This photo was taken over a year ago, when my daughter was just a wee one. I was sifting through the recipe folder, looking for a recipe to post and finding none, I came across this photo. So much has happened in this year. Our small business has grown and we have celebrated birthdays and cried over the passing of my beloved Grandpa. I want everyone who comes across this to be happy in knowing that love is such an infinite force. It cannot be contained, bottled or canned. I spent two weeks in Georgia with my grandma who had just lost her partner of 65 years. I am so amazed by her strength and her foresight. She was prepared to lose her husband, I wasn’t prepared to lose the man who had stepped in as my father for the past 30 years.
When my grandparents still lived in NYC, they took me everywhere with them. I went on countless road trips from NYC to Georgia. I remember my grandmother always making more food than we could eat and my grandfather always impeccably dressed. He was a proud man and he was always loving, affectionate and proud of me. I was their first grandchild and the only grandchild for ten years. My father being their only child, they welcomed me, an unexpected gift as their daughter. As I write this, the love and positive example that he showed me is engraved permanently in my heart and my soul.
Like my grandfather, I am quiet, choosy even with the folks that I share my life with. However, “I love you” should never be left unsaid. I am grateful that I have the loving memories of the times that I spent with my grandpa. He could always make me laugh. He didn’t miss much and often had colorful observations to share.
As you read this, you must know that love is a powerful choice and it feels so good to have it in your life. If you are out there seeking it, stop, for it is first found within. Everything is already there, just open your eyes. If you are going through a hard time, if there are troubles in your midst, remember to love. Give love freely in kindness to others and receive love through forgiveness.
I am just sharing with you a portion of my journey because I have found that love always wins, the spirit lives on and we are all magnificent beings with an amazing capacity for love.
Let’s start with these. The shelf life of our vegan cheeses is 3 weeks. I have been thinking about how to extend this. We currently sell our product in plastic containers and I have been thinking about vacuum sealing for a while. I want to keep the oval shape of the cheese, but how to get a clean edge when vacuum sealed? And, I would want to find some kind of eco-friendly wrap. I haven’t found a green vacuum bag yet.
Anyway, on a positive note. We are still making vegan cheese, our children are still healthy and my mom is still awesome.
There are a couple of updates I am going to add, like other stores we are currently in, what new services we are offering and just some all around house cleaning. Things were getting a little dusty around here.
In the meantime; I found the cutest vegan couple: http://www.meettheshannons.net/ Please check them out! In the spirit of Julie and Julia, they are veganizing the Betty Crocker cookbook!
Speaking of veganizing. I have veganized many of her recipes, but I am so unofficial about it…lol
The Mercy For Animals’ 2nd annual Celebrating Compassion Gala was amazing! This has been such a hectic holiday season and we prepped ourselves for this event, however it’s been a while and we don’t get out much…together. I had so much fun being around grown ups, dressing up, serving our cheese, taking pictures, hanging with friends (Kevin & Chelsea) and spending time with my Silver Fox!
This Friday, December 4th is the Mercy For Animals’ 2nd annual Celebrating Compassion Gala. Ste Martaen cheese will be there! We’re excited to be one of the vegan businesses involved in helping to honor the vegan change makers in our local community.
We’d like to take this time to thank Delicious for being awesome and so supportive of us! We’d also like to thank Vegan Chicago for allowing us to debut our cheese and it’s been crazy ever since! We’re so thankful for the positive feedback and amazing support from the vegan community at large. Let’s continue to support one another.
My husband and I can measure our lives in one of many ways. Recently our blackberries have become the gauge. There was life before our blackberry phones which was devoid of excitement and without purpose and life after the blackberry which trumps our bebes.
It started last week with our middle son…then momma…then the baby boy…then our oldest son…then me. The FLU!!! Swine flu? I don’t know? But whatever it was, our whole family was affected. Laviyah had it worst. She was bed ridden for 3 straight days. When I say bed ridden, I mean comatose, under the covers, barely able to wobble herself to the bathroom to go tinkle. I was down one full day with the internal body aches and another day with a small headache…like that dehydrated because I was out way too late the night before hungover feeling. (You Chicago VOT’ers know what I mean ) The only one who didn’t fall prey to Porky Pig’s revenge…baby girl.
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) The only one who didn’t fall prey to Porky Pig’s revenge…baby girl. 
Themocracy