The Christmas Cat Tree

As this holiday season draws to a close, I am reminded of how much Tatianna loved Christmas. So here is an excerpt from Chapter 14–Tatianna and the Christmas Cat Tree:

“Christmas in the Mohr household had always been a time of great celebration and activity. I wanted Tatianna’s sixteenth Christmas to be the most special one she had ever had. Whether it was decorating trees, addressing cards, wrapping presents, or entertaining friends, Tatianna relished being in the midst of all of the festivities. She was the household’s feline socialite. She loved to greet the company and was quite the charmer…… Tatianna’s favorite trees were the ten-foot live Scotch pine tree in the living room and the three-foot tabletop snow-flocked tree in the dining room…..

During Christmas 2000, the live pine tree showcased exclusively more than two hundred cat ornaments—a collection that had evolved over Tatianna’s lifetime. The Christmas cat ornament collection innocently started in 1982 while I attended a veterinary convention in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. I was shopping in a Christmas store and simply wanted to purchase a souvenir. Little did I know that the purchase of six porcelain cat heads, representing white, black, gray, calico, Siamese, and orange marmalade cats, would grow into a massive collection!….

The ornaments from all over the world reminded me of my special travels. Some ornaments came from Macy’s in New York; Harrods in London; the Black Forest in Germany; Paris; Rome; Savannah; San Francisco; as well as Frankenmuth, Michigan, a German-style village that boasts the world’s largest Christmas store. But the ornament that had long ago captured my heart was a musical gray cat and marmalade cat together with a banner caption over their heads—“If I had but 9 lives I’d want to spend them all with you.” It played “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” The ornament demanded a special spot on the tree; every year, I hung it at eye level in the middle of the front of the tree. The ornament truly epitomized Tatianna and Katarina…..

Besides all of the cat ornaments, the tree included a wooden beaded cat garland, beanbag-style gray cats that mischievously climbed up into the top of the tree, a cat tree topper, and a cat tree skirt. An orange marmalade beanbag cat adorned in a red Santa hat was sleeping on a branch two feet from the top of the tree. Old-fashioned bubble lights and red bows completed the whimsical tree. It was indeed a tree with a lot of personality, not unlike Tatianna. For a month every year for sixteen Christmases, it was her favorite hideout. Standing near the tree was always a gray porcelain cat doll dressed in a Santa suit that bore a striking resemblance to Tatianna.”

I miss Tatianna this holiday season as I do each and every day. Please take a look at the photos of her celebrating Christmas.  Yes, indeed–in life and in photos, Tatianna was quite the charmer!! 

http://www.lindamohr.net/gallery.html 

Bountiful Blessings!

 

 

 

Mother’s Christmas Cake

One of my favorite traditions of the Christmas holiday season is enjoying family recipes. When my mother celebrated her 90th birthday this past July, my sister and I assembled a cookbook of her recipes. The following Date Oatmeal Cake included in the collection is my mother’s traditional Christmas cake. She frosts it with powdered sugar icing and sprinkles on red and green sugar crystals. The recipe was passed down from her mother, Gladys Barr. Christmas, New Year’s Day or any other time of the year, I hope you enjoy.

Date Oatmeal Cake

1 cup boiling water

1 cup quick rolled oats

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup shortening, softened

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (8 oz. package) dates, chopped

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Pour boiling water over rolled oats and cool to lukewarm. Cream eggs, sugars and shortening. Add 4 dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Add dates and nuts. Add oatmeal mixture. Pour into 9″x13″ greased pan. Bake at 350º for about 30 minutes.

Bountiful Blessings!

WOW! Holiday Gift Guide

I love to receive books as gifts. Every year my Christmas list has at least one book request on it—usually books by Nicholas Sparks or Jan Karon. My sister has amassed all of Richard Paul Evan’s beautiful Christmas books such as The Christmas Box, The Letter, The Locket, Timepiece,—all given to her by mother. I suspect Grace is already wrapped and under the tree! Books are inexpensive, easy to wrap and easy to ship if needed. They can be personalized in the front and can be revisited many times. Some of my favorite treasured books on my book shelf are ones that belonged to my parents and were gifts from their parents.

So if you have some last minute shopping to do, I recommend the WOW! Women on Writing Holiday Gift Guide. You will find 29 pages showcasing of variety of selections including fiction, memoir, mystery, health, cookbooks, business and more. Detailed information is also included about the authors. Buy now links make the shopping effortless. I am pleased to be in the shopping guide this year with the Tatianna book (see page 9 of the guide!). Don’t forget your animal loving friends and family!

Download your free e-book holiday guide today. Please also pass this link on to anyone you think might be interested in the book selections.

http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/downloads/WOWHolidayGiftGuide.pdf

Bountiful Blessings!

Tatianna Receives Merial Human-Animal Bond Award

I recently returned from the Cat Writers’ Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. For three days I was surrounded by writers and journalists who are the voices for cats. It was an exhilarating first time experience for a kitten as I was called. I made many new friends from around the country and can’t wait to return next year. This year’s conference was held in conjunction with the Cat Fanciers’ International Cat Show. One afternoon I signed Tatianna books along with other cat authors at the CWA book booth. I also observed some of the judging and walked around and talked to competitors and admired all their awesome cats. I adored all of them, but particularly enjoyed seeing the American Domestic Shorthair, the Maine Coon and the Norwegian Forest cats.

The Tatianna book received two honors at the annual Purina CWA Awards Banquet. Drew Strouble, the portrait cover artist won a MUSE MEDALLION for ILLUSTRATION sponsored by CWA.  The book also received the MERIAL HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND AWARD sponsored by Merial.  According to the contest guidelines, “this award is presented to the entry that best reflects and promotes the strengthening of the human-animal bond, highlighting the bond between a cat and owner, as well as their relationship with their veterinarian as another direct caregiver. Entries will be judged for exceptional quality and on the ability to convey this concept and connect with the reader. Qualified entries include (but are not limited to) single articles, features, columns, short stories, books, poetry. This award consists of $1000 award and commemorative certificate”.

My name was drawn as a first alternate to receive a $500 scholarship sponsored by Premier to attend next year’s conference. I look forward to attending this professional conference in 2009 with or without the scholarship!

Bountiful Blessings!