ODD FELLOWS---by Socks

Above: Harriet Above: Owen & Mzee

We came across a story about a baby hippo named Owen and a tortoise named Mzee who became fast friends. Although, it maybe that Owen, orphaned by the 2004 tsunami, thinks that Mzee is his mommy or daddy!

Mzee is around 100-years old and probably thinks it's strange that Owen is always following him around.

And, speaking of tortoises, we learned that the oldest known living animal in the world is Harriet, a 170-year old tortoise that lives at the Australia Zoo in Queensland.

Harriet is a Galapagos tortoise and the mystery around her is the fact that Herpetologist, Scott Thompson traced Harriet's former owners back to Charles Darwin. His research papers indicate that he took three tortoises from the Galapagos in 1836. But the odd fact is that Harriet's species lived on an island that Darwin never visited.

Is it possible that islanders transported her to the area where Darwin studied?

INJURY UPDATE---by Elmo

"Here I am in my 'fort' resting my knee."

Hello there, Elmo here. I thought I should let people know that I'm doing okay with my knee injury. Mom is helping me as much as she can and I know being confined when she isn't home is the best thing for me.

I do sometimes forget that I can't leap up on furniture now and I try and then just sink to the floor. It's very difficult to be subdued when that mailman comes to our house every day. I always want to run to the window and say "hello" as he passes by.

This "fort" (as mom calls it) is pretty comfortable really and I don't mind going in here most of the time. I think resting my knee has helped and I am able to put some weight on it. I even got to go for a short walkie last week and that was fun. Today looks like rain so I don't think we'll be going anywhere to walk.

We went to aunty's house since I hurt my knee and I think I did too much running around her nice yard because I was really tired after. I usually sleep in the car coming home from there and I was pretty tired after we got home.

Everyone has been so kind in wishing me well and I want to say "thank you". Being confined gives me time to think about different recipes and what mom and I are going to make next.

There are all kinds of recipes we want to try!

ANOTHER CHEWART PIECE---by Digger

"Kitty, Kitty" by Digger

As you can see in this work of mine, I am greatly influenced by being round cats all day. Having six feline brothers always presents subjects for artistic study.

Mom liked this piece as well and framed it to hang in the home office. Mom picked a black background to really offset the stark white of the cat figure. This is a smaller work approximately 3" x 4" and is quite the little show piece.

I have one more piece of ChewArt that isn't quite finished yet. I know when I do finish it and perhaps any others, mom will group them and put them in a different location to really showcase them.

Other activities I enjoy include doing laps around the living room for exercise. I was very naughty once when I was allowed liberty in the computer room. I just couldn't resist the phone cord and chomped on it. Unfortunately, mom was in mid e-mail at the time and I cut her right off. She was very good natured about it, but I think that was only because she had an extra phone cord in the house. Yes, yes, I can be bad sometimes.

ABOUT ME---by Henry

Hi, I'm Henry the lastest member of Tabby Abbey. I came to Tabby Abbey last fall. Well, I had been around the neighborhood for some time, but it wasn't until the weather got cold that Mom brought me inside.

I'm about 3 years old I guess, it's hard to remember when I was born, or where actually. I remember living with some people and then some other people who didn't let me in the house very much and then not at all. They didn't bother to put any food out for me either and I just decided one day to wander off. Afterall, there wasn't much reason to stay around was there?

It was bad in the cold and hot weather and trying to keep safe or even find a place to sleep that was secure was difficult. Living rough is not a good thing. Several times I tried to duck into the garage here at Tabby Abbey and that didn't work very well. A lot of times I just slept in the leaves in quiet spots in some yards behind sheds and such. It was not very restful. And getting enough to eat was always a problem.

I kept hanging around Tabby Abbey because I could see there were others like myself living there and I thought perhaps at the very least, maybe some food would be thrown out that I could find. Sometimes I would just lay on the sidewalk by the porch when it was hot. The only water available at that time was from the people across the street who had a little garden fountain in their front yard.

Then the weather started to cool off and while that was a good thing, it also meant that the crushing cold of winter would soon be upon me again. I did not like to think about that.

As the days grew shorter and the nights colder, the lady at Tabby Abbey begain bringing me leftover food that the furpersons inside did not eat. It was a banquet! Oh, and she brought water too! It was wonderful. For the first time I had hope of surviving the winter!

One day, while I was sitting on the porch with this lady, (mom, now) she asked me if I would like to come inside and live there. At first I wasn't sure about this, I mean other people had taken me in their houses too. There was something different about this time. So mom carried me in and for the first few weeks I lived in the computer room by myself until I could be checked by the doctor and have some tests made. When everything came back okay, I was allowed to mingle with the other furry children.

It's been wonderful ever since! I like to sit with mom in the evenings when she watches the TV and I purr to her. She gives me kisses and I know I have a good home, a forever home.

THE CATS' HOUSE---by Bobby

Hi, I'm Bobby and I want to tell you about a great place called The Cats' House. This is really a special place, like our home, Tabby Abbey, but more.....what's the expression? Tricked out? Or maybe it's the Extreme Makeover----Feline-Home Version!

Maybe you've heard of this place? It may be familiar because this home has been featured on several TV shows and they have several books out in addition to their web site www.thecatshouse.com that you can check out.

See how one couple fixed their home to accommodate their expanding cat/pet family. It's really pretty cool. On the web site you can meet each of the residents and see exactly how they did the construction work. This house is really colorful too and it all comes together in a special place for feline folk.

BEST FRIENDS---by Julio

Hi, I'm Julio and my designation is #001 Kitty. My brothers Timmy #002, and Bobby #003 and I were all born feral and mom worked over the course of almost a year to bring us into Tabby Abbey were we lived before we moved to this location. Mom got me first and then Timmy a couple of days later. Bobby was the holdout and mom had to wait a couple months before Bobby was ready to come in. We've never looked back since. We were lucky to come to our mom who took us in. Other animals need groups like Best Friends.

Have you heard of Best Friends?

Best Friends operates the nation's largest sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals, and is also home to a host of wildlife who find refuge there.

Best Friends is located at Angel Canyon, in the majestic redrock country of Utah. They provide a low-cost spay/neuter program, they sponsor a network of members in rescue, foster care and humane education, and they work with humane groups nationwide to bring about a time when there will be NO MORE HOMELESS PETS.

The society is supported primarily by memberships and donations, and subscriptions to its magazine Best Friends. And of course, your contributions are tax-deductible.

Their address is: Best Friends, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741 or check them out at www.bestfriends.org

The Best Friends rescue center at Celebration Station in Metairie, Louisiana, outside of New Orleans, was the center of the massive effort to save as many animals as possible after the hurricanes.

These people are truly Angels for Animals.

THE ARTFULL DIGGER--by Digger

Digger's first work titled:

"White Chaps"

Yes, yes, this photo was taken some time ago, but I wanted to let you see me with one of my ChewArt creations.

This work was done using an employment check stub and mounted on a lovely blue background. It is approximately 8" x 10" and now is proudly displayed in the home office of Tabby Abbey.

This was my first step into the art world and mom was quite pleased that the project turned out so well. She has always encouraged me to pursue my creative talents. Of course, clean up after one of these "chew" sessions is mom's responsibility!

ST FELINUS--by MomCat

Okay, so that's not me in the profile, it's St Felinus.

I decided not to put my photo in the profile because I'd, we'd, rather have St Felinus' picture there. Hopefully at some point we will be able to get a better photo of him to replace this one. But we wanted everyone to see what he looks like. Wouldn't you say he looks like a happy, fat cat? We thought so too.

And as I think I mentioned before, he gets dressed up for some holidays and we will show you those outfits from time to time.

Of course there's a story behind how he came to be at Tabby Abbey and I will briefly relate the event.

I happend to see this particular garden statue on the front stoop of a house one day when I was driving through a subdivision nearby. I fell in love with it immediately and wondered where these people had gotten it. Well, I wasn't very brave to actually stop at their house and ask them. Although now that doesn't seem too bold of a thing to do. But back then I was too hesitant to do so.

Everytime I passed by their house I would look at the cat standing there as if guarding their front entrance and I thought how perfect he would be for the St Felinus part of Tabby Abbey. Each time I drove by I was trying to get up enough nerve to pull into the drive, knock on the door and ask the big question: "Where did you get this cute statue?" And everytime, I would just drive by.

As time went by I started telling myself, okay, if I ever see these people outside doing yard work I will stop in and ask them.

One day as I aproached their house, I saw a man and a woman in the driveway and I was filled with delight, at last I could stop and ask.

As I was about to commit to turning into their driveway, I could see that they were having a very heated argument! Instead of turning in, I just kept going passed their house. I was so disappointed.

Time went by and I didn't give anymore thought to asking them.

Then one day, my sister called and left a message on my answering machine. The message said, "I've found St. Felinus. Call me."

I had no idea what she was talking about at that point. I began to think she had found a real church or religious group with that name!

My sister had been making the rounds of the local lawn & garden, and nursery locations and at one of these she spotted the statue!

Needless to say, I went, I saw, I bought, and I brought him home to Tabby Abbey!

IF LAUTREC HAD BEEN A RABBIT--by Digger

Yes, yes, I know, Lautrec wasn't a rabbit, but just think of how all his art work would have looked. Something to think about, yes? Might have looked like the above, don't you think?

Well, mom had given this subject some thought and came up few a few works of art that I thought I'd like to show you here in our blog letter.

This one is the first of several that we will highlight here. I will also be showing you some of my own works of "chew" art, as mom calls them. I did mine awhile back and mom framed them and has them hanging on the home office walls.

And he would have been called "Buntuce Lautrec" in the Lapin world of art.

HAPPY EASTER--From Chloe

Just a quick note to wish everyone a Happy Easter and hope you have a great day.

At Tabby Abbey we usually color eggs and in this photo you see I've found my Easter Basket and I'm about to run off and show Digger what I have.

Yes, Digger and I had some nice treats, of raisins, and berries, and oh my, mom even found us some dandelions, flowers and leaves too. They are quite good!

IN CHLOE'S OPINION---by Chloe

Yes, mom does like to dress us up from time to time. I guess I don't mind, after all, I AM the pretty one around the Abbey. I guess I shouldn't be so stuck up though, mom did rescue me from a home that was not very nice. And Digger, well, she rescued him when he was fated to be thrown to a couple of dogs. I am glad to be at the Abbey and Digger and I have a very comfortable life and we are loved. I sometimes forget where I came from and what it was like there. Here Digger and I are very happy and we wish all bunnies and all creatures were so lucky.

Easter is the time of year when bunnies are purchased for the children and within a couple of months we are all discarded. So it was with Digger and I and it is so sad, so tragic. Mom knew when she took Digger that it meant a new type of committment. Mom had had no experience with bunnies before so she read, and read, and looked on line to www.rabbit.org for lots of information and she found a bunny doctor right away. Our doctor is not the same as that for Elmo and the kitties. Not all animal doctors know about rabbits or small exotics as we're called. And it is very important to have a bunny doctor all lined up when you need one.

By the way, don't you think I look beautiful in my veil? Digger told me I am. Mom too.

EASTER AT THE ABBEY--by Digger

Yes, yes, Easter is a great time here at the Abbey with all the activities and fun things we all participate in.

One tradition has been coloring the Easter eggs and Elmo oversees and helps with this project. This year Chloe and I are putting on a little performance to add to the festivities and we are doing The Easter Bunny Ballet. This year we even have costumes to wear. Although Chloe didn't seem too pleased to be wearing one. Oh, these divas, you know how they can be!

Mom is taking a day of vacation on Monday so she has a nice long weekend to try and get some chores done around the Abbey. There's always something that needs to be done. Now with the nice weather here, except for the severe storms we might get, mom needs to do yard and garden work, or as she calls it, "yarden" work.

WHO IS ST. FELINUS, YOU ASK?

Ok, I told you how Tabby Abbey got its name, but not where the St. Felinus part came from.

Tabby Abbey of St. Felinus, sort of sounds like a religious community doesn't it? Well, yes, because tongue-in-cheek, it is.

The stray and unwanted felines "retreated" into my house from wandering the streets and eating out of garbage dumpsters. St. Felinus is their patron saint and he belongs to the legend of St. Francis of Assisi.

According to that legend (which, okay, we totally made up!) St. Francis had a pet cat, Felinus. Need I say more?

Well, one of the prized acquisitions for the Abbey has been an outdoor statue of St. Felinus himself (and, as soon as I figure out how to put pictures in the blog, you'll get to see what he looks like---and everybody else here as well!) (Note: I have lots of scanned photos that I use in the printed newsletter, but I gather they are too large to upload, so....I have to address that problem.)

The statue has a place of honor on the patio. He is sheltered in a nice white arbor that has different climbing plants on it.

Oh, and did I mention? St. Felinus gets dressed up for various holidays. You know how the front door goose fad goes with different outfits for the holidays. Well, St. Felinus has some outfits too! Ah....more photos....

Some of the features of the hard copy Tabby Abbey Times are Elmo Le Gassy's Cooking column with recipes and cooking tips; there's a Photo Zone with pictures of around the Abbey interests; Digger has excerpts from his diary that he keeps; and together with Chloe they have a feature called The BunneyMooners with photos and dialogue. There's also articles by the other Abbeyites on various subjects as well.

So, come and visit here on the net. Hope you enjoy the Tabby Abbey Times.

WHAM! ELMO LE GASSY COOKS!

Hi, there, Elmo here. I like to cook and bake with my mom here in the kitchen of Tabby Abbey and I have a recipe for you to try after Easter if you are serving ham.

This is a nice way to use up the leftovers and is quite good. So here you are. Hope you enjoy!

HAM BAKE

1-10 oz pkg frozen chopped broccoli

1/4 cup chopped onion or to taste

4 tablespoons butter, divided

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2-1/4 cups milk

1-1/2 cups seasoned stuffing mix divided

2 cups cubed fully cooked ham

Cook the broccoli. In a large saucepan, saute onion in 3 tablespoons butter until tender and then stir in the flour until blended. Slowly add milk and bring to a boil and cook and stir for about 2 minutes or until thickened. Then reduce the heat and stir in cheese until melted.

Drain your broccoli then add it and the ham and 1 cup of the stuffing to cheese sauce. Transfer to a greased 2-qt baking dish. Melt the rest of the butter and toss with the remaing stuffing mix. Then sprinkle around edge of casserole.

Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 4 servings.

WelcomeTo Tabby Abbey

Hello and welcome to Tabby Abbey!
What is Tabby Abbey? Long, long ago (1974) and in a galaxy far, far away (actually upstate New York) a pet person (me!) began a furry family with castoffs that needed homes. It started with two precious little fur-persons and ended up with, well, shall we say, Eight is Enough????

Anyway, they were all sad cases and became quite the family unit. There were eight cats that started the chain reaction and a dog; then another dog, two horses and a pigeon.

Somewhere in this process, Auntie B named my house "Tabby Abbey of St. Felinus" and the rest, as they say, is history.

Fast forward to the present. Well, a few years ago, when the Abbey was invaded by the Evil Computer, one of the first projects to come out of the electronic box, was a homefront newsletter to keep in touch with family and friends. The Tabby Abbey Times was born. This little bit of fun became a monthly issue from the Abbey with photos of the critters and articles written by the Abbeyites, as the residents are called, and it has been printed out and snail-mailed to a readership of up to 35 people in 7 states and 3 or 4 countries.

Times have changed! Now there's blogging!

Now Tabby Abbey can bring our newletter to the world at large with the intent of bringing a smile and hopefully a little cheer to people who are news weary of the dreadful things that are happening.

We, myself and staff of writers and contributors, will be bringing the same features from the printed version to this the blog (or is it blogged?) version.

Currently Tabby Abbey is home to: Elmo (k-9), Julio, Timmy, Bobby (cats, also brothers), Boots, Socks, and Henry (cats), and Digger and Chloe (rabbits). They all contribute various articles and features to the newsletter and they have their own point of view on matters as well.

The newsletter has photos too, and keeping a camera handy is a gimme around here. Since we are all new to blogging, please allow us a learning curve....a big learning curve.

We hope you will enjoy the Tabby Abbey Times and share it with your friends of a like mindset, the PetPeople.