Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Postcards from San Diego
We finally got the blue skies and sunshine one expects in San Diego (it rained yesterday while we hid in the museums at Balboa Park) so on this first day of 2019 we headed over to Coronado Island, home to Coronado Beach and the Hotel del Coronado, made famous in the classic film, “Some Like it Hot” – remember that one?
Temperatures were only in the low sixties but it was perfect for a walk on the beach and toes in the water.
We also swung by the hotel just to say we had.
It’s been a wonderful time in Southern California but I won’t be sorry to go home in a few days where I hope these two boys will be waiting and happy and forgiving.
Until then, Happy New Year!
– Susanne
The Mountain
On our recent flight to southern California I made sure to book seats on the left side of the plane in hopes of getting close up views of that most beautiful mountain. My husband graciously forfeited the window seat and shortly after takeoff Mt Rainier came into view.
Mission accomplished.
– Susanne
Still on break
And in repose.
Just like Benji.
– Susanne
All Ready for the Day
Somebody’s ready to start the day.
But it’s not me.
Happy Shortest Day of the Year from Benji! 🙂
~ Susanne
Lincoln Park on a Blustery Winter Day
It’s been raining like crazy the past few days and windy too, but when it slowed down a bit we took a chance and headed to Lincoln Park in West Seattle. This park has everything you’d want for an urban hike: old growth forest, nice trails and Puget Sound beachfront where if you’re lucky you may see orcas frolicking in the water!
We carried umbrellas though we didn’t need them as we started our walk through this grove of fragrant Douglas Firs.
The trees are giant and to prove it Bob agreed to pose next to the largest of them.
Next we took a trail to the bluff overlooking Puget Sound before heading down to the beach. Colorful fallen leaves littered the trails looking lovely against the water far below.
The tide was in and the waves slapped furiously against the shore tossing drift logs about in the surf.
I kept my eyes glued to the water in hopes of seeing the orcas that made a show here recently.
Alas, not today. Though I’ve lived here my whole life I have yet to see these beautiful creatures in the wild. I hope I do before it’s too late as efforts are underway to save these critically endangered orcas of Puget Sound.
After our walk on the beach we headed up the hill and back to our car for nearby Spud’s Fish and Chips at Alki. By that time the wind and rain returned with a vengeance and waves crashed over the seawall.
We learned later a tornado touched down about the same time in Port Orchard, a small town across the Sound. Tornadoes are very unusual for this area though windstorms are not. There was catastrophic damage to homes but thankfully no serious injuries reported.
We were lucky to enjoy such a beautiful walk in the middle of a miserable week of weather. Such is life in the Great Northwest.
~ Susanne
Benji’s Fishy
I found his little Fishy in the closet the other day where it had disappeared for months. It’s small and flat so it slips (too) easily under doors, couches, stoves or what have you.
Benji fell in love with it all over again like a long-lost friend. Chasing it. Batting it around. Flinging it into the air.
Carrying it here and there like a prized trophy and always on the move making picture-taking hard – though you can see I tried.
I found him in my closet wrestling with the shoes where he had deposited it. Then with my purse where he fished it out again.
He seemed to like to put Fishy into precarious situations so he could rescue it again. Near the sofa for instance where he would occasionally bat it underneath.
When he couldn’t get it out I came to the rescue though it wasn’t easy being a big couch and all. So I moved Fishy into the kitchen where it slid around the floor nicely.
until it needed another rescuing – easier this time.
As I write this Fishy has gone into hiding again.
I’m sure it will turn up someday when I need – I mean Benji needs – more entertainment. Honestly, I don’t know who had more fun, him or me.
~ Susanne
Winter Bouquet
For this week’s photo prompt from Travel with Intent, ‘White,’ I looked no further than this bouquet.
I picked it up at the grocery store for $5 and am still wowed by the star chrysanthemum. It was money well spent.
~ Susanne
It’s a Cat’s Life
A Saturday afternoon. House is clean, fire’s warm, waiting for family to arrive.
These boys think all the fuss is for them.
Well. At least for now, it’s a cat’s life.
~ Susanne
Dreaming of Sunny Arizona
Most of us who live in the Pacific Northwest will at some point long to escape the gray and rainy days of winter. The lucky ones are ‘snowbirds’ who migrate south to the blue skies and sunshine of Arizona. Unfortunately I am not one of those. Still, I have managed to visit a few times and thought it was time to recall those sunny days in Arizona.
I’ll start with the red rock country of Sedona, an awesome place with a lovely name that exudes both peace and strength. No words are adequate or even necessary to describe its beauty.
Next up is Boyce Thompson Arboretum an hour east of Phoenix. Founded in 1924, it’s the largest and oldest botanical garden in the state of Arizona. We discovered it by taking the scenic route between Phoenix and Tucson.
Speaking of Tucson, wouldn’t you enjoy hiking at Saguaro National Park? We did.
Of course there’s that other National Park that’s good for hiking too, just ask him.
Grand Canyon, beautiful from every angle any time of day.
Okay that’s enough of Arizona. It will have to tide me over till our next trip to somewhere sunny.
The forecast here in the Northwest calls for cloudy with a chance of rain pretty much everyday until next April. Or something like that.
~ Susanne
Blue and Gray and Cloudy Day
Earlier this week I found a break in the rain and got my walk in at Coulon Park where the clouds were awesome.
So were the Olympics wearing both snow and clouds so it was hard to tell which was which.
When I returned home it was almost time for sunset and I managed to catch a hint of color through the trees along with gray smudged clouds.
It may be the last sunset I see this week, as heavy rain is forecasted into the weekend.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 