Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Tea on Tuesday and Help for the Homeless

Spiced chai made with almond milk is a great accompaniment to a quick coffeecake. (Guess I should call it a teacake for today.)
)
1-1/2 cup wheat flour; 2-1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 ts salt; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/4 cup shortening; 1 egg well beaten; 1/2 cup skim milk. Mix dry ingredients then cut in shortening. Combine egg and milk and stir into flour mixture until just mixed. Turn batter into well greased pan. Sprinkle with topping (blend 3 TBS flour, 1 TBS grated orange or lemon rind, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup chopped nuts, 2 TBS butter). Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes.

The recipe comes from this cookbook I received from a friend for Christmas in 1994 (I arrived in Kuwait on Christmas Eve that year and have been here ever since). The proceeds from sales of the cookbook were used to help the homeless in DuPage County Illinois.

In Kuwait, homeless cats are a big problem. The animal shelters are overwhelmed. Sweet Kitty and her sister are my outside kitties who come to my door every morning and evening for a spoonful of canned food. I make sure they have dried cat food in between those times and have an area set up in the stairwell downstairs for them where I also make sure they have fresh water every day.

If it was up to just me, I would make sure they are healthy and take them both in, but hubby is not in agreement and Jingles does not like the outside kitties at all. A lot of people don't agree with feeding stray cats, but I feel that they were sent specifically to me for a reason, so I do what I can. I do what feels right to me.

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. ~Edward Everett Hale

I hope you are having a terrific Tuesday. Friendship blessings, Tammy

28 comments:

Unknown said...

That's amazing.
Another posting to read so quickly.
And then I saw it.....
DUPAGE COUNTY.... That is me. That's where I am. I have not seen this book, but will have to take a look.

nanny said...

I think you have two new family members/ha

Anonymous said...

Yes, those two stray kitties are 'yours' for sure. They know it, too, and by coming back they are saying THANK YOU TAMMY. Will they let you pet them? You are a wonderful soul, my friend.

LOVE the new music here. I'll hang out a bit and listen.

Anonymous said...

Hi Tammy!

Great quote....! and the recipe...I just might have to try that!

ciao bella


Creative Carmelina

Diane said...

Tammy, your post is bittersweet and beautiful. I'm so glad you do what you can for these poor kitties. The world is a very hard place - it really needs good people like you. Your recipe sounds lovely, I might try it after I forget about all the Easter chocolate! Have a beautiful day, Diane

Susan said...

Hi Tammy...That is so sweet, kind, and generous of you to "adopt" the little strays. I'm glad they are not inside, too, because, after all, that is Jingle's territory. Jingles reigns! But the homeless kitties know they have free food and a human who cares about them and boy, to me, that COUNTS.

Hope you had a terrific day. Susan p.s. Whatever small gesture to do for others, be it human or animal, the good in it is returned to us. I've tested that theory and it's 100 percent true. :)

Kate said...

Have a very blessed week and I love your caring heart. Great quote as always. Thank you for always taking time out to stop by for a visit. You are dear xoxo

Kate

Yvonne said...

INteresting blog, I am now following you. Glad I met you thru tea day. Have a good one. Thanks for visiting me as well.

voodoo vixen said...

Aaaaw, your outside kitties know a good thing... I had the same problem in Saudi with the stray cats... ended up feeding 15 a day and even brought two of them to Canada with me (psssst, don't mention that bit to your husband... it's best he doesn't know)!! ;) Your recipe sounds divine so I may have to try that one out after the carrot cake has magically vanished!!

Nancy said...

Thanks for the recipe, I love anything with oranges :) I love that you feed the cats too, I'm an old softy! Have a wonderful day :)

Linda said...

Awww, I think it's wonderful that you take care of Sweet Kitty and her sister. ♥

Mariette said...

Dearest Tammy,

Poor animals, they suffer far more than people because they cannot act on their own. If their keepers never spay or neuture them there will be ongoing problems! So sad that most are irresponsible and even indifferent towards our four-legged friends. We have all ours spayed or neutured so you take that burden away. Just love and feed them and you receive SO much in return.
Lots of love,

Mariette

Sonya Badgley said...

God bless you, Tammy! I do the same thing! If everyone did this-they wouldn't be called strays would they? :)
Your coffeecake looks yummy.
Thank you for sharing.
Hugs,
Sonya

Unknown said...

I pray for a stray cat to turn up on my doorstep because that is the only kind of cat I have ever known in my life, the one that just shows up one day. But we have a big, loud dog and until he's too old to scare them away .... well, it will be a while yet. But you are good and doing the right thing. poor poor kitties.

Wow, you have lived in Kuwait a long time! I am glad it is a peaceful place for that part of the world.

hugs, kimmie

Rizzi said...

I'M WITH YOU TAMMY, I ALWAYS FEED THE STRAY CATS WHEN THEY COME AROUND, MY HUSBAND WAS THE SAME WAY, BUT.....I DID IT ANYWAY. I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER. THE TWO CATS WE HAVE (IN THE HOUSE) EMMA AND ALEX
ARE STRAYS. WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO. TAKE CARE, RIZZI

Unknown said...

My Hubby says the same thing. Then last week he brings home a stray dog! Thank GOODNESS we found the owner. Hope your outside babies are spayed or neutered.
Come on and stay in my guest room! I seriously have thought of you every time I've dusted lately. We have been in the midst of a big drought and the dust has been terrible. I kept thinking that this is what it must be like in Kuwait! Dust seemed to seep in from everywhere! We finally got rain this weekend. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Denise

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

Hi Tammy!
Love the sweet little kitties and how you care for them!
And, you know, I love to see what you've been cooking in the kitchen!

Halle said...

I agree..those kitties were meant to come to you...
The coffee--um--tea cake look s yummy. Hope you had a wonderful day!

Shane Pollard said...

Isn't it funny that the little stray kitties just know which door to knock on!!
We've only ever had strays and they have very quickly become family members too!
My husband is like yours Tammy, it's not always easy but your kitties are just as happy with being downstairs family!!!!
love and hugs
Shane

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Tammy,

You are so kind and yes, hard not to feed strays.
The teacake looks delicious and thanks for sharing the recipe.

Hugs
Carolyn

Phyllis said...

I agree with you. We can all do something - even if it's a small something.

I've been feeding a feral cat for over a year now. One of my neighbors complains for encouraging him. When I'm in a position to do so, I'll trap him and have him fixed and vaccinated and then release him.

I'll post my announcement this week; just haven't had the time to do it properly (but I got a fantastic job)

Sheila Rumney said...

I think those kitties knew you had a sweet and caring heart and found you. Your teacake looks yummy!

Have a great day.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Tammy, I love your philosophy. I feel sorry for all the kitties that don't get fed and cared for. There are no strays in my neighborhood, but a few years ago there used to be a couple. Now they have either been adopted or have found better homes. Thanks for caring for them, because I know both Bleubeard and I are grateful for your caring nature and kindness.

Elaine said...

Keep feeding those poor kitties. You know I would. My stray yellow tabby is with me nd I am seeing another gray one MissT roaming around the garage and driveway so I put dry food out.
Hugs Auntie

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Tammy,
I love your childhood memories with your mom--so adorable! Mississippi is supposed to get huge storms tomorrow (the northern part.) I sure hope people will be alright up there.

I love your kitty story...how precious! And YES, I would feed them--definitely! I heard on the news the other night that Iran is outlawing people owning dogs--I about fainted! The government said it was "too Western." Give me a break! I feel so bad for people who are there who have to give up their pets--it's heartbreaking. So keep feeding the kitties--they will love you!!!

XO
Cindy

Serena Lewis said...

I'd be the same as I couldn't bear the thought of the poor cats going hungry. It's so sad that the stray cats are such a big problem. We ended up with a new family member last year when a stray dog came to us and all attempts to find his owner failed. He'd obviously suffered some hardships but is now loving all the attention and care he gets here.

The teacake looks delicious, Tammy!

Yarni Gras! said...

I have to agree with you....I feel God brings those in need to those who can help

Anonymous said...

How nice to know that Sweet Kitty is still coming to see you. I have not heard you mention her in a long time. I was telling someone about you recently, and how you carry catfood in your car for when you see strays that need some TLC. She is very lucky to have you.
Hope you are having a nice weekend!!

XOXO
Renee

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