Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Just a Walk in the Garden with Benji and Tiger
#WordlessWednesday
~ Susanne
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Stark Landscapes of Washington State
Huh?
I’m from Washington, the Evergreen State, so called because of the lush, green landscape on its west side. But the middle and east side of the state may come as a surprise to you with its stark contrast of desert, scablands and canyons, including Dry Falls, once the world’s largest waterfall.
A three-hour drive, east of Seattle, it makes for a fun road trip, and geology lesson.
While you’re in Central Washington, stop by the tiny town of Waterville, population 1,127. At 2,650 feet, it’s the highest incorporated town in the state.
And the even tinier town of Douglas, just a wide spot in the road.
Swing by the 800-foot-tall butte of Steamboat Rock
on your way to your final stop: Grand Coulee Dam, the largest hydropower producer in the U.S., which is anything but tiny.
There are other stark landscapes in Washington State, but not quite as interesting as these. So that will do for Sunday Stills, Stark.
~ Susanne
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The Mountain is out at Seward Park
Springtime arrived early in Seattle last week and to celebrate the 60-degree weather we went to Seward Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the city.
Mount Rainier was on display or, the mountain was out, as we locals like to say.
The sky was blue, though streaked with clouds
providing a beautiful backdrop to silver trees
and madronas.
The 277 acre park on the Bailey Peninsula contains some of the oldest trees in the city of Seattle. The forested interior has trails of its own
but we opted to take the 2 .5 mile paved loop around its perimeter,
enjoying views of Lake Washington, the Seattle skyline,
and the Olympic Mountains.
Many others were out enjoying the weather, including the friendly wildlife.
Today is still sunny and the sky cloudless and blue. We’ll take this wonderful foretaste of spring as long as it lasts.
~ Susanne
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A Fresh Start
This is the view from my office where Benji keeps watch from the window seat Bob built for him. It turned out to be timely, as it wasn’t long afterwards, that Benji was confined to the house.
I’ve done my best to entertain him with his new favorite toy, a rubber tubing.
But Benji’s an outdoor kitty, there’s no doubt about it and his morning pleas to go outside have been hard to bear.
Thankfully, today was the day!
There were no bobcat sightings, either live or on security camera footage, for the past week. So we let him go outside with us today, on what feels like the first day of spring, while we performed some garden chores.
He explored the grounds, sniffing the walkways, walls, and shrubs.
Stopping to rest, deep in cat thoughts.
Totally content to be a cat again.
When we were done an hour or so later, I called to him, “Benji, let’s go inside and have a treat!” and surprisingly he followed me into the house, where I rewarded him, accordingly.
Spring is here, no matter what the calendar says and we are happy for a fresh start.
Sharing with Sunday Stills.
~ Susanne
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Frosty Scenes
Our winter arrived late but made up for it with snow and icy cold temps throughout February. I’ve already shared pictures from this month’s snow, so for Sunday Stills Frosty Winter Scenes (there’s still time!) I went through my archives to find other pictures to share.
Frosty Road
Frosty Mountain Scenes – Skagit River and North Cascades
Frosty Berries
Frosty Plant
Frosty Cones
Frosty Hummers
Frosty Benji
Frosty Sunset
And that’s enough frosty for today. I really am ready for spring!
~ Susanne
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Happy Hummingbirds on the Road to Spring
A feeder hangs from a maple tree in front of my house. I watch the hummingbirds zip by from my office window, their heads and faces, as colorful as flowers.
The snow has melted. My handsome Anna’s Hummingbirds cheer me on the road to spring.
~ Susanne
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Benji’s New Toy
I’ve been trying to find new ways to keep Benji entertained now that he’s trapped inside by the bobcat. (Yes, the wild animal is still around and been seen on my neighbor’s’ security camera numerous times! 😦 )
I bought a few things, but they were of little interest to Benji.
And then I discovered some leftover tubing Bob had purchased to rescreen a couple of windows. I cut a few lengths of the thick rubber string and dangled it for Benji; it’s his new favorite toy.
“Please, Sue. I’m ready.”
“Okay, Benji, here we go.”
I last 5 minutes until I’m spent and walk away, off somewhere to my duties.
But when I look up, he’s followed me, at my feet, with his toy behind him.
“More, Sue.”
“Sorry, Benji, maybe later. I don’t have time right now.”
Until next time,
~ Happy Caturday from the office of Susanne and Benji
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Red and White for Valentines Day – Snow Crystals and Berries
Fresh snow is falling today, light and fluffy.
It’s beautiful
but it’s been a long winter
and I’m ready for spring.
Until then,
Happy Valentines Day.
~ Susanne
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A Red Faced Duck at Coulon Park
We’re in a deep freeze here in the Northwest, but I bundled up anyway and went for a walk at Coulon, hoping to find some red for this week’s Sunday Stills challenge. I started near the hotel where there were lovely reflections in the water and a bit of red above.
I continued on my walk and found red winter berries and red twig dogwood.
I saw a wonderful assortment of ducks and birds and geese, though none were red.
But then I saw a red-faced duck, perhaps the homeliest I’d ever seen.
I talked with a woman who was watching him. ‘Kind of a loner,’ she said, ‘he doesn’t seem to belong.’
A Muscovy duck, perhaps domesticated. Her friend liked to feed him corn and had gone to get some.
He was friendly. He wiggled his rump, feathers wagging like a dog’s tail, a beautiful shade of green, with scalloped edges; I decided he was handsome after all.
He perked up as if to pose, and raised his feathers on top,
till I thought he looked a bit like Elvis.
My new friend, a red faced duck.
I’ll look for Elvis the next time I visit, maybe with some corn. But don’t tell anyone, you’re not supposed to feed the ducks.
~ Susanne
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Cat Prints in the Snow, Big and Small
We’ve had snowy conditions for more than a week, and early on, I let Benji outside to check it out.
He didn’t stay long, but long enough for me to get a picture of his tiny paw prints in the snow.
As the weather has remained cold his time outside dwindled, which turned out to be a good thing.
Because last Monday, we had a visitor to our backyard. Bob saw him watching our sleeping Tiger through the window and ran to get the pellet gun to scare him off. By the time I responded to Benji’s deep-throated cry, the large cat had retreated further into the backyard. He was at least twice the size of Tiger, with a large round face. He sat looking at us, while I flailed my arms through the window, and tried my best to look menacing. When he turned and fled, I saw his thick, stump of a tail, and knew it was a bobcat.
I was so thankful that Benji and Tiger had been inside!
After posting on Facebook, I learned that friends have also seen bobcats in the greater Seattle area. I guess it’s not surprising they’re around, given the woods and other wildlife nearby (rabbits, raccoons, deer.)
Neither Benji nor Tiger have been outside since.
A few days later, we saw some large prints in front of the neighbor’s house, which we assume are from the wild cat.
Needless to say, it’s been unsettling and we’re keeping the cats inside until we have some assurance the bobcat is no longer nearby.
That’s not an issue for Tiger who’s almost 17 years old and perfectly content to remain inside.
It’s much more difficult for Benji, who prior to his injury last year, was in and out, day and night, whenever he pleased. (Yes, we were enablers.) More recently he was outside at least an hour or two a day.
I’m doing my best to keep him happy with new toys, fresh catnip and delicious treats.
And I’ve promised that when spring arrives, he can help me outside in the garden, just like in the old days, when he had all four.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 