HB 281 and HB 285

I spent this morning working with the Humane Society in Richmond at the General Assembly Building lobbying for increased animal cruelty penalties. We arrived at 10:00 for a quick overview. I was under the assumption we were going to be helping promote a bill written to protect abused hunting dogs. Sadly, we were told that that bill has been pushed back but it will hopefully be ready for next session. Apparently, since hunting is such a controversial topic, especially in Virginia, there needs to be further rewrites and further work done to secure a bill that will pass with out being killed by the first committee.
Today we went office to office talking to our representatives about HB 281 and HB 285.

HB 281: Violations of minimal animal care standards would be increased from a Class 4 to Class 2 misdemeanor.
The penalty for abandoning an animal would be increased from a Class 3 to a Class 2 misdemeanor.

HB 285: Allows courts to issue a protective order prohibiting harm to a companion animal when a child or family is being threatened.

Both bills were edited and amended substantially just before this morning to keep them from seeming too extreme.

It baffles me that animal cruelty is only punishable by a slight slap on the hand fine, and that animal well fare advocates have to fight so hard for the slightest changes to be made to protect animals. I do realize positive things have happened regarding animals in recent years but there are still so many areas that need to be brought to light.

I spoke to Lashrecse Jones, assistant to Delegate Dance who represents Petersburg, at length about what I have been witness to as a property manager, and in the area. I often call animal control to report chained dogs with no water, food, or shelter left out in harsh weather. Ms. Jones was very interested and seemed to be in favor of HB 281 and HB 185.
I also spoke to Jessica Bowman, assistant to Delegate Lewis who represents the Eastern Shore of Virginia where I grew up. She said she knew of the bill but did not say how she felt about the issues.

I feel like my presence at the Assembly Building today was such a small effort but that the importance of speaking out is great.
The most important thing we can do as animal defenders is keep our eyes and our mouths open. Please, always report animal abuse. We must be the voice for our furry friends. They can't call for help, or show up to Lobby.

I'm looking forward to lobbying next session on behalf of hound dogs! If you are interested in helping out or if you have any questions please let me know.

Thanks so much for all the work you fellow animal lovers do!
Here's a little video in memory of Bonesy Jonesy the beloved hound dog I took in last year. When I found him he was nearly starved but soon fattened up and was crazy for attention and love.

Peter Singer

Most people think of non-human animals as lesser beings based solely on their level of intelligence. A lot of people feel differently. I am one of them. I believe all living beings should enjoy life and that that that is our purpose for being here. Life is the pursuit of happiness. Finding one's inner peace should be a universal right. We are not designed for pain and suffering, and neither are other animals. It is beyond my rational logic that anyone finds it acceptable to mistreat another being, of any kind, especially based on the thought that that being is not smart enough to know any better. If pain and anxiety are felt then that is what is understood. Unhappiness is known. The reasoning behind such suffering may eternally remain a mystery to the sufferer. That sufferer won't understand that it is being denied it's birth given rights to happiness because it tastes good on a bun. Any form of purposeful mistreatment toward another living creature is a sin. If you must kill to eat, do it quickly and in the least painful manor possible. Do not raise another life for the sole purpose of killing it unless you are going to give it the freedom to live out it's life time happily. These are my beliefs. It took me much longer than I would have liked to realize that by eating factory farmed meat and dairy products I was condoning these sins.

My good friend Terry Brown sent me a link to a Charlie Rose interview. The subject of her email simply said "Listen". So, I did. I listened to Charlie Rose talk with Australian Philosopher and Princeton Bioethics Professor Peter Singer. He's fascinating. Singer is very well known, and very controversial, for his views on abortion, speciesism, and euthanasia. Peter Singer became a megaphone for the animal liberation movement with his 1975 book Animal Liberation. As I listened to Peter Singer speak about ones given rights being based on ones ability to feel pain rather than on ones intellect I became excited! Hearing my own true beliefs described so eloquently was fulfilling for me. I love deep thinking and extremely compassionate people. Peter Singer is both. He went on about his ideas of religion and compassionate suicide. He makes some valid and caring points. His own mother is on her death bed. He has said that if it were up to him alone she would not be alive now, but instead at peace. He has a sister who doesn't share his view points so his mother is still alive and suffering, and Peter Singer is helping pay the bill. He has admitted to not living up to all of his own standards especially when it comes to charitable giving. He donates 25% of all his earnings to UNICEF but says he could and should give more. He states that not giving what you have beyond your needs to others living below their needs is like helping contribute to their decline. I have mixed opinions on this subject. Although I believe in charity and helping anyone in need to get themselves back on track, I do not believe in continuous handouts. I feel such systems create laziness and a level of expected donation.

The point is is that Peter Singer is a living Philosopher tackling issues of our time. He spends his life studying us and the way we live. We can learn a lot from his theories or at least bring some excellent questions upon ourselves which usually leads to growing as a person. Peter Singer is definitely someone to add to your informative source list. I need to delve deeper into his philosophies on assisted suicide, abortion, and charitable giving before stating that I totally agree with everything he says, but from what I've gathered through the below listed links I'm very interested to hear and read more especially on his animal rights ideas. I know why Terry sent me the link now. She knows how I feel about animals, and life in general. Thanks Terry B. :>

Info Links:

Interview with Charlie Rose
Interview with Ronald Bailey
Article by Paul Shapiro
Article by Donald Demarco
Utilitarian

It's Growing Time!

PHOTO: My great grandmother on my mom's side, Mary Estelle Daisy Carpenter (aka Memaw), and my great grandfather Peter Nottingham Carpenter (aka Possum).
It's garden startin' time! I can't think of a better way to fuel a passion for eating vegan than growing your own organic fruits and vegetables. My great grandfather, Possum, was a farmer. He was a tall and lanky bean pole of a man. He chewed tobacco and smoked a pipe, and always smelled like freshly dug potatoes. He used to bring us all sorts of fresh fruits and vegetables. He lived just across the rail road tracks from us and he'd leave brown paper bags full of beans and strawberries, watermelons, and greens. I attribute my love of fruits and veggies to Possums gardening.

The only garden I ever grew was about 8 years ago when I was living in Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The soil on the Shore is known for it's magical growing powers. It's naturally fertile. I just dug up a plot in my backyard with a shovel and a hoe, threw some seeds down, and "presto magic" everything grew. I didn't have to fertilize, weed, or even kill bugs. I did plant the recommended marigold and basil to keep my tomatoes safe. I was working the breakfast shift at a restaurant that spring and summer and I had to be up very early so I was able to keep my garden watered nicely each day before the hot sun started beating down. I absolutely loved that garden. There wasn't even that much in it, just some melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers and flowers, but it was so satisfying to walk out in the back yard and pick something to eat. Since that year, I haven't had a garden. I've planted some herbs and tomatoes in containers each summer but that's it. This year I'm doing it though! I'm growing a garden again! Woo Hoo! It's gonna have to be mostly a container garden because I don't have much of a yard, but that's okay! I'm doing it!

I ordered some self watering containers I read about in the book "Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers". I've seeded arugula, mixed greens, and carrots in those. I will also be planting cucumbers and some little tomatoes in these big 4 gallon water reservoir pots. I ordered some upside-down tomato bags for the heirloom tomatoes. I've never tried them before. I'll post the results later this summer. I have herbs sprouting in the window sill, peppers already in a pot, and I'm going to try my strawberries in a grow bag too. I'm so excited. I hope to turn my deck into a jungle of fruits and veggies by July!

I do have one small spot of yard and I'm gonna cover it with cosmos, poppies, and personal sized watermelon plants!

I hope Possums' green thumb runs in the family! My dad's mom, Gaygie, had a super green thumb too. Her house was covered in plants. She loved begonias. Maybe they'll shoot some love and sunshine down on my potted plants this summer!

Here are some links that I found very helpful in getting started this spring:

Starting From Seeds

Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers


Self Watering Containers and Upside Down Grown:

Letter to your Senator

You can send this letter to your Senator to help stop Canadian seal hunting! It really only takes a few minutes. All you have to do is enter your own info and hit send! Only a few minutes to make a huge difference! Send your letter and forward this on, easy peazy.

Here's the link: http://mail.google.com/mail/?zx=1u2adskv6athl&shva=1#inbox/1206c9d257281d02 Just look for the cute seal and click on CONTACT YOUR SENATOR!
I posted the letter below so you can check it out.
Thanks everybody!

Seals today, Chickens on the way! I'm cooking up an art project to benefit our friends the chickens. My best friend Kate Bredimus will be involved with this one! Stay tuned!


XOXO, MARY


Senator Jim Webb
U.S. Senate
144 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0001

Senator Mark Warner
U.S. Senate
B40C Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0001

Dear Senator Warner ,

I urge you to do all that you can to enact S. Res. 84, including
co-sponsoring it if you aren't already a co-sponsor. This
resolution calls upon the Canadian government to end the cruel
commercial seal hunt.

This massive commercial slaughter of harp seals for fur is
shameful and cruel. I am appalled that sealers continue to skin
pups who are still alive. The rest of the world is turning away
from commercial seal hunting, and Canada should as well.

Thank you for your consideration.


Sincerely,
mary Killmon
230 east bank
petersburg, VA 23803-3322

Who Want's to Go?

Check it out! Taking Action for Animals Expo 2009 is right around the corner, July 24th-July 27th in Arlington, VA. Four days of cool seminars, activities, and vegan food. I want to go to this really, really bad. It would be great to to get a group, or groups together to split hotel costs. The more the merrier. Holler at me if you or anyone you know wants to go. I can coordinate the travel plans if need be. I just would rather go with friends than fly solo.
Check out this link for more details: Taking Action for Animals 2009

If you've just got to have a steak.....

So, I know it is really, really, really difficult for some folks to just give up eating meat and dairy. Personally, I couldn't care less if I never ate meat again. I just haven't ever really liked it all that much anyway. I did used to like bacon a lot but I've forgotten about that now. The first time I'm home for one of my mom's Sunday dinners I will probably be craving butter on my biscuits too but I'll survive without it. For the folks out there who do love their meat and dairy but still really care about their own health and the well being of animals, there are options! You can still enjoy all your normal eating habits and feel better about doing so if you just do a little research. One way to know for sure that you are buying smart and compassionately is to only buy products that carry this label: CERTIFIED HUMANE RAISED AND HANDLED The Certified Humane Raised and Handled program is the only farm animal welfare and food labeling program in the U.S. dedicated to improving the welfare of farm animals from birth through slaughter for the 10 billion farm animals raised for food each year. For more info visit the Certified Humane website or just watch this video.


Everyone can help stop animal cruelty. You don't have to become a vegan or even a vegetarian to take action. Making compassionate choices is so much better than not doing anything! It's good for you inside and out, and good for the world. :)

Cool Vegan Shoes and Bags

Just thought I'd post links to some great vegan shopping sites I discovered in my search to not only eat with a conscience but to dress with one too. I ordered this cute ladybug bag. http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/Bungalow360-Barbie-Ladybug-Canvas-Vegan-Satchel-Bag.aspx
I know you can find animal friendly products in stores all over the place but after shoe shopping today I realized how hard it is to know if the leather is really leather or pleather or who knows what. I decided to hop on line and order from vegan sites that made it easy to know for sure. I ordered that bag, and new pair of crocs. Most Crocs are vegan. There are a few styles that have leather straps. I also ordered these sweet purple kicks from Keep. Keep was mentioned on the Today show recently for their comfortable vegan shoes! Check out their site too: Keep Company

Vegan so far......

So, it's been a little over a week since I purchased the Vegan with a Vengeance cook book to kick start myself towards living a more vegan lifestyle. My first step was to read the cookbook and make a list of main ingredients that I would need on hand. I made a trip to my favorite local health food store Ellwood Thompsons: http://www.ellwoodthompsons.com
I love that Elwoods soooo much! I wish I could afford to do all of my shopping there but I can't so I just load up on stuff I can't get at the regular grocery store. I am now stocked with TVP, Nutritional Yeast, Braggs Amino Liquid, Vital Wheat Gluten (for making seitan), coriander seeds, cardamom pods, turmeric, raw walnuts, carob chips (I am very allergic to chocolate), and a few more staples.

Here are my first three trial recipes from Vegan with a Vengeance:

Potato Edamame Samosas with Coconut Mint Chutney:

I had never made samosas before. They are fun and super easy to make... once you get the samosa pocket technique down that is! Here's a link to a video I watched for some help with that: http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-make-samosa-115649/
3 cups flour
3/4 cups soy milk
3 tablespoons oil
1 tablespoon tumeric
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon or more of salt

You can pretty much make the stuffing out of whatever you want. I baked mine in the oven and they were totally delicious. You just have to make sure you brush them with vegetable oil and that your cookie pan is coated. You should flip them about half way through baking them too. They take about 20 mins to cook. You could make a ton and freeze them. I made two batches, one with a potato stuffing, and the other with a green pea and mushroom stuffing. Both awesome.



Tofu Scramble: I like to call this dish SCRAM. It's more fun. I loved this meal. It is supposed to be kind of like spicy scrambled eggs and mushrooms but thankfully it tastes nothing like scrambled eggs. Eggs are my least favorite food on earth no matter what way you fix 'em. I've tried them again and again over the years just to see if my tastes may have changed but I just can't do it. The smell is too much like a fart for me to put it in my mouth, and the texture of the whites... YICK! I could go on and on about my hatred of eggs. I'm sure there are many of you reading this that could go on and on even longer about your love affair with them. Anywho, so this dish does not taste or smell like eggs and I love it. It's quick and easy to make. I served it over a bed of fresh uncooked spinach leaves and coconut jasmine rice. I topped it with a swirl of pineapple chili sauce and diced cilantro leaves.
I can't wait to make it again!


Seitan Portobello Stroganoff:
This dish is for cold days when you want some hearty comfort food. I liked it a lot. I wouldn't make this weekly because it's so filling and heavy but I can see myself craving it's big burgundy flavor and wide noodles during a snow storm or on a cold fall night. I made my own seitan instead of store bought which was a good lesson since I'll be using seitan in tons of vegan recipes. I'd eaten seitan (say-tahn) before but didn't know what the heck it was. It's just a dough made from vital wheat gluten. You can flavor it however you want. It's great for adding girth and texture. Here's a link to the video I watched before making it. I didn't follow all these instructions. I didn't use a food processor for the dough I just worked it by hand. I also added extra flavorings to the stock I boiled it in but this is still a good video to show you how easy it is to make: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=40673776
You can freeze any left over seitan you have for your next dish.

That's all for this week. It's been an easy and adventurous start. I like researching ingredients and putting it all together in the kitchen. I hope you will too.

TWO SUMMER DRINK RECIPES USING PEAR JUICE! LIGHT AND EASY:

I love mixing up a cocktail anytime of year but most especially in the summer when fresh fruit is available. Before I jot down these two drink recipes I've concocted I'd like to mention Imbibe magazine which has been an inspiration to me. I signed up for a subscription after reading an issue from cover to cover over at my friend Liz's house. I tore out the insert and sent it off right away. I love this magazine for it's in depth information on beverages of all sorts; coffee, tea, and spirits being the main focus. The photography is nice too. Here's a link to Imbibes website: http://www.imbibemagazine.com/default.htm
CHECK IT OUT!

Also, being on the topic of quality cocktails I'd like to tell you about "PDT" or "Please Don't Tell", a speak easy in New York City that everyone seems to be telling everyone else about! They even have a website (http://www.pdtnyc.com/) so I'm assuming the marketing idea of please don't tell, which really means please tell everyone you know, has been a good one. If you want to go you must make a reservation! The last time I went up to NYC to visit my best friend Kate, I had been reading a book titled the same as the magazine, Imbibe, by David Wondrich, about the history of American mixology and "Professor" Jerry Thomas one of the most famous bartenders ever. He was more than just a bar tender, he was more like a bar scientist. There are about 100 antique cocktail recipes in this book. I was dying to try one. You can't find some of the old ingredients anymore and some are just hard to get which makes them a rare, rare, find in a bar. BUT.... so I've been told, there are a few swanky places in New York that can transport you back to the 19th century with an intoxicating punch, sour, toddie, or flip. You just have to be willing to plan ahead by making reservations! I learned that the hard way. Kate had scouted out a great place that was supposed to have real absinthe and a full bar stocked with rose water and lavender water, and such but when we got there for happy hour at 7:00 pm they were closed for a private party! The door guard was nice enough to direct us to another bar around the corner. It was a sweet little nook with dim light and lots of red accents. We took a pass at the menu only to discover there were no liqueur drinks available. The bartendress informed us that we were in a beer and wine cocktail bar. Bad news for me since I had just found out that I was allergic to everything under the sun the week before, including grapes, malt, and barley! So.... no wine or beer for me! Booo hooooo. I'm plagued! The peach of a bartender was also kind enough to tell us about another place, a secret spot around another corner. She leaned in and said "Why don't you try PDT? You go down around the corner and look for a hot dog stand. Go in the restaurant behind the stand, (which also sells hot dogs) look to your left and you'll see a phone booth. Go in the phone booth and pick up the phone." That's all she said! We tipped her and hit the pavement. Happy hour was nearing an end and we were yet to have a sip! Sure enough we found the phone booth just beyond the hot dogs. Kate and I were like Penny and Brain from Inspector Gadget at this point. I think for a moment we really believed we had stumbled upon something no one else knew about. WRONG! We picked up the phone.... a lady answered... she only said "okay" then hung up and a door inside the phone booth opened up! "Sorry, we're all full tonight. You have to make reservations." Nooooooooo! I only caught a glimpse of the interior but it was enough to see a stuffed beaver like thing hanging on the wall. I could hear all the chatter of the "planners" inside! DOH! Oh well, next time, next time! We slumped on down the avenue to the next open bar we could find and I just ordered the usual. Bourbon on the rocks. WOMP.

So... here are the pear juice recipes:

"Blueberry Pear"

can of pears in light syrup
fresh blueberries
rosewater
vodka
lemonade
ice

smash about 8 blueberries in the bottom of a glsass and then fill it with ice.
pour in 6 to 8 oz of juice from the pears, 4 oz vodka, and 2 oz lemonade
stir in just a few drops of the rose water tasting after each drop to your llikeness ( a little goes a long way )
garnish with a few more blueberries and lemon wedge


"Clementine My Darlin" my new favorite

can of pears in light syrup
clementines
Tanqueray Rangpur Lime Gin
limeade
lemon

smash about 6 clementine segments in the bottom of a glass and then cover with ice
pour in 6 to 8 oz of juice from the pears, 4oz Tanqueray Rangpur Lime Gin, and 6 oz limeade
sqeeze in a good bit of fresh lemon juice and garnish with a lemon wedge and a clementine segment

I hope you love these drink recipes. If anyone out there trys them, let me know what you think.

September Soup

It's the middle of September and fall is sending in an R.S.V.P. to a party I did not invite it to! The last couple of days have been chilly/hot ones, the kind that send me out wearing wacky outfits; shorts and flip flops with long sleeved hoodie sweatshirts. If I had a personal fashionista I'm sure she would have at least told me to switch the floppers out for a pair of cute and trendy flats. Whatever!
When I left work today I noticed that the sun was sitting much lower in the sky than it had been just a week before. I'm already dreading those dark by 5:30 days that are soon to come. All of this weather worry started me craving a nice, hot bowl of soup. I went home, pulled out a big red pot, opened up the cupboards, and started opening cans! I ended up with this. It was really good, hit the spot! It only took about 10 minutes and I'll definitely make it again. Hope you might try it too!

September Soup:
1 can of beans ( I only had red Kidney, I bet white would have been better)
1 can of mushroom pieces (no salt added if you have em)
1 pkg of frozen spinach
1 Vadalia onion diced
3 scallion stalks diced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup water
1 vegetarian bullion cube
cayenne pepper, black pepper, dried basil, and whatever else you think goes; I added some coriander
grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Dump your oil, water,  JUICE ONLY~from the can of mushrooms (save the mushrooms for later), spices, bullion, all of your diced onions and scallions into a large pot. Bring it to a boil and let it roll for a couple of minutes. Then pour it all into a blender and pulverize it! Pour it back into the pot and add everything else EXCEPT for the grated cheese. Bring it all back to a nice boil. Ladle into bowls and cover completely with grated cheese. It will melt but if you want it to be really awesome run it under the broiler for a hot minute! Enjoy!