Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Kitty Selfie
“Smile, Benji.”
Testing my new phone’s camera. I upgraded from Samsung Galaxy S9 to S23. Not exactly cutting edge, the S24 came out earlier this year. I like to let them work the bugs out first and save some money in the process.
Not the top of the line but it’ll do just fine. I got the base version to retain the small size.
I took the photos and loaded them directly to WordPress, using the jetpack app on my phone, with no edits. I like the clarity and look forward to learning more of the features.
And Benji makes a great model, don’t you think?
Happy Caturday from Susanne and Benji! 🙂
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Traveling the Oregon Coast in Black and White
Not exactly on purpose, in black and white, that is. We had good weather the first half of our recent vacation in the Redwoods, but on our drive back home up the Oregon Coast? – Not so much.
It happens.
Still, it IS the Oregon Coast and there was much natural beauty to enjoy even shrouded by clouds and rain!
Bandon by the Sea
We spent the night in Bandon, one of my favorite places on the coast. The next day we stopped by Face Rock but didn’t venture down to the beach as it was pretty miserable. Even the sparrow seemed a bit under the weather.
Newport
The next night we spent in Newport and visited Old Town on the waterfront, where we found dozens of (noisy) and somewhat hostile (to each other) sea lions.
We did catch a break later that night with a reprieve from the rain and took a walk on the beach just before sunset.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse and Outstanding Natural Area
Yaquina Head is just north of Newport, and you can see the Lighthouse in the first picture above from the night before. The next day we visited the lighthouse close up.
This is the tallest of Oregon’s lighthouses at 93 feet, and my favorite. It was first lit on August 20, 1873.
We’ve stopped by many times before, but this was the first time we took the stairs down to Cobble Beach below. Wow! The tide was out and tidepools were full!
“The cobblestone beach was created roughly 14 million years ago as a result of the Columbia River basalt lava flow. Over the years, powerful erosion processes break down beachside cliffs releasing basalt cobbles. The cobblestones become smooth and polished from the constant tides and storms.” OregonDiscovery.com
We crossed the slippery stones to the tidepools, careful to avoid stepping on the millions of mussels and other small creatures.
We also stayed far away from the resting seals, who live here year-round.
So, despite the inclement weather, this stop at Yaquina Head proved to be the highlight of our trip home. So never let a little (or a lot of) rain stop you!
~ Susanne
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Bee Squares
You might think I’m selling something but I’m not; I’m participating in Becky’s #SquaresRenew challenge.
I see renewal everywhere in my garden this time of year, especially when the herbs begin to grow and blossom anew, attracting bees who come for the nectar and pollen to feed themselves and their young; plants benefit as the pollen is carried from plant to plant, for their own reproduction.
Herbs are resilient and faithful, requiring little from me. Over the winter they’re muted and mostly gray but come to life again in spring. Lavender is my favorite, the French variety burgeoning with color first in the tassel on top.
Though the lavender buds are still tiny and tightly coiled, they’re open enough for honeybees to visit, and they patiently work the stalks.
The larger, pale flowers of Rosemary attract bumblebees.
Some bees hibernate over winter (bumblebees and mason bees,) emerging when temperatures climb into the 50’s. Honeybees stay busy in their hives all winter long to keep the queen warm. Both finally emerge in the spring as food sources become abundant once again.
~ Susanne
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What’s in my Inbox?
It’s Monday morning and I’m ready for work. I check my inbox as my first order of business.
“Excuse me, Benji, but that can’t be comfortable.”
“Actually, Sue, it is. But thanks for checking.”
“That’s fine, Benji but you’re in my way. Can’t you find someplace else to sleep?”
“Well I could Sue, but I’d rather be close to you.”
“Okay when you put it that way. I’ll check my inbox later. Go back to sleep.”
~Happy Monday from Susanne and Benji
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May the 4th be with you!
Not so long ago …
I couldn’t resist.
Happy Saturday!
~ Susanne
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May Arrives in Living Color
Spring arrives stealthily in the Pacific Northwest, not in March though the calendar says so nor in April though it teases with warm days between cold and frosty ones. (And the rain? Don’t get me started.)
It’s May that shouts the glory of spring in color.
Not only in green with ferns unfurling;
but in pink clematis blossoming, climbing higher and higher,
and salmonberries ripening (the early red of this one surprised me.)
Each new season comes just when you need it most but it’s spring that brings the most hope, and possibility of renewal and growth.
Sharing with # Squares Renew and Cee’s #FOTD
~ Susanne
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Two are Better than One, Cats that is
First there was Tiger and Shadow, brothers in the flesh.
They came to us at the age of five, middle aged in cat years, from a Cat Hotel where they’d been dropped off when the owner could no longer keep them. (Yes, there are such things. Poor boys.)
When we learned of their plight, we welcomed them into our home, and they appreciated their new lodging. If there were ever two cats more bonded than these, I have not seen them.
They rejoiced in their newfound outdoor privileges, exploring the garden, stalking the birds and generally behaving like liberated felines.
Alas, Shadow was a sickly one and within the first year departed to the place where all kitties go, only they know where that is.
Then there was only Tiger, lonely we thought.
We may have been wrong.
In any case, we assumed it was so, and brought Benji home from Seattle Humane as a companion; I admit they had a rough start, with Benji coming out on top.
But they finally adjusted and learned to tolerate, if not love one another as brothers,
living side by side.
Which is all one could ask for.
I guess you could call them our #Pets, though it may be something more than that.
Sharing with Sunday Stills.
~ Susanne
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Celebrating the Coast Redwoods for Belated Earth Day
To celebrate Earth Day, we traveled to one of our favorite places last week to enjoy the tallest trees on earth, the Coast Redwoods of Northern California.
Thanks to the efforts of the Save the Redwoods League, formed in 1918, there were many ancient groves for us to enjoy, in the national park and California state parks.
“When logging began in the mid-19th century, roughly two million acres of ancient old-growth redwood forest mantled the coastal mountains of California and southernmost Oregon. Today, just about 5 percent remains. These parks preserve 35% of all remaining, protected old-growth coast redwood forests in California.” Signboard from the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
We visited many ancient stands of redwoods and because it was the off-season, we often had the trails to ourselves, mostly without any rain.
In addition to the giant trees, there’s much to enjoy in the rich understory of the forest,
along with herds of Roosevelt Elk.
But there’s no doubt, the Redwoods take center stage.
Living up to 2,000 years, growing up to 380 feet tall, the Redwoods are resilient, resistant to insects, fire and rot, determined to keep on living, no matter the obstacles to be overcome. Maybe we could learn something from them.
Yes, #Earth Day was last week, but we just returned from our trip last night, so I’m sharing belatedly with #Sunday Stills, Earth.
-Susanne
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Northern Flickers Making Home in the Snag
Some years ago, my husband noticed one of our trees out front was dying, perhaps already dead. He brought out an arborist to take it down, who instead, convinced us to leave it standing as a snag.
He topped it and removed most of the branches, leaving a peculiar looking tree indeed and we had some explaining to do to the neighbors. (In fact, we had the arborist return and remove some of the scruffiest branches near the top.)
But he was oh so right! The birds love it!
According to the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, “Standing dead and dying trees, called “snags” or “wildlife trees,” are important for wildlife in both natural and landscaped settings, occurring as a result of disease, lightning, fire, animal damage, too much shade, drought, root competition, as well as old age.
“Birds, small mammals, and other wildlife use snags for nests, nurseries, storage areas, foraging, roosting, and perching.
“Snags enhance local natural areas by attracting wildlife species that may not otherwise be found there. All trees of all sizes are potential snags. Unfortunately, many wildlife trees are cut down without much thought to their wildlife value or of the potential management options that can safely prolong the existence of the tree. “
These pictures were taken last week, a pair of flickers, both busy working together, hewing out a nesting place to raise their young.
I was thrilled to watch them.
I hope the whole family finds the accommodations suitable.
~ Susanne
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Eight Years Later
How time flies!
When you’re having a good time!
Thanks to all of you who follow, view, like and comment! 🤗
We appreciate it!
Susanne, Tiger & Benji
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 