Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Snowy Days
WordPress tells me I’m on a roll – posting three days in a row – why not go for four? 🙂
We had the promised snow this week though not much accumulation at our place – the tiny beads of powder didn’t rise above one inch.
The streets were clear so we bundled up and headed out for a walk on the Cedar River Trail. This was the view from the car as we pulled out of the driveway.
There was still lots of color with the red twig dogwood and the gold of the weeping willows.
There were more ducks than people out so I went to say hello and startled them. Sorry boys.
It was cold and windy and snowy but we made it to the end of the trail and back home again where we warmed up by the fire.
Later on that day I captured the turbulent sky at sunset.
I think the worst is over as I see blue skies ahead today.
~ Susanne
Fern Fronds Unfurling
Is there anything that heralds spring in the Pacific Northwest more than fern fronds unfurling?
After a week of cold and snowy weather I’m ready.
Halfway there! 🙂
For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, Spring Scenes.
~ Susanne
The Changing Color of the Anna’s Hummingbird
I replenished the feeders yesterday so the nectar was fresh and plentiful during this week of snowy weather.
I watched the first hummingbird hover nearby – apparently for a good look at me – before swooping in dressed in camouflage of green and black. (Not the best picture but I wanted to show you how he looks incognito.)
And then a flash of color,
and a drink.
Heads up, another glance, and a color change to brilliant pink – or is it fuchsia?
Time for another drink and he’s mostly green and black again.
Heads down, heads up,
The beautiful Anna’s Hummingbird – I never get tired of watching him.
~ Susanne
The Unexpected Joy of Getting Outside
It’s true isn’t? There’s nothing like getting outside to give you a fresh perspective and yes, even fill you with joy! We chose to do just that before the next snow was expected to arrive, walking the lakeshore trail at Coulon Park, where there was still much color to be seen.
There were birds and ducks of all persuasions out and about
including bald eagles high overhead.
That’s the thing about getting outside – you never know what special thing awaits you.
For Cee’s New Photo Challenge, On the hunt for Joy, Get Outside.
~ Susanne
Benji’s Portfolio
“Hey Benji. Now that you’ve made it into your first calendar, I need to put a portfolio together for you. We need to be ready.”
“What’s a portfolio Sue? And ready for what?”
“Ready for the next calendar. Or contest. All models keep a portfolio of their best headshots. You’re quite the handsome cat you know.”
“You’re just saying that Sue. Who wants a picture of a cat with a cropped ear.”
“Are you kidding me Benji? You’re the most handsome cat I’ve ever had! Don’t tell Tiger I said so.”
“Really Sue? Okay then, I’ll put my best ear forward. Something like this perhaps?”
“That’s it Benji! You’re a natural!”
~ Susanne and Benji
Winter Scenes in the Pacific Northwest
Just last week I was walking along the Cedar River Trail, enjoying temperatures close to 60 degrees.
Today we have our first snow of the year. I like both.
Wet, sloppy snowflakes have already stopped falling and the thin layer that covered the ground is melting.
Snowdrops cling to aptly named snowberries
while I wait for them to drop.
Such is winter in the Great Northwest.
For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, Winter Scenes.
~ Susanne
The Snag and the Owl
Among the evergreen trees surrounding our home is a Western Hemlock that appeared to be dying. We asked an arborist to come and remove it and he was willing to take it down, but encouraged us to leave a ‘snag’ for wildlife. If we didn’t like the look of it he’d come back and remove it later.
According to Conservation Northwest  “Standing dead trees, called snags, provide birds and mammals with shelter to raise young and raptors with unobstructed vantage points. Large downed trees also provide important habitat for wildlife. Hundreds of species of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish benefit from snags for food, nesting or shelter! ”
We have plenty of other trees in our yard and weren’t sure a snag was necessary but decided to take his advice and leave it standing. It would be nice to have a woodpecker take up residence there.
It looked kind of funny and we wondered if we’d made the right decision.
And then last week after dark I saw the form of an owl perched on one of the limbs. Though I’ve heard their calls in the night, I’d never seen one in the wild – outside of a zoo or other wildlife sanctuary.
I stood (with my umbrella in the rain) and watched him as he stared at the ground below. He took no notice of me while I stood beneath taking pictures of him. Why should he? He owned the night.
Honestly I was thrilled – and a bit unsettled too.
It’s a bird of prey.
And while I’m happy if he takes the rodents making mole hills in our yard, I’m also concerned about creatures larger than that.
I will need to remain vigilant.
~ Susanne
Somebody’s Ready for Monday
“C’mon Sue! Let’s play!”
“Oh Benji, it’s Monday. And it’s too early besides. Why don’t you go outside to play.”
“Please, Sue. It’s too cold out there.”
“Okay Benji. But just a few minutes.”
“Okay, I’m ready! Go!”
“Faster Sue. Faster!”
‘You’re a wildcat Benji! Now if you don’t mind, I’ll get back to my coffee.”
Happy Monday from Susanne and Benji
Winter Walk at Nolte and the Green River Gorge
After many rainy days we had a wonderful interlude of clear skies and record breaking temperatures and decided to spend it at Nolte State Park.
The property was first granted to Frederick Nolte by then President Harrison in the late 1800’s and stayed in the Nolte family until willed to the state in 1972. The main feature of the park is beautiful Deep Lake which is surrounded by lush evergreen forest. The 1.4 mile trail around the lake is perfect for walking anytime of year and we often make the 45 minute drive to get our fix of fresh air and forest.
This time we noticed a freshly fallen tree and went to inspect it where it lay.
It will eventually be swallowed by fungus, moss and ferns as many stumps and roots are, creating mysterious life forms;
no I don’t mean Bob.
Fortunately there are still plenty of living trees like this giant Douglas Fir, the largest in the park.
After our walk we headed to the Green River Gorge where we were greeted by the roar of the river and mist rising above.
We finished up at Black Diamond Bakery with the best doughnuts in town.
It was a great way to take advantage of the mild temperatures. Cold and rain is sure to follow.
~ Susanne
Yahoo for Oahu!
Okay so maybe I’m too excited after booking a trip to Hawaii but I don’t think so. Hawaii is to me, one of those places that lives up to the hype. Ocean beaches. Glorious sunsets. Warm, fragrant breezes. What’s not to like about that?
It’s been a while since our last trip and I’d been pondering another for the past year.
But to which island?
My first choice was the Big Island but we’ve already spent more time there than any of the others. And the husband was not enthused about going there again. I need him to be enthused.
And no not Maui he said. It’s not at all his favorite – unlike everyone else we know.
Kauai? Too rainy. Indeed, Mount Waialeale is one of the wettest spots on earth, receiving around 500 inches of rain each year. Honestly we get enough of that here.
So that leaves the most visited Hawaiian Island – the one with the most iconic views – of Waikiki and Diamond Head – made famous by Jack Lord and his gang when I was still a kid, back when I never thought I’d see such a marvelous place – Oahu!
Yes, we’ve been there before but always with a trip to another island, never for its own sake.
So this time we’ll give it more time – and we’ll do the things we both love. Bob will visit Pearl Harbor and soak up the military history of the island. I will relish the beach time including some days on the North Shore, one of the top surfing destinations in the world. No we don’t surf (no surprise there) but wouldn’t it be fun to see some of those monster waves?
And we’ll both be on the lookout for the whales, those beautiful Humpbacks who migrate thousands of miles here to bear their young.
So there. It’s booked and I’m counting the days till I have one of these in my hand.
That should get me through the winter!
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 