Cats and Fireworks

As we celebrate the 4th of July with parties and fireworks, the festivities can be traumatizing for cats. My neighboring community had a fireworks display last weekend. The municipality where I live will have fireworks on the 4th. Many of my neighbors have backyard celebrations–some of them beginning on the 3rd and continuing for several days. By keeping in mind the following ideas, the best interest of your cat will be served.

First of all, if you have an indoor-outdoor cat, I recommend you keep the cat inside for a couple of days. The main reason for this is to keep the cat from being harmed accidentally or intentionally. Sadly, I have heard too many malicious stories about firecrackers being tied to a cat’s tail. If your cat is outdoor only, I also recommend you find a way to bring the cat inside.

The next consideration is the affect of the loud noises–they will be scary to most cats. I find when I spend time talking to my cat, Lexie Lee, the extra attention is calming to her during the fireworks. We also play longer than usual with her favorite feather toy, and that activity takes her focus off what is happening outside. Playing music helps to muffle the unusual outdoor sounds. You can also set up a safe sanctuary in a quiet part of the house, equipped with the cat’s bed, toys, food, water and litter box.

Finally, if you are having company, it is a good idea to temporarily confine the cat to a room away from the guests–perhaps the sanctuary. That way you do not have to worry about the cat getting scared from all the added commotion and bolting out an open door.

How do you keep your cat calm and safe?

Bountiful Blessings!

Summer Supper

Summer time in the Midwest! I just returned from spending two weeks with my family in Missouri. Of course there were many highlights like taking long walks down country roads, going to local garage sales, and indulging in blackberry malts. The best part was simply being with my ninety- year-old mother. One afternoon we went to a farmer’s market in Quincy, Illinois. We were on the hunt for peas and lettuce. When I grew up on the family farm, I helped tend a large garden to feed a family of six. One of my favorite things to do was pick and eat green peas—right out of the shell, standing in the garden. My mother always told me I would make myself sick, but I did not!

So imagine my delight when the very first vendor I saw had boxes of peas. I quickly scoped out the other vendors and found leaf lettuce, green onions, tomatoes, little red potatoes, and strawberries. That set the menu for our old fashioned summer supper. The menu was simple but oh so yummy: Wilted lettuce, creamed potatoes and peas, sliced tomatoes, baked pork chops and strawberry shortcake. We worked all afternoon preparing each of the dishes, laughing, and reminiscing. It takes a long time to shell enough peas to make a meal, but it is worth the sore thumb.

The April-May 2009 issue of Taste of Home (my favorite cooking magazine) features a recipe for creamed potatoes and peas—using frozen peas if you don’t have fresh ones. I am definitely clipping that recipe to use for future nostalgic meals.

Bountiful Blessings!

Cat Quotations

“I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.” Jean Cocteau

I love quotations as you learned last week. One of my popular blog postings for Seattle Post-Intelligencer last year was cat quotations. So since I am on vacation in the peaceful Missouri countryside, here is the post.  A favorite cat book on my shelf is Cat Tales—Snippets on Life from Our Favorite Felines by Charles Wysocki. The book features charming pictures and stories about cats that Wysocki painted during his lifetime.

Who can resist reading about Dudley Wadsworth Catsinbags, Elmer and Loretta, Ethel the Gourmet, Frederick the Literate, Mabel the Stowaway, Maggie the Messmaker, Max in the Adirondacks, and Remington the Horticulturist? What wonderful names for cats!

Besides the “make you smile” stories, the book is chock-full of cat quotations like the one that opened this blog. The following are some of my favorites:

“What greater gift than the love of a cat?”  Charles Dickens

“A cat pours his body on the floor like water. It is restful just to see him.”  William Lyon Phelps

“There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat.”  Tay Hohoff

“The smallest feline is a masterpiece.” Leonardo Da Vinci

And finally this poem, author unknown:

“Gentle eyes that see so much,

paws that have the quiet touch,

Purrs to signal “all is well”

and show more love than words could tell.

Graceful movements touched with pride,

a calming presence by our side

A friendship that takes time to grow

small wonder why we love them so.”

Later a couple of my readers responded with these quotes:  Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.

One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home.

What is your favorite cat quotation?

Bountiful Blessings!

Learning by Teaching

One of my favorite pastimes is going to Barnes and Noble and browsing—especially in the clearance section. Last week I discovered a little book entitled The Gift of Teaching for $5.98. I guess it caught my eye since I had been reflecting upon the school year that just ended. It is a gem and is filled with quotations. And that leads me to another pastime—copying down quotations when I read.  I have framed quotations in my university office and in my Tatianna office. So I just had to have the book!

The book is divided into such chapters as Art of Teaching, Partners in Learning, In the Classroom, A Love of Learning, Wisdom and Inspiration, and Rewards of Teaching. Here are a few of my favorites:

Use fewer examinations, fewer quizzes, and more essay assignments. You don’t know anything about a subject until you can put your knowledge into some kind of expression. –Wayne C. Booth, American writer

The teacher is no longer merely the-one-who-teaches, but one who is himself taught in dialogue with the students, who in turn while being taught also teach. –Paulo Freire, Brazilian educator

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.—Charles W. Eliot, American educator

We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it—and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove-lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove-lid again—and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one any more. –Mark Twain, American humorist

The world is one great university. From the cradle to the grave we are always in God’s great kindergarten—where everything is trying to teach its lesson. –O.S. Marden, American writer

A teacher’s major contribution may pop out anonymously in the life of some ex-student’s grandchild. –Wendell Berry, American poet and teacher

Book Drawing: I invite you to stop by Ingrid King’s blog, Conscious Cat–where I was a guest on June 2. Comment on the interview by June 9 and be entered in a drawing for a complimentary copy of Tatianna–Tales and Teachings of My Feline Friend, autographed of course!  

http://consciouscat.net/

Bountiful Blessings!

The Conscious Cat

I am making a guest interview appearance on The Conscious Cat blog on June 2. Please stop by the blog and make a comment at http://consciouscat.net/

Participants will be entered into a random drawing. You just may be the lucky winner of an autographed hard-cover copy of Tatianna–Tales and Teachings of My Feline Friend!

Many thanks to Ingrid King for inviting me and interviewing me.

Bountiful Blessings!

Literary Feast–The Famous Authors Cookbook

“Authors and books, food and cooks, readers and libraries. These are winning combinations with far-reaching possibilities. Combine the rich ingredients, stir with vigor, and voila you have a Literary Feast,” says Jeanne Thorsen, Executive Director of King County Library System Foundation.

I collect cookbooks, bake desserts to relax, write books and blogs, and support the North Palm Beach Library at the end of my street. I am pleased to announce that my Apple Crisp recipe and my author profile are featured in Literary Feast—The Famous Authors Cookbook. “The Apple Crisp recipe is a scrumptious selection for today’s busy woman who still desires to serve dessert. The recipe was passed down to me from my mother. We prepare this old-fashioned, comforting dessert often. It requires common ingredients and is quick and easy to assemble from scratch. Sometimes, I substitute peaches. Always a hit with family and friends!” (page 131 of Literary Feast).

Proceeds from the sales will help support the King County Library System, the second busiest library in the United States. The KCLS serves 1.2 million Washington State residents through its 44 branches. You can purchase the book at http://www.thriftbooks.com/literaryfeast/

Author and chef Greg Atkinson wrote the foreword and Classic Day Publishing, with its long successful history in producing specialty titles published the cookbook. Ninety authors make up the book. Here are a few to whet your appetite:

David Baldacci, author of 17 novels, Eggplant Parmigiana

Elizabeth Berg, author of 21 books, including Open House, an Oprah Book Club Selection, Chocolate Mini Brownies

Deb Caletti, author of 5 novels with The Secret Life of Prince Charming being released in 2009,  Grandma-Mom’s Sugar Cookies

Jo Dereske, author of Miss Zukas mystery series, Lemon Pudding Cake.

Notice how I indulge in three desserts after the entrée! Well, I am off to the kitchen to do some more baking! I can never get enough relaxation!

Bountiful Blessings!

A Professor’s Summer

A common joke among teachers is the best thing about being a teacher is having the summer off. But kidding aside, my summer officially arrived this past Wednesday at 6 PM. I said farewell to my university colleagues at a post-graduation party after witnessing a lovely graduation earlier in the afternoon. A common question at the party was “What are you going to do this summer?” One professor was heading to his second home in Tennessee first thing Thursday morning. Another professor was packing for a Baltic cruise. Someone else was headed to Tahiti—her favorite place on earth. Another one plans to spend most of her summer in the Dominican Republic that she dearly loves.

What I love about summer is the flexibility. I enjoy having time to recharge, replenish, revitalize—whether it’s at my tropical home in South Florida or at the family farm in Missouri. For the first few days, I do a lot of resting and fun stuff like staying in my pajamas all day. It takes awhile to unwind from the end-of-school frenzied pace of finals, grading and graduation. It takes time for Lexie Lee to become accustomed to a new schedule of having me around all day and interrupting a few of her many naps! It also takes awhile just to realize that another school year has come and gone—that those moments are gone forever. Our graduation speaker, Tom Feltenstein (author of twelve books including The Ten Minute Marketer’s Secret Formula) challenged our graduates to think about the hyphen between when they were born and when they are no longer on this earth someday and to use that time wisely.

So my summer will be spent enjoying my reading list, writing my blogs and other creative pieces, marketing the Tatianna book, and spending precious time with family. I am forgetting to do lists this summer and going with the flow and just doing what feels right for the moment. Right now what feels right is curling up on the couch with Lexie Lee and taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon. Now who can argue with that?

What do you most like about summer?

Bountiful Blessings!

Healing Hands

This week I would like to introduce you to Ingrid King who supports happiness and well being for you and your pet through Reiki. According to her Web site, “Reiki is a hands-on healing method that originated in Japan. The practitioner channels healing energy through her hands to the animal through a light touch either directly on the body or from a distance”.

There are many benefits of Reiki. I was particularly fascinated with the benefit of increasing trust and bonding between owner and pet. She goes on to say that “people and pets often mirror each others’ physical and emotional states.  Animals are natural healers and sometimes take on their person’s problems, often in an attempt to heal them”.  I recalled the time when my cat Katarina was boarded, and I was on Christmas holiday. I spent most of the time sick and later found out Katarina had medical problems at the same time.

Many thanks to Ingrid for recently reviewing Tatianna—Tales and Teaching of My Feline Friend and including the book in her May newsletter as well as posting the review on Amazon. You can read the review at http://www.lindamohr.com/reviews.html

Visit http://www.pethealing.net to sign up for her free newsletter. You will also receive a free report on How to Care for Your Arthritic Pet.

Bountiful Blessings!

Happy Mother’s Day

Mother, mom, ma, mamma, mommie, or mum…..I call my mother “mother”. So does my sister.  Our brothers call her “mom”. When I was younger, I called her “mommie”.

This past week when I was in Cracker Barrel, a framed quote caught my attention as I made my way through the gift shop to the restaurant. I loved it so much that I copied it down:

“Mother…she not only gives us life, she teaches our souls to sing”. How beautiful and oh so true, I thought to myself.

That passage reminded me of another quote hanging in my house. Several years ago, my sister, mother, and I were on our annual mother-daughter summer jaunt. After visiting the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, we stopped at Country Junction Restaurant, a country-style restaurant and gift shop. My mother had given us spending money for a trip memento. I found the perfect gift to honor my mother, our trip, and our precious time together.

“All that I am or hope to be I owe to my mother”—Abe Lincoln. The quote was embroidered on small pieces of red and tan gingham and displayed in a rustic frame.

Then we have the mother’s perspective in the following quotes: “Before you were conceived I wanted you. Before you were born I loved you. Before you were here an hour I would die for you. This is the miracle of love.”—Maureen Hawkins

“When you were small and just a touch away, I covered you with blankets against the cold night air. But now that you are tall and out of reach, I fold my hands and cover you with prayer.”—Dona Maddux Cooper

Today my mother is in Missouri, and I am in Florida. She is out of my reach to hug her and wish her a Happy Mother’s Day in person! I will do that by phone and through my card and gift. But when I go to bed tonight, I will fold my hands and cover her with prayer—“may God keep you safe and always in His loving embrace”.

Bountiful Blessings!

National Pet Week

National Pet Week is May 3-9 with the theme being “Pets-the Spice of Life.”  With more than 172 million companion animals living in American homes, the American Veterinary Medical Association wants to remind everyone that these animals give us joy everyday and deserve the best care and attention in return.

Dr. James O. Cook, AVMA president, says that for many years he has involved his veterinary clinic in the National Pet Week celebration, working with local schools to teach students about pets and animal health. Many veterinarians, veterinary technicians and clinics across the country will follow Dr. Cook’s example by using this event to turn National Pet Week into an educational opportunity. Bookmarks, banners, brochures, t-shirts, coloring books and contests are all designed to remind pet owners about the special bond between people and pets.

“Pets serve important roles in our lives,” says Dr. Cook. “Not only do they provide us with companionship, but studies have shown that they help us deal with stress, improve our health and lengthen our lives. For example, senior citizens with pet dogs are more likely to get out of the house and take regular walks with their four-legged companions. That extra exercise brings them great health benefits.”

What I especially like about National Pet Week is the emphasis on educating children about responsible pet ownership. Teachers can download lesson plans and work sheets from the National Pet Week website any time of the year. For more information visit http://www.petweek.org or http://www.avma.org

Bountiful Blessings!