I guess we're lucky it's not -10 degrees

This heat is ridiculous....high 90's and often hitting 100 is a bit unusual for the first part of June, what is to be in July and August!?  I have to get out the door early (hopefully by 6:30 am) to walk the dogs....totally dripping wet when i get through at 9am!  However, that is okay, i'm glad to be back to walking dogs.  Our trip to Texas and visiting the little Loftin family was wonderful....hide and seek in Hailey's BIG house was FUN FUN FUN.  Love how she is totally in the moment and not looking ahead or looking back, it was nice to be in that time zone with her just enjoying life as it comes.  She even loves naptime and bedtime, who wouldn't in her big new bed!  Then again, she just might take after her jiji a bit. 

Back in Loftinland....it's been catchup time, gardening, and like i said walking dogs....and housework, does that ever end?  We are missing Dino, a little chihuahua we helped get adopted for my mom and Dean.  We only fostered him for a few days before taking him to them while we were in Texas.  I got so used to thinking about him and taking care of him (like having a baby around)  that there is a void of his sweetness - all 7 1/2 lbs. of him. 

Just now relaxing after a full day already of being busy, eating some fried green tomatoes (from my garden) and now getting sleepy....must be naptime in Lofinland. 

Seventeen Dogs #12

A few months back, I went to church as usual...sitting as close to the back row as possible - not one to want to stand out. On this particular Sunday it didn't end up that way. Our wonderful drama team did a skit on .....well i dont' really remember ....all i remember is the part that pointed out to "pray for the Loftin's as they contemplated adopting their 17th dog!" It was a kinda of a SNL skit poking fun at the fundmental praying church ladies....and since we were known to have LOTS of dogs, 5 at that time they put this bit in about us....however when I went home I listed all the dogs I have ever had and well, yes, I was at #17....So thought I share a bit about each of those wonderful dogs that I have had the pleasure of having in my life, here is #12:

We had a dog named "Charley Sue" she was the smartest dog I ever knew! She came from Second Chance over 15 years ago....she lived to be 15. She used to open the lid to the box where we stored the"cookies" on the fireplace hearth - wouldn't touch them, but sat guarding them from her pack mates Sam and Shiprock....drove them CRAZY! She could also open the gates with a flick of her nose! Smart, yes, but did she mind me all the time, heaven's no, she was just as stubborn as she was smart. She knew what to do, she just didn't want to do it! We miss you in Loftinland Charley Sue!

My Dogs and Their Higher Purpose...

Just laying around today, catching up on being lazy. I've got a lot of company since the dogs are lazy most of their awake hours.

Why are dogs so good at sleeping and not caring about what needs to be done around the house. I mean, I am not sure I have ever fully relaxed and given into being lazy without thinking about some of those things. Because my dogs don't really do much, I try to embrace their higher purpose....like they are here to teach me something?! I do believe animals do that without really trying....there is that lazy thing again, they can accomplish doing something without really doing it. Today they are trying to teach me, it's okay to be lazy, but just don't make it a habit, we do need you to walk us, buy toys at Petsmart for us, groom us, etc.

being lazy in Loftinland

It's pretty darn easy to be lazy here in Loftinland.....i mean there are 4 dogs that are experts at it, and when ya got them all around you sleeping, you want to sleep or lay on the couch and watch tv. They do it so freely, without a care in the world, without remorse....they just do it, and they are good at it! I on the other hand, tend to try and justify being lazy....I did this and that and I should reward myself with a little nap! When in reality I need to not be lazy as I have MUCH to do! Company is coming this weekend. The twins in the family are graduating from high school - my neice and nephew....I remember when they were born, they were such miracles! My brother and sister in law had a 4 year old son by invitro and the twins were also born invitro. I wanted all my kids but I never tried so hard to have them, they just happened naturally. (Yesterday was also my first born's 32nd birthday) When you go to so much trouble and expense and PRAYING that you'd be pregnant - well it was such a celebration for them and the rest of the family, and here they are 18 years later graduating from high school. Their mom, my dear sister in law passed away earlier this year in January, a shock to our entire family. The woman that so much wanted all of her children is missing out on these special occasions but she gave them many special moments in their lives....so as we celebrate this week at the graduation we will remember the mom who if not for her they would not be here. I wish she was here physically, but i know she is here spiritually. So in preparation i need to get the guest bedrooms ready for the grandma and uncle that are coming up from Texas to join in the celebration!

It's been a wonderful past two weeks, the trip to Texas was beyond wonderful and I miss the little miss - i find myself looking at her pictures just about every morning, I will share some of them later.

- Rick and I helped at the Midnight Woofness event where Second Chance Animal Sanctuary (where I volunteer) adopted out 20 dogs of the 27 they took up to the event. The total event adopted out 565 animals....the goal was 500....wow....I just smile every time I think of 565 animals in the forever homes getting loved on and loving their families! I know the animals are grateful because that is who animals are.

There was one little precious doggy that didn't get adopted that i have fallen in love with, Brigette, she is an 8 year old JRT. As I counted my dogs today, I am used to counting 5 but since Angel passed away last year there are only 4, so today i was counting them to make sure they were all inside and after number 4 i kept looking....maybe i am meant to have another number 5....=)

Leaving Loftinland

I'll be leaving Loftinland for a visit with my beautiful and sweet and precious granddaughter! A whole week in fact. I am looking forward to seeing her and her family.

I'm going to try and stay on my vegan diet as much as I can. I have been doing pretty well so far. I haven't really missed cheese at all. The recipe that I wanted to try turned out to be so good, "Mushroom Gravy with Mashed Potatoes" found at: http://www.thenaturalguide.com/recipe.html

I'll miss all my boys but it will be a nice little break from my routine!

Farmers Market

It's really a stay at home kind of day but soon after my Rickster left for work, I headed to the Farmer's Market....to hunt down some green tomatoes....there were none to be found except those pointed out by one seller that across the way they had some tomato plants with green ones on them. He said you could pick those...hmmm, probably have to buy the plant so i would not get banded from the FM, and i have enough plants at home, but i am impatient for the tomatoes to appear! GOT BLOOMS =)
So I came home with the lettuce and swiss chard for our green smoothies, and I did get some shitake mushrooms....I am so excited to try the recipe i found online for mushroom gravy to go with mashed potatoes....the Rickster said he'd go on this vegan journey with me, if i would still make him mashed potatoes and gravy....problem solved...I'll think he'll love what I am having for dinner. Will make sauteed green beans with carrots and reserve the sweet and sour red cabbage he so loves!
I always learn something at the FM....saw a beautiful tree which turned out to have bay leaves as the leaves.....hmmm, never knew. He said you just help yourself, a dollar a leaf!
He also had a display of apartments for over 55'vers in which he managed, that had individual gardens in the surrounding land. It was really cool. I think I could live there. But I have a few years to go. Just a few....hope you lived your day with some laughing and loving!

I've been lazy in loftinland!

Most of the time I like being a bit lazy as a reward for long walks with the dogs, giving loftinland a good cleaning, working in the yard/garden, or just lazy for the sake of being lazy especially on the last few rainy days we've had! But the point I want to make is I've been lazy being who I want to be!

It is the animal lover in me that just cannot stand to eat an animal that has been killed for the purpose of keeping me alive, when there are so many other "much better" choices for my dinner plate! I have been a vegetarian for over ten years, I think I was around forty when I gave myself permission to be who I wanted to be. Growing up I ate what was put on my plate, and continued with those same meals for my family when I became a wife and mother. It wasn't until I picked up a copy of John Robbin's http://www.johnrobbins.info/ "Diet For a New America", that I wanted to live the lifestyle and eat the way this book suggested. It didn't take me long to read all of his books, plus numerous others on the subject, and collect LOTS of vegetarian recipe books and vegetarian "help" books.

However, in the last year or so, I have become lazy at living the true vegetarian way....I have eaten shrimp and fish...since I would make that for my husband in place of meat. Not a lot of fish but enough that it bothered me. Then just last week I watched "Earthlings", narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, a lifelong vegan. Watching it made me physically and emotionally ill, I made myself watch the whole thing because I never ever want to eat anything or wear anything made from animals, land based or in the ocean. No cheese, or eggs as well. No makeup that was tested on animals, period....period...period...I am pretty good at researching personal care products and ONLY buy those that an animal did not have to suffer. This documentary film covered much more than just food/diet. It also talked about all kinds of animal suffering and "my" part in it....which I am going to try to the best of my ability to not take part in knowingly or unknowingly. I hope that if you have not seen this film you will watch it, it will break your heart but it will open your eyes and may just change you. One thing that I have been lazy about is....not telling others about my choices and letting others answer for me...I have a fear of them thinking I am trying to push a lifestyle on them, or thinking that I think am better because I do this...or mostly just not being able to explain intellectually why I believe a vegan lifestyle is the best. I think I'll start speaking up though, if it is only on an emotional level, I can direct them to books I've read or films I've watched "if" and "only if" they really want the answers to the questions they are asking me...

My daughter, who also instigated me to be a vegetarian when she was in college over a decade ago, has also began the journey of being a vegan with me. It helps tremendously when you have support from family and friends, she fits into both those categories.....her blog can be found at: http://www.humblepantry.blogspot.com/ - I think you'll enjoy the flavor of her posts, a fresh and beautiful (just like her) read!
Earthlings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce4DJh-L7Ys