Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Reflections on Deep Lake
After a lovely dinner and drive in the country we ended up at Deep Lake in Nolte State Park.
It was a study in green.
~ Susanne
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After the Rain
After the promised high temperatures enjoyed their run for little more than 24 hours, they left abruptly and thunder and lightning and heavy rain took their place. We sat inside, watching and listening, occasionally poking our head out to see the jagged spires light up the sky.
After the thorough pounding and rumbling and crackling for hours on end, the rain finally took a break and I ventured out to see what the storm had done, which was to make everything cleaner and fresher and greener.
Looking up I was most impressed by the clouds which hung dramatically and beautifully every direction I turned.
I hurried back inside before the next explosion of thunder and rain occurred, bringing with it a flicker of power outage while writing this post. Through my office window I capture the last image of the day. Oh!
That’s enough for tonight.
~ Susanne
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A Tiger in the Garden
While waiting for my coffee to brew this morning I took a quick walk through the garden. The dew was still fresh everywhere and I found the Lady’s Mantle covered in jewels.
I also found this handsome Tiger sleeping.
Maybe that’s why they call it a garden bed.
~ Susanne
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Sunset on a Sunny Day
After months of rain here in the Great Northwest we were promised two seventy degree days in a row. The first arrived this afternoon and we reached the promised temperature. I knew we would likely have a fabulous sunset and so I headed to Gene Coulon Park with my camera. Unfortunately everyone else had the same idea and the parking lots were full. Somewhat discouraged I drove around as the sun was setting until I found a nearby hilltop and enjoyed the view.
I think it was worth the effort.
~ Susanne
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Today’s Reflections from Benji
Good Morning to humans everywhere and especially to Sue, my paws down favorite. Today I am in a reflective mood, pondering the mysterious intersection of the feline life and the human life. It is a wonderful intersection indeed, though not always easy.
We get along well most of the time yet we are different in many ways. This requires that we cats make continual adjustments to satisfy peculiar human inconsistencies and foibles. (It is obvious that we are the ones to make the adjustments, at least if we aspire to indoor living.)
For instance, I have yet to understand the human aversion to the natural feline sharpening of the claws. It seems to me their own claws would become much more useful if they practiced this habit as well, rather than remaining purely decorative. Many surfaces exist throughout the house for this purpose. If only they could see this! Alas they are unwilling to learn in the smallest matter! And so I am forced to use the inferior small posts inside, saving the most rigorous scratching for the trees outside. Speaking of outside, it is certainly a puzzle that so many food sources go unclaimed by them. We felines learned long ago that anything living and smaller than ourselves is good for food. (The hunting itself provides invigorating exercise.) They also seem to be untrainable in this.
Fortunately I have big brother Tiger to help me understand these matters. He reminds me that felines and humans are not the same species and this alone explains much of the challenges we face.
(Read Tiger’s story for yourself in the link below.)
He has also taught me that when the going gets tough inside, I must demand to go outside. There I can spend time in the wild alone, or with my own kind. A few hours thus spent solves most of the problems.
And so I sign off,
~ Benji
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Benji from the Dog House
This is Benji and today Sue put me in the ‘dog house’ (her exact words). I don’t really know why though I suspect it had something to do with the chair incident.
Every morning I like to join her in the office while she drinks coffee and reads. Tiger would too but he’s slow and I usually beat him to the punch. I am very fast. I’m so fast in fact, I can climb up the back of her chair in under a second, this after I’ve finished sharpening my claws on said chair. (It is important to keep the nails filed properly at all times. Sue should know this.)
This seemed to bother her this morning (or should I say it bothers her every morning but some days she is more tolerant. Maybe more coffee was needed.)
And so after a brief altercation I was forcibly put into our bedroom, which apparently bears the moniker of ‘dog house’ if I am closed in alone.
Sorry Sue. I’ll work on the chair thing.
~ Benji
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Rainy Days and Setting Sun
By now you may have heard that we are experiencing the rainiest October through April in Seattle since 1895 when records began to be kept. We have received almost 45 inches of rain since October 1st and April is not over yet. And yes, it feels like it.
Still, when the sky clears, I’ve become fond of chasing sunsets which manage to make an occasional dramatic appearance rainy day or not. Earlier this week I settled for the golden glow in the garden shortly before the sun went down.
And a few minutes later I enjoyed colorful clouds behind the evergreens.
One rainy day followed by a clear evening with two different garden views gave me a little more practice with my camera and the setting sun.
~ Susanne
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One Year with Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Has it really been a year since I started this blog with just a few cat stories in mind, along with a lot of fear and trepidation? Well, yes it has! And a wonderful journey it has been! I am honestly pleased (and somewhat surprised) to have made it this far and am happy to have you along for the ride!
So on this anniversary of Cats and Trails and Garden Tales, with post number 134 (in case you were keeping track), it seemed good to reflect on where we’ve been together. First, did you ever wonder about the name? I chose it because as the song goes, “these are a few of my favorite things!”
Cats
It’s no secret I love them. When I started this blog a year ago, I only had one cat in residence: the handsome Tiger, who had some things to say. He is still talking.
Then there were two. We brought home Benji from Seattle Humane Society as a companion for Tiger. It turns out Benji has something to say as well.
I love watching them individually and together. They truly enjoy their cat life.
and those I visit.
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A Spring Walk at Coulon
A perfect day begins with a trip to Starbucks and a walk at our favorite park on the shores of Lake Washington. We tried twice earlier this week to do just that but each time were turned back by the cold, wind, and rain. One time we made it to the park only to sit in the car and drink our coffee with this view.
What a difference a day makes! We woke today to a different reality: crisp, clear, and sunny with a temperature of 64 F in the forecast, the highest this year.
We head to Gene Coulon Park in Renton with drinks in hand and are rewarded with the bluest of blues and air fresh and washed clean.
We weren’t the only ones out. This mama duck and her babies were enjoying a swim together…
While this turtle basked in the sun alone.
These stony folks were committed as always to walking….
And the trees were blossoming and fragrant.
What a glorious day!
We are reminded again why we live in the Pacific Northwest.
~ Susanne
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Still the Handsome Tiger
This is Tiger and I gotta tell you it’s not easy being the oldest cat in the family. They let that boy run wild and do things I would never have gotten away with. Times change, I guess.
Flying around the house. Howling at the top of the stairs. Climbing on the roof for Pete’s sake!
‘O isn’t he cute?’ Sue gushes to Bob as she runs to fetch her camera.
Benji on the printer. Benji watching TV. Benji this and Benji that.
Benji. Benji. Benji.
Spoiled. Completely spoiled.
Now do not think I am jealous. No, no, I would never go back if I could. I continue to maintain my dignity. So what if I put on a few pounds. They will sustain me in the lean years to come. Maybe I can’t move as fast as I used to, but what’s the big hurry after all? Speed must be tempered by wisdom. It is wisdom to contemplate, to reflect. To stop and smell the roses, if you will. (And the lavender. And the catmint. But I digress.)
These eyes have seen many things that Benji cannot even imagine for he is still young. And they are still the only green eyes in this house (and most handsome I am told.)
I know Sue still loves me and she is doing the best she can with the boy. He was a rescue cat after all and has a chopped ear. It will take him time to overcome.
Still handsome after all these years and with both ears intact,
~ Tiger
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Gee, I didn’t know he was so sensitive.
~ Benji
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 