you have, adoption counselling is the way to go.
6. Training and Socialisation
A lot of rescue organisations do some training and socialising of dogs, in order to make them more adoptable. Another thing you don't have to do.
7. No Vet Visits
When you get a dog from a pound or rescue organization, the dog will have had all its shots already, so you don't need to spend additional money on them. Also, a lot of rescue organizations will spay or neuter an animal before putting them up for adoption. Another additional expense you don't have to worry about.


Jeremiah and I got Atticus through Dogsonly.org who were advertising him for Saving Pyrenees in Need (SPIN). Atticus was dumped in a "high kill" pound (given two days) and SPIN saved him.

Atticus, Chocy and Simon are just some examples of how wonderful rescue dogs can be, and why adopting is the right thing to do. If you have your heart set on a particular breed, find that breeds rescue organisation. There is bound to be one. See below for some links to good adoption sites.




petfinder.com

Pets 911

1-800-saveapet

Rocet Dog Rescue

Just type "dog adoption" or "cat adoption" or "[insert breed] adoption" into your search engine and you will find hundreds of links.

Vegetarian Cooking

I have discovered, in my newfound status as a cook, that being somewhat vegetarian (i.e. not having access to wild game), makes for an enjoyable cooking experience.

This revelation occured with the help of what has to be The Best-Ever Vegetarian Cookbook . Funny. That's also it's title.

This book is full of fun recipes that create delicious meals. Jeremiah and I have enjoyed them so much (except for the evening when I set off the fire alarm). I think that night, we just ended up eating cereal. But that's OK. It's the effort that counts.

Jeremiah (a sworn red meat-eater) has thoroughly enjoyed the fruits of this book. His favorite? Baked Leeks with Cheese and Yoghurt.

The Love behind My Cooking

- AN INTRODUCTION

Now that Jeremiah and I are down in California, we have no full-time chef to prepare our meals. This led us to the inevitable conclusion that I would have to cook.

Despite the possible poisonings coursing through both our imaginations (nothing like a positive attitude), I chose to meet the new challenge with love, rather than anxiety. As a result, our stomachs are full with the yummy goodness of a homecooked meal.

So far, although I don't particularly enjoy cooking it has been a rewarding experience for both of us. It is somewhat of an artistic outlet for me. It keeps me busy. I am learning and every day is different. Jeremiah comes home from a hard day of work to an apartment full of delicious smells, and gets to eat a hot, tasty meal - cooked by the woman he loves, for the man she loves.

So, the most gratifying thing about cooking for Jeremiah is that it has brought the two of us closer together.