Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
– Promote Your Blog! –
Happy Labor Day ! Why not join the meet and greet from Dr. Phoebe! 🙂 And check out her blog which is full of helpful, healthful tips! 🙂
Dear friends,Â
It is no secret that I value this WordPress community and that I enjoy each one of your wonderful blogs. Therefore, today will be a Meet-and-Greet, where I welcome each of you to promote yourself on PhoebeMD.com.
– What to Do –
- Leave a comment with a description of your blog along with a link to your blog or favorite post (be sure to copy the entire web address so it shows up as a hyperlink to allow others to easily visit you).
- Take a minute to visit some of the other blogs listed in the comments (Don’t be shy—make your presence known by reaching out and liking and/or following!).Â
- Feel free to share or reblog this post to spread the word.
- Bookmark this post and revisit as many times as you would like to see who else has joined the party.
Remember, one of the best things…
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Precious Cats
I couldn’t let the Lens-Artists Challenge Precious Pets go by without sharing pictures of the cats who’ve been part of our lives these past many years.
I’ll start with dear Annie, the only Siamese I ever had and the most long-lived of them all. She was with us for almost 21 years, from 1986 until she went to the Rainbow Bridge in 2007. We weren’t crazy for taking pictures back then but I still have one from her golden years, though it doesn’t adequately convey her striking beauty and deep blue eyes. How can I explain to you that she understood me?
Next was Henry who was left behind when our neighbors moved away. Hard to believe they abandoned him but we found him wandering in our backyard and took him in. When he was later diagnosed with diabetes, I – the most needle averse person I know – gave him insulin shots until the disease got the best of him. What we do for love!
Our sweet Joey deserved more than his four short years but at least we know they were good ones. He had the biggest fur and the tiniest meow of all my feline friends and was a true and loving lap cat.
Now there’s Tiger who we brought home from the cat hotel where his previous owner left him. Tiger – whose beautiful green eyes won us over and still reflect his gentle soul.
He was Top Cat in our home when I started this blog (you may have noticed his image on my gravatar.)
Top Cat that is, until Benji moved in and took over. Benji – the small kitty with the big personality, whose antics keep us on our toes and laughing too. Benji who loves being a cat, as Bob is wont to say.
So there you have it. Precious Cats.
~ Susanne
As Summer Winds Down
It was Summer’s last hurrah as I visited Soos Creek Botanical Garden earlier this week with temperatures in the mid eighties, the sun bright and burning my nose.
Then yesterday the cool marine air brought in giant clouds that filled the sky overpowering Lake Washington at Coulon Park.
As I returned to the car I found two leaves on the ground dressed in fall colors.
Already?
~ Susanne
Bicycling the Back Roads of Mt Rainier National Park
I don’t know how many times I’ve been to Mt. Rainier but this was definitely a first.
Last weekend we drove to the remote northwest corner of the National Park to bicycle the old Carbon River Road. It had been washed out back in 2006 due to major flooding and was permanently closed in 2008. Now it was the perfect place for a bike ride!
So after a quick stop by the Ranger Station
we entered the park and started our ride down the old road.
It starts out paved but quickly changes to compact dirt and gravel. It also starts out level but continues on with a slight incline.
Bob went ahead while I was distracted and stopped to take pictures.
Wouldn’t you?
We passed giant old-growth trees – Douglas Fir and fragrant Cedar – and lots of snags
and blowdowns, where sometimes the wood was mysteriously stacked.
And if this looks like rain forest, that’s because it is. The Carbon River Valley is inland temperate rain forest – thick, lush, fragrant, and beautiful – receiving between 70 and 90 inches of rain a year.
After three and a half miles we stopped for lunch next to the river, which comes from the Carbon Glacier. It was wild and deserted – just the kind of landscape where I would expect to see grizzly bears if I was in Montana or Alaska. Thankfully I was not. And none of the resident black bear came out to greet us either.
From here the road got bumpier and steeper so it was the perfect place for us to turn around.
Going back was fun with a lot less peddling and mostly downhill. And though I didn’t fly down the road like the young ones did on their mountain bikes, I was happy to be out there with them.
While Bob went to get the truck I peeked into the nearby rain forest trail and managed to get a few more pictures. If only I could capture the fragrance too and take it home with me!
Light rain began to fall as we headed back home and once again we were thankful that we live in Washington State and so close to beautiful Mt. Rainier National Park.
Celebrating this week’s 103rd anniversary of the U.S. National Park Service for Sunday Stills.Â
~ Susanne
Heads Up with Benji
Though summer is slipping by I still have many travels and adventures – past, present and future – to share with you.
But in the meantime – while I am working on them – here’s a picture of Benji to tide you over.
Susanne and Benji
Come Along on a Rainy Day Hike to Twin Falls
What do you do on a rainy summer day in the Great Northwest? Go for a hike in the woods of course! There you’ll be protected by the thick forest canopy and whatever filters through will cool you and refresh you!
And so we headed east to Twin Falls on the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River.
The trail starts nice and easy alongside the river where huge boulders rest in the shallow summer waters.
More boulders with smiling faces greeted us on the trail;
and as we continued through the forest I was reminded everywhere why Washington is called the Evergreen State.
We proceeded upward and after a mile reached the benches where we stopped and got our first view of Twin Falls in the distance.
Our aim was the bridge suspended across the canyon – we were halfway there.
When we were sufficiently rested we went down into the valley where we saw giant Maples, Cedars and this old-growth Douglas Fir.
Then it was all up, up, up and over
to Upper Falls Lookout.
We gingerly crossed the bridge and peered over both sides. This was the view of Upper Falls.
And this was the view below.
But where exactly was Lower Falls?
We crossed the bridge and stopped for our lunch break then headed back down and saw this sign.
Twin Falls Lookout? Funny thing, we’ve always gone to Upper Falls Lookout and somehow missed this one. But O MY GOODNESS – I’m so glad we stopped! We took the stairs down to a small wooden platform – and saw Lower Falls plunging 150 ft. into the river below!
It was magnificent and I should have stayed longer – but I’m a bit afraid of heights just so you know.
It was time to head back and the return trip through the woods was just as lovely – up, up, up, and down, down, down – all in reverse. I would feel it days after.
It was worth it.
~ Susanne
Happy Anniversary to Benji!
Three years ago we brought home the cutest kitty from Seattle Humane and named him Benji. It was the best pick we ever made and to celebrate I thought I’d share a few pictures of him from the last few years.
Here he is the day after we brought him home. We don’t know his actual birthday but he was probably around 6 months old.
He looks quite alert in the picture below but he actually had a rough start. He’d recently been neutered, his ragged ear was excessively tipped, and the poor boy came down with an upper respiratory infection shortly after his arrival.
But we loved him and nursed him back to health and it wasn’t long before he ditched the collar and was outside playing, hunting and helping around the garden.
It took him and Tiger a while to figure it out but eventually they did, becoming companions and even brothers.
So happy Anniversary to Benji and a thank you to Tiger for receiving him into the fold.  🙂
~ Susanne, Benji and Tiger
Catching Up with Benji
“I’m feeling neglected, Sue.”
“I’m sorry Benji. I know I’ve been busy and haven’t given you enough quality time.”
“Well I’m glad you recognize that. I’ve been trying very hard to get your attention.”
“I know Benji.  You’ve been a bit of a pest lately – I mean you’ve certainly made your presence known. I’m just happy I caught your gibberish – I mean keystrokes – before you hit publish.”
“I had to do something Sue. We used to spend more time together.”
“Sorry Benji. But at least Bob’s made up for my lack.”
“You got that right, Sue.”
“Anyway, did you know it’s been three years since you came to live with us? That’s something to celebrate! So you’ll be getting more quality time on the blog this week. In the meantime, why don’t you hang out with Bob. He loves you just as much as I do.”
“Sure Sue. Better than nothing. But I gotta go now.”
“I feel a nap coming on.”
~ Susanne
Paradise in Bloom, Nisqually Glacier and Christine Falls!
Everybody knows that August is the best time to visit Paradise to see the wildflowers in bloom but somehow I always miss it  We usually visit early in the season, as soon as the roads are passable; here’s what it looked like in May with nary a flower in sight.
Here’s what it looked like last week from the same spot – all thawed out and green – with nary a Mountain in sight.
Too bad. But it was still a perfect day for a hike – more like a stroll – on the easy, paved, Nisqually Vista Trail.
The wildflowers were abundant and colorful just as I’d hoped
and we were lucky to see a fat marmot feasting in the meadows.
We stopped at the overlooks and heard the rushing waters of the Nisqually River in the valley far below,
proceeding out from Nisqually Glacier.
And though we had great views of the Glacier, the Mountain remained hidden from view.
Fortunately we’d seen her earlier that day while fishing at Mineral Lake. Remember that? (Here if you missed it.)
I can only imagine how fantastic the wildflowers look with the Mountain as the backdrop –Â I will definitely return to find out. But it had been a long day and it was time to head back – but not without one more stop – a photo op at Upper Christine Falls,
where I played with shutter speed on my camera.
Why not?
Then it was off to dinner and as we made our way back home Mt. Rainier decided to show her crown after all.
Better late than never.
~ Susanne
A Fishing Trip Back in Time at Mineral Lake
Mineral Lake is to my husband what Hood Canal is to me: a place full of childhood memories, of long summer days spent camping, fishing, and swimming. Yesterday we made the drive to Mineral, a tiny town whose claim to fame is the beautiful mountain lake stocked with trout and wonderful views of its famous neighbor, Mt. Rainier.
Bob started coming here with his parents and their friends sometime during the last century. The parents would set up their trailers and leave them there all summer and their boys would have a grand old time. The picture below was taken at Mineral Lake back in the days of black and white. (Bob is the cute one in the middle.)
But yesterday everything was in color for our fishing trip. Well – his fishing trip. I was just along for the ride. And though it was my first time in the boat, it won’t be my last.
Okay so it’s tiny. But big enough for two and surprisingly comfortable with the little padded seats. We carried a snack with us of the best in junk food – Cheese Puffs, Doritos and a Hershey Bar. And some beef jerky that we both decided was best saved in an emergency kit.
Bob piloted the boat – the small electric motor kept us moving – and fished for trout. I helped navigate – on the lookout for the occasional random stump or log sticking up –  the town was once a logging camp. But mainly I gawked at the scenery and played with my camera.
The best views came up pretty quickly as we rounded a bend and the Mountain came into view.
It never fails to take my breath away!
As we traveled around the lake the colors changed from blue to green and variations thereof according to the depth. Nearest to shore the water became a glorious teal and sparkly.
I found other things to take pictures of too including this fellow hitchhiking.
And just for fun I used a fancy setting for this vista.
There would be no pictures of fish though. Bob didn’t catch any – he was going to throw them back anyway. As for me I enjoyed the ride. The waves lapping against the boat, the occasional eagle overhead and the changing scenery. Though next year I may get my license and show him how it’s done. (Just kidding, dear.)
Even without fish we had a wonderful day on the lake but it wasn’t long before we were ready for a burger. So we headed to shore and over to Scaleburgers in the nearby town of Elbe.
And the day wasn’t over yet! We were just a few miles from the entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park so we decided to head up to Paradise to see the wildflowers in bloom. We’re so glad we did!
Stay tuned for that story to come. 🙂
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 