North Palm Beach Library Book Sale

One of my Cat Writers’ Association colleagues has an astounding collection of over 1000 cat books! Now I have lots of books between being a professor, writer and collector, but not quite that many. I am always on the lookout to add more. I buy books to be inspired, to be entertained, to add to special collections and to use as references.

Every January the North Palm Beach Library has a four-day book sale. I have attended enough years that I have the layout of books memorized. So do the other attendees! I arrived ten minutes early and got in line. The minute the door opened, everyone dashed in. I headed to the cookbook section along with four other women. I quickly scanned titles and grabbed Early American Cooking, Mountain Elegance—Asheville Junior League, A+ in Cooking (recipes from a teacher!) and Christmas Cookie Cookbook.

Next it was the nature section. I found The Everything Cat Book. The literary and poetry stop resulted in a beautifully illustrated copy of Little Men. The reference section was quite interesting. I found John Bartlett Quotations, Poem for the Day, Modern English Composition (a book my mother would have studied from with a publication date of 1934) plus a little book called 20,000 Words also published in 1934.

But I was not finished. I couldn’t leave without checking out the travel section. To my excitement, I found World’s Great Train Journeys. I had recently commented to a friend that I wanted to go on a Royal Scotsman train tour—it was in the book! I found Daily Guideposts 2009, Grace Notes by Alexandra Stoddard (someone I hope to meet someday), and Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul. My Mother Before Me caught my eye as well.

I grabbed a Nicholas Sparks and a Jan Karon novel (two of my favorite contemporary writers) to replace poor condition copies. A hard cover copy of Thornbirds (a favorite novel and series) will replace a tattered paperback version. A little pocket size book called On the Anniversary of Your Loss was added to my pile and gave me an idea for a writing project!

What a way to spend an hour and what a worthy cause for the Friends of the Library. It was truly chicken soup for me! Can’t wait till next year!!

Bountiful Blessings!

Animal Bucket List

I loved the news account last week about a 100-year-old woman who checked off the last item on her bucket list one day before passing away. Centenarian stories always interest me. Harriet Ames was a retired teacher from New Hampshire. She was born nine years before my mother who was also a teacher. I felt an immediate connection to Mrs. Ames.

She earned a two-year teaching certificate in 1931 from Keene Normal School. She taught in a one-room school and later was a teaching principal at Memorial School in Pittsfield. During her career she took classes at several universities. Her bucket list achievement was receiving a bachelor’s degree in education. The degree was delivered to her bedside by a representative from Keene State College.

Mrs. Ames inspired me to revisit bucket list. I decided to focus on animals. A few years ago the list included writing a cat book, publishing some cat articles and blogging about cats. I am happy to say I have checked those off. So what does my list look like today?

• Get Lexie Lee a companion cat
• Visit Best Friends Sanctuary
• Volunteer at a local cat shelter
• Get a small dog
• Go on an African safari
• Visit Rita Reynold’s Animals’ Peace Garden
• Foster a special needs cat
• Go on a James Herriot’s walking tour in Yorkshire Dales
• Develop a pet education program for grade school children
• Design a cat brooch line

I have a few decades to go before 100! Yes, I can do these!!

Do you have any animal related goals?

Bountiful Blessings!

Cat College

Have you ever wondered what a cat is telling you when she wags her tail? Have you ever been curious about famous cats in art? Or how about how cat breeds developed? These questions and more are answered in a unique curriculum of cat study sponsored by CatChannel.com and Eukanuba.

Cat College is a curriculum of nine classes that will give you the foundation for understanding and caring for your cats. There are three core courses in nutrition, biology and physical education. The cat-lectives are genetics, art history, sociology, language, psychology and zoology. The courses are all conducted online between December 1 and February 28 and taught by noted cat professionals. For example, Marilyn Krieger is a certified cat behavior consultant, owner of The Cat Coach and advice expert for CatChannel.com and CAT FANCY. Sandy Robins is an award-winning pet-lifestyle expert who appears regularly on TV, radio and in international publications.

Each course consists of a video lecture, a reading assignment and a quiz. But it is not too late to jump in. I registered this weekend for the courses. Because they are self-paced, there is still time to complete the courses before the end of February. There is even a cat study group!

Cat students can earn honors (and a Cat College Magna Felis Laude diploma!) by completing all nine courses with 90% or higher on each quiz. Someone will be valedictorian. Graduates who complete three core class and three cat-lectives and earn a passing score of 60% or higher on each quiz can also download and personalize a 2010 Cat College diploma. For complete information visit Cat College

I plan to complete some classes this week. It will fun to be on the other side of the fence for a change! Let me know if you decide to join–it’s free! Maybe I will see you in Cat Study Hall!!

Bountiful Blessings!

Tatianna’s Outdoor Escapade

Tatianna escaped two times during her sixteen years with me. The longest and most frightening escape occurred one evening as I left the house through a guest entrance. She was lounging on the bed in the guest room. I gathered up my purse and keys and told Tatianna I would be back in a few minutes. As I opened the door, she came from out of nowhere and bolted out the door. I caught a glimpse of her making a right turn and was gone from my sight before I could utter a word.

A wood fence separated my backyard property from the neighbors. I ran to my yard, hoping to find her there. No luck. I ran over to my neighbor’s side of the fence, but she was not there either. My heart was pounding, and I was breathing hard. I heard barking dogs from the street behind me, and I became even more frightened for her safety. My mind whirled with thoughts of the outdoor peril that could befall Tatianna at any moment. I had to quickly find her before she got hit by a car, attacked by an animal, or catnapped.

I jumped in my car and drove slowly around the block, but I did not see her. It was dusk and hard to see clearly from the street. So, I decided to walk around the block. I walked past my next-door neighbor’s house and rounded the bend, passing the house that sits on the corner between two blocks. Still no Tatianna. As I approached the first house on the street behind my house, I looked up the steps leading to the front door To my amazement, Tatianna lay on the second step from the front-door landing.

I stopped dead in my tracks. My first thought was that she would run if I dashed up the steps. So I slowly ascended the first of the twelve steps that led to her. I talked softly to her. She just lay there looking at me with her eyes that were as big as saucers. Slowly I moved up the second step, then the third, and so on. After what seemed like an eternity, I was close enough to reach down and grab her.

All in all, she was missing less than ten minutes. But for me, it was one of the most frantic and fearful times of my life. We were blessed to be reunited safely. (The above story has been adapted from Tatianna–Tales and Teachings of My Feline Friend).

Free book drawing: It’s not too late to register for a Tatianna book drawing. Please visit Tatianna book by January 31.

Bountiful Blessings!

Indoor Cat Escapes

Earlier this week a lost pet sign was posted on a stop sign a block from my house. As I made my way through the community, I saw several more signs. I pulled over to get a better look. A beautiful photograph of a black cat took up most of the flyer. A description at the bottom included twenty-one pound black cat, ear clipped, one white foot, female, medium length hair and freckle on nose. The flyer went on to state the indoor cat was lost on January 18 and how to contact the owners. I wonder how often a lost cat like this makes its way back home.

Many years ago my next door neighbor let her two miniature pinschers out in the back yard for a few minutes. One of them was gone when she went to bring them back inside. She never did find her dog. It was as though the dog simply vanished into thin air. I will never forget her futile calling in the neighborhood for the dog.

Cats can slip through open doors so easily. Sometimes, no one even sees them escape or the cat moves too fast to be caught.

Do you have a happy ending story about a cat that got out, but was later found?

Next blog: Tatianna’s Outdoor Escapade

Bountiful Blessings!

Northwood University Creativity Presentation

Creative Writing Class--Northwood University

I presented “The Creative Process–so you want to be a writer” in Professor Link’s creative writing class at Northwood University on January 15. My emphasis was how the creative process impacted the writing, publishing and marketing of Tatianna. My favorite definition of creativity is this: the natural order of life and a divine gift to each of us. According to Peter Koestenbaum creativity is harnessing universality and making it flow through your eyes.

What's Next?

Several techniques kept me going. One was creative tension. This was picturing a split screen with the ideal (holding the book in my hand) on one side and the reality (the unfinished manuscript stuffed in a drawer) on the other. As I recognized the gap between the two, the gap became creative tension. This helped me move closer to the ideal. A second technique I used was micromovement. This was simply doing something, doing anything to move closer to my ideal. Some days it meant only spending five minutes on the project, but it was a step closer.

Congratulations Elizabeth!

My favorite creative tool was Julia Cameron’s artist dates. This was a weekly two-hour time block for me only. The purpose was to nurture my creative consciousness, my inner artist. The time spent in solitude could be anything I enjoyed. For me it was going to ethnic restaurants or junk shopping. I went to French, Greek and Italian cafes and pretended I was transported abroad. The theory goes that when we are involved in creative endeavors, any extended period or piece of work draws heavily on our artistic well, overtapping the well and leaving us with diminished resources. After my excursions, I returned home self-nourished and inspired. Creative tension, micromovement and artist dates are still an integral part of my life today as a writer and professor.

The presentation ended with a drawing for a door prize–a copy of Tatianna–Tales and Teaching of My Feline Friend.

What does creativity mean to you? How do you foster creativity? Please share your comments.

Bountiful Blessings!

Tatianna Book Drawing

This week marks a milestone for Catnip Connection and for me. It is the two-year anniversary for the launch of this blog (January 20, 2008) as well as my birthday (January 18, 19??!). Numerous columns later here I am—still writing and loving every minute of it. I want to thank all who have taken the time to read Catnip Connection as well as those who have shared comments. One of the best parts about writing is connecting with my readers. I am also grateful to Tatianna’s Team of Meowleaders, Chatty Cats and Feisty Felines who helped with promotion throughout the year.

My anniversary/birthday present to you is to conduct a drawing for a complimentary copy of Tatianna—Tales and Teachings of My Feline Friend. All you need to do to enter the random drawing is comment on this blog posting by January 31, 2010. Tell me why you would like to win a copy. I will announce the book winner the first week in February. The autographed book will be mailed to you (or whoever you would like to receive the book).

From birthday to birthday, I am blessed to report one constant in a year punctuated with many changes. Just as I reported last year, I am grateful for my muse, dear sweet Lexie Lee. She is my source of inspiration day in and day out as she lounges across my lap, nestles along the left side of the computer or lies nearby on a window sill. She listens to me as I read my drafts out loud, and her meows tell me to keep writing about kitties! I intend to do just that! If you have any topics you would like to read about this year, please personally email me or leave a comment on this blog. I would love to hear from you.

Bountiful Blessings!

Haiti Disaster Animal Relief

 I was in the Publix Supermarket earlier today. Checkout posters gave consumers information about donating money to the Haiti Relief & Development Fund. The cashier asked if I would like to donate. The process was simple—the amount was just added on to the bill. The money will be channeled through the American Red Cross to Haiti.

A student in one of my university classes this week was too distraught to complete her mid-term exam. She had been frantically trying to reach her father and sister in Haiti, but to no avail. My heart was breaking for her. She reminded me of my next door neighbor years ago. Four excruciating days passed before she made contact with her daughter in Miami following Hurricane Andrew.

So during moments like this, we wonder what we can do to help. This disaster is close to home as I have had many students over the years from Haiti. Everyone, including humans and animals, is in my thoughts and prayers.

According to ConsumerSearch, “so far, animal relief organizations like the Humane Society and the ASPCA are not making large appeals for Haiti’s animal population. As with Hurricane Katrina, it may be a few days before animals’ agencies can start rescue operations and get personnel and supplies into the area. The International Fund for Animal Welfare is on alert, noting that humanitarian efforts need to be well underway before animal rescue efforts can begin in earnest.”

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has the following information posted today: “AVMA is closely monitoring the early response in Haiti to determine if and how we and others involved in animal welfare and health may assist in the Haiti response and recovery efforts. As always with disasters like this, the humanitarian rescue efforts will be the focus in Haiti for the first week or so. However, veterinarians are on standby to assist with the tragedy.”

If you have any information regarding Haiti animal relief, please pass the information along.

Bountiful Blessings!

The Florida Freeze

As I write today’s blog, I am swaddled in wool from head to toe. The cold weather reached Florida on Monday. The heat has been running nonstop since then. I have lived in Florida since 1975 and cannot remember a time that we have had this many consecutive days of cold weather. Lexie Lee and I fight for spots in the picture window whenever a ray of sunlight comes out—which has not been often!

I have been editing holiday photos and chuckle at the snow scenes. It was actually warmer in Missouri most of my eleven days there then it is here this week. I ventured into the garage a couple days after Christmas and and shot the photo of the hay bales covered in snow. Burrrrrrr but beautiful!

This is my sister Donna and Rose. You will learn more about Rose in future blogs. She was a special Christmas surprise.

Here is Rose all snuggly under the Christmas tree. She’s sticking out her tongue. That is kind of how I feel about the Florida weather about now!!

Bountiful Blessings!

The Literate Cat Calendar

2010--The Literate Cat Calendar

I am a nut for cat calendars. A year ago my mother and I found The Literate Cat in a calendar store in Quincy, Illinois, while Christmas shopping. The calendar is unique in that it features quotations from famous feline fanciers. Each month showcases an exquisite feline beautifully photographed by Doug Benezra.

The calendar came down last week, but it is too beautiful (and sentimental) to toss out. As I flip through the months, I am reminded of my mother who gave me the calendar as well as my favorite literary quotations from last year.

When I play with my cat, who knows whether she is not amusing herself with me more than I with her?
Michel de Montaigne, Essays

Of all God’s creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with a cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.
Mark Twain, Notebook

And close beside me the cat sits purring,
Warming her paws at the cheery gleam;
The flames keep flitting, and clicking, and whirring,
My mind is lapped in a realm of dream
Heinrich Heine, Firelight

The cat’s energy is subdued into an exquisite moderation. If animals could speak…the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.
Philip Gilbert Hamerton, The Strength Which Lies in Delicacy

I have found a source for the 2010 calendar and can’t wait to get it. As the above cover illustrates, it is sure to be another winner.

What is your favorite cat calendar?

Bountiful Blessings!