OK--so I've been absent from zaads awhile...I'm in a masters program and teaching full time, but checking in now.  Much to do, pies to bake, cleaning for company arriving tomorrow. (daughter and sig other & one son)

Going to try a vegan pecan pie using agar for thickening!  I make a vegan pumpkin pie and the tofurky's defrosting.  Altho I am not vegan, all 3 kids are and I don't have a big stake in murdering another turkey (I can get leftovers from a friend if I really need a meat fix-but it's not the norm).

Looking to make some new friends--people with similar values. Looking forward to reconecting with old Zaads friends too.   I am thankful for the love of family and collegues, for being able to support myself ,and knowing my needs are met  by more than personal human effort.

Sending light and love to all in the community this Thanksgiving season--
Blessings--Jude

My pecan pie experiment was a flop--but how else to learn?  I don't think the agar was the issue, but that I cooked it with the pumkin pie at a length and temperature that was too long and too hot for the sugar.  What I ended up with was solid pecan hard candy!

We put it in plastic bags, smashed it with the cast iron skillet, and ate the crumbles with a spoon.  Unfortunately the hardness/stickiness broke off some enamal on one of my crowns (it was already partly chipped)!  Too funny since I kept telling everyone else not to break their teeth on it!

Lovely dinner.  My daughter brought the baked pear salad out of Vegetarian Times.  Wow! What a lovely surprise.  Her cooking skills have blosoomed, along with her maturity.  She was all about helping me in the kitchen.  Her sig other made a lovely tender bread for the meal, and my son the extrodinary mashed potatoes.

I am blessed to have such a lovely, loving family.  I am thankful that all my needs are met by the one true Source.

"Your life is a sacred journey. And it is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous risks, embracing challenges at every step along the way...
And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, beauty, wisdom, power, dignity and love."
Caroline Joy Adams