Brunch: An Abundance of Berries over Vegan Pancakes

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Natalie Imbruglia ~ Sanctuary
The Who ~ My Generation
Voice of the Beehive ~ Don't Call Me Baby
Prince ~ I Wanna Be Your Lover
LeAnn Rimes ~ But I Do Love You
Pulp ~ Disco 2000
Beth Hart ~ Sister Heroine
Soundgarden ~ Burden In My Hand
Kylie Minogue ~ Confide In Me
Chris Cornell ~ Time
Clawfinger ~ I Don't Care
Chely Wright ~ Like Me
T-Rex ~ Hot Love
Sarah McLachlan ~ Possession

So..who amongst us can say they are members of the BAA? *raising both hands high* You are? Phew I knew there must be some other members of the Berry Addicts Anonymous out there. lol. I'm an addict and I will never..ever...be a recovering addict. lol. If there was only berries to eat for the rest of my life...I would be one happy berry juice covered chick. Yep!

Yesterday when out on our family day adventures with my sister and her little ones we walked into a wall of the most beautiful British strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

*drool*

The smell was intoxicating and made both mine and my sisters mouths water instantly.  It was a really hard decision to make..it took us all of..erm...six seconds to fill our trolleys with them. Mine, with the addition of a beautiful bag of the deepest red apples I have ever seen..in fact I would say they were purple! And also a good bag of Kiwi..summer is finally here folks. lol

Gratuitous Berry Shot 1!
Can you smell them? Delish...

I love berries just as they come..well rinsed! I get so sad when people smother them in sugar. And part of the joy of eating raspberries is the whole shudder factor when you encounter a sharp one!

Gratuitous Berry Shot 2!
These jewels were large and just sweet
Perfect!

A good vegan vanilla ice cream scooped on top of a tumbling pile of berries is heaven...and raspberries served on the side on my chocolate cake...nirvana! Blueberries I can eat anytime of the day..as little snacks..I love when the crisp skins pop on my tongue and you get hit with that wonderful blueberry powerhouse of flavour.

Gratuitous Berry Shot 3!
Did someone say Blueberries??? huh? HUH! lol

Right...where was I? Brunch! Yes! Sorry went over to the berryside there for a while. lol. Today I had the most blissful and delicious brunch ever. Now it looks sweet but apart from the natural sweetness of the berries there really isn't anything competing. The pancakes are cooked quite thin and are simply just a lovely base to serve the berries over and compliment them. Today I was inspired to add a drizzle of vanilla vegan yoghurt and it worked so well. As I ate this meal I was lifted from the urghness I'm in health wise right now..and I could feel the healing goodness from the berries being absorbed into every cell. To say I was smiling whilst eating this meal is a slight understatement. lol And as ever thank you to ML for getting up and making the pancakes and putting things together for me.

Berries and pancakes served with a decaf espresso...Happy Red!!! lol

An Abundance of Berries over Vegan Pancakes
(Pancake recipe the creation of Isa Chandra Moskowitz from Vegan Brunch!)

1 punnet of cleaned strawberries, halved or quartered
1 punnet of cleaned raspberries
1 punnet of cleaned blueberries

A tbsp per person of vanilla vegan yoghurt..for drizzle

Pancakes: (makes 10 pancakes)

1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp rapeseed oil
1/2 cup of water
1 cup of plain vegan milk of your choice
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat a large skillet over a med/high heat for at least 2 minutes (and up to 5).

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Make a well in the centre and add the oil, water, milk, maple and vanilla. Mix until the ingredients are just combined. A few lumps in the batter are just fine.

Coat the skillet with a little oil. Pour the pancakes one at a time and cook on the first side until bubbles form and the pancake looks somewhat dry...approx. 3 mins. Then flip and cook for a further minute.

Gratuitous Pancake Shot! lol
As you can see much thinner than standard American pancakes.

Assembly:

Select the required amount of pancakes by each person and arrange on the plate. Generously scoop the mixed berries over them and then drizzle the vanilla yoghurt over the berries and serve.

The brunch complete...berries and pancakes...and a beautiful
decaf espresso. (Ignore the stuff in the glass its just meds..lol)

And enjoy every blissful mouthful folks...food of the Goddesses!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that your Sunday has been filled with happiness...

~Red~

NB: As always a huge thank you to Isa Chandra Moskowitz for her fantastic recipes and the inspiration she has become to the vegan cooks out there. You rock chick! ~R~

Musical Truth

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Audioslave ~ Out of Exile
Rainbow ~ I Surrender
Shania Twain ~ Nah!
Bono ~ Children of the Revolution
Beluah ~ Leaving Home
Pink Floyd ~ A Pillow of Winds
Sheryl Crow ~ C'mon C'mon
Portishead ~ Glory Box
Soundgarden ~ No Wrong No Right
Kenny Wayne Shepherd ~ Deja Voodoo
Michael Kiwanuka ~ Worry Walks Beside Me
Micheal Buble ~ That's All
Manic Street Preachers ~ Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
Melissa Etheridge ~ Your Little Secret


You guys know that music is a huge part of my life. I have to have it to stay sane...and I have to have it to let go of all the 'stuff' that drags me down. So I thought I'd just share with you a few things that I usually have pinned up on my boards in my office...(nearly packed up and empty office..*sob* lol)

Sadly its true..sometimes when all the meds and painkillers aren't working...music is the only thing that gets me through those long nights...but am I ever thankful for it.

A recent convert to Pink Floyd thanks mainly to Trustworthy. Such a great lyric...and great photo...in my opinion.

Yes...no passport needed. Pure escapism...I can disappear into the music world and set up camp and stay there for however long I want to. I'd be truly lost without it.

 



The others were so serious that I had to end with a funny..but blimey is it pink?! lol. Need sunglasses. But I agree everyone has their guilty pleasure musically. I know I certainly have and no...I will not give it up so don't ask! lol.

We are heading out for an adventure with my sister and her little ones. There was talk of me helping M with his math homework...poor boy. lol Then we heading to a Wacky Warehouse so the little ones can play off some energy.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your Saturday is a fantastic one.

~Red~

Walnut Pesto

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Gary Moore ~ Parisienne Walkways
James Morrison ft Nelly Furtado ~ Broken Strings
Madeleine Peyroux ~ J'ai Deux Amours
Foo Fighters ~ Still
Joan Jett ~ Misunderstood
Bowes & Morley ~ Freakshow
Natalie Clein ~ Brahms: Cello Sonata #2 in F
Garbage ~ Fix Me Now
Beulah ~ I Can't Wait
The Union ~ What Doesn't Kill You
Joan Jett ~ I Hate Myself For Loving You
The Ting Tings ~ Shut Up and Let Me Go
Queen ~ Love Of My Life
Depeche Mode ~ I Feel You

When enjoying a meal that includes pesto..I often find myself sitting there in disbelief that I avoided it for so many years. I have a slight issue with oil so I always found shop bought versions too..well..oily! lol. And when I stopped eating dairy it was yet another excuse to avoid the stuff. And then I saw a recipe for vegan pesto and decided to give it a try...and obviously making it myself I was able to control the oiliness. And what do ya know...I loved it.

I started off just having it with pasta and veggies and keeping it simple with the basil, pine nuts, garlic and olive oil. Then ML found a Healing Foods recipe for Almond Pesto and from there I was a self confessed Pesto junkie. And have tried many different types...varying the greens...varying the nuts..flavoured oils...no oils. Loved them all and especially Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's Lemon Pesto Panini recipe...two words...picnic heaven!! And I am planning on a whole pesto pizza experiment soon.

ML loves a bargain and often comes home with a large bargain batch of ingredients and this week it was basil. And instantly it was a case of what we could use in our stocks to make a good batch of Pesto. No pine nuts..not enough almonds...but we did have a bag of walnuts.

This ever simple recipe was blitzed up and ML used some in a very tasty Tofu Scramble and last night it was the pastas turn at trying this new recipe. Wholemeal pasta smothered in the walnut pesto and served with some Tenderstem Broccoli made for a wholesome and earthy meal.

Walnut Pesto

Walnut Pesto  Makes approx 2/3 cup of pesto

4 pkts of basil or 1 tightly packed cup of leaves
75g raw walnuts
1 clove of garlic
2-3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil (or to your preference)

In a food processor or blender roughly blend the basil, garlic and walnuts. Then with the machine running drizzle in the oil until you have your own preferred consistency. Spoon into a sealed container and store in the fridge until needed.

When using with pasta take out the required amount of pesto and allow it to get to room temp before you add it to the pasta.

Dinner..wholesome pasta with Walnut Pesto and Tenderstem Broccoli.

Naturally if you are GF just simply use GF pasta instead.

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your Friday is a fantastic one...

~Red~

Tender Stem Broccoli, Green Bean & Walnut Pesto Tofu Scramble

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Stiltskin ~ Inside
Bryan Adams ~ All I Want Is You
Scissor Sisters ~ Laura
Lady Antebellum ~ Love I've Found In You
Ricky Martin ~ She Bangs
Chely Wright ~ I Got Him Ready For You
Melissa Etheridge ~ Imagine That
Selena ~ Tu Solo Tu
Joesph Arthur ~ In The Sun
Lacuna Coil ~ The Secret
Christina Perri ~ Jar of Hearts
Bob Marley ~ Waiting In Vain
U2 ~ Mysterious Ways
Slash ft Dave Grohl ~ Watch This!

I was woken this morning by a beaming smiling ML..who I suspect was still happy from the Kasabian gig adventure from the night before. lol. Strange Kasabian loving person...but hey each to their own eh? lol. And I was evermore thankful for this when I saw the beautiful scramble that had been made for my breakfast. I felt very spoilt.

Served on a simple slice of toast..the aromatic ingredients were intoxicating. Tenderstem broccoli, green beans and a little garlic combined with simple scrambled tofu and melted into that was a delicious pesto (recipe coming tomorrow for the pesto) and the results were a beautifully delicate scramble experience with great textures and flavours aplenty.

Tenderstem Broccoli, Green Bean and Walnut Pesto Tofu Scramble

Tenderstem Broccoli, Green Bean and Walnut Pesto Tofu Scramble
(Original recipe from the Rocket & Roses Vegan Kitchen)

1 standard packet of extra firm tofu, pressed and broken down
1 garlic clove, grated
1 packet of tenderstem broccoli, cut into 1" pieces
1 packet of green beans, trimmed and cut into 1" pieces
2 tbsp walnut pesto or pesto of your choice
1 tbsp of olive oil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 slices of bread wheat or gluten free

In a skillet heat the oil and then add the garlic and vegetables and sauté over a medium heat until they have just started to soften. Add the tofu and combine and leave to cook for 5 minutes..stirring occasionally. Add the balsamic vinegar and cook for a further 3 minutes.

Pop your slice of bread in the toaster!

Spoon the pesto into the skillet and get gently mixing until it is evenly spread throughout the scramble and heat it through until your toast is ready. Then serve the scramble on top of the toast and season with a little fresh black pepper.

This recipe serves 2

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your almost the weekend day goes well...

~Red~

Wordless Wednesday: Happy

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Gerard McMann ~ Cry, Little Sister
Muse ~ Resistance
Patti Smith ~ Because the Night
Halestorm ~ I'm Not An Angel
Jessie Ware ~ Taking In Water
Lydia Loveless ~ Crazy
Elvis Costello ~ Let's Misbehave
Michael Kiwanuka ~ Bones
Heart ~ Who Will You Run Too?
The Band Perry ~ Miss You Being Gone
Muse ~ Guiding Light
Feist ~ Sea Lion Woman
INXS ~ Burn For You
Madison Avenue ~ Everything You Need

Life lesson....

and some happy art...

Happy Little Tree ~ Artist Luiza Vizoli

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your Wednesday is a very happy one...

~Red~

Breakfast: Berries and Granola

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

The Ting Tings ~ Impacilla Carpisung
Cello ~ Alut D'amour
Janiva Magness ~ Slipped, Tripped and Fell In Love
Ray Charles ~ Alone in This City
Clare Teal ~ Get Happy
The Cranberries ~ Show Me
Puddle of Mud ~ She Hates Me
Damien Rice ~ The Blowers Daughter
Kevin Kline ~ Le Mer
Tanita Tikaram ~ Me in Mind
Levellers ~ Too Real
Jennifer Lopez ~ Get Right
Otis Redding ~ Dock of the Bay
Janiva Magness ~ You Were Never Mine

So..the world went a little mad yesterday so no kitchen time was had by anyone at R&R HQ. But then I was brought a beautiful breakfast that I felt deserved a posting. To me it is a great summer breakfast as long as you don't mind the chomping on the seeds in the mix lol.

Granted...not my best photo ever but it was in a dark room and taken
on my phone..lol Still working out the kinks..ah hush!

To me these is nothing more beautiful in the food world than a bowl of fresh berries..ripe, succulent and almost sinful. Add into that the great GF granola mix I use which is chock full of GF oats, many seeds and a little maple...and ice cold pouring coconut milk which they have started selling in our local shop (woo!) alongside soya and almond etc. And you have this very simple breakfast bowl...simple but a powerhouse of goodness, flavours and textures. Yum!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your Tuesday is a good one...

~Red~

Images and thoughts from the last week...

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Janiva Magness play list on iPod

Hello folks...great news...there will be food posts aplenty from Tuesday! Alas not from my hard efforts but ML's and I shall be blogging about them. So please indulge me as I bring you another image and thoughts based posting. I was enjoying listening to Janiva Magness's play list on the Pod and I had a few moments of thinking back about the last week...and decided to collate some of them together for today's offering.

So as I have mentioned the lady twice already I shall start with her. I admit I had never heard of this awesome vocalist until this week. How this was possible, I have no idea. Because the moment I heard the opening lyrics of You Were Never Mine...I had fallen hook, line and sinker. And this morning I relaxed listening to her entire body of work whilst researching...a great way to spend a Sunday morning. But be warned..you may need a tissue or two...lol

Janiva Magness ~ You Were Never Mine

 

I am a firm believer in living in the moment...although it's a struggle when the pain is riding me hard. This image I had printed off and hanging in my office. Until A & I got started this week and stripped down the walls and hangings and the final packing up is due to happen Tuesday.

You only have this moment folks...make it count.

On Saturday my sister and her little ones came for their weekly visit. Each one of the little ones waited for a moment I was alone with them and questioned me about my move. I really didn't realise how it would effect them. So I was a little sad about that but spent time with them and reassured them that they would still see me every Saturday..just somewhere with great parks to play in. As a distraction I asked them to help me pack and sort the DVDs. And what fun they had...lol. M got tired of DVDs and decided to decorate the boxes as we filled them..although I am fairly certain little L would've preferred to make one of these...

LOL Maybe at the other end I'll let them make these..

Do you believe in soul mates? Yeah..it's one of 'those' questions..isn't it? I'm undecided. But this week it's one nagging thought that won't go away. I found this quote..and it kinda made sense of the nagging questions. I can't bear all that hearts and flowers cutesy soul mates stuff...so maybe that was why I was having trouble with it.

So yes...maybe now I think I do believe.

This week has been a tough one for a number of reasons so when I haven't been keeping distracted and focused on the move...I have been watching a lot of Stand Up Comedy. And blimey have I laughed...past the point of tears...and serious Oh ouching. Don't you love that feeling? I do. I find no matter what I am going through...laughter is the best medicine.

I will always laugh until I cry....

My favourite foodie moment of the week has been a dish that would send most of you running from the room. (I do read your emails every time I use sprouts..lol) But I adore the little green globes of yumminess. When I saw this recipe by The Healthy Family and Home I had to print it off, to make very soon and share with you. This actually made me smile...



Raw Vegan Chipotle Almond Stuffed Brussels Sprouts

Yum, eh? I cannot wait to try these..however ML said I will have to wait until I can carve them out myself..lol Spoil sport.

My friend J sent me this painting and I loved it. His reason for sending it was highly personal so I shan't say anymore except...Yes.

Sadly we don't know who the artist is so cannot give credit where
its due. If you know...drop me a message and I shall amend this caption.

Regular readers will know...I believe in staying hopeful..and I believe in smiling whilst you do so. So when I found this picture I had to share it...

Nope..not ever.

Do you ever get that moment when you are reacquainted with an old song...you have forgotten you even have..or its been hiding on your Pod. Then something or someone reminds you of it and you are carried away with its awesomeness or emotive qualities? You do? Good so it's not just me because I would hate to think others don't get that feeling. I had that happen this week. I was reminded of a song..I YouTubed it whilst reading the lyrics...and found it on my Pod waiting for me. Such a good tune and heart stirring lyric...and thank you to the lovely who gave me the nudge..hope you folks enjoy it too?

Aerosmith ~ Dream On

I want to walk along this jetty and take in the beautiful view and sit down at the end and paddle my feet in the water until I am ready to slide in and away. Such a glorious image...one I use in a visualisation..

Peace, acceptance and beauty.

Well this wouldn't really be a Rocket posting without the odd tattoo design, eh? Although I am now sensing a theme running through this posting. lol. When I saw these words I read them out to ML who said..."Very you dear.." lol

Damn straight!

I'm never sure where I stand on Digital Artwork. Maybe it's because my Mum is a fantastic free hand artist and therefore Digital Artwork is therefore the Kindle of it's world. Please don't email me with the many virtues of the Kindle...lol But I did find this piece of art by Consuela Para and it made me start to rethink that thought process. I adore the use of colour and I feel it's storm reach out to my emotion and link up.

And finally...a link to Steve Hughes, who is a comedian that I had the pleasure of watching this week. He helped with the Happy and we found out he's coming to the city we are moving to in November so we are hoping to take in his show Live.  Woo!..

Steve Hughes on Live At The Apollo London

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your week is a fantastic one...and I'll be back Tuesday with a food blog...promise. lol

~Red~

NB: All images and clips were found online so therefore I take no credit in the creation of them. I send out great thanks to those that did. And am happy to give credit where it is due. ~Red~

Fun Friday: Questionaire time...

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Melissa Etheridge ~ Similar Features
Maroon 5 ~ Misery
Joan Jett ~ Be Straight
Thunder ~ 5.15
Depeche Mode ~ Get Right With Me
Temple of the Dog ~ Say Hello 2 Heaven
Audioslave ~ Cochise
Amy Grant ~ Like I Love You
Gin Blossoms ~ Mrs Rita
Brandi Carlile ~ In The Morrow
Kings of Leon ~ Use Somebody
The Cranberries ~ I Still Do
Halestorm ~ Time Man
Audioslave ~ Like A Stone

It's Friday and I am having a serious rest morning before I start yet more packing. You know I am beginning to see the beauty of hiring removal people. But I keep reminding myself that not only am I packing..I am sorting through everything too. And once we get to the new place I will only have to unpack and well...breathe. lol. So as kitchen time is still not happening I thought I would do one of those questionnaires that you folks seem to love. lol. I hope it entertains...lol

This was found online and no creator was mentioned to give credit it to...so here goes...lol

Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4.

"That she'd earned the disapproval of the Order's Founder and commander was bad enough"

Stretch your left arm out as far as you can, What can you touch?

Pillows and headboard

Before you started this survey, what were you doing?

Eating breakfast and playing Words with Friends on FB.

What is the last thing you watched on TV?

Michael Macintyre's Comedy Road Show (I love stand up comedy so watched Rhod Gilbert, John Bishop and many others on the same bill)

Without looking, guess what time it is? What is the actual time?

Erm...10amish?  Oh its actually 9.21...lol

Current relationship status?

Attached

With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?

Tunes blasting out of the iPod...fan rotating (got a fever going on)

When did you last step outside? What were you doing?

Outside and into what was the gym to get boxes etc.

Did you dream last night? About what?

Yes I did. Only remember parts of it. Something about a gig and dancing.

Do you remember your dreams?

Often..I keep a notebook next to me to jot them down.

When did you last laugh?

About an hour ago at my friends comments on our game of WwFs...she asked me to stop getting high scores. Believe me..its a fluke. lol

Do you remember why / at what?

See answer above.

What is on the walls of the room you are in?

A beautiful wall hanging over the fireplace. A Degas print. A set of prints...one with blood red poppies and the other deep purple tulips. A limited Edition photo prints of a woman's body. ML bought me them for my first Christmas present..love them.

Seen anything weird lately?

Hey I'm a person of ill health so I see weird stuff all the time. lol But nothing out of the ordinary of late.

What do you think of this quiz?

It's ok but suspect it's gonna take me forever to finish. lol

What is the last film you saw?

Wild Hogs...and even if it was a little predictable...it was very funny. Three words....Slap The Bull! lmao.  And the bikes...*swoon*

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

The city during the week and by the ocean at weekends.

If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?

Not so much what I would buy...I would give my loved ones some financial security. Pay off their mortgages and give them some mad money for once in their lives. Set up trust funds for the nieces and nephews for Uni. But I would probably buy as much of my health as I could...then travel. Oh and maybe a house. Blimey this win had better be big eh? lol

Tell me something about you that most people don’t know.

I didn't enjoy most of the 80s

If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?

End poverty.

Do you like to dance?

Yes..yes..yes..yes..oh my goodness YES! *shrugs* Yeah little bit. lol

Would you ever consider living abroad?

Yes

Does your name make any interesting anagrams?

I'm not sure..one sec...'Lacerant wit cheaters' lmao

Who made the last incoming call on your phone?

My sister

What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer?

Tunes from iTunes.

Type of music you like most?

Blues/Rock. Cello. They are my main passions.

Type of music you dislike most?

Garage etc. I try hard to get it..but fail on the whole.

Are you listening to music right now?

Tutt..of course. lol  Currently Rainbow ~ All Night Long



Rainbow ~ All Night Long

What color is your bedroom carpet?
Blood red

If you could change something about your home, without worry about expense or mess, what would you do?

The change I would make would be for it to belong to someone else. I have loved this house but now it is a warehouse for our packed boxes. I have mentally and emotionally moved out.

What was the last thing you bought?

Music.

Have you ever ridden on a motorbike?

Oh yes. *huge ass grin*

Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?

Aww..I have to choose? Why can't I do both? Oh ok...bungee.

Do you have a garden?

Yes a huge one...ML's realm. It was awesome. In the new place we would be happy with a yard..and some herbs in pots.

Do you really know all the words to your national anthem?

Nope.

What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?

What after.."Crikey I made it?" lol. It's usually a mental check of what my body is going through. Sad but true.

If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be?

Arghh! One? Russell Crowe probably. Well today anyway. lol. Well this hour...yep. Mr Crowe

Who sent the last text message you received?

My pal A

Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?

iTunes. And vegan clothing and boots sites. lol

What time is bed time?

No fixed time. Ever. Life is too short for schedules.

Have you ever been in a beauty pageant?

*shaking head and sighing*

How many tattoos do you have?

Currently three with huge plans for many more if I regain my health.

What did you do for your last birthday?

I spent the day with the 'friends family'. Relaxed lunch out and then back to a pals house for cake and coffee. Just perfect.

Do you carry a donor card?

lmao. Believe me..no one would want anything I'll have left.

Who was the last person you ate dinner with?

Well every evening with ML of course.

Is the glass half empty or half full?

Depends what is in the glass dear heart!

What’s the farthest-away place you’ve been?

Africa I guess.

When’s the last time you ate a homegrown tomato?

That would be from the last crop that ML grew before all plants became deadly for her. And they were delish too. However tomatoes are not good for me now so haven't had one in..forever.

Have you ever won a trophy?

Yes

Are you a good cook?

I don't get no complaints. And always have willing victims for testing and guests for brunch, lunch or dinner.
 
Do you know how to pump your own gas?

Yes

If you could meet any one person (from history or currently alive), who would it be?

The Suffragettes

Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school?

Yes

Do you touch-type?

Yes..in a speedy fashion too, you know.

What’s under your bed?

Dust..its a deep divan base.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

No...lust yes...love no. But they are two very different things eh?

Think fast, what do you like right now?

any food that doesn't make me sick..and my constant companion Music.

Where were you on Valentine’s day?

At home with ML

What time did you get up?

6

What was the name of your first pet?

Jip

Who is the second to last person to call you?

ML

Is there anything going on this weekend?

Time with family and mucho packing...time with friends.

How are you feeling right now?

Painful.

What do you think about the most?

Trying to stay focused

What time do you get up in the morning?

See bedtime answer

If you had A Big Win in the Lottery, how long would you wait to tell people?

I would let it sink in for a few days and then tell the people that need to know.

Who would you tell first?

ML

What is the last movie that you saw at the cinema?

Crikey..erm..we got free tickets to it...blimey what was it called? The Moth Diaries!! Phew..lol

Do you sing in the shower?

Yes..and if up to it..I wiggle too. lol

What do you do most when you are bored?

Moan and bitch Ahem. I listen to music...and read. Or put a funny or thriller movie on.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Writer.

If you could have any job, what would you want to do/be?

Travel writer.

Which came first the chicken or the egg?

I have no freaking idea. lol

How many keys on your key ring?

5 I think?

Where would you retire to?

House by the ocean

What kind of car do you drive?

We currently have a van/car. But ML would die for a Beetle and Campervan. Whereas I would love a Harley.

What are your best physical features?

Ain't got any sorry.

What are your best characteristics?

Honesty. But for anything else you would need to ask others as I am my own worst critic.

If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation where would you go?

Travel the entire world...go to every single country on the planet.

What kind of books do you like to read?

Thrillers. Fantasy. Pure escapism reads. I also like non fiction books...and cook books.

What is your favorite time of the day?

Early hours of the morning...and dusk.

Where did you grow up?

In England

How far away from your birthplace do you live now?

Approx 320 miles. One side of England to the other.

What are you reading now?

Edge of Dawn

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Irritatingly both so I'm told. I don't sleep. lol

Can you touch your nose with your tongue?

I have never tried..one sec..that would be no. lol

Can you close your eyes and raise your eyebrows?

Yes

Do you have pets? Names?

Yes..four legged critter called Archie

How many rings before you answer the phone?

Depends how tied up I am when it rings and if I want to talk to that person.

What is your best childhood memory?

The beach and surf where I lived as a small child. Time with my family at that time. Watching my Mum covering our bedroom with her drawings...and my life size Fonz and Bionic Woman posters hung on the wall amongst the drawings. Oh and family gathering where there would be music and dancing.
  
Any new and exciting things that you would like to share?

The only thing on my mind right now is moving. That in itself is both stressful but exciting.

What is most important in life?

Connections. Be it friend, family or any other kind. And music.

What inspires you?

The need to prove everyone wrong...re health. The people in my life inspire me to keep going. Work...inspiration can come from anything, anywhere and at anytime. You should see my office. lol. Music and art inspires me. To live...inspires me to keep hoping. A look in someones eyes can inspire me. To key is to be forever open to inspirations. Some people just walk around closed up and to me that is sad.

Crikey that was a long one. lol. Well I hope it was interesting to read. Or did you lose the will to live? lol.

Thanks for stopping by..and I hope your Friday is being very good to you...

~Red~

Wordless Wednesday: It makes a good point, eh? ...

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Tina Dico ~ Rebel Song
Nerina Pallot ~ When Did I Become Such A Bitch?
Eddi Reader ~ East of Us
Brandi Carlile ~ Losing Heart
Joan Jett ~ Talking About My Baby
Colbie Caillat ~ Droplets
Pearl Jam ~ Oceans
Soundgarden ~ An Unkind
Airbourne ~ Stand and Deliver
Bonnie Raitt ~ Down To You
Within Temptation ~ What Have You Done Now?
Maroon 5 ~ Wake Up Call
Bowes & Morley ~ How Could You?
Skin ~ Nightsong

To whoever created this photo....thank you! ~Red~

Thanks for stopping by..still buried in packing materials lol. I hope your week is going well?

~Red~

Some vegan bits and pieces...

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Chris Cornell ~ Roads That We Choose
Nerina Pallot ~ The Right Side
Deacon Blue ~ Wages Day
ABBA ~ Money Money Money
Thunder ~ Gimme Some Lovin
Snap ~ The Power
Leanne Rimes ~ Please Remember
The Cranberries ~ Pretty
Portishead ~ It Could Be Sweet
Chris Cornell ~ Cleaning My Gun
Doris Day ~ Move Over Darling
The Union ~ Cut The Line
Queen ~ Radio Ga Ga
Maroon 5 ~ Infatuation

Good day to you...I am currently up to my eyes in boxes and packing materials so I am getting no time in the kitchen of late. Blimey do I miss fresh food..lol. I am hoping to bring foodie recipes this next week so please bear with me? Today I had a small amount of time (whilst ML was busy reading Game of Thrones...*eye rolls* lol) to throw some things together. I hope you enjoy the collection of random vegan things that is todays posting...

Oh where to start...

A truth that has always been my personal train of thought. As a very small child I questioned the consumption of animals. My Mum said I rejected all meat based baby foods...and then as a toddler simply told her...Mum I do not want to eat animals. On some level I instinctively knew that just because everyone was doing it...it didn't mean it was right! That never left me...thankfully.

......well...we just do! lol

Would it be wrong to laminate this and hand to people before they get the chance to ask? No..not even sometimes? lol But wouldn't it be easier...

When I saw this tee I fell for it big time..would proudly wear this t-shirt...

This excellent vegan quote popped up in my email I knew I had to share it with you...One Lazy Vegan did a great job with its setting and Mr Bentham makes a sobering and honest point...

Vegan Freak Aluminium Ring via Etsy

I love unusual rings and this one I found on Etsy really appealed to me. I am indeed a vegan freak..and own that fact. lol.

You guys know me well enough by now to know how much I love tattoos...and I get giddy when I find a tattoo that combines two of my loves...so this Fire Lotus and Vegan quote tattoo practically made me pass out..lol.

Rain drops....Keep Calm slogan...did I mention the rain? lol Just threw this image in because not only am I vegan junkie..I am a rain junkie too!

*contented sighs*...vegan biker jackets and boots. I recently purchased one similar to this one but so far its been far too hot to wear it. But when it starts to cool no doubt I'll live in it. lol. The market for vegan clothing has boomed recently and now you can get vegan/fake leather items online so easily.

Yes I know its 2013..but don't let that take away from the sound statement...and finally I shall end this posting with a smile...and leave you in the hands of Gus...

lol

Right it's back to packing boxes for me...but thank you for stopping by and I hope your weekend has been a splendid one...

~Red~

NB: None of the images used are my creation..all found during online searches. So therefore I take no credit for any of them but send thanks out to those talented folks who deserve it. ~R~

Art: Pen and Ink ~ J.C.Lawtey

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Robin Thicke ~ Blurred Ways (addicted to this tune!! lol)
Joan Jett ~ Fun, Fun, Fun
Mr Buble ~ I'm Your Man
Audioslave ~ Jewel Of The Summertime
Lydia Loveless ~ Learn To Say No
Tina Dico ~ Haunted
Billie Myers ~ You Send Me Flying
Idil Biret ~ Chopin: Nocturne 21 in C Minor
Thunder ~ Gimme Some Lovin
Tim McGraw ~ Please Remember Me
Sarah McLachlan ~ Fallen
Pat Benatar ~ Promises In The Dark
Roy Orbison ~ You May Feel Me Crying
Nickelback ~ Another Hole In My Head

Packing up the house update: Well...lol. It seems my mind is packing boxes and my body can't keep up. So I am managing one full of packing..oh ok...supervising...(thank you A! You rock!) and then I'm out for two days recovering...which is frustrating to say the least. But I do now have an entrance hall that someone could actually live in quite comfortably. We had completely forgotten just how large it was. So one room completely packed up and others are well under way. So it's looking good folks.

Today's post is brought to you by my very talented mothers latest piece of art work. Yes this piece was shown to me in a very blasé manner..."Oh this is the piece I've worked on this week...just a piece of Pen and Ink..." It's at this point my head explodes because the woman isn't faking at all by this statement. She truly does not realise how good she is...and it makes me crazy. lol. So here is her new piece...

Untitled Pen & Ink ~ Artist J.C.Lawtey

Now I am happy to admit any negative aspects to this drawing is solely my responsibility as I took the photo using my phone instead of my camera. And I have to say the detailing would have been more clear if I'd used the latter but it was the other side of the house and I was on rest! Dammit But I hope you get a good idea of how awesome this piece is...

Thank you for staying loyal folks and coming back everyday as you do..and I hope your Friday is a great one...

~Red~