My sheltered life

Clueless

2009-05-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

My hubby and I went to a the farmer's market on Tuesday to buy some organic produce for dinner. There was a stand there that sold dog biscuits that contributed part of the proceeds to the local SPCA to help abused animals. Since we are always willing to help animals, we decided to buy a bag for our dogs even though they were outrageously expensive. (I usually make my own cookies for our furry friends, but I haven't had the time with the two kids.)

I asked the guy working at the stand if he had any vegan or vegetarian peanut butter cookies, and he told me that he didn't think so. He said they had peanut butter in them (thinking that wasn't vegetarian). I told him that it was and proceeded to read the rest of the ingredients. While reading the ingredients to the peanut butter cookies, he showed me his beef cookies. (Why does that sound dirty?) I asked if there were animal products in them and he replied with "no". He then went on with how all his products were organic and contained no animal products, only beef and chicken broth. O.o Where exactly does he think the stock comes from? So peanut butter isn't vegetarian, and beef and chicken broth isn't an animal product?

I can't believe he works for the SPCA.

Random thought

2009-05-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

If produce is grown inside plastic pots, does the bpa leech into the food?

Iridescent cupcakes

2009-01-22T13:56:00.000-08:00

Cutesy cupcakes painted in acrylic on 5x7 gallery wrapped canvas. The shiny spots on the painting are blue and violet iridescent paint. The sides are painted in a chocolate brown and the image is slightly skewed just like the rest of my photos. :) I thought a set of dessert paintings would look cute in the kitchen.

Bird drawing WIP

2009-01-18T23:00:00.000-08:00

A days worth of work for such a tiny head. This is my first time drawing a bird. Feathers are such tedious things. The image is slightly skewed.

A painting of hope

2009-01-15T13:53:00.000-08:00

This is a mixed media piece on 10" x 20" canvas, based on my favorite quote:

"You don't have to stay anywhere forever"
- Edwin Payne

I was trying to convey what the quote meant to me. Although your

houses (the meaning) may be different than mine, I think we all have

times when we feel like this.

As a realist, this type of art is completely foreign to me, because I
usually see something and replicate it. I often tell my friends and

family that I can replicate, but I can't create! This was fun and a
lot less stressful than my normal pieces of art, since I was able to
be expressive rather than analytical and precise.

This was the first time I've done a mixed media piece. I felt like a
little kid cutting out paper. :) Also, it took a lot less time than a
pencil drawing; a definite bonus, since I often find drawing a
daunting task.

Leaf drawing

2009-01-05T12:47:00.000-08:00

Finally I finished a new graphite drawing! This took me about two months to complete since I rarely have spare time. It was my first attempt at snow and I'll never draw it again! It didn't turn out as well as I would have liked but it's been a while since I've drawn and I'm out of practice. The reference photo was from here.

Handmade train stocking

2008-12-10T16:14:00.001-08:00

Handmade Train stocking, originally uploaded by lefleurpixie.

This is my little boy's very first Christmas so I wanted to make him a special stocking. We have a train theme going for him so naturally it had to be a train stocking! It didn't turn out as wide as I would have liked but I think it came out rather cute nonetheless.

Whoops!

2008-12-03T17:34:00.000-08:00

I absentmindedly deleted my blog layout this morning so I spent the entire afternoon creating a new layout. I like the new one a bit better as I was bored with the old one. I've been so tired lately that my creativity has run dry. This was the best I could come up with on the little fuel my brain had left. I need a donut.

A question

2008-12-02T20:48:00.000-08:00

Is it ethical for a vegan to eat non-organic produce knowing that many insects, birds, frogs and other critters were probably injured or killed from the spraying of pesticide?

Just a thought.

Our very first Tofurky Thanksgiving!

2008-11-28T16:25:00.000-08:00

This was the first Thanksgiving we didn't have to see or smell a dead
animal on the table. As an added bonus, we had more to eat than just
side dishes! We tried the Tofurky feast this year, and it wasn't too
bad for packaged food. I didn't much care for the apple/cranberry
dumplings, but Mike really liked them. The Tofurky took much longer to
cook than stated, and I think I could have made a better homemade
gravy. The only things homemade were the biscuits and the apple crisp.
(not pictured) It was still decent enough that we are probably going
to make it again for Christmas.

It was also Vinny's first Thanksgiving, and his 9 month birthday! As a
special little treat we fed him a little pieces of biscuit. He doesn't
quite know how to chew yet; he just keeps the food in his mouth until
it dissolves.

Baby leg warmers

2008-11-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

Easier diaper changes and that sexy 80's look. :)

Pei Wei is closed!

2008-10-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

:( We just went there last week and all of a sudden they are out of business today! This is a sad, sad day. They were my favorite quick food place and they had the best tofu....chewy on the outside but soft on the inside. I'm really going to miss that. There isn't another place that can compare to their tofu. If anyone knows what kind of tofu they use or how to make it that way please let me know! I've tried taking extra firm tofu and stir frying it in hot oil but it doesn't turn out the same. I've tried using baked tofu in the same manner and still a different outcome than Pei Wei. I have always hated the taste of tofu and soy products but their tofu didn't taste like tofu. Where am I going to eat now when I don't want to cook?! /cry

Vegan Mattar Paneer

2008-10-18T19:20:00.001-07:00

Made with Potatoes instead of Paneer.

Ugliest shoes I've ever seen!

2008-10-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Would anyone actually buy these? I've never had such an appalling reaction to a pair of shoes. Pure ugliness!!!

Chloe cattus

2008-10-03T22:12:00.001-07:00

Chloe cattus, originally uploaded by lefleurpixie.

Sweet innocence

2008-10-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

altered letters

2008-08-22T19:59:00.001-07:00

altered letters, originally uploaded by lefleurpixie.

I only had about 10 minute free a day so this project took much longer than I would have liked. Now to drill holes and hang them up!

Random thought

2008-08-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

Where does the fuzzy lint on the bottom of the mice come from? I clean my desk with a microfiber cloth everyday and I clean around the little cushions on the under side of my mouse. Even still, I clean up multiple clumps of fuzziness a day. Every mouse I've ever used has had this build up so I know it's not this particular mouse. I have a theory that little portals open up underneath the mouse when I'm not looking and faeries deposit their used toilet paper. Makes sense doesn't it? I thought so.

Vinny's first feeding

2008-08-18T18:56:00.000-07:00

Today I fed Vinny his first teaspoon of organic rice cereal and he spit about 75% of it out. It didn't smell very good so I don't blame him. He stares at me when I eat and if I put my food close to his mouth he opens wide for it. I felt it was time for him to start trying some solids but he just didn't have the same reaction with the rice cereal. He clearly has good taste! Solid foods are a lot messier to clean up. I can see myself going through dozens of bibs and burp cloths a week now. Just a random post to remember the date. :)

My 5.5 month son playing the keyboard

2008-08-16T09:13:00.001-07:00

My 5.5 month son playing the keyboard
Originally uploaded by lefleurpixie

The most talented baby on the planet.

aceo rose drawing

2008-08-08T02:05:00.000-07:00

2.5"x3.5" Graphite drawing. Image is grainier than the original because my scanner is still broken. 01/11/09 - Uploaded a better image.

Blooming in July 2008

2008-07-14T10:17:00.001-07:00

Some of the plants I've managed to keep alive this year.

Pansies that I planted about 4 months ago. This is the longest I've kept pansies alive in our hot weather.

Coleus 'Fishnet Stockings"

Echinacea 'Bright Star'

Echinacea 'Magnus'

Echinacea 'Magnus'

Geranium of unknown variety.

Handmade scarf for Ruth's Birthday.

2008-07-13T16:36:00.000-07:00

I rushed this project and it didn't turn out as well as I would have liked. I hope she likes it anyways. I started it the afternoon before her birthday and worked on it until her party. I should stop doing things at the last minute . . . maybe one day. Hand sewn scarf with a flannel back. The ends are hand embroidered with some beads as embellishments for the stamens. It's my very lazy attempt at cherry blossoms.

A mouthful of Luna

2008-04-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

The neglected puppies

2008-04-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much time for the poor doe eyed creaters ever since the human baby came. I feel really bad for them. Gimli has something wrong with his ear and it started bleeding. The vet thinks he has allergies but the medication he's been given so far haven't worked and so he's still suffering. It looks like he might be allergic to grass or something at the soccer field we take him too. He's a cattle dog that can't run or play without getting really itchy. My poor baby! His eye also turned red and closed for a day or two and we had to take him to the doggy ER but they couldn't do anything for him. He also ended up eating a bottle and vomiting plastic and blood. We had an x-ray done and he's ok. I guess he threw it all up. Better the way it went in than coming out his back end. We are also having one of his premolars extracted in a month. It broke in half about a year ago and we have yet to do anything about it. We are such neglectful parents! I actually didn't know you could do anything until recently when I found articles about it online. His nerve is exposed and so I'm sure he's in a lot of pain. I hope that this doesn't have anything to do with his eye and ear problem which are both on the same side as the broken tooth. Could anything else go wrong with him?

Luna is the same . . clueless. She has the brain of a styrofoam peanut.