Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Month: April 2024
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… Continue Reading “Celebrating the Coast Redwoods for Belated Earth Day”
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… Continue Reading “Northern Flickers Making Home in the Snag”
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
The Space Needle -It happened at the World’s Fair 62 Years Ago!
Not that I would remember! Regardless, I was fortunate to inherit a stash of mementoes from my mother-in-law, including the original book from the Seattle World’s Fair, which opened 62 years ago today. The Space Needle has changed a bit over the years, but… Continue Reading “The Space Needle -It happened at the World’s Fair 62 Years Ago!”
A Walk with Ducks and Turtles and Eagles
It was earlier this week, silver and cold. The rain was over and gone, but clouds still filled the sky and reflected upon the lake. A flock of ducks swam together in a most orderly fashion, while turtles were out to catch some rays.… Continue Reading “A Walk with Ducks and Turtles and Eagles”
Quartz, Minerals, Rocks, and Other Gems
Who can keep them all straight? I’ll start with the largest hunk of quartz I’ve ever seen, an 8,000-pound slab from Arkansas, newly obtained by the Smithsonian. “Quartz is one of the most common minerals in the Earth’s crust. As a mineral name, quartz… Continue Reading “Quartz, Minerals, Rocks, and Other Gems”
Little Anna’s through the Window
I have many other things I could be sharing on this dull Monday morning, but instead, I bring to you this flying jewel, a handsome Anna’s Hummingbird, seen through my office window. A welcome distraction. ~ Susanne
Lots of Activity at the Mason Bee House
The mason bees have emerged from their little house, which hangs under the eaves of my big house. Mason bees are solitary pollinators that nest in tunnels that they seal with mud or clay. They lay female eggs in the back of the tunnel… Continue Reading “Lots of Activity at the Mason Bee House”
The Daffodils of the Skagit Valley
Though the Tulip Festival in April gets more press, daffodils are the stars of the Skagit Valley in March. But neither adhere strictly to the calendar so when we visited the tulips at Roozengaarde last week, plenty of daffodils were still in their glory.… Continue Reading “The Daffodils of the Skagit Valley”
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Rain or Shine
Last week while enjoying our unintended staycation, we traveled north to the Skagit Valley for the Tulip Festival. The weather was fickle – it rained off and on, leaving dark gray clouds hanging low over the fields. But it didn’t matter, the flowers lit… Continue Reading “Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Rain or Shine”
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 