Good morning everyone! I wanted to share a few more snapshots from the book tour but first wanted to make sure you knew that Dave wrote our Real World Vegan Meals newsletter this week – vegan “bachelor” meals – and announced our weekly vegan meal plan menu, which includes Thick Dal, Pinto Potato Soup and Rice Pudding in bulk, plus, Chorizo Hash, Kale and Avocado Salad, and Veggie Calzone recipes. And meal ideas breakfast sandwiches, cereal alternatives, squash smoothie, Banh Mi, patty melt, polenta fries and dipping sauce, spicy seitan or tofu stir-fry, and a finger food dinner. Order your meal plan here.
Last I wrote from the tour, we were in Boulder, MT. Boulder Hot Springs is such a cool place.
Nestled in the foothills of Montana’s snow-covered peaks of the Elkhorn Mountains is a place called Peace Valley.
This place was named Peace Valley by the First People of this land because they believed that all people should be able to come here to heal in the hot mineral waters. This valley was a place of healing, gathering, and celebration which gives it a unique history of being a place of peace and healing with no hostilities.
Boulder Hot Springs Inn and Spa is an historic landmark which once catered to Presidents, celebrities, and wealthy ranchers. It is reported that Teddy Roosevelt stayed here during his time in office while hunting in the area, that Warren Harding stayed here and FDR made a stop here after visiting associates in Butte.
The first of the buildings on this site was constructed in 1863 by a prospector, James E. Riley. Mr. Riley built a saloon and bathhouse catering to local miners and ranchers who came here to soak, bathe, and enjoy the amenities.
I was able to spend some time in the indoor and outdoor hot springs and it was divine. Oh, I stayed in Simone’s Suite.
I’m not one someone who gets creeped out too easily but I was told that there are some ghostly beliefs about the place. And let’s just say two days later, at a souvenir shop miles and miles away, I picked up a copy of More Haunted Montana to see this:
Eek!
Anyway, where was I?
Oh yes, on Thursday we drove from Boulder Hot Springs to Butte.
Where we had a delicious tofu scramble and tempeh bacon breakfast wrap, smoothie and coffee at The Hummingbird Cafe. From there we drove directly to Natural Grocers in Missoula. Bonnie’s veg mobile got to meet Ginette’s plant-based mobile.
We had another packed class! Only one open seat!
And then we grabbed a quick bite at Butterfly Herbs before a book signing at Fact & Fiction Bookstore.
That night we attended the Missoula Vegans potluck.
We stayed at a darling Airbnb – with vegan milk and creamer in the fridge – and got a good night’s rest. We went to the Good Food Store for an awesome buffet brunch:
Bonnie and I split a tempeh reuben and I loaded up on veggies.
We hit the road, Washington-bound, but not before stopping at the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas. (I think some of you know I’m Buddhist.) My gracious host Bonnie wanted me to see this special place and I’m so grateful. It’s hard to capture just how special it is in photos, but here’s an attempt.
We left an offering, a simple desire for mercy for animals.
And then it was time to make our way to Spokane, WA.
Today in I will be at Auntie’s Bookstore at 1 pm.
and Barnes and Noble at 4 pm. Tomorrow at 5 pm I will be doing a vegan pressure cooking 101 class/demo at the INVeg community potluck. Hope to see you, Spokane friends!
