Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Winter Scenes, Frigid Temps and Feeding the Hummers
The snow didn’t arrive but frigid temperatures did, along with a bit of hail; it made for some lovely winter scenes.
It also highlighted the need to keep the hummingbirds adequately fed.
I brought the feeders in last night and returned them outside before sunrise this morning. The hummers were there immediately.
A couple hours later the feeders were mostly frozen, so I replenished them again and will need to do so all day.
There was more than one hummingbird wanting to feed and they are territorial, so I added a new location, this time in front of the house, where I can also watch from my office window.
Within a few minutes, a hummingbird was feeding, and afterwards rested in the branches.
~ Susanne
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The Best Day of the Week for a Walk
It was today, because of the weather. So we headed south to the Pancake House for a late breakfast (I had crepes, yum) then on to Kanaskat-Palmer State Park for a walk on the Green River.
Cold but not yet freezing, light rain, but no snow, we took the short trail to the river,
getting as close as we could, which is to say, not very, as there was too much river and no beach.
Didn’t matter. The beauty was on the trail, in the wet hanging mosses and fern covered trees.
We returned back home to blue skies; we’d experienced a micro-climate further south.
Still, there were blizzard conditions in the mountains last night, and snow is increasingly possible in the lowlands, with temperatures expected to be in the teens and low twenties.
Such is winter in Seattle and surrounds.
And just for the practice, I created this post from my phone. I took the pictures on my Lumix, transferred them to my phone via Wi-Fi, and created this post in the car on the way home. Voila! From hike to blog under 2 hours!
I even had time to review at home, before publishing – I’m not that much of a risk taker when I don’t have to be.
That’s all for today. Maybe I’ll have a snow post in a few days.
~ Susanne
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Friendly Flora from San Diego
We spent a few days in San Diego last month and I’m still sorting through the hundreds of pictures I took – when will I ever learn?
In the meantime, I decided that this cold and rainy day in the Pacific Northwest could use some brightening up with the beautiful flora we enjoyed there.
I’ll start with the birds of paradise – was there ever a plant with a more appropriate name? These happy birds invited me to join their conversation, and I did.
The friendly, bulbous, Baobab trees at the San Diego Zoo seemed to wave hello. Natives of Africa, some live more than 2,000 years.
The San Diego Zoo is part of Balboa Park.
The impressive Moreton Bay Fig tree stands alone in the park, demanding respect.
According to the Balboa Park website “it was planted as a small tree in a garden of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition… and measured in 1996 at 78 feet (24 meters) high, with a crown width of 123 feet (37 meters) and a trunk girth of 486 inches (12.3 meters).”
The Cactus Garden nearby invited me to walk its paths.
“Look, but do not touch,” it cautioned.
The Rose Garden was even more inviting and less prickly.
“Come enjoy my brilliant colors and breathe in my scent,” the roses said, and I did.
Who can resist roses blooming in December?
Stay tuned for more adventures from San Diego.
~ Susanne
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Comforting Cats in Sickness and in Health
After good health for all of 2023, the new year arrived and brought me a cold, remember those? Not the bad one going around that lasts up to 3 weeks, but apparently the shorter version, just a few days long. Still, I was miserable and found myself wondering what the rules were, post-covid. (I did test and no it was not.) How long was I contagious and when could I return to society with a clear conscience?
Benji and Tiger adjusted to this week’s routine by staying with me until I got up, no matter how late. Bob could serve them breakfast but no, they would wait for me, their favorite human, Bob is wont to say.
I appreciated them staying with me, and they appreciated the excuse to sleep all day, not that they need one.
But after 4 days being housebound until I was bored to tears, and confirming again, there was no fever and no covid, I ventured out yesterday into the land of the living.
It’s good to be back.
~ Susanne
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Traveling 2023 – A look back at our Comings and Goings from Seattle
A strange title perhaps, but I wanted to reflect on our travels in 2023 in a particular way.
Because as much as I love traveling, I find my hometown of Seattle to be more beautiful than any place I visit.
So I thought I’d share some pictures of our comings and goings this year by air and by sea.
When we fly out of SeaTac I try to get a window seat on the left side of the plane for close up views of Mt. Rainier. This worked well on last month’s trip to San Diego. This was the view facing east toward the Cascade Mountains and Lake Tapps, minutes before the mountain came into view.
At 14,411 ft., Mt. Rainier is the second tallest in the continental United States, but to me the most beautiful.
Did you know she’s an active volcano? I hope I don’t see her erupt in my lifetime, like her little sister, Mt. St. Helens did in 1980.
Sometimes the pilot heads north before going south and I catch good views of Seattle, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The pictures below are from last summer’s trip to S. California, so not much snow can be seen on the Olympics. The first two were leaving town.
The next two are from our return trip, when I got a view of Seattle facing east, with Lake Union and Lake Washington in the background.
I also recognized Smith Cove and got a glimpse of our cruise ship in the lower center of the picture below; the ship we took to Alaska in September.
This one.
The views of Seattle were great from top deck, and I was happy to get our fair city as the backdrop in a picture of us before we sailed. I don’t do selfies so was thankful when a couple offered to take our picture as we did theirs.
A week later, we found the city just waking up as we returned from our cruise under the cloak of darkness,
and the mountain waiting for us under cloudy skies.
May there be many more comings and goings as we sail away into 2024.
Sharing with Sunday Stills #2023.
~ Susanne
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Happy New Year from the Cats and the Birds!
Today was fresh and green, just like the new year, and I was called into the garden.
The cats joined me for a while, Tiger content to inspect and meander,
Benji, escaping under the fence.
I filled the wheelbarrow with winter debris, then looked for signs of new life. I found it in the hellebores I planted last year; I can’t wait for them to blossom.
Soon the hummingbirds dropped by in their finest dress and my day was made full.
Happy New Year from the Cats and the Birds!
~ Susanne
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Dropping by to say hello
I said I wouldn’t till next year, but this giraffe begged to differ,
and wanted to say hello.
From the San Diego Zoo.
Till next year.
Susanne
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Till Next Year – Parting Shots of the Boys
About this time every year I sign off from the blog for a week or so.
Somewhat begrudgingly as I really do enjoy blogging.
But for me – and perhaps you – a break is in order, while I refuel before heading into a brand new, spanking clean year.
Can you say – 2024?!
Now, before I go, I thought I’d share a few pictures of the kitty boys from 2023 that didn’t make it to the blog. I’ll also share the key for you to tell them apart (but don’t worry if you mix them up, they’ll never know.)
I’ll start with Tiger who is older and wiser. He has white in his fur, two good ears, and penetrating green eyes; those green eyes begged us to take him home from the Cat Hotel (kitty jail) ten years ago. He’s almost sixteen now and still looks good for his age.
Benji is forever young at seven years old. He’s smaller, has no white in his fur, and has a clipped ear. He’s cuddly, perky, and bright, and that was his ticket home from Seattle Humane, his own kitty jail (and the source of the clipped ear.).
They both have requested more airtime next year and I will try to oblige. It’s ‘CATS and Trails and Garden Tales,’ after all.
“Right, Benji?”
“Yes, Sue,” he replied. “Just please show my good side.”
“Sure, Benji. Will do.”
“Both my sides are good,” said Tiger.
“Indeed, they are, Tiger. You are both handsome boys.”
And with that, I’ll see you next year.
I can’t wait.
Susanne, Tiger & Benji
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Nature Bests the Winter Lights at Coulon Park
Don’t you just love the unexpected?
Last Saturday I went for a walk at Coulon Park to see the Winter Lights. I was there late afternoon, waiting for the lights to come on after sunset, which was to occur at 4:18 p.m.
It was a gorgeous day for a walk, with the mountain out and fall colors reflecting on the lake during the golden hour.
Around 4:13 the sun began to set, and the lights appeared in the trees, the stony walkers and buildings.
The lights were pretty,
but it was soon evident there was magic in the sky.
Forgetting about the winter lights behind me, I sat gawking, while the sky changed colors, from gold to pink and crimson.
By 5:00 pm the sky rested, and the winter lights took over.
Pretty, but no comparison to what I witnessed in the sky, one of the best sunsets of my life.
A truly festive evening.
Sharing with Sunday Stills
~ Susanne
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Dallas Museums – Art, Science, and the Sixth Floor
What would you do on a trip to Dallas?
We were there recently for a conference and had a few days to explore the city. After my research, these places were near the top of my list and since they were close to our hotel, were easy to visit. (If we ever go back, I’ll pick up the others we missed, the Arboretum and Fair Park. There’s never enough time.)
Dallas Museum of Art
I like art museums and this one was not only highly rated but also in walking distance of our hotel (as was the entire Arts District, one of the largest in the country.)
There was a lot to see from around the world, but I tend to favor European and American art. I’ll share a few of my favorites starting with portraits.
I loved this one for its vivid color and exquisite detail.
Next up is a very melancholy clown.
Followed by this gentleman who could tell many stories if only he could speak; maybe he is speaking.
Degas was intrigued with ballet dancers.
Is this a portrait? A bit scrambled, but here he is anyway, so I can show you a Picasso.
On to landscapes. The first is one of Church’s large paintings, inspired by his trip to the Labrador and Newfoundland coastal area. Considered the top painting in the museum. Beautiful, but not my favorite.
I preferred these small paintings of the American West by Alfred Jacob Miller, landscapes I would love to enter, from the 1850’s.
Smaller still are the tiny paintings below, each the size of a bookmark or postcard. I’d never seen such before.
Finally, there’s something foreboding about this lighthouse on the hill.
Nasher Sculpture Museum
Though small when compared to the Dallas Museum of Art, I enjoyed the sculptures at Nasher inside and out.
I loved the brilliant blue sculpture below, by Anish Kapoor, known for the ‘Bean’ (Cloud Gate) in Chicago.
It was a beautiful day to walk in the sculpture garden.
I recognized Henry Moore’s Vertebrae. There’s one in Seattle next door to the first place I worked downtown. I like it better in this garden setting.
These folks seem downtrodden during – Rush Hour – sculpted by George Segal.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
No science museum worth its salt can be without dinosaur bones, connected or not. Perot had plenty (yes, that Perot and if you know, you know,) including a special exhibit on Tyrannosaurus Rex. T-rex has only been found in the U.S. and Canada, but other species of tyrannosaurs have been found around the world.
There was much else to see in the museum, but I loved the collection of minerals the best.
“Minerology describes several scientific disciplines that study the physical properties, formations and applications of minerals. Over 5,700 minerals have been identified to date, with more added yearly.”
I start with two rare pieces of gold on display.
“The largest piece – dubbed the Dragon’s Lair – tips the scales at 63 pounds making it one of the largest specimens to come out of the richest gold finds in Australia.. Its smaller companion – known as the Ausrox Nugget – weighs in at a whopping 51.29 pounds and is about the size of a basketball.” Peoplenewspapers.com
The Eyes of Africa was another star in the gallery.
Here’s an assortment of colorful beauties, more than I care to name. Just enjoy them anyway.
Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza
It was Nov. 22, 1963, 60 years ago.
I don’t have words to describe this place, nor why we were drawn to visit. But it’s part of our history and drawn we were. The museum takes you to the very window where the shots were fired that terrible day, and describes the events leading up to it, and those that followed. For some, it’s a chapter that remains open to conspiracy theories. The museum explores these too.
I’ll conclude with the words JFK planned to speak that fateful day.
“We in this country, in this generation, are – by destiny rather than choice – the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of “peace on earth, good will toward men.” That must always be our goal, and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength.”
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 