I finally picked up some new flowers last weekend. They’re not much to look at, as I had to decide between buying enough to make some semblance of a bouquet and eating. I chose eating. I do like having flowers in my apartment, though, and one of these days I might get around to picking up more than a few stems…although the slim arrangement is also, in part, dictated by the narrow mouth of the bottle in which I choose to display it. I need a new vase…though this is rather pretty, no?
In other plant news, I decided to stop eating meat the other week after finishing Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals. Gwyneth Paltrow isn’t vegetarian, so it’s like I have to forge my own path or something. So far I’ve not had too much trouble avoiding land-based animals, but I haven’t given up fish since the Seafood Watch iPhone app handily informs readers what’s overfished and what’s aplenty. Bourgeois indulgence to the rescue!
My big moral dilemma is that, living as I do in a relatively rural area, I actually have access to meat that is raised outside the industrial agricultural system. (More than anything, although I am rather fond of animals and don’t necessarily want them to die, the environmental impact of meat eating is what convinced me to attempt a meatless diet once again – I can’t abstain from driving and declare oil, “like, the worst thing ever” if cow farts from my hamburger’s past life are a bigger hazard). What’s worse, my friend’s parent’s cow or Atlantic farm-raised salmon? *Le sigh* I realize, as one friend pointed out, that not eating meat, but still practically worshipping leather is a bit of a cross purpose. But…shoes! One day I’ll reconcile the issue, for now I’ll stick to vintage and veggies.
Kankan 
Lovely pictures!
I agree on the meat issue. But my problem is I get weak and lethargic without animal protein in my diet. I like animals, but I like eating them too.
You could always just tell yourself that steak grows on trees.
Yes, your arrangement of flowers is very attractive… As is the way you are re-arranging your thoughts on your eating choices. It does seem an awful shame to commit these billions of innocent beings to a short, miserable life just to satisfy our gustatory desires… There is a plethora of information on the web about healthy and satisfying plant based alternatives to meat/dairy and eggs.
My two favorites are Physicians for Responsible Medicine: http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/index.html
And Compassionate Cooks: http://www.compassionatecooks.com/
As far as the environment goes… Within the last few days a new study has been released which shows animal products are the most harmful food choice one can make: Meat Eaters Guide to Climate Change & Health
http://breakingnews.ewg.org/meateatersguide/
Finally, although it may work for some – pretending meat comes from trees… You seem like a very intelligent observer and I don’t think that type of denial will fly for you… I always try to put myself in the place of the animal to guide me on what is “humane” or not. Good luck on your journey. ~peace~
You aren’t the only one with the shoe dilemma. Morrissey (of Smiths fame) allegedly used to wear leather shoes because he believed there was no reasonable alternative. I always found it mildly humorous that such an anti-meat, anti-animal cruelty advocate could rationalize it in that way.
I think I’ve told you this on Twitter, but I love your blog so much.
Lee: Thanks! I thought the pictures were lovely too…we’ll see how the meat dilemma plays out!
Bea: Thanks for the well wishing and the links! Appreciated 🙂
Kelly: I think he and Stella McCartney teamed up to make a line of vegan footwear, but I don’t know if it actually came to fruition…also, yes quite funny considering what he said about the Chinese! And thank you SO much for your kind comment, I think you did tell me via Twitter as well, but it’s always nice to hear!
Your flower arrangement is quite elegant, sometimes you don’t need a lot of flowers (or color) to make a statement.
As far as the moral dilemma goes, we’re walking contradictions – Morrissey is a great example of how convenience can win out over a cause. Do what feels good for you, even if it means putting bacon on a veggie burger.