Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Susanne with an ‘S’
My sister is in Germany and sent me this picture.
That’s how you spell it: just like the bottle says.
She managed to find a coke with her name on it, too, though spelling was never an issue.
We are sisters.
Sharing with #SimplyRed.
~ Susanne
What is Patriotism?
It’s hard to define but you know it when you see it. It’s not the love of a particular government or administration, it’s the love of country and its people and principles, demonstrated by ordinary citizens. And not so ordinary heroes.
When I was in New York City last fall, we didn’t visit the 911 Memorial. I assumed we would, but once we were there, it felt too real, like sacred ground.
But we did walk by Fire Station Engine 40 Ladder 35, home to eight firefighters who lost their lives defending our country on that terrible day.
It’s good to remember. And appreciate their sacrifice.
And the sacrifices made by many throughout our country’s history.
May it not be in vain.
~ Susanne
Patient Benji
“Whatcha doing there, Benji?”
“Just waiting for someone to play with me, Sue.”
“Sure, Benji. Wait no more.”
My sweet boy waits at the foot of our bed, where his special stairs are, with his favorite toy nearby, a leftover piece of rubber tubing, hoping we take the bait. We do, a few times a day.
The best things in life are free.
~ Susanne and Benji
Red Square Diners
On our trip to the Oregon Coast last week, we stopped by C & C Classic Diner in Montesano, Washington, for lunch. The food was good, the ambiance was even better.
Betty Boop was on hand to serve us.
It reminded me of the Stardust from our trip to New York City last fall, where we would have had singing waiters.
It was on Broadway, next to the Winter Garden Theatre where we saw ‘Back to the Future.’ Oh, what fun!
We didn’t have time to eat there, guess that needs another trip!
I’m sharing these for #Simply Red and will be looking for more red throughout July.
~ Susanne
Cape Kiwanda, a Bigger Haystack, and Tidepools!
What a wonderful week on the Oregon Coast! In my last post, I shared pictures of Oregon’s most famous beach, Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock. In this post I’ll share a lesser known beach, even more unique with its giant Sandstone Bluff and even bigger Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda at Pacific City.
We went there for a wedding in the sand, and it was a perfect venue despite the weather.
But don’t wait for a wedding to go – the giant beach has room for many diverse activities.
Climbing the giant sand dunes
Watching the Dory Fleet launch their boats into the surf – the only place on the West Coast where commercial fishing boats do so.
Visiting the tidepools
rich with life
Even surfing all day and into the night.
Here’s how Wikipedia describes the geology of the area.
“Cape Kiwanda is an unusual promontory in that it is composed primarily of sandstone of the Astoria Formation. At one time, the promontory likely stretched roughly 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) to the southwest, connecting to Chief Kiwanda Rock, an intrusive basalt sea stack that is Miocene in age.
Cape Kiwanda, with its many tide pools small inlets, natural arches and deep chasms, is a stunning example of large-scale erosional sculpting in sandstone. Remnants of huge Holocene era parabolic dunes that cover the highest parts of Cape Kiwanda add to the scenic interest of the locality. This unique geological feature is a must see and is one of the most photogenic landforms along the Oregon Coast.”
Chief Kiwanda Rock at Cape Kiwanda is more commonly known as Haystack Rock, at 340 feet tall, it’s more than 100 feet taller than the more famous one at Cannon Beach.
Both are worth a visit.
~ Susanne
P.S. Do you ever finish a post and then find a picture you should have included? That’s me. So, here’s the sky over Cape Kiwanda.
A Stop by Cannon Beach on Oregon’s Coast
There is no coast like the West Coast, and the best coast is in Oregon; this, from a Washingtonian who loves our beaches, too!
The most famous of Oregon’s beaches is Cannon Beach, where you’ll see a 235 ft. sea stack, Haystock Rock; there is no cannon to be found anywhere.
Other rugged rocks can be seen also, and plenty of pelicans, too.
We stopped by on our way to Pacific City, where we’re headed for my niece’s wedding.
The beach at Cape Kiwanda is equally beautiful and I hope to share pictures from there later this week.
Susanne
Heavenly Sunshine!
The Sun is a gift to earth’s inhabitants, enjoyed by us who are 93 million miles away!
In the morning it rises
and we bask in its rays,
even when we can’t see them.
We rush to watch its setting, too, and the spectacular color it brings
even when it’s gone, replaced by another.
Rather a miracle, don’t you think?
Sharing with Sunday Stills, #Sun
~ Susanne
Now that it’s Summer ….
The rain has returned to the Great Northwest, in keeping with the tradition that summer only starts in Seattle after the 4th of July.
Earlier this week it was sunny and blue for our walk on Ruston Way in Tacoma.
But by yesterday afternoon, dark clouds gathered, then dropped their load. Today is more of the same – cold and rainy.
Benji is dismayed, and doesn’t understand why I changed the weather.
I try to explain that it was inevitable since the calendar says it’s summer and this is after all, Seattle.
I went outside to see for myself – yep, it’s raining – time to capture some raindrops.
Tiger followed me to capture some raindrops for himself, much preferable to the water bowl inside.
I replenished the feeders and this sweet boy stopped by the drink, undaunted, by the rain. He understands, he’s a local, too!
Happy Saturday – Happy Caturday!
~ Susanne
Just a Walk in the Park with an old Canon
I love getting rid of ‘stuff,’ perhaps obsessively, so for the past few months, I’ve been on a decluttering mission. Unwanted items are disposed of, saved for garage sale, or taken to the Goodwill.
Today, while going through some drawers, I came across my old Canon PowerShot A520, one of my first digital cameras. At least 20 years old, it somehow escaped previous purges.
I fiddled around with it and found the batteries still worked (amazing) and there were useable 2GB SD cards in the case.
Before I made a decision on its future, I took it for a walk at Coulon Park; I needed the exercise anyway.
It did a decent job on the daylilies;
and the colors seemed more authentic than my phone’s vivid capture, below.
It did okay with the hydrangeas,
especially closeup.
Better than the capture with my phone (below), which seems washed out. Granted my pictures were taken under bright, midday sunshine, so it could be the fault of the photographer.
Mostly I was surprised the camera still worked.
Built to last!
Despite its longevity, it wouldn’t meet my needs today and will likely end up in the garage sale – the one we keep postponing but hope to do this summer – or given to the Goodwill.
But it reminds me that I like having a small pocket size camera for everyday use, so I’ll be on the lookout for an up-to-date replacement for this little Canon PowerShot.
~ Susanne
Is this Washington’s Best Hike?
You decide.
Start at the Paradise Visitor Center and take the trail to Myrtle Falls.
Then leave the crowds behind and keep on going, up, up, up!
Past the 6,400 elevation mark you’ll enter the land of polished rock and wide-open skies; if you’re lucky, you’ll have the place all to yourself like we did!
With plenty of streams, brooks, and wildflowers.
What more could you want in a hike?
Okay then, how about a friendly marmot?
I rest my case.
The Golden Gate to Skyline Trail on the flanks of Mt. Rainier – it’s got everything!
Sharing with Sunday Stills, Trails and Paths.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 