A few eco doings

I know this blog has been very nephew and Christmas oriented lately (and there's going to be more in the next few days, since I like to document events for family members who can't be here, and also as a record for myself.) 

So here's a quick vegan/eco post!

I had a few bananas that were quickly going bad.  I just wasn't into making banana bread at the moment, so I turned to my trusty The Joy of Vegan Baking, where I found a recipe for a delicious banana crumble.  So simple!

I had plenty of vegetable scraps in my freezer, so it was time to make another batch of broth.  I threw in some whole peppercorns and bay leaves with the vegetables, and that was it!

I am trying to get back into the habit of making tea for Mr. GV.  We've got quite a stash of flavored tea bags, so really I don't have a good excuse for this one except laziness!  It's much cheaper than buying the bottled tea that he likes, and more ecological as well. 

Who had a birthday in December?  My mom (and my baby sister, but she wasn't here.)  Middle sister and I were around for that, and Mr. GV had to work. 

Here Mom is showing off her earrings from S.

It was a very busy day!  Mom also had to go to the restaurant she works at in order to help out at the party for their angel tree recipients, and she needed to make a dessert as well.

Mom shared her birthday brownie I made with J via Skype.  He even helped her blow out the candle!

Before Mom went to work, the three of us went to our hometown Christmas parade.  It was a chilly day!  We had our usual spot in front of a local burger joint, where we always eat before (French fries for me.)  This year the owner said she was expecting us.  I guess it's a bonafide tradition now.  lol

 Just a few entrants in the parade:

There was a lot more---police, big rigs, fire trucks from the volunteer fire departments around the county, church floats, boy scouts, the high school band, etc.  I'm so glad I was able to be there with part of my family again this year!

A fresh slate (if we want it)

Happy New Year!!  I hope you all have a wonderful, satisfying 2012! Even more than that, I hope that you are able to let go of anything in 2011 that disappointed, saddened, or angered you.  It's sometimes hard to do that (believe me--I know!), but the truth is, it only hurts us when we hang on to those things, and not the object of our anger, disappointment, or sadness. 

Here's to a wonderful year for us all!

Decorating Mom's Tree

Mom usually puts up an artificial tree, but this year we decided she'd go with a real, smaller one. 

And here is my strong sister lifting the tree.

The cat (Thing 1 I think.  Yes there is a Thing 2 as well...)  enjoyed playing with the lights. 

Lights!

My sister's shoes are made of catnip apparently.

My mommy!

Me!

And my strong sister!

Christmas decorations

Just a few pictures from our Christmas decorating this year:



We lost two four-legged family members this year (Max the dog and Callie the cat), and this is the first year all our stockings fit together on the mantle.  *Sigh.* 

I have several snowmen and Santas, although I don't actively collect them anymore.  The wooden decorations on the left and the middle were decorated with help from my two sisters many years ago.

Macy was so over the decorating, once she got through with her annual "barking at the tree." 

Here I am hanging our 2011 ornament.  It reflects somewhere we went for the first time this year, Virginia Beach. 

This is as good as family portrait as we could get this year.  Gabby the cat was thrilled, as you can see.  Ha!

And Macy had to get into this one too.  :) 

Christmas snacks

Part of Mr. GV's family is headed out to Arizona for Christmas, so we had our Christmas get together with them last night.  I made some snacks to take along.


Vegan sausage balls---Lightlife sausage, Daiya cheese, and Bisquick.  So good, and all the non-vegans (meaning everyone other than Mr. GV and myself) thought they were good too!

Homemade Chex Mix.  I couldn't find bagel chips that didn't have several chemicals thrown in, so used pita chips instead. 

Fudgy Oatmeal cookies from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar. 

Were they good cookies?  Please see Exhibit A below; Mr. GV enjoying the last of the dough out of the mixer bowl.

Park time

One day in November J and I decided to go to the park.  I think we picked the coldest day possible!  We were the only ones there (it was during school hours) but J seemed to stay warm running around in the sun. 

Learning to balance...

As we were walking to the car, J spotted some tiny acorns and decided he should take them home for the squirrels at my house.  I guess the squirrels who live at the park are on their own!