Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Hummingbirds in the Fall Garden
I replenished the feeders a few days ago and have been watching the hummingbirds from a distance ever since.
But today I had some work to do outside, so I grabbed my camera and positioned myself incognito in the shed. I think they knew I was there, but I still managed to get a few close-ups of these handsome birds.
“Anna’s Hummingbirds are among the most common hummingbirds along the Pacific Coast, yet they’re anything but common in appearance. With their iridescent emerald feathers and sparkling rose-pink throats, they are more like flying jewelry than birds. Though no larger than a ping-pong ball and no heavier than a nickel, Anna’s Hummingbirds make a strong impression. In their thrilling courtship displays, males climb up to 130 feet into the air and then swoop to the ground with a curious burst of noise that they produce through their tail feathers.”
Cornell Labs – All About Birds
I love to see them hover, zip around forward and backwards. Did you know they’re the only bird that can fly backwards? Well now you do.
I’m so glad these flying jewels live here year-round. I’ll have to step my care over the winter.
~ Susanne
Even the Beautiful can be Eerie
Old buildings
and graveyards
Mist covered lakes
and crows
Gnarly tree stumps
And even a cat named Benji
Sharing with #Sunday Stills
~ Susanne
A Walking Tour in NYC, Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge and More!
Who knew you could walk across the Brooklyn Bridge? Well, my brother knew, and he arranged a fantastic walking tour for us with Adam (I Know a Guy,) who would share the sights and history of Brooklyn Heights, the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan. It was fantastic!
But even before meeting up with Guy, my brother John served as our unofficial tour guide throughout our weeklong stay in New York City. He showed us how to navigate the streets and subways like a New Yorker, (Bob & I only got separated on the subway once, I wish I had a picture as the door closed and the train pulled out with me on it, Bob looking on!) And took us on walks through Central Park, here if you missed it, and to Gray’s Papaya, where you can get a hotdog and amazing papaya drink for five bucks!
But I digress. On the day of our scheduled tour with Guy, we met up in Brooklyn,
and set off to see the beauty of Brooklyn Heights, complete with brownstones where some of the rich and famous live, I’m not telling, I’ve been sworn to secrecy.
And there was plenty of history to absorb. Ever hear of the Brooklyn Dodgers, founded in 1883? Yes, the same Dodgers that fled to Los Angeles and are currently dominating the Yankees in the World Series.
Jackie Robinson was signed by the Dodgers in 1947, and changed baseball and America forever.
One of the most moving stops on our tour was Plymouth Church, where “You can turn off the lights in the basement—where runaway slaves passed through on the Underground Railroad—and imagine what it feels like to run for your life. When you are in the pastor’s office, you may think of Branch Rickey—a member of Plymouth Church and General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers—praying there until he decided that God wanted him to invite Jackie Robinson to integrate baseball.”
Here the abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher preached, and Lincoln visited in 1860. If Beecher sounds familiar, it is – Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was his sister. Lincoln was purported to have said to her when she visited him in the White House, “Is this the little woman who made this great war?”
We loved the history but the highlight of our walking tour was the view of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Promenade,
and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. I must admit we were both excited and a bit apprehensive about the bridge walk, 10 stories high over the East River. (My husband is afraid of heights!)
But we were so glad we did it! The easy 30-minute walk is on a pedestrian-only lane in the center of the bridge, and cars were on the deck below.
Before embarking we learned the history of the bridge, which opened in 1883. The original designer, John Roebling died before building started, and when his son Washington Roebling became ill and incapacitated, his wife, Emily Warren Roebling took over the construction project and was the first person to cross the bridge when it opened. Many years later, she finally got the plaque she deserved for her role in completing the bridge.
The views of NYC, and the Manhattan Bridge next to us were amazing.
On the other side we were in lower Manhattan and visited more historic sites including St. Paul’s Chapel, built in 1766, where George Washington worshipped on Inauguration Day in 1789. This little chapel, once the tallest building in New York, survived the 911 attacks on the World Trade Towers a block away.
Finally, I’ll close with Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, and the Fearless Girl which I preferred to the Bull,
and Fraunces Tavern where George Washington bade his troops farewell after the Revolutionary War, and where we enjoyed a nice dinner to call it a day.
We loved our walking tour, that took us to places of beauty and history we would never have discovered on our own.
If you’re ever in Manhattan, why don’t you consider it?
~ Susanne
My Sleepy Benji
It’s a cold and rainy day in the Great Northwest and Benji is hunkered down inside.
His eyelids are getting heavy….
Can’t hold out much longer….
Closing with a flourish.
Happy Caturday from Susanne and Benji.
New York City in Monochrome, and Black and White
I’m still resting up from an awesome week in the Big Apple and going through my pictures to create more stories to tell you, in living color.
But it’s not hard to imagine New York in black and white, so for this week’s Sunday Stills and Monochrome Madness challenges, I thought I’d present a few desaturated photos from the city’s landscape.
I’ll start with this lovely street of Brownstones, the classic New York dwelling.
And how about the beauty below? I stumbled across the ornate Alwyn Court; apparently there’s a famous restaurant within, the Petrossian which is the sign you see on the front. I wish I’d stopped for better close-ups, but I must have been on the way to someplace else, like other New Yorkers.
Speaking of ornate buildings, I’ll have more to share on the icon below, the Empire State Building, in a later post.
In the meantime, you never know what (or who) you may find inside.
My brother took us to another New York icon, historic Grand Central Terminal, which was saved by Jackie O! back in the seventies. Can you imagine wanting to tear it down?
That same day we walked through Bryant Park where this little carousel was located. Beautiful in color, kind of creepy in black and white. See for yourself.
Speaking of creepy, the Dakota Building has an unfortunate history of being the place where John Lennon once lived, and tragically died.
On a more cheerful note, how about the bridge below? The views of Manhattan Bridge were great from the Brooklyn Bridge. I’ll have more to say about our walk across it 10 stories above the river, in a later post.
Finally, I’ll close with the magnificent Manhattan Skyline, seen from the Brooklyn Promenade.
New York, New York, it’s a wonderful town, in color or black and white!
More to come.
~ Susanne
New York City’s Backyard – Central Park!
Who’d have thought there’d be an oasis of nature to enjoy in America’s largest city?
Certainly not me and yet, there it was, Central Park, a highlight of our trip to New York, in all shades of living color.
Honestly, I should have known. My brother, who was our wonderful host in the Big Apple, shares often enough about his daily walks through the park, these from last November, at peak color!
In fact, he was the best tour guide, taking us to many of his favorite spots.
A refuge in the city, Central Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and established in 1858. It’s 2.5 miles long, .5 mile wide and covers 843 acres. It’s a wooded landscape with gardens and lakes and fountains, walking paths, bicycle lanes and places for horses to pull their carriages. It has large outcroppings of boulders where children can climb and locals sit and ponder, and wide green lawns where families can picnic and play baseball.
Still, with 58 miles of trails, we couldn’t do it all. I already want to go back for another walk in the park, but this will have to do for now.
More to come from New York City. Stay tuned.
~ Susanne
Back from NYC – A Conversation with the Cats
“We really missed you, Sue.”
“I know you did, Benji. I can tell. I missed you too.”
“You did, Sue? Honest?”
“Well, sure I did, Benji. I don’t think I saw a single cat in New York City. Lots of dogs though.”
“You’re kidding, Sue. Not a single cat?”
“Well none that I can remember. I don’t think cats like strolling in Central Park like the dogs do. And even if there was a cat, it wouldn’t have been you, Benji. You’re the best.”
“Aww, thanks, Sue.”
“What about me, Sue? Did you miss me too?”
“Of course I did, Tiger! You’re the best, too!”
“Thanks, Sue. Appreciate it.”
Back in the Pacific Northwest where despite the drizzle and gray skies, all is well.
~ from the office of Susanne and Benji and Tiger
More Reflections, this time from NYC
Winding down from an amazing, whirlwind trip to New York City! I will have much to share in bite-sized portions in the coming days, but until bags are unpacked and memories jelled, here are a couple photos from the oasis of Central Park to tide you over.
New York, New York, it’s a wonderful town!
Susanne
Reflecting on Still Waters
And closer to home, last week at Anthony’s Homeport in Des Moines, where we celebrated our 42nd Anniversary. Yes, a time for reflection.
For #Wordless Wednesday
~ Susanne
Oo-la-la! A Fall Trip to Mt Rainier
On our last sunny Saturday we headed to Mt Rainier for a fall hike, and we took the Stevens Canyon entrance on the east side of the park and avoided the crowds.
The mountain was out and glorious,
and interesting clouds filled the sky. (Exactly what is that approaching the mountain with laughter proceeding from his mouth??)
We took the road less traveled through tunnels, quiet and deserted, to Box Canyon.
We had the trail mostly to ourselves.
Box Canyon is a narrow slot canyon carved by the Muddy Fork of the Cowlitz River and the river can be seen some 180 feet below the bridge. More on that, here.
After our walk, we continued up the road, enjoying the fall color and more interesting views of the mountain,
on our way to Reflection Lakes, for one of the best photo ops in the park. (It didn’t disappoint.)
Then it was up to Paradise where the crowds were thick, and the parking was full, so we didn’t stop. No need, we’d already had our fill of awesome views.
We headed back down the mountain and left the park around 4 pm. exiting at the Nisqually entrance where the cars extended for almost 2 miles to get in!
We had lucked out.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 