When they reached the end of the aisle and turned to face the back of the chapel, Chase spied Grace Pilsen sitting alone in the last row. Her nose was still red and she wasn’t completely healthy, but it was nice she had shown up. And very nice she was sitting far away from everyone else so she wouldn’t infect them.
The music changed again. This time Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” rang out.
Anna, resplendent in the biggest smile Chase had ever seen and shimmering in a silk silvery, gray-on-gray dress, slowly walked down the aisle to become Mrs. William Shandy.
RECIPES
BLUEBERRY MUFFIN BARS
2½ cups unbleached flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
½ teaspoon sherry flavoring
½ cup milk
1 cup fresh rinsed blueberries
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar.
Add beaten eggs and sherry flavoring.
Add milk and flour mixture alternating, starting with milk, in three parts.
Rinse and pat dry blueberries. Fold into mixture.
Spread in greased 8½ x 11–inch pan.
Bake 15–20 minutes.
Cool completely before adding drizzle.
Drizzle Topping
1½ cups powdered sugar
2–3 tablespoons milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla
Mix thoroughly until thin enough to drizzle, adjusting milk.
LEASH-TRAINING TIPS FOR CATS
First of all, you have to have a proper harness. Cats can’t be walked with a collar and leash. As many cat owners know, collars don’t stay on many cats. A harness especially made for a cat will contain her, though, if you fasten it. There is a strap that goes around Kitty’s neck, and also one that goes under her tummy immediately behind her front legs. Most, if not all, are made of nylon and clean easily. If your cat just can’t stand a harness, there is what’s called a cat holster, made of cotton, and looks like a little jacket. They aren’t as adjustable as a normal harness, so you’ll need to do some measuring for that one.
You can use a regular leash or one that’s like a bungee. They attach on the part of the harness that’s on the cat’s back, not on the neck.
After you’ve picked out the kind and color, take your time at first. Introduce him to the harness gradually, a little bit at a time. Let Tommy Cat sniff it and get acquainted for a few days before you try to put it on him. You can even hold it out to him with a treat in your other hand so he associates it with good things.
Just as with a horse, touch the harness to the cat in various places until Kitty doesn’t flinch and accepts it. Then, you can put the harness on, but just for a few minutes. Different cats will get used to this at different rates. Associating treats here won’t hurt, either.
As she gets used to wearing it, put it on her, still without the leash, and play with her while she has it on.*
Next step is to attach the leash and let Tommy Cat drag it around for a few days. Try to do this in a place where the leash won’t hang him up on anything!
When you start to walk Kitty with you holding the leash, do it in the house at first and don’t lead her. In fact, you may never be able to lead her all that much. You can lay down a trail of treats, trying for a straight line. After this is working well, you’re ready to go outdoors!
For indoor cats, which is when you normally use a leash, be prepared for them to startle at everything until they get used to the great outdoors.
It’s good to establish a regular time of day for walking, just as with dogs, so Tommy Cat will expect it then. However, cats don’t do their business on walks like dogs do. Walking a cat is done to give them fresh air and something different to smell, see, hear, and experience.
Every step of the way, tell Kitty how well she’s doing and don’t spare the treats!
Another tip. It’s a lot easier to train a very young kitten (in which case, you’ll need different sizes as she grows). Quincy, of course, is a very smart cat and got trained quickly for his age. Be sure to do all the fasteners securely so your cat doesn’t escape and find dead bodies.
Most of this information is from the ASPCA’s site at aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/teaching-your-cat-walk-leash.
*Extra tip from Bodge
Janet Cantrell is the national bestselling author of the Fat Cat Mysteries, including Fat Cat at Large and Fat Cat Spreads Out.
Looking for more?
Visit Penguin.com for more about this author and a complete list of their books.
