Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
As Good as Spring in Seattle!
Though the calendar still says February we are finally having some lovely spring weather.
Yesterday we took advantage of the warm temperatures and headed to Lincoln Park in West Seattle, one of our favorites.
We walked through old growth forest of Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar,
these two joined together;
to the bluff overlooking Puget Sound.
We took the trail down
and were met by a troll at the bottom, thankfully a friendly one.
We walked along the beach,
enjoying the sunshine sparkling on the lazy waves rolling in.
Afterwards we went to Spud’s at Alki, an old Seattle favorite, where we enjoyed both the fish and chips AND the history of Luna Park, the Coney Island of the West from long ago. Pictures on the wall were taken by my great grandfather O.T. Frasch, just so you know.
One more stop after lunch for magnificent views of the Emerald City.
Yes, there were clouds, but the bluest skies you’ve ever seen are in Seattle, on a good day.
~ Susanne
Come with Me for a Walk in the Redwoods
I don’t know how many times I’ve been to the Redwoods – six or eight times? – but regardless, it’s not enough. A perfect road trip down the coast of Oregon to Northern California takes you there easily and scenically from Seattle. Once there, you’ll pick a grove or two (or three or four) and start your walk under the canopy of giant trees, surrounded by ferns,
and carpets of redwood sorrel.
You’ll pause and reflect before moving on to cross storybook bridges, perhaps surprised by a troll or fairy living underneath.
You’ll feel small under trees soaring 300 feet high, trees that have stood for a thousand years,
trees that have weathered adversity and overcome fire.
You’ll feel smaller still, dwarfed by the fallen ones who lay silent,
as indeed you should.
Sharing with Sunday Stills, Iconic Places and CFFC: Weathered Wood.
~ Susanne
Tiger – From the Box
“Hi Tiger. I’m glad to see you’re using your new box.”
“I’d like to post a picture, but you look a bit grumpy in this one.”
“Sorry Sue. I was trying to sleep. How’s this?”
“Perfectly debonair, Tiger. Thank you.”
Happy Caturday from Tiger.
~ Susanne
Looking for Red and Pink on a Green and Rainy Day
Monday, Monday and rain is falling here in the Pacific Northwest.
Though I was looking for red and pink for this week’s Sunday Stills Challenge, I firstly found raindrops on green.
Fortunately, the green was surrounded by red berries,
and even the droplets contained some red. Look closely and you’ll see me inside, wearing a red sweater! 😉
Pink was harder to find but I remembered a pastel sunrise from last month, in shades of pink and lavender.
The piglet matches the same color scheme, his soft, baby pink nose and ears, blended nicely against his lady caregiver.
Speaking of ladies, I found this one in a fancy rose dress, at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. The show returns to Seattle this week and hopefully we’ll make it again.
The rose below was much more modest though just as beautiful. It adorned a parking strip, and I was surprised to find it still blooming in January.
Finally, I saw this otherworldly sunset over Astoria a couple years ago. I’ve never seen another one like it; unfortunatley the gorgeous colors were due to smoke from wildfires.
And that’s enough red and pink for today.
~ Susanne
Heads or Tails with Tiger and Benji
Whilst I was recuperating on my bed last week I had two regular visitors –
Tiger
Benji
Both ends were welcome.
Happy Caturday from Tiger and Benji.
~ Susanne
A Study in Green – the Quinault Rain Forest
The Hoh Rain Forest gets most of the press for its fabulous Trail of Mosses, but the Maple Glade Trail in the Quinault Rain Forest is every bit as beautiful and definitely less crowded. Off the beaten path, on the remote southwest edge of Olympic National Park, we had the trail to ourselves on a mild winter’s day and everything was dripping with green.
Reflecting on Quinault for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, Green and Weekly Prompts Color Challenge, Green.
~ Susanne
A Charm of Hummingbirds!
That’s what a group of hummingbirds is called. I rarely see them in groups, though I occasionally see a couple sparring for rights over the feeder.
So last month during our record deep-freeze, 14 degrees overnight, I added an extra one to a new location, to give the hummers more options where to eat. They appreciated it. And lucky for me, I can see this spot from my office and take pictures without bothering them through the window.
Not only do I get to watch them drink
I get to watch them perch on the branches nearby in between feeding.
No wonder they’re called a charm of hummingbirds.
Sharing with Sunday Stills.
~ Susanne
Blue Skies over Port Townsend, Gray and Rainy at Dosewallips
We managed a quick getaway to Port Townsend this week on the most promising day of the week, weather-wise if not health-wise, and skies were mostly blue.
A bit of shopping, a bit of walking, and we decided to drive back along Hood Canal, with a stop by the Dosewallips, the river and state park. It was rainy but we were dressed for it and didn’t go far, just enough to enjoy the fresh air and stretch our legs.
According to the Washington State Trails Association, “The Dosewallips River flows through some of the most scenic portions of the Olympic Peninsula, weaving through rain forest to the shoreline of Hood Canal where, at the mouth of the river, sits one of Washington’s most popular State Parks.”
The giant eagle’s nest was still there, though I saw no eagles. Do they go somewhere to hide in the rainy weather?
We made the same trip last year and saw this:
Neither did we see elk, though they were plentiful on previous trips.
We did see other mysterious lifeforms hanging from the trees and sprouting from logs below.
Speaking of mysterious life forms, I was both surprised and not, when I tested positive for covid after we returned home. I’d suffered from cold symptoms off and on for the last few weeks and tested negative several times earlier this month. So I didn’t think too much about it when I woke up and felt a sore throat coming on, until later that night I was feeling pretty miserable.
Thankfully, I’m feeling good enough to be up and posting and hope it will pass soon.
~ Susanne
Birdwatching at Coulon Park
I went for a walk at Coulon Park on a gray and cloudy day.
A Crow was also out for a walk,
and startled when I took his picture; I assured him I was on his side.
Another bird landed in a distant tree and I snapped a photo by faith; I couldn’t see him clearly, but my zoom could. It was a Kingfisher, not uncommon, but a first for me.
A pair of Hooded Mergansers swam by,
the missus took the lead, the flamboyant male followed.
A Cormorant looked like batman, drying his wings.
while an Anna’s Hummingbird rested, deep in thought,
pondering the day.
I don’t remember exactly when I became a birdwatcher. I only know it makes a good walk even better and gives me Something to Do.
~ Susanne
Benji and the New Post
“Good morning, Benji. Just wanted to thank you for your cooperation.”
“Who, me? What for, Sue?”
“I think you know, Benj, but I’ll spell it out for you anyway. For using the new post.”
“Oh, that? Not to worry, Sue. My middle name is cooperation.”
“Hmmm. Not so sure about that. I think it had more to do with the catnip.”
“It’s a start, but I’d like you to use it without that. I can’t have you turning into a junkie.”
“Don’t worry about it, Sue. You can trust me.”
“I hope so Benji. But let’s keep working on it. In the meantime, you may still use the chair for sleeping, just not scratching, okay Benji?”
~ Susanne and Benji
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 