Cats and Trails and Garden Tales

Holding Down the Fort

Posted on September 14, 2018 by Susanne Swanson

September is the best time to travel so why not hit the road? That’s what we said and set our sights and our wheels toward our favorite national park, Yellowstone. I’ll have lots of stories and pictures to share later, but in the meantime I asked the boys to hold down the fort.

They obliged.

-Susanne

A story – Wisdom from Cats in the Garden

Posted on September 12, 2018 by Susanne Swanson

8 Comments

I did a Guest Post on Katzenworld yesterday. Some of you may have already seen it but here it is in case you missed it. 🙂

https://katzenworld.co.uk/2018/09/11/wisdom-from-cats-in-the-garden/

Happy Wednesday!

Susanne

Cloudy with a Chance of Rain

Posted on September 10, 2018 by Susanne Swanson

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The smoky skies made for some interesting sunrises,

sunsets,

and moonrises too.

But after a long, dry, summer in the Pacific Northwest, it’s good to be back to normal:

Cloudy with a chance of rain.

Remind me in November.

– Susanne

Reflections on Fall

Posted on September 6, 2018 by Susanne Swanson

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It starts with September my favorite month.

I close my eyes and see the school, as sturdy as the last century.

It’s 4th grade again and Miss Warner is young. Her face and hair and dress all a golden tan; her hair short and tightly coiled. The heels she wears are black like the piano she plays – upright – the music that encouraged me forever. I hope she knows this.

I breathe in deeply and smell the leaves, green and anxious to change their color. But September moves slowly, able to hold two seasons at arm’s length – giving summer her fling of sunshine and long afternoons – letting fall have the mornings, cool and fragrant.

September finally relents and October marches in boldly in yellow and orange, red and gold.

The leaves adorn the trails we walk and give fish their burial color.

Till November brings the first snow, a tease of winter to come.

A reminder that fall too shall pass.

This post was inspired by the prompt – Sepia Fall Memories – from Gin and Lemonade

~ Susanne

Sunset at Coulon

Posted on September 4, 2018 by Susanne Swanson

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We decided to go for a walk at Coulon Park last night just as the sun was beginning to set. The crowds from Labor Day weekend were mostly gone – the picnickers and swimmers soaking up the last of summer – leaving the park quiet except for a few fishermen, boaters, walkers, and romantics there to watch the sunset. Perhaps we fit the last two categories.

Enjoying the waning days of summer.

~ Susanne

Let’s Support One Another 💙

Posted on September 4, 2018 by Susanne Swanson

For the Birds

Posted on September 1, 2018 by Susanne Swanson

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I turned on the stream for the birds to drink and drenched the trees with water for them to shower. All the regulars were there and grateful. The chickadees and nuthatches flitted about through the wet foliage, calling to one another and ruffling their feathers, while the hummingbirds hovered, waiting to get their share.

Down below some new visitors especially enjoyed the stream.

Smaller than a chickadee, these tiny songbirds are golden crowned kinglets, and I was happy to have them drop by.

~ Susanne

Cats are not Dogs

Posted on August 31, 2018 by Susanne Swanson

6 Comments

This is obvious of course but I was thinking particularly about travel. On our recent trip to the Oregon Coast we saw many happy dogs with their owners, around town and especially walking, running and cavorting about on the beach. I saw no cats doing the same. Apparently they were all left behind as were mine.

Tiger the gentle giant.

Benji the spunky upstart.

Aren’t they cute? Yes they are but they like to be cute at home, in their own territory, not in a moving vehicle, or a box, and especially not on a leash. Tiger and Benji not only prefer home, but they prefer home with the in and out privileges to which they are accustomed. And so it was, that earlier in the week, this exchange occurred (in word or in deed), shortly before our planned departure.

Benji: “Please, please let me go out, if not I shall run around like a crazy cat and terrorize Tiger.”

Tiger: “Please, please, let me go out, if not I shall be tormented by the crazy youngster.”

Me: “You boys will be fine inside. We’re leaving plenty of food. Canned for starters and all the dry you can eat. Fresh water, at multiple locations. You’ll have the run of the place. You may even jump on the counters while we’re gone (though I don’t recommend it) but who would know? You can sleep all hours of the day wherever you choose. Make all the noise you want. You’ll have great fun, I promise. And it’s only three days. So sorry, I can’t let you out this morning.”

Benji: “Please, please, Sue, I can’t control myself! You must let me out!”

Me: “Settle down you wild thing. Tiger’s looking scared.”

We continue our packing as Tiger disappears to a safe place and Benji finally gives up, resigned to his fate. Smart boy, that Benji. I pet him one last time, brush his soft, soft fur, and tell him we won’t be gone long.