The natural process of life changes is seen in the extreme with trees leaves turning color. This photo was an image capture from a video using my pure digital video camera on a side stree off of Clay Street in Ashland, Oregon. I hope to edit and post the video soon. When I do it will be here.

ArtCarved Forsythe carved platinum mens wedding band I think brush metal on a ring always adds a very modern and classy feel to the design. The platinum brushed center is surrounded by polished Tungston. Tungsten Carbide is incredibly tough and rugged – ten times harder than 18k gold. Steve likes to take a hands on approach to life and this ring’s strength, beauty and resistance would serve him well. Brushed platinum adds a bold accent ArtCarved Abington Mens Wedding Band This art carved wedding band has 2 areas of hammered white gold separated with clean, high polished lines and milgrain beading and has a comfort fit. The 2 hammered sections of white gold are brush-finished and separated with millgrain beading & high polished lines. ArtCarved Pendleton Mens Wedding Band I’m very partial to white gold because that’s what I’m wearing right now. I particularly like the fine milgrain dividers surrounding the center brushed white gold. Domed brushed center, milgrain dividers, and high-polished rims ArtCarved Abington Mens Wedding Band This art carved wedding band has 2 areas of hammered white gold separated with clean, high polished lines and milgrain beading and has a comfort fit. The 2 hammered sections of white gold are brush-finished and separated with millgrain beading & high polished lines. ArtCarved Lyric Two Tone Mens Wedding Band The only two-tone wedding ring in the group, this one sports beautiful yellow gold vine work. It has a very classic look to it and has deep meaning as well that “evokes the image of love growing and surrounding one’s life.” Two tone with slight polished dome rims and gold vine work in the center.

It’s been hard for me as well to make a decision, but this grouping should give Steve a very definite direction. It has some very clean and simple rings made from different metals as well as more intricate carved rings with millgrain and designs. Since checking out all of these rings, I’ve already started looking into getting a platinum anniversary band for myself!

Whenever I so much as tell my mom I have the sniffles, the first thing I hear is always “Do you think it’s because of your diet?” No Mom, it’s not my diet. In fact I’ve generally been the healthiest I’ve ever been since changing my diet.

I just finished a delicious dinner which consisted of 2 Vegan dishes topped over Quinoa, a great source of protein.

Two toppings (White Tepary beans and Vegetables with Indian Jalfrezi sauce) over a Red Quinoa, chickpeas and onions bed.

The beans took a few hours to slow cook.  Luckily, automatically, for some reason, and not even knowing what I would come up with for dinner, I started them out in the morning when I woke up.  I love using Veggie stock and for the beans used a Vegan cube( Rapunzel’s no salt added Vegan cube).  I used a different savory vegan stock for the Quinoa which I love using with various grains and which I believe is the superior vegan vegetable base stock, “Better than Bouillon.”

So I’ve got my beans which of course have been tenderly catered to for a few hours with lots (and I mean lots – 7 cloves) of Garlic and various spices (tyme, sea salt {is salt a spice?}, mustard seeds and fresh black pepper).  I fianlly have it at the texture somewhere above mushy and below firm.

Next it’s time for some finely chopped Veggies – Broccoli, 2 type of peas (string beans and a flat sort of string bean whose name I can’t recall), kale and onions.  I start off with a little bit of organic extra virgin olive oil from Napa and throw in the peas.  Next go in the broccoli, kale and finally the onions and spices.  I don’t want either the kale or the onions too mushy.  As a matter of fact, I don’t want anything mushy ;}.  I like using tumeric and dried coriander just because they’re so good for you, especially the tumeric.  Tumeric is kind of shy and unless seasoned with large amounts can pretty much go undetected or minimally detected.  Tumeric has many health benefits taht make it really great for you and that’s why I use it a lot as should you because it’s an easy and  great spice to add to your dishes.

Add some more garlic.  I got to say, I do have a garlic fetish .  I’m always on the lookout for different types of garlic and love to taste test them raw (in my kitchen away from people…).  I can’t really remember all the types I have in my bowl, but it’s pretty and pretty impressive.  When I make pickles, it’s always interesting to note the slight differences different garlic bring to them.

The final additive is some Vegan Indian Jalfrezi sauce (ouch – it’s store bought!!!! {but really, really a time-saver and tasty – ok, I’ll learn how to make it for next time…) over the cut Veggies.  It’s really delicious and my body is saying thank you for this tasty well balance Vegan meal.

See you next time I fee like cooking.  Stay tuned for my pickle experiments.
var MyShoutItURL = “http://www.shoutwire.com/comments/190906″;

A scenic view of Southern Oregon's beautiful Emigrant Lake

Sunday August 31st was a beautiful clear day with bold bright clouds dotting the majestic blue skies.  We decided to visit two lakes within 30 miles of Ashland, Oregon – Emigrant Lake and Hyatt Reservoir.

A boat sails on the peaceful Hyatt Reservoir East of Ashland, Oregon

It was a pleasure to discover Emigrant lake (elevation 2241 ft) only 6 miles to the Southeast of Ashland.  There were a modest amount of people sprinkled around various parts of the U-shaped Lake.  Some of the activities the lake has to offer are canoeing, fishing, swimming, picnics, boating, tent sites and an RV area.

We didn’t stay too long at Emigrant lake, but you can rest assured we will be back with more info the next time we do go there.  Our second stop was Hyatt Resorvoir (elevation 5000 ft) whose 6 miles of shoreline are surrounded by the bold and majestic Cascade Mountains.  Although we don’t fish, the lake has rainbow trout, largemouth bass, brook trout and crappie fish.  There were a few small boats and canoes out as well as lots of campers braving the gusty chilly forest.

Creekside Dining in Downtown Ashland, Oregon

We visited the resort on the Northwest part of the lake and saw that there is some more cabins that are beign built.  If you love lakes, but not camping, then this resort would be the perfect match for you.  We couldn’t find anything (vegan) to eat at the restaurants, but the pizza looked very appetizing.

We ended the day with a walk in Lithia Park back in downtown Ashland.  First we entered Calle Guanajuato and had a bite to eat enjoying the Creek-side dining and then took a long walk through Lithia Park enjoying the deer we saw in the Japanese Garden.  All in all a very satisfying Memorial Day weekend.  Ahhhhh…..