Past Thoughts, Present Tips, and Future Tidings

The waning gibbous pulls me forward as I stand outside, staring at the moon.  I hide my frown in the darkness, the cold freezing the random tears stuck to my face.  I continue to watch the sky, the moon shrouded by concentric beams of light - a full spectrum cloak.  Graduation is over, and while one challenge has been tackled, more lurk under the mountains of snow covering the backyard, like landmines.  I try to think of nothing but the illuminated display reflected on the surrounding white.  But my mind wanders to those landmines, failures waiting to happen.  I hear noises from the nearby trees - a barred owl call and the sound of scampering across ice.  The deck is covered in snow.  I look back at my footsteps, small and barely pressing into the crusted slush.  Each step on the deck is glistening with ice, but I continue forward into the backyard.  I only look at the sky as I walk forward, feigning ignorance of the dangers underneath my boots.

I am now a college graduate, officially receiving my Bachelor's in Animal Ecology: Pre-Vet and Wildlife Care. Anything could be coming next: vet school, the MFA program for environmental writing, or rehabilitation internships, but I know every step will be toward saving animals.

There are a lot of things to remember when it comes to the holidays, including the safety of your pets.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind during your preparations:

- Carefully consider your decorations.  Tinsel is lethal to cats and dogs (as well as other pets) since it can cut the lining of the digestive system.  Pets will also play with ornaments, a possible hazard if hooks or sharp edges exist.  Remember to vacuum up loose pine needles that could become lodged in your pet's stomach.

- Although she hates the idea of people eating animals, especially on holidays, the Vegetarian Cat realizes many people serve meat at their family gatherings.  Try not to give leftover bones to any of your pets.  While they enjoy the treat, bone shards can get stuck in their throats.

- If there are a lot of trips in and out of the house, have someone keep an eye on your pet(s).  Many animals love to explore, and an open door is an invitation to use those traveling instincts.  

- I have a major chocolate obsession, so it's unnatural if I don't have the decadent sweet around the holidays (or any other day of the year).  Remember to keep the treats away from pets though, since chocolate makes cats and dogs sick.

- Even though they are pretty, keep pets away from winter plants like poinsettias.  The leaves can be toxic for cats and dogs.  Watch out for lilies too, a dangerous flower for felines.

While I'm watching blizzards with my orange tabby, laughing as my Dachpom romps through snow, or suspiciously eyeing my black Maine Coon under the tree, I always keep a refreshing drink by my side.  Hot chocolate, apple cider, or Tom and Jerry's - take your pick - all are my holiday favorites.  Each can be made vegetarian or vegan, and both are equally delicious.

Hot Chocolate
Single Serving

1. Mix 1 tbsp. cocoa powder with 2 tbsp. granulated sugar in a microwavable mug (6 - 8 oz. size).
2. Slowly pour in milk while stirring, stopping occasionally to combine ingredients.
3. Once a dark brown paste has formed, continue adding milk until about 1/2 inch below the rim.
4. Microwave 30 sec. and stir.  Repeat twice more.
5. When finished, top with whipped cream, sprinkles, or vegan marshmallows.

Note - If making more than 1 serving, use the stove top instead when heating the hot cocoa.  Milk with higher fat content should be watched in the microwave as it heats up faster.  Soy milk can easily replace milk in the recipe.  Try Vanilla Silk for a yummy taste.  Adding extracts is a great idea for creating drinks for individual tastes.  Use 1/2 tsp. of peppermint extract for a delicious winter twist.

Nutella Hot Chocolate
Single Serving

(Many recipes specify the amount of milk and Nutella, but I use the guess and check method for the best taste.)

1. Pour the amount of milk you want into a small saucepan.  I use 1 c. of skim milk or Silk.
2. Whisk in 2 tbsp. of Nutella and taste.  If it's not chocolately enough, add another tbsp.
3. When heated through, poor into mug and enjoy with whipped cream.

Apple Cider 

1. Pour Simply Apple into a saucepan. 
2. Add cinnamon sticks and spices to taste.
3. Heat and serve.

Tom and Jerry's

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/tom-and-jerry-batter/Detail.aspx 

This recipe is what I remember from my childhood (of course mine were without alcohol back then).  Even today, I stay away from most alcohol, because not all brands are cruelty-free.  Many wines, beers, and liquors are purified using gelatin and fish bladder-derived film.  If you love a certain brand, but want to stay loyal to your morals, email or call the company and ask them how they purify their alcohol. 

Whatever you do this winter, whether it's opening presents by a tree or simply enjoying the snow, remember to make it a safe season full of animal-friendly meals and decor.

(To my Lucy and Simon - I will love you and miss you forever.)

~ The Vegetarian Cat 

Furry Friends and Tips to Healthy (Vegetarian) Living

The weather has been cold recently, frigid gales blowing across the campus.  Bundled in their winter coats, eastern fox squirrels frantically search the browning ground, digging for carefully placed caches of nuts.  The branches of a nearby walnut tree sway under the weight of a single squirrel as he jumps back and forth, awaiting his friends at the trunk of the tree.  They are at war - a ruthless battle of tag that will last until one bushy-tailed victor emerges.  When snow finally falls in this Midwestern college town, no longer will the fox squirrel be the mascot of livelihood, stealing the attention of students previously entranced by their cell phones and iPods.  Yet, with a trained eye, their presence can still be seen underneath those same walnut trees.  The lightest of tracks, barely gracing the surface of the solid white mounds, create looping trails from tree to tree.  The imprints are so small, delicate.  I watch the wisps of breath escaping my mouth, like steam rising from a winter lake.  It is cold.  Iowa winters are always cold.  But the harsh arctic will melt as fox squirrels return to continue their endless chasing games.

With graduation approaching rapidly, stress often finds a way of sneaking into every moment of my life.  I obsess and worry - enough to drive those around me insane.  I also tend to get sick, frequently, from the extra tension.  To stay healthy, I make sure to do a few things - vegetarian-friendly options of course.

1. Vegetarian vitamins - http://www.swansonvitamins.com/ has entire lines of vegetarian vitamins free of cruel ingredients like gelatin.

2. Eat enough protein - I'm not a huge fan of beans, so I get a lot of my protein from gelatin-free yogurt, organic milk, and peanut butter.

3. Try to have at least 3 balanced meals per day - I'm a tiny person, so I eat small portions often throughout the day.  Even if you don't have time for meals, a snack will perk up your metabolism.  Carrots and trail mix are nutritious and tasty options.

Mealtime can also be stressful for vegetarians, especially if there are picky eaters in the house.  Any recipe can be changed into a vegetarian delight though, using a quick switch of ingredients.  I love using pasta, because it's delicious, easy to incorporate into new dishes, and contains vital calories.  Vegetable lasagna, spaghetti, and stuffed shells are simple and inexpensive to create, and most of the time, you don't need a recipe.  Add carrots, zucchini, broccoli to sauces and fillings - whatever you want.  Remember, any recipe that calls for meat can be made with vegetables or soy proteins for a yummier, healthier, and animal-friendly feast.

Silent Flight

(Great Horned Owl)

The Great Horned Owl perched upon a naked maple branch, carefully watching the last of the autumn leaves fall and stick to the wet ground.  He was cold and hungry.  Stripped Skunks and Northern Short-tailed Shrews and Eastern Cottontails would soon vanish under powdered snow, caking the ground in a light glaze of white.  The owl called out (http://www.owlpages.com/sounds/Bubo-virginianus-6.mp3), vaguely attempting to attract a mate before the first snow.  Mating season would begin after the next two full moons, and the Great Horned Owl, undecided about raising offspring, wished for just one more lunar cycle.  He was tired, living for a decade in the wild and outliving most other owls from his generation.  Stealing a Red-Tailed Hawk nest for his eggs also did not bode well for his confidence toward fatherhood.  The decision was too much - at least for now.  At least a few elms and one birch he knew quite well still had a few leaves left on their branches.  So the Great Horned Owl flew silently into the forest, ignoring a nearby owl call to look for a Striped Skunk he knew would be hiding near the familiar birch tree.  What did he care of its foul odor?  He couldn't smell a thing.

 (Barred Owl)

I adore owls!  Barn, Barred, Eastern Screech, and Great Horned - it doesn't matter.  These birds of prey are the ultimate hunters, sporting serrated feathers that produce absolutely no sound during flight.  They mainly feast on rodents and small birds, but devour skunks whenever they find them.  Although they are beautiful birds, they are illegal to own unless a Rehabilitation or Falconry License is obtained.  But owls should not be considered cuddly pets to showcase to family and friends.  They are complex, wild animals demanding respect and dedication.  I'm lucky enough to volunteer at a wildlife care clinic where I work with different owls.  Even though they are captive birds, use to changing staff and volunteers, I still treat them as I would any other wildlife: with practiced caution and controlled reverence.

 (Eastern Screech Owl - Gray Phase)

 (Barn Owl)

 (Leopold - Long-Eared Owl)

Beyond Vegetarianism

A good vegetarian not only passes on the meat (seafood too), but also investigates their food.  Most people don't know what they are actually eating; food companies hide a lot of shady ingredients in unsuspecting products.  Gelatin, magnesium stearate, and even enzymes can be derived from an animal source.  It's different for each product, but check before you buy!  Call the company and ask about the sources of the questionable ingredients.  

Cheese is very difficult to purchase without animal enzymes, retrieved from the stomachs of cows and pigs (after they have been slaughtered).  It's safer and friendlier to just go vegan on cheese, but if you want your dairy fix, Sargento (TM) has a specific list on their website (link below) of cheeses with animal enzymes.  Kraft (TM) Shredded Mozzarella and Shredded Mild Cheddar are made with microbial enzymes, making them vegetarian friendly.  Just check the ingredients.  If something is questionable, look it up.

http://www.sargento.com/faq/#what-is-the-source-of-the-enzymes-in-your-cheeses

Today on Critter Watch: Ostriches!  These feathery friends are ancient, with fossils dating back 56 million years.  Their relationship to dinosaurs can be seen in the way they run and the angle of their pelvic bones.  If anything, ostriches are modern-day velociraptors with feathers.  Traveling in groups of five to 50, ostriches live nomadic lifestyles in search of grazing land.  To escape predators, the ostrich can run about 45 mph for 30 minutes, giving them plenty of time to escape.  The majority of ostriches are not found in the wild, but on conservation reserves and farms.  Ostriches are raised for their meat, feathers, skin, and eggs.  Help make a difference by never purchasing products made from ostriches and by protesting any local ostrich farms.  They are meant to roam free, not have to have their feathers plucked for a new duster.

Product of the Day: Bloody Mary's Setting Powder.  This powder is ghost-white, best used on Halloween or for very fair-skinned ladies like myself.  I use the powder to create a smooth finish over my foundation, which is often a little too dark.  The white powder balances the foundation and adds light to cheekbones and eyes.  All of Bloody Mary's products are vegan friendly - never tested on animals with no animal ingredients.  Check out their website listed below for more of their spooky makeup that can be used year-round.

http://www.dearbloodymary.com/makeup_products.html

Critter Watch & Product of the Day

Not only do I love animals, but I love to study them too.  Today's Critter Watch focuses on the harlequin shrimp, a tropical crustacean that feeds on starfish.  The name comes from its brightly colored exoskeleton, much like the costume of a circus clown.  Harlequin shrimp are often purchased as aquarium pets, but should be left in their natural habitats, coral reefs.

The Product of the Day is Kirk's Original Coco Castile, a great bar of vegan soap.  Kirk's Natural LLC has been around since 1839, providing cleansing products at affordable prices.  You can order any of their cruelty-free items at the website below, but check your local stores first for better deals.  I buy the bar soap from a nearby Hy-Vee for about $1.50 a bar.  Hy-Vee is a midwest chain store though, so try Whole Food Markets or Meijer's, whatever is in your area.

http://www.kirksnatural.com/

Let's Get This Started!

Product of the Day:
Yes To Carrots (TM) Pampering Carrot Juice Shampoo

This shampoo is amazing!  Along with it being completely cruelty-free and PETA approved, it provides silk and shine to damaged hair.  Browse through any of their products at the link below.

http://yestocarrots.com/