Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Possibilities
I’ve been watching these two the past few months as they slowly learn to accept one another. Benji is persistent in pursuing his older brother; as fearless and bold as youth can be. Tiger is tolerant to a point and remains gentle even when tested again and again. Though twice the size of Benji, he will flee rather than fight. It hasn’t been easy and the camaraderie and brotherhood we had hoped for remains elusive.
But here they are sleeping peacefully side by side giving us the promise of future possibilities. For now, we will take it.
~ Susanne
This morning’s sunrise …
So this happened shortly before eight this morning and I was compelled once again to stop and take pictures. I didn’t have my ‘real’ camera with me so I had to take this with my phone. But really… what else could I do?
And this verse comes to mind: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1
~ Susanne
Awakening
The moon waits faithfully for the sun to appear
while Benji and Tiger contemplate their day.
Wintery Walk at Coulon Park
Today was just another walk at Gene Coulon Park along the shores of Lake Washington. But it’s never ordinary to me when the beautiful snowcapped Olympic Mountains appear and I think to myself, ‘do I really live here?’
Feeling blessed.
~Susanne
The many faces of Benji
“Hey Benji,” I said. “I’d like to take some pictures of you to submit to American Rescue Cat magazine. They’re looking for their next Cover Cat. You’d be perfect. Just pretend I don’t have a camera.”
“Sure! Love to!” he replied. “How’s this?”
“Hmmmm,” I said. “Very nice. Only I’m looking for something more relaxed. Maybe you could tone it down just a bit.”
“Okay, okay.” he said excitedly. “I know exactly what you mean. Something more like this?””
“Great Benji,” I said. “Really good…. only … well the eyes, Benji. Maybe we should forget the props and just go for a headshot.”
“Sure!” he said. “I can do it! How about this?”
“Now Benji, don’t get me wrong. It looks great but, well, I was thinking of something a bit more pensive…”
“Got it,” he said, jumping up to the desk. “How’s this?” .
“Good Benji. Good. Say Benji, why don’t we try again tomorrow when we’re fresh?”
“Okay ” he said. “I give up.”
“That’s it Benji! I got it!”
~ just for fun,
Susanne and Benji
Winter Garden Bouquet
I saw the little rose was still blooming outside after a week of freezing cold and snow. Since she had survived so long I brought her into the house and added her to this Winter Bouquet.
~ Susanne
A memory in snow….
Our first snow arrived earlier this week but was short-lived. The ground is all clear, the air icy cold, while we wait for the next round of snow to appear. Clouds are moving in but glorious patches of blue remain like parfait.
Is this the sky speaking before the storm arrives? We shall see. The forecast keeps changing and I fear I shall yet be disappointed.
I love the snow. That, in spite of the fact I once spent 10 hours snow bound on Interstate 5 between Seattle and Renton. That’s love, yes? Of course it does make for a good story (another time perhaps) but my favorite snow memories are more wonderful. Such as that day many years ago when ….
I walked across the campus in the falling snow. It was my first day of college and I was giddy with joy. After working almost five years after high school, I had saved up some money, quit my job, and moved to Bellingham to attend Western Washington University. I made my way past Old Main dressed in blue jeans and jacket, the fresh snow crunching under my boots. Oh the adventure!
The university catalog would be my tour guide and I reveled in choosing the places I would go, the people I would meet, the things I would see! The Byzantine Empire. Dostoyevsky and The Underground Man. Astronomy, complete with roof top views of Jupiter’s moons and Saturn’s rings. I still couldn’t believe I could arrange my schedule as I liked, take whatever I wanted, and still have time to read for hours in the library or break with friends over coffee. So this was school. Where had I been? The snow only completed the picture, adding to the magic.
Snow! Perhaps it triggers some memories in you too?
~ Susanne
My first snow
This is Benji and today I got to see my first snow. It made the world white and cold. Soft and wet. I liked it best from my warm printer perch.
I like snow.
~ Benji
Tiger ~ there’s a long winter ahead
This is Tiger and I gotta tell you it’s not been easy training my little brother, Benji.
No, he’s not my blood brother even if there is a resemblance. We couldn’t be more different. I’m the strong one with the white feet; he’s the pipsqueak with the chopped ear. He is young and impertinent. I am wise and mature. He is bold and hyperactive. I have learned to conserve my energy so it’s available when needed. He is as impetuous as youth. I am a cautious and sensitive soul.
My mission is to train the lad in the subtle ways of the Cat and teach him submission. It is an arduous task. Sue helps me out when she can using the squirt bottle as needed. Grandma provides me refuge in her room when I need a break. When she closes the door it is she and I against the world.
And when I tire of it all I flee outside to secret places. I know my kingdom like the back of my paw and can easily lose the cowboy in the bush. (Hmmmm … now there’s a thought….) Unfortunately the seasons are changing and I smell snow in the mountains nearby. Soon I shall have to hole up inside. It shall be a long winter.
And so I remain,
~ the Tiger
Stopping for a Sunset
It was late in the afternoon and I had to run to the store for some last minute items. When I returned to my car it seemed that storm clouds were gathering and the sky had become a strange mix of color. I was a block away when I knew I had to stop and take a picture of the sunset which lasted only a few minutes and could not be seen by the time I got home.
I was glad I did.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 