Tabby Cats

Tabbies are widely thought to be their own breed. However "tabbies" are cats of many different breeds that have patterns on their fur that ressemble the patterns on their ancestors: African Wildcats.
There are 4 main types of tabbies:

• Mackerel
• Classic
• Spotted
• Ticked

The mackerel tabby pattern has vertical, gently curving, narrow stripes on the side of the body. Often, an 'M' shape appears on the forehead. Mackerels also have a 'peppered' nose, where black spots appear along the pink tip of the nose. Mackerel is the most common tabby pattern.

Classic (or 'blotched') tabbies have a similar 'M' pattern on the head, but the body markings are different. Classic tabbies have a whirled and swirled pattern with wider stripes that make a patterm that is referred to as "butterfly" patterns on their shoulders, and usually a bullseye or oyster pattern on the flank. The legs and tail patterns can be very different with respect to the width of the bands.

Ticked tabbies  produces hairs with distinct bands of color on them, breaking up the tabby patterning into a salt-and-pepper appearance. Striping or "barring" can often be seen on the lower legs, face and belly and sometimes at the tail tip.

The spotted tabby may not be a true pattern, but a modifier that breaks up the mackerel pattern so that the stripes appear as small spots. The stripes of the classic pattern may be broken into larger spots. Both large spot and small spot patterns can be seen in the Australian Mist, Bengal, Egyptian Mau, and Ocicat breeds.

Fun Fact!
These are Fictional tabbies:

• Garfield and Nermal (from the Garfield comic strips)
• Puss in Boots (from the Shrek movies)
• Prof. McGonogall's animagus (from Harry Potter)

Mennonite Cupcakes

Here's my first cupcake post!
It's from a Mennonite cookbook I have called "Food that Really Schmecks" by Edna Staebler. The Mennonite people originated in what is now Germany, but slowly moved up to the area we call Ukraine. Before they moved to Canada, my great-grandparents lived in a Mennonite village in Ukraine. But now for the recipe:

Blueberry [or cranberry] Cupcakes 

Tools You Will Need:

• 1 big mixing bowl
• 1 small mixing bowl
• 1 whisk
• 1wooden spoon
• 1 sifter
• 1 cupcake/muffin tin
• 12 paper cupcake/muffin liners
• measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of shortening
• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 cups of flour
• 4 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 2 cups of blueberries (can be replaced with 2 cups of cranberries)

Directions:

"Cream shortening, add sugar gradually, then well beaten eggs and vanilla; blend well.

Stir in the milk alternately with the sifted flour, baking powder and salt.

Mix well.

Add the blueberries, sprinkled with the 1/4 cup of flour.

Fill paper cups 2/3 full.

Bake at 375 degree oven for about 25 minutes.

I'll bet these would be good with cranberries too."

- Food that Really Schmecks by Edna Staebler copyright 1968 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.

  You could also add a cream cheese icing.

                                                       My cranberry and blueberry cupcakes.

Maine Coons

Maine Coons are definitely recognizable by their big, bushy tail, and long fur. Add big "snowshoe like-paws", and this cat is equiped for the harshest winter. Both males and females have a long square muzzle, making it easier to catch prey. One thing for sure, this is one adaptable cat!

Some "original" Maine Coons were polydactyls (had extra toes). But modern, purebred Maine Coons are rarely polydactyls. My Maine Coon, Nishka (in the picture) is a polydactyl, making her paws even bigger than most Maine Coons.

A Maine Coons meow does not often actually sound like a meow! ( This explains why Nishka most often sounds like a cow trying to quack!!)

Fun Fact:
Maine Coons are the official state cat of.......Maine!!!

Introduction

hello,
My blog is going to be about Cats and Cupcakes. For each post I will either post a cupcake recipe with pictures, or some facts about a breed of cat or cute pictures! (I've got lots of those! =p) Hope you enjoy!!

Nishka (Corynn)