Also started making tutus, bows but mostly sculpted hair bows and recycled pop tab bracelets (which my friend and partner makes the bracelets). I helped her make a tutu like one I made for Punkyroo a long time ago and she suggested to make and sell them. So at a homeschool craft sale day I made and brought a couple and they all sold, I was so excited. So my friend and I brought our noggins in and decided to try and try and start selling these. She’s an amazing knitter and croucher so she makes the bracelets and tutus with meand I do tutus and bows It’s nice since doing a big order we’ll get together and our girls will play. It is pretty awesome when that friend is also a vegan homechooler with a kid close in the same age! Seriously how awesome right?! and the odds, crazy!

So on the Unschooling front Punkyroo is doing awesome! She’s reading now and it’s so amazing to watch the process. 5 years old now and she’s reading and all on her own desire. We worked with letters and sounds and always read to her. Then one day it was “mommy I want to read to you too, I do a page and you do the other, we’ll take turns” and it’s been great. It was like that with adding too. Money was a wee bit harder for her but is a toughie remembering 1 item represents more than 1. We will def stay on our unschooling road. Granted there’s days when with almost anyone not in a school setting wonders if it’s enough or good enough etc but usually that passes when I see how happy and how much she’s developing by passion and curiousity.

So I’m hoping to dust off this baby and get back to it!
To anyone wanting to see the stuff I’ve been making just check out Tied Tutus & Things on facebook at Facebook.com/TiedTutus

Ok so honestly after writing that out it doesn’t seem alot to keep me away from this blog for a year but I guess it has. And thank you for those who have been reading my blog and wrote me some nice emails asking if I’m alright or if I got carried away but some crazy ninjas and to the newbies to my blog for all the nice words about my blog <3 I'm hopeing to be able to keep more active with it now that things are a litlle more mellowed out. KNOCK ON WOOD!

I’ve looked around for vegan and vegetarian books for Punkyroo before and tried a couple and  have found dissapointing. But one day looking for a new recipe to try out I saw a post about a new children’s book but talking about WHY we don’t eat animals like the vast population. It’s called That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals: A Book ABout Vegans, Vegetarians, and All Living Things by Ruby Roth.  I checked it out and watched the youtube video about it and decided to order it. Since it was on pre-order at the time when I ordered it I had to wait atleast a month to get it! I was so anxious to get it and hope that Punkyroo liked it.

Finally it came in!!! I LOVE this book. the illustrations (also by Ruby Roth) are so cute and wonderfully written. Punkryoo likes it too. She’s known we are vegan and if you ask her why she would say “we are vegan because we want the animals to be happy”, that’s a pretty good way to put it to a 2 year old at the time and she says it’s with such joy. But  with this book it describes it a bit more without going into too much detail. She understands and actually asks all the time while shopping, cooking or making snacks.. “is that have no (insert animal/animal byproduct) so we can eat it? we are vegan we don’t eat that”, it’s nice to know she understands and questions about food.  

When we go grocery shopping she sees the lobsters in the tank and asks to see them, which I don’t like but made it into a teaching about us being vegan. We tell her that they are in there because some people eat them but they belong out in the ocean. She still always wants to see them and says “they belong in the ocean” with a sad face. Well last time we went they didn’t have any in the tank , which we didn’t notice until Punkyroo’s face lit up and shouted “there’s no lobsters!! they’re in the ocean!!” it was so hilarious and so cute.

Off track but back to the book… The book was wonderful and anyone vegan or vegetarian and has children really should get this book, I really recommend it!!

I have to say deciding to unschool was one of the most easiest things choose to do. Yes doing the research and contemplation about it was long but once I took all the info in I knew this was for our family.

A while back I posted unschooling groups for my county all over trying to find atleast one other unschooling parent and I pretty much gave up hope until a mom in my natural mom’s group posted under my unschooling thread on the forums!! She said there are a few that get together at the park every week! ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!!??? I was looking all over just one spot I didn’t think of to look and there they were!  So we decided to head on down and meet other unschoolers.

Of course I ended up writing the wrong day and the next week something else came up but finally we made it.  Luckily hubby had off and joined us, which I think really helped him. It was so nice all the moms are so nice and the kids are wonderful. The age range was very nice from 5 all the way to the teens! All the kids played, except Punkyroo as cautious as shy is but she still loves watching other kids playing and then playing with us.

Getting to sit down and talk to other moms, especially ones that have been doing it for years and finding out more details about the one last thing I was worried about but not really ….registery with the county, but knowing that I can unschool without having my child stressed out and graded to a system that makes no sense is such a weight of my shoulders. 

It was so cute though another unschooling family walked up and the boy was so excited to play with the other kids but also to see the other parents!! He ran over and started stalking to the parents and then off to play! It was so nice to see how the children and adults interacted. The whole time I was there I felt at ease, that this is part of me and who I am and who my family is.

On another Unschooling note….Dayna Martin has a book coming out!!! Yay!!  Radical Unschooling-A Revolution Has Begun…. what an awesome title!  I can’t wait!

So Pizza and ribz it was for dinner, this way is Hubby doesn’t approve then he still gets his wonderful pizza and dinner wont be a bust. These ribz were SOOO easy to make, it’s the first time I baked seitan. I didn’t have any liquid smoke but it was still so yummy. Oh also I used a foreman, I think it might be better stick with a grill on this since my BBQ sauce kept carmalizing and cleaning the foreman is a pain, it’s right up there with dusting for me.hehe. These taste so much like the meat version it’s scary! Punkyroo and I had a few bites of testing before Hubby got home. She LOVED these! These will definelty be made again, especially for all my hunting/meat lover family members.

I do have a picture but I havn’t uploaded it to the computer yet, these are just too good I had to share right away, but I’ll add my pict was it’s uploaded, but Fat Free Vegan’s picts will definetly have you drooling.

May You Find Peace Whereever You May Be

You Will Be Forever Loved and Never Forgotten

BUT, of course there’s a but…out of flying 2x a year form Florida to Michigan and back from age 10-18 I never had any airline troubles until of course now. I was first late for my flight, I seriously watched my plane pull away from the gate as the tram just got to the end, then I didn’t know I was on standby until I went to the gate desk, luckily I got it. Then I was told I was on standby again in Atlanta (my connection) just to be stressed out more and then told “oh no you’re not on standby”…4 hours of waiting stress for nothing.  So my original depature was at 7am with a connection wait of 45min and arrival at 11am, which turned into departing at 9am connection wait of 4 hours and arriving at 6-something pm! I wanted to make the most of the Friday-Sunday I’ll be there since I havn’t seen my sisters and stepmom since my wedding and dad since Punkyroo was 8months old. But the good thing about such a layover in Atlanta was enough time to go to Level to Level looking for a place to have something Vegan…Panda Express- Eggplant Tofu, steamed veggies and veggie srping rolls! Yum! Oh and a smoothie from a smootie stand!

Now on my way back I was ready to get back to Hubby and Punkyroo but what happens when I arrive at the airport?…. My flight was canceled due to snow storm in Atlanta!! So Monday morning I leave out, luckily they put me on a non-stop flight! But this made Hubby have to take another day off work. Oh and toppers, they told me because so many lfights were canceled to get there at 5:30am to get through the long lines to make my 7am flight and remind you this is a private airport I came and left in Michigan, so we get there at 5:30am and there was less people traffic than the night before!! Man I could have got 2 exta hours of sleep! But it did give me more time to talk to my dad before I left since Sunday was race day and good luck getting his attention or response from him then!lol.

Other than that stuff it was a good trip considering the reason I was mainly there. Atleast I was able to say goodbye to my grandparents before they passed.

SUESS IN CLOTH

Do you like a cloth diapered bum?

I do not like them, CD Mum. I do not like a cloth diapered bum.

Would you use them here or there? I would not use them anywhere.
I do not like a cloth diapered bum. I do not like them CD Mum.

Would you use them in the house? Who will use them? Would your spouse?

I would not use them in the house. No one likes them, especially my spouse.
I will not use them here or there, I will not use them anywhere. I do not like
a cloth diapered bum. I do not like them CD Mum.

Would you wear them to the mall? With a design and nothing dull.

Not to the mall. Not printed or dull. Not in the house.
Forget my spouse. I would not use them here or there. I would not use them anywhere.
I would not have a cloth diapered bum. I do not like them CD Mum.

Would you? Could you? In a car? Wear them, wear them…here they are.

I would not, could not in a car.

You may like them. You will see. You may like them, this one’s free.

I would not, even if it’s free. Not in car. You let me be.
I do not like them at the mall.
I do not like them, printed or dull.
I do not like them at the house.
I do not like them, neither does my spouse.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.
I do not like a cloth diapered bum.
I do not like them CD Mum.

Micro fleece! Suede cloth! Stay dry liner. Could you? Would you put that on your docket?

Not on MY docket, even if it’s free.
Not in the car. Mum, let me be.
I would not, could not at the mall.
I could not, would not printed or dull.
I will not use them, neither will my spouse.
Not out and about or even at the house.
I will not use them here or there.
I will not use them anywhere.
I do not like a cloth diapered bum.
I do not like them CD Mum.

Say, if it’s Sherpa?
100% Sherpa! Would you; could you if it’s Sherpa?

I would not, could not if it’s Sherpa.

Would you, could you with a pocket?

I would not could not with a pocket.
Not if it’s Sherpa. It’s just not on MY docket.
Not in the car. Not if it’s free.
I do not like them, Mum, You see.
Not in my house. Not at the mall.
Not for my spouse, regardless if printed or dull.
I will not use them here or there.
I will not use them anywhere.

You do not like a cloth diapered bum?

I do not like them CD Mum.

Could you; would you if it’s hemp?

I would not, could not if it’s hemp.

Would you, could you, it won’t rip!

I could not, would not, even without a rip.
I will not, will not, even if it’s hemp.
I will not use them with a pocket.
It’s not my thing, not on my docket.
Not if it’s Sherpa, not if it’s free.
Not in the car, you let me be.
I do not like them at the mall.
I do not like them printed or dull.
I will not wear them at the house.
I will not, nor will my spouse.
I will not use them here or there.
I will not use them anywhere.
I do not like a cloth diapered bum.
I do not like them, CD mum.

You do not like them, so you say.
Try them! Try them! And you may,
try them and you may, I say.

Mum, if you will let me be.
I will try them and you will see….

SAY….

I like a cloth diapered bum.
I do. I like the CD Mum.
And I would use them if they’re hemp.
And I know these wont’ rip.
And I will use them with a pocket.
And if it’s hemp, it’s now on my docket.
And in the car, Wow it’s FREE!
They are so good so good you see.
So I will use them at the mall.
I don’t care if printed or dull.
I will use them at the house.
We will use them, even my spouse.
And I will use them here or there.
I will use them anywhere.
I do so like a cloth diapered bum.
Thank you, thank you…
CD Mum.

~adapted by ~denise m cole, this-end-up.com 4/2006

We had a wonderful time in North Carolina, we stayed at this beautiful house, Eagle’s Nest-Eagle’s Lair, up on the mountains. Punkyroo got such a kick that tons of ladybugs were everywhere in the house. Don’t freak out, that’s the only bugs that were in the house. But we would collect as many as possible and release them outside and then a few hours later there’d be more, so she called it Lady Bug House and wants to go back she reminds us! It was also great finding a lodge to stay at in the mountains that wasn’t decorated with hunting or fishing stuff!

And a great topper was a well known cafe that specifically labels meals that are vegetarian AND VEGAN 10 minutes away, Lulu’s Cafe, it was great to have a take out menu to an vegetarian/vegan likings!! Bonus!! Although we didn’t go since we made our dinners but having that menu in the house and available was very nice.

It was a wonderful stay. The Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Ripley’s Aquarium, Snow Tubing and SNOW BOARDING!! Oh yeah! After 4 years of no boarding I did really well and it was great to finally show Hubby in person myself boarding and Punkyroo was all excited and proud which made me feel really good. But it was a wonderful time, Hubby needed the vaca bad so that was nice to finally see him relax, since he works alot of weekends.

So I’ll get back to sharing recipes again soon, gave me time to try out some new ones, yummmm..

But one last thing, my last post was about the BNKC’s meeting….WE WON. All the commisioner’s voted YES!! Feb. 3rd was a wonderful turning point for the animals at the shelters. It wont happen over night of course but hopefully in 5 years we will be there!