Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Life is full of Adjustments, Just ask Benji
I don’t know if I would have adapted as well as Benji had I lost a limb, but that boy is adjusting well.
The surgery was three weeks ago, and the stitches and bandage removed one week ago. His right back leg is gone, so he’s down to three paws, hence he’s a tri-pawed or tripod, if you will.
From the start, walking downstairs has been easier than going upstairs, jumping down, than jumping up, though he’s figuring it out, and I’m helping him when needed.
I’ve made adjustments in my office so he can get to his perch without having to jump straight up as he did before.
Now he can use the piano bench as a steppingstone, or take the path from my chair, across my desk and printer to get there.
It’s a good thing since his perch remains a favorite place for him to look out the window, take a nap and bask in the sunshine.
He still has his favorite toys and loves to play, especially when I dangle the mouse on a stick.
We’ve figured out the indoors but are still working on the outdoors. Bob plugged the obvious holes under the back wooden fence, but Benji showed us there are other escape routes. Showed us by escaping of course, through a tunnel in the hedge, around a chain link fence and into the front yard, still not sure how he pulled that off.
So supervision is needed until we are all more comfortable with our new reality. Today, I gave him ten minutes outside, hovering over him all the while, fearful of losing him. There was a visit to the stream, a trip into the garden shed with lots of sniffing around the door, and best of all, a pit stop in a garden bed, much more natural than a cat box, just like old times.
~ Susanne
Time to Tell You About Benji
First of all, he’s as sweet as ever and adjusting to his new normal. It’s been a rough road the past couple weeks and I’m finally ready to tell you the story.
“Is it okay with you, Benji?”
“Sure, Sue. Just no bad pictures of me, please.”
“Of course, Benji. I’m always respectful and know the boundaries.”
A couple weeks ago, Benji was late coming home. After repeated calling, I went to bed, a bit worried and listening for his cry. I finally heard it and let him in, and as he crossed the threshold, I knew something was wrong. Bob looked closer and thought he had a broken leg. We took him immediately to the local emergency pet hospital.
After triage, the attending vet gave us the news: it was a bad break and the only remedy was amputation. Since Benji was otherwise healthy, they thought he’d do fine and assured us that cats get along very well with 3 legs. (It was amazing he’d managed to get himself home on the bad leg, he was determined and strong.)
The alternative was clear. It was amputation or nothing.
We were left alone to confer. What should we do?
“If Benji could talk, I think he would tell us he wants to live,” were Bob’s words to me. I agreed, happy he made that decision.
He had surgery the next day and it went well. (The surgeon himself had a ‘tri-pawed,’ who still climbed trees!)
He wore a soft cone when out of our presence and his other leg remained bandaged with a surface injury.
I babied him. Prayed for him. Gave him his meds. Kept him in my presence as much as I could. Gave over my office to him, removing his perch so he wouldn’t be tempted to jump. He adapted quickly, moving about the very next day.
It was a long, two weeks of being housebound, for us and him. The stitches came out this week and Benji was freed from both cone and bandage, and according to the vet, free to be a cat again.
He still needs time to fully heal but he’s getting around well. Lots of treats, new toys, love and attention.
We’re plugging up holes under the fence to keep him in the backyard when we allow him to go outside. No more overnight adventures. In the meantime, there are supervised visits, this one from this morning.
It’s a new world for all of us, but I’m so glad we chose life for Benji. He’s a smart cat and I believe he’s thankful too.
~ Susanne
P.S. I hesitated posting this, fearful of criticism, either for allowing Benji to be an outdoor cat or for the decision we made. Both choices were made in love.
Not the same Species – A Story from Tiger Long Ago
Okay everyone, this is Tiger and I have something to say.
I have it pretty good here, indoors and out; the food, the sleeping arrangements, the toys, I can’t complain. The humans that live here are great too and I guess you could say that Sue is my favorite.
Even so, it’s not easy. Take today for example. I was outside hunting to bring her the catch of the day. I’m coiled and ready to spring, when suddenly she’s on the scene, running, clapping her hands, totally blowing my cover. What kind of hunter is she? And occasionally when I do catch something, she’s half-hearted in her appreciation (maybe even disgusted?) when I bring it to her.
But then I realize she can’t help it. She’s only human after all.
Not the same species
~ Tiger
Today’s Dose of Hummers in the Garden
I love them. 🙂
~ Susanne
The Beauty of the Great Outdoors – How I Survived 2020
Remember 2020 and lockdowns, quarantine and social distancing? What were we to do to keep our sanity?
Thank goodness for the Great Outdoors!
For this week’s Sunday Stills Challenge, celebrating the Great Outdoors month of June, I perused my photos from 2020, surprised at all the places we went, remembering how we coped that first confusing year of Covid.
There were many walks in the woods,
day trips
various forms of nature therapy,
and sunsets over the Pacific.
All within my home state of Washington.
It worked.
~ Susanne
Moving Forward to Summer
May was full of rain, dampening spirits, and keeping us inside.
It was also full of unforeseen circumstances, limiting my time in the garden and on the blog.
But the flowers still bloomed without any effort on my part
and this morning dawned bright.
Summer is on the way, and I am ready to move forward.
Thankful that every season brings a fresh start.
Sharing on the last day of #SquaresRenew.
~ Susanne
A Burgeoning of Weeds
It happens, though not something I normally welcome in my garden.
But why not?
This little weed – or attractive wildflower – you decide – is called Herb Robert, or Geranium Robertianum.
I found it burgeoning in the woods on a recent hike at Nolte State Park.
It’s a familiar plant, one l pull out of my garden beds. The ones in the more remote corners of my yard I let live, like the one below.
Isn’t it lovely? And why exactly is it classified as a weed anyway? It’s a member of the geranium family which we otherwise welcome in our gardens. And this one has also been used historically for medicinal purposes.
As near as I can tell, whether something is classified as a weed or not, has to do with whether it is native to the location in which you find it and whether it has undesirable features. If it isn’t native and it’s a prolific grower it may displace native plants.
This one seems harmless to me and attractive.
I’ve squared the photos of these prolific and burgeoning plants – weeds – wildflowers – herbs? – you decide – and am sharing them with Becky’s #SquaresRenew Challenge. It runs all this month, so you still have time to join!
~ Susanne
Swimming Lakes from my Youth
I was inspired by this week’s Sunday Stills #Water Challenge to reflect back on some of my favorite water memories from childhood.
Hicks Lake
That was the name of the lake, back in the last century, and it was my favorite place to swim as a child. It was a small lake in White Center (south Seattle) with a dock and low diving board. There were usually lifeguards present and you could only go past the ropes if you passed the swim test. I wasn’t a great swimmer and don’t remember having lessons, but I always passed the test.
Occasionally we would make the long, long walk to the lake. But more often, Mom would bring us kids after work on a hot summer day.
(The older I get the more appreciation I have for her driving us here and there after a busy day at work.)
She sat in the car and read while we swam and splashed around in the warm water – it was a shallow lake and the later it got on those long summer days, the warmer the water.
I went looking for Hicks Lake not too long ago (I’m nostalgic) and found it had mostly disappeared and also had a new name – Hicklin! Maybe Hicks sounded too much like, well, ‘hicks!’ I was so disappointed and the pictures I took were pathetic, so I have none to show you. Not so my next lake.
Green Lake
Before I started high school we moved to the north end of Seattle, near one of the most popular lakes in the city – Green Lake!
Summers were filled with walking around the 2.75-mile path, boating and fishing, but MOSTLY with swimming! Lifeguards were always present so there must have been swim tests there too, as I reached the dock and even braved the higher diving board!
I revisited the lake a few years ago for a fall walk (we no longer live nearby) and it was splendid.
There were still boat and paddle boat rentals.
And there in the distance – the swim beach!
I can almost feel the sun on my skin, smell the murky water, and hear the laughter, from those dog days of summer.
Happy Days! 🙂
~ Susanne
Douglas Fir Trees – Many Parts are Edible
If you are of a certain age, you’ll remember Euell Gibbons telling you that, “many parts are edible” as he broke off a branch from a pine tree. My friends and I would regularly quote this (in copycat accent) when we came across some strange plant or other foreign object in our travels. It was always good for a laugh.
I’m reminded of Euell every year when fresh, tender tips of new growth appear on the Douglas Fir trees in my yard.
I haven’t tried Douglas Fir tips yet, but the internet confirms they are indeed edible.
But I have tried Grape Nuts, the cereal Euell was hawking, and if you plan on eating some, I have some advice for you: soak them a long time in milk if you don’t want to lose your teeth. Though tasty, they’re hard as rocks in your mouth! 🙂
Regardless, nothing says renewal like the spring green tips of the evergreen trees!
So I’m sharing with #SquaresRenew.
~ Susanne
Burgeoning Lavender in the Garden with the Bees
Spring is moving forward day by day, it’s messy and beautiful at the same time.
I wander in the garden where I spend more time watching than I do working.
Yesterday I pulled some weeds, planted some seeds, watched the bees, though not necessarily in that order.
As tiny blossoms are burgeoning on the lavender, more bees are visiting, drinking in the nectar,
and gathering pollen
to carry back to the hive.
Squaring my photos for #SquaresRenew.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 