Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
World’s Largest Spruce Tree
A foretaste from the Quinault Rainforest, Washington, my home.
Susanne
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All ready to go
“I’m ready, Sue. Let’s go.”
“Um, sorry Benji. Not this time.”
“Be a good kitty while we’re gone, okay? And take care of your brother.”
~ Susanne and Benji
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A Belt will Do
“Bob’s going to need his belt, Benji. You’ll have to move.”
“But just for the record, you wear it well.”
Happy Caturday from Benji and Susanne.
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Here Lies a Tree
I’m thankful that none of the evergreens surrounding our house came down in the bomb cyclone.
But in the park at the end of my street, a giant fell. A maple? an oak? I don’t know for sure. He was the tallest one on the far right; here’s the lineup in green in September.
Here’s the lineup a month ago after the trees were adorned in their brilliant fall colors.
He wasn’t the most beautiful in the lineup and was the first to drop his leaves. But he was the most charming without them.
Unfortunately, the poor giant could not withstand the violent winds from the bomb cyclone. I like to think he died protecting his neighbors, bearing the brunt so they didn’t have to.
He managed to avoid the neighboring trees, the street, and the small community center behind.
I’ll miss him.
But it was so much worse for thousands still without power, who suffered property damage, and a few, loss of life. Prayers for those who are still digging out.
~ Susanne
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About that Bomb Cyclone
It hit last night with a vengeance. Hundreds of thousands in the region are without power, including us. I’m posting on my phone, then will head outside to help clean up the mess, branches and debris everywhere.
Fire in the fireplace and cats are happy. Bob went to Starbucks for coffee so we are good on that front.
Our big trees are still standing and so are we.
Susanne
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Fall’s Last Hurrah
It’s cold and damp in the Great Northwest and the garden is spent. Most of the leaves are on the ground, tracked into my house, and in the lawn with the mushrooms that have cropped up.
We’re expecting a cyclone bomb (make that a bomb cyclone!) – whatever that is – it should take care of the rest of the leaves. Hunker down, winter is ahead.
~ Susanne
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National Take a Hike Day
November 17th – who knew?
I suppose that means I should be out hiking, but instead I thought I’d share pictures from a few hikes I went on this year in Washington State, my home.
Early this spring we visited the northwest corner of Mt. Rainier National Park, the Carbon River Valley, which is a temperate rainforest (did you know?) We took the Rainforest Loop Trail, basking in nature’s beauty
and watching our step. After a wild winter, part of the trail was upended by wind and falling trees, but all was peace and quiet while we were there.
Later in the summer we hiked the trail at Deception Falls on Stevens Pass, a favorite stop on our way to Wenatchee.
No need to worry about upended trees here as Bob kept them all upright!
Closer to home, we enjoyed hiking the many trails in Lincoln Park in West Seattle,
through an urban forest with trees of all sizes and colors,
including a grove of Redwoods.
What more could you ask for?
Okay, how about a troll?
This one met us at the bottom of the trail.
And since there are so many wonderful shades of brown in this post, I’m sharing with Sunday Stills, #Brown.
~ Susanne
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Still Soaring with Benji
This is Benji and I’ve always been a dreamer
and though the path has not always been easy
in my dreams, I still soar!
Three legs or four.
~ Susanne and Benji
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Birds without Borders – Arrival of the Snow Geese
On today’s walk at Coulon Park in Renton, Washington, I came across a group of snow geese, most likely from Wrangell Island, Russia. They were feeding peacefully among the Canada Geese,
side by side.
The one below is a mature adult,
the smaller ones with dark bills are juveniles, which means this is likely their first migration south.
Handsome, aren’t they?
I’m glad they’ve come for the winter and been well received by the resident population of ducks and geese, including this welcoming committee.
We could learn something from them.
~ Susanne
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Cozy is for Cats
In considering cozy, I immediately thought of my two cats, Benji, the lap cat, who loves to snuggle anytime, anywhere.
And Tiger, who prefers cozying up to a warm fire.
Sharing on a cold and rainy Sunday afternoon with Sunday Stills #Cozy.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 