Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
These are a Few of My Favorite Trees
I love trees – all kinds of trees – so I thought I’d share a few of my favorites with you. I’ll start with one closest to home – in the park at the end of my street. I don’t know what kind of tree it is and admittedly it’s quite ordinary by day. But I love to visit this tree at sunset when it seems to come alive.
Next up and still close to home are the Douglas Firs and Western Hemlocks, both abundant in Washington State, in our backyards and in our forests. This is the view you get looking up in many a campground and on many a trail.
The two giants below are at the ‘Grove of the Patriarchs’ in Mt. Rainier National Park. They’re hard to tell apart but I believe that’s a Western Hemlock on the left and a Douglas Fir on the right, judging by the bark.
For a look at the world’s tallest trees let’s head south to the Redwoods of California. We found these at the Big Tree Loop at Prairie Creek in Redwoods National Park.
And here we are in front of ‘Big Tree,’ for scale.
Speaking of scale, the little blurry man below is my husband – standing next to a Giant Sequoia tree. You can find them on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains like we did sometime in the last century. I need to go back if only to get better pictures of the largest trees on earth.
Well, it’s hard to top that one for size but for pure happy, you can’t beat the Rainbow Eucalyptus trees on Maui.
Cheery little fellow isn’t he? 🙂
~That’s all for now.
~ Susanne
A Walk through Seattle’s Chinatown
Okay so maybe it’s not San Francisco but it’s authentic and it’s ours and it’s still the best place for real Chinese food in Seattle. When you work downtown you’ll likely make the walk there for somebody’s birthday lunch; or like I did recently, to meet up with old coworkers at Jade Garden – where I admit to trying jellyfish for the first (and last) time – who thought it would be crunchy??
I took the Light Rail to town and emerged at the International District Station 30 minutes later.
I headed to Jade Garden where we shared dish after dish – from the land, from the sky, and from the sea, admittedly trying things I would never order myself and that’s what makes it fun.
But I might prefer Seattle’s oldest Chinese Restaurant, Tai Tung, opened in 1935 and operated by the same family since. It was Bruce Lee’s favorite restaurant – so they say – and he always ordered the beef in oyster sauce. (I’d go with anything sweet and sour.)
After lunch I dropped by Hing Hay Park, a local gathering place and popular with martial arts practitioners.
Then it was onward to King Street Station, after passing through Chinatown’s Historic Gate.
Opened in 1906, King Street Station was designed by the same firm who later worked on New York City’s Grand Central Terminal.
Recently renovated it’s quiet and grand and inviting, quite unlike today’s airports.
I wanted to hop a train to anywhere!
Instead I headed to nearby Smith Tower, Seattle’s first skyscraper.
There I was reminded of my first trip to the top when I was 10 years old. I was bored one summer day so my mom suggested a friend and I take a trip downtown to see Smith Tower. We did just that, paying 35 cents to ride the elevator operated by a friendly man in uniform. Quite the adventure for ten year olds!
I thought 35 cents was rather expensive at the time, so I felt no need to pay the $20 to go to the Observation Deck today. I continued on and got this view of the Tower from the other side.
Are you tired of walking yet? I wasn’t but this post is long enough. So before I go, I’ll show you one more building: Seattle’s tallest skyscraper, 76 story Columbia Center. It was the tallest on the West Coast when completed in 1985, but not anymore.
Apparently it too now has an Observatory that you can spend too much money on to enjoy. Honestly, I spent enough time here during my working days, though mostly for lunch, as my building is the one on the right: Seattle Municipal Tower. See how I managed to squeeze that in? Just a bit more nostalgia to go with my walk. 🙂
Posted as part of Jo’s Monday Walks.
~ Susanne
Moon Shots
I’m happy to have found another photo challenge, this one from City Sonnet where today’s challenge is Moon.
~ Susanne
Cat Falling Asleep
Stage 1 – Oh no! Tomorrow I have to go outside and fight the moles. What if I don’t win? Or worse yet, what if I’m stuck inside because of rain or snow? I’ll go crazy if I have to stay in another day!
Stage 2 – Nah. I always win. And I like playing in the snow. I’m worrying about nothing. It’s going to be alright.
Stage 3 – purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Starring my favorite little feline, Benji, and prompted by Friday Foto Fun – Pets
~ Susanne
Canadian Rocky Green and Blue
I think I’ll make up a new color since I can’t decide what it is. Aquamarine? Turquoise? Teal? All I know is that I love, love, love the beautiful lakes of the Canadian Rockies. And so for this week’s Fun Foto Challenge I give you Canadian Rocky Green and Blue in four lakes.
Lake Louise – Queen of the Rockies
I don’t know if there is a more beautiful lake in the Rockies than this one.
Unless it’s this one?
Lake Moraine
Or this one?
Bow Lake
Or maybe this one?
Peyto Lake
These pictures came from our trip to the Canadian Rockies in August of 2016, but we’ve been up north to see these gems before. Depending on the time of year, and the amount of snow and glacial silt in the water, the colors can change from shades of milky green and emerald to brilliant hues of purple and blue.
So these I am calling Canadian Rocky Green and Blue. If you’re ever in the neighborhood, check them out.
~ Susanne
Memories at Snoqualmie Falls
The day before the snow arrived – it seems so long ago – we went to Snoqualmie Falls, one of our favorite local attractions. The Falls are an easy drive from Seattle and a place to wow your out-of-town guests. Or to celebrate a special event like I did with brunch when I graduated from college. Or to impress your date with a fancy dinner as Bob did me so many years ago.
We haven’t been back for dinner since that first date in 1982 – maybe we should work on that – but we have been back many times to take in the views of the Falls.
And sometimes to walk the trail to the bottom – but not this time. Today we were content to view the Falls from above sprayed by the mist at the overlook. Then continue our drive through the lovely farmland and small towns of Snoqualmie Valley.
We stopped in Duvall for lunch – brunch actually – and split a delicious plate of homemade biscuits and gravy, eggs and country potatoes. Afterwards we went to nearby Tolt MacDonald Park in Carnation, a state park and campground that straddles the Snoqualmie River. We love crossing the suspension bridge and admiring the views of the river.
I also love the trees on the grassy side of the park, where it seems to me they always have something to say.
This one foreboding.
These, kicking up their heels in dance.
After that it was a stop for dinner and pie; a wonderful winter’s day under mild temperatures and completely snow-free.
That would all end the next day.
~ Susanne
P.S. And for those of you counting, yes, I have now posted 7 days in a row for the first – and possibly last 😉 – time!
On Blogging and the Snow
Yesterday I was notified by WordPress that I’m apparently on a roll having posted 5 days in a row. I think my being cooped up here during Snowmageddon has something to do with it – which makes me wonder – what did those pioneers do all winter with no electricity, confined by the snow day after day ?? – but I digress.
Now don’t worry I don’t intend to post everyday from now on – I can’t possibly do it – hats off to all who can! But I figured since I already have five days in a row, why not live dangerously and go for a week? 🙂 So here’s number 6.
First of all, it’s still snowing in the Great Northwest wearing out even the most enthusiastic snow-lovers among us. Over 20 inches so far in Seattle this month and more snow than we’ve had in 70 years, depending on which news outlet you believe and where they measure. Regardless, there’s been a LOT of snow!
And the cats are going stir-crazy.
This morning Benji was perched at the top of the stairs lamenting the weather in song and looking to me for answers. I had none.
Tiger got tired of being harassed by his little brother and opted to try his luck outside this morning.
As for me, I’m missing my morning latte as it would be foolish to drive in the snow to get one. I’ll have to make do with regular coffee.
Supposedly it’s warming up and the snow will turn to rain over the next few days. But who really knows? From where I sit, the snow is still falling and this is the view from my office window.
But that’s enough for day 6! I’ll save something for day 7.
See you tomorrow!
~ Susanne
Hummingbirds in the Snow
Yesterday I went looking for ‘Red” for a photo challenge – I guess I could have waited and included these pictures from this morning too.
As you probably know by now we are in the midst of Snowmageddon here in the Pacific Northwest with snow continuing to accumulate after a week. I’ve lived here my entire life and seen lots of snow over the years (and always welcomed it) but it’s pretty rare to get this much (over a foot) and keep it for such a prolonged period of time.
Most of the nearby roads are passable so we’ve not been completely snow-bound. But I’ve mostly stayed inside the last week except for keeping the hummingbirds supplied in the backyard. Every night I bring in their sugar-water and the next morning bring it out to them again. I scatter old bread and peanuts for the larger birds but haven’t seen them around much. I guess they know where to hide. I also add hot water to the bird baths to provide water for a couple of hours before it freezes over again.
This burst of winter has been fun, but enough already. The cats are going crazy in the house and Tiger’s getting the worst of it. I’ll be happy when spring arrives!
~ Susanne
Looking for Red
The snow is beautiful but after days and days of cold and white I thought I’d go looking for Red, in this week’s photo challenge from Travel with Intent.
I found it first in a pot of flowers, that brightened up Benji in the snow.
And I remembered the popsicle that surprised me last year on the streets of Seattle
and the little tugboat that guided our ship into Victoria.
Red – it cheers doesn’t it? – and yes, it’s still snowing.
~ Susanne
Escaping to Kauai the Garden Isle
No not today. I’m currently in the Great Northwest, where we are in the throes of Snowmageddon. That’s what we call a few days of heavy snow in Seattle and surrounds and yes we are wimps compared to the rest of the country. This is the view from my office this morning and while I like it just fine I thought it was time for some armchair travel to warmer climes.
So let’s go to Kauai, the Garden Isle!
Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands so it’s more tropical and lush than the others. It’s the smallest too so less crowded and easier to navigate. Here’s what I enjoyed the most from my trip a few years ago.
Waimea Canyon
I learned about the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’ when researching the islands years before we went, and it was on the top of my list of things to see. I have to say, it lived up to the hype!
At nearby Koke’e State Park we also had amazing views of the lush Kalalau Valley from 4000 feet elevation and the famous Napali Cliffs.
The young and brave take the Kalalau Trail – 11 miles each away – along the north shore to experience the cliffs close up. Perhaps if I were 20 years younger? Okay, maybe not even then. The next best way to see the cliffs is by boat around the Napali Coast but those waters can give the heartiest traveler seasickness so we passed on that too. Still I think I got the general idea here from above don’t you?
A land called Hanalei and the Historic Pier
This area served as a backdrop to many movies including ‘South Pacific.’ According to Kauai.com, the Hanalei Pier was “originally built of wood before 1892. In 1912 it was lengthened to 340 feet, but the wooden deck proved difficult to maintain in the tropical climate. In 1921 the legislature authorized $25,000 for a concrete deck.” As you can see it was rainy and overcast the day we were there but I still managed to enjoy the trip to the pier.
Waterfalls
There are lots of drive-up waterfalls in Kauai and here I am enjoying beautiful Wailua Falls.
Well, that’s enough for now. So I’ll close with pictures from our hotel on the Coconut Coast, the east side of the island,
and looking north,
and our final sunrise.
Ahhhhh. I loved Kauai, but honestly I was surprised it wasn’t my favorite. Maybe because it’s the rainiest of them all – one of the rainiest places on earth in fact – and since I’m from Seattle, I get my fair share of rain already! Or maybe it was the size. Being the smallest of the major Hawaiian islands meant there was less to do than on the others. Or maybe I just need to give it another chance? Hmmm. There’s an idea.
We shall see.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 