These are the cats which formed the beginning years in the development of the Somali as a breed worthy of it's own place in the Cat Fancy. A little newcomer appeared on the scene at Lynn-Lee Cattery - a ruddy female kitten which we promptly named "Petunia" because she looked like a little flower. She was sired by none other than Lynn-Lee's Lord Dublin, and of course, but was to bring in a new line on the dam's side, Mar-Jon's Judi of Lynn-Lee. Judi had brought to Lynn-Lee the famous Pallady line and the never-to-be-forgotten Grand Champion bloodlines of Selene's Skylark and Firefly bred by the late Frances S. Taft. I decided at that point that "Petunia" would be the perfect Somali kitten to use in an ad to publishise the Somali breed. I presented "Petunia" under my own Lynn-Lee Cattery ad since the SCCA at that point in time could not afford to run an ad in Cats Magazine. She was presented by Somali Cat Club of America as a longhair Abyssinian (Somali) with the notation to contact me at Lynn-Lee Cattery for further information on this new breed. "Petunia's" presentation had an overwhelming response and the interest created by this little kitten's picture was unbelievable.

Later in the year I heard from Don Richings that he had just had his first litter of reds. This was the first mention of red Somalis on the scene. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to own one of the first reds (female) who was out of Lili Pet Rufus and Tanya of Don Al. Don told me that Don Al Leroy (his favorite Somali) was the sire of Tanya, a a red shorthair, thus initiating the red gene in the Somali in Canada. Leroy traced his ancestry to Dunedid Moseph and Don Al Maruse also owned by Don. Unfortunately for all concerned, I was never able to successfully breed Don Al's Trish. She was very beautiful, a flaming beauty with a lovely coat, but we never showed her - just kept hoping to get the first Somali litter of Reds in this country. Unfortunately also, the litter sister, Don Al's Rivka, went to Susan Howard of London, Ontario, Canada who turned out to be not a serious breeder.

Here at home, Ina and the late Mary Rauch, Aby breeders fell in love with the Somali and were the first U.S. breeders to import a ruddy Somali from Canada. I informed them of the availability of Saffron's Caprice out of Don-Al's Sun Beau of Fredna and Saffron's Civi. "Caprice" was to become one of the leading producers of the Canadian lines in the U.S.A. The other female in the litter, Saffron's Tano, stayed in Canada and was owned by Lois and Laur Saker of the Falconsview Cattery. A new Canadian breeder of Somalis, Lillian Mitchell, purchased Don Al's Delila from Don Richings and out of Don Al's Leroy and Flame. We were well on our way in Canada.

The biggest breakthrough for me here at home came in the form of a beautiful young lady, June Negrycz, and her handsome husband, Stephen, from New York. June purchased two Abyssinians from me for breeding, both carried the longhair gene, which she knew. Lynn-Lee's Joralemon and Lynn-Lee's Sasha could trace their ancestry back to Lynn-Lee's Lord Dublin and Mar-Jon's Judi of Lynn-Lee with the addition of Lynn-Lee's Kleopatra bringing in the Van Dyke bloodlines. June produced from this combination June's Dancing Moon, a gorgeous colored male ruddy Somali who went on to become our first Best SCCA Somali when our awards program started in the year of the 1974-75 show season. "Moon", as a kitten, graces our cover! The female in this letter was sent to Pat Kalil who resides in Michigan.