Reading in the Pasture, Cruisin' in the Sun, Vegan Caesar Salad and More at the Lazy Vegan!

Another fun week has come and gone at the Lazy V!  It was wonderful to have the sun back, even though with it came along some chilly breezes (we're oh-so-picky about the weather around here!).  I was happy to meet Snap for a bike ride - it has been a while!  Was feeling pretty rusty on my bike, and it didn't help that the seat wasn't adjusted correctly (that's my excuse for having trouble with some of the hills!).  This time we went to a cafe in Forestville called "Off the Track" instead of our usual outing to the Willow Wood in Graton.  Since we're such creatures of habit (same place, same table, same exact order!) it is nice to shake things up once in a while!  

Holding the BUN!  Wasabi doesn't like to be held, so it is a rare event.  But she's a good bun to let me pick her up...just long enough for the foreman to snap this photo!

HAPPY 45th BIRTHDAY to Patty!  

Even though we had celebrated it early last weekend, it still is worth noting that her actual birthday was yesterday!  Funny, in the photo above (Patty in blue - I'm the dweeb in the special handmade cut-offs) she doesn't look a day over thirty!!!!  Also a Happy 51st Birthday to Dan in Heaven - photo at end of this posting.  Patty has the honor of knowing that she was born during Dan's 6th birthday party (at least, that's when Snap went into labor!).

Wasabi had a special adventure this week.  I put a gate up on the terrace and she ventured out.  I think she likes the view! Above she's hanging out in her little willow tent while the foreman plays guitar.

Grooming in the cottage.

Saying hello to Solo!

Being a brave bun!  We were going to go to the playground, but decided to make our own playground at home this week.

The dogs enjoyed the terrace, too.

It is a big decision taking that first step down!

Nothing like using a litter box in the fresh air!

Toby is back to being non-stop with his ball!

Taking a breather from the terrace and hanging with Solo for a bit.

I stopped by Nick's Cafe to see the newlyweds hard at work!

Lots of hopping and jumping and running around!

On the trail!  I just noticed how huge my bike tire shadow is in this photo!

We love this particular bridge!

Ducks and geese along the trail.

And what I am pretty sure is a mule...note the tall ears and snout that looks like a donkey!

How Snap also fits in some weight training - putting her bike back on her car rack!

I feel so official - at least, my cruiser does...here it is, parked among the "real" bikes outside the cafe!

The great train mural in the "Off the Track Cafe"!

Snap holds the key to the bathroom - attached to a piece of train track!  My uncle Neil and Aunt Barbara would love this place (are you listening, Aunt Bubba??).

I rode home from the cafe to find the foreman reading a library book in the pasture.

The donkeys LOVED having him there - and he was there till he finished the novel!

I came out to visit, too.  Still wearing my hair in my bike style - it is the easiest way to fit my helmet over my hair - to put it in dorky pigtails!

Paco actually gave me a little nibble, here - hence my funny expression.

I love my t-shirt, but I hope nobody saw it when I was huffing and puffing while WALKING my bike up one of the hills near home!

A moment with Paco.  I have moments with Luigi, too, but he often declines to be photographed.

Paco says the funniest things sometimes!

Of course, Paco is always fascinated by my scarves...so he had to try it on himself.

Luigi gives a grand pose!

Weegie comes up to the foreman for some pets.

Back inside, a very relaxed bun makes herself cozy.

Found the donks resting in the late afternoon.

Always a good time for some dust baths!

Another one of my favorite shirts from PETA...the circus is so awful for all of the animals!

Using my zoom lens, I discovered a group of people enjoying the pond across the way.

Claire came over and held Solo's paw (for a while!) during dinner!

Claire gives Solo an extra special hug.

Wasabi loves to show off how she can toss her spoon and other toys around!

I looked out the kitchen window just in time to see Archie heading up our path!

We had some great visits with Archie this week.  I got two great visits with him alone on two different mornings.

He likes to rub up against my legs.

Silly cat!

His fur is pretty matted.  He really could use a good brushing.

I hope he sticks around!

The foreman patiently waits for Archie to approach him.

 I got a little carried away with the Archie photos!

 It was time to "worm" the donkeys again - which always sounds worse than it really is.  We give them their worming paste hidden in a piece of bread.  In this case, the bread was "borrowed" from Grandma Snap- I saw a loaf of bread that I knew the donkeys would like at her house.  Thanks, Snap!

One last Archie photo!

 I glanced out the window to see this BIG Jack Rabbit making his way up our driveway! I went outside and followed him into the trees a bit.  He was totally on to me.

Beautiful skies this week.

Oh, YUM - I found a great recipe for vegan Caesar salad dressing - recipe at end of this post!

Homemade garlic croutons, too!

Viola!  The dogs really wanted some, but they didn't get any.

What a face!

Also, what a face- goofy me looking into my new (unbroken) bike mirror!

Ancient Solo meanders SLOWLY up the path!

Happy 51st Birthday To Dan in Heaven!

We love you, Dan.

Dan with Karina  - probably 1987

VEGAN CAESAR SALAD DRESSING!

(I doubled this recipe because the foreman eats a LOT of salad!)

• 1/2 cup raw cashews
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 6 tbsp fresh lemon juice, or to taste
• 2 tbsp sunflower oil 
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup water

 Directions: In a blender or food processor, add the lemon juice, water, and oil and blend/process until mixed well. Now add the rest of the ingredients and blend/process well. Scrape sides down as necessary. Blend/process until smooth. Adjust seasonings if necessary. Dressing will thicken up in the fridge and you can add more water to thin it out of necessary. Makes about 2/3 of a cup.