Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
A Very Good Day on Ruston Way, Complete with Mt. Rainier and Wildlife
It started out in living color at sunrise, and I knew it was going to be a very good day.
After it warmed up, we took a drive south to Ruston Way in Tacoma.
Even from the highway I was enchanted by my favorite clouds (lenticular) over my favorite mountain (Rainier.) I was on a highway (167) in a moving vehicle and all I had was my phone (I was not driving) but it was worth a try to capture the clouds.
A short while later we were at Ruston Way and I was happy to see the clouds were still visible as was the mountain.
We took a walk on the paved path enjoying the sights and sounds of a beautiful (almost) winter’s day.
Does it get any better than this?
The seals were out sunning themselves in this little cove,
enjoying the weather too.
I looked for killer whales which are sometimes seen in the area (for obvious reasons it seems to me) but had no luck.
I did see a colorful bird – a Meadowlark – I believe. I don’t get them in my yard - no meadow, I guess.
After our walk we had lunch at our favorite restaurant – Stack 571- named after the smokestack that stood in this location from 1917 to 1993. Yes it was 571 feet tall and I’m quite sure, the source of my childhood memories of the ‘Tacoma aroma.’
Afterwards, we drove through the forest in Point Defiance Park to Owens Beach.
These are typical Northwest woods and I love them.
Down below, the locals were out for a day at the beach, all of us, so relieved that last week’s ‘atmospheric river’ finally moved on.
A typical Northwest beach, good for prancing around and throwing rocks into the water.
I continued to keep my eye out for killer whales, but it was not to be.
Unless you count this one.
And that will have to do.
~ Susanne
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Stacking Wood and Hummingbird in Flight
A misty day in the Pacific Northwest and I offer to help my husband stack wood.
The fragrance of the freshly split Douglas Fir is indescribable, as we load the wheelbarrow, taking turns delivering the contents to the woodshed.
The path is lined with fallen leaves; winter will wait for another week.
We fit the imperfect, irregular shapes, together like a puzzle,
and I think, “there must be a poem about stacking wood.”
I find The Wood-Pile by Robert frost, this section:
“It was a cord of maple, cut and split
And piled—and measured, four by four by eight.
And not another like it could I see.
No runner tracks in this year’s snow looped near it.
And it was older sure than this year’s cutting,
Or even last year’s or the year’s before.”
His was Maple, unattended and forgotten; ours, Douglas Fir, to be burned this winter to keep us warm and cozy.
As we finish up, I see a hummingbird across the yard and hope to catch it in flight.
Refreshed by the time outdoors.
~ Susanne
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What makes a Teardrop Fall?
The droplets clung to the berries as I waited for them – no, willed them – to fall.
But they hung on.
Tenaciously.
Effortlessly.
Waiting till no one was watching.
Just like tears.
Waxing poetic for Sunday Stills, Red and Green.
~ Susanne
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Close up on Hummingbirds – Anna’s for Now
Despite the miserable weather I hid in the shed this morning for a photoshoot with the hummingbirds.
Is there any bird more beautiful than the Anna’s? Not today at least.
This is one of the first birds I learned to identify.
According to Wikipedia, Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna) is a North American species of hummingbird. It was named after Anna Masséna, Duchess of Rivoli.”
Is that a problem?
Not to me it isn’t.
But according to this article in the Audobon, the American Ornithological Society announced earlier this year that, ‘All North American Birds Named After People Will Soon Get New Names.’
I suppose there are some unique cases, that might warrant such a move. (If there was a bird named after Hitler, I would definitely recommend changing it.) But just because it’s named after a person? No more Steller’s Jays? Clark’s Nutcrackers? Or Anna’s Hummingbirds?
A bit of overkill, it seems to me. Perhaps the time and resources could be better spent elsewhere.
Regardless of the name, this hummingbird is a beauty, and I suspect I will be calling it ‘Anna’s’ for the foreseeable future.
~ Susanne
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A Visit to Historic Fredericksburg, the One in Texas
Mention Fredericksburg and everyone will assume you mean the one in Virginia, site of a major Civil War Battlefield. But did you know there’s a Fredericksburg in the middle of Texas with just as much history?
I discovered it when planning the itinerary for our recent trip. I knew it would be a hit with my husband who’s a World War 2 buff and would enjoy the first-class museum there. And I knew I’d like visiting one of the most charming towns in Texas with its German history, town square, shops and eateries.
We were both happy.
“Fredericksburg was founded on May 8, 1846, by German immigrants under the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas. John O. Meusebach chose the location for the second of the Society’s colonies four miles north of the Pedernales River between two creeks.”
The City of Fredericksburg Texas
We walked through the old buildings at the Pioneer Museum and learned about German immigration to Texas. We met a visiting German couple who told us their town has its own museum focused on the emigration side of the story. Small world, indeed.
We visited the Markt Platz (market square) in the center of town,
and its most iconic structure, the Vereins Kirche (“society church”) which was the hub of community activities including church and school.
And we came across a memorial to the only Peace Treaty made with Native Americans thought to never be broken.
“On March 1, 1847, Meusebach met with several tribes of Comanche Indians unarmed to negotiate a treaty between the Tribes and the town of Fredericksburg. Meusebach asked that the townsfolk be allowed to farm the land along the Llano in return for the Comanche being allowed in town at any time. He furthered the offer by promising that in times of hunger, the town would provide the Tribes with grain in return for game, honey, and bear fat.”
The City of Fredericksburg, TX
Later that night we visited the Market Square and found it all lit up for Christmas Nights of Lights.
It was gorgeous.
But by now you may be wondering – where’s the promised World War 2 museum and what’s it doing in the middle of Texas?
I’m glad you asked!
It turns out that Fredericksburg was the hometown of Admiral Chester Nimitz, Chief Commander of the Pacific Fleet during WW2.
“After brilliantly leading American forces to victory in World War II, Fleet Admiral Nimitz, the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas, hauled down his flag at Pearl Harbor and relieved Fleet Admiral King as Chief of Naval Operations. Accorded a hero’s welcome at home, the quiet, self-effacing officer described himself as merely “a representative of the brave men who fought” under his command.
Naval History and Heritage Command
An outstanding leader, Nimitz would only agree to a museum in his hometown, if it honored all those who fought in the Pacific War. As I went through the Nimitz Gallery, I was impressed with the man and longed for the kind of noble, selfless leadership he represented.
The National Museum of the Pacific War contains thousands of artifacts and stories from the many battles of the Pacific.
It also has the only surviving submarine used by the Japanese in their attack on Pearl Harbor.
There are many outdoor exhibits including a memorial to the presidents who served during WW2,
and a theatre in the Pacific Combat Zone, where examples of the terrain, trenches and fortified cave positions the Japanese created to battle U.S. forces on those islands are replicated. Living history reenactments occur throughout the year though not while we were there.
My husband spent most of his time inside the museum but there was too much information for me; I preferred wandering the grounds. One of my favorite places was the Japanese Peace Garden, for its simple beauty and what it represents, ‘a gift from the people of Japan, in honor of all that Fleet Admiral Nimitz did to improve U.S./Japanese relations after the war.’
I hope you enjoyed this tour of Fredericksburg.
I’ll leave you with that elusive hope of peace.
~ Susanne
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A Peaceful Sunset over Lake Crescent
One of my favorite places in the world is Olympic National Park in my home state of Washington. And one of my favorite places to visit in the park is Lake Crescent.
We spent a few days there last summer and had dinner one night at the Lodge just as the sun was setting.
I know in principle that Peace needs to come from within, but sometimes a little help from the outside is not bad.
Wishing I was there right now.
Sharing for this week’s Sunday Stills Challenge, Peace.
~ Susanne
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Rainy Days and Cats and Mondays
It’s a rainy day in the Pacific Northwest and the cats are getting restless. The humans are too.
Benji is out of sorts, and I do what I can to cheer him up, pulling out his favorite toys,
until we’re both too tired to continue.
“Can’t you make it stop?” he pleads.
“Sorry, Benji. I wish I could. But we should get a reprieve by next April. May, for sure.”
“Until then, we’ll have to hunker down inside.”
And so today, we will.
~ Susanne and Tiger and Benji
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Texas – a Medley and a Foretaste
This wasn’t my first time to Texas. We once took a road trip to the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and had to pass through El Paso to get there. We also stopped for a hike at nearby Guadelupe Mountains National Park. I thought I might find a few photos, but they’re lost among the millions I took in the last century. They’ll turn up later when I no longer need them.
There was also a trip to San Antonio a few years ago, where we enjoyed the riverwalk through town; I did manage to find a photo of that.
But honestly, Texas is not first on my list of vacation destinations. All of my visits have been tied to other events. This is especially true for my husband, who got his first taste of Texas at Laughlin Airforce Base in San Antonio.
Still if you have to go, you’ll find a lot of history, good museums, and the occasional beautiful landscape. (You’ll have to look hard, especially if you are used to the scenic beauty of the Pacific Northwest, but I digress.) And you’ll have a lot of ground to cover. At 268,597 square miles, the Lone Star State is giant, the second largest after Alaska.
On this trip we tackled a small town – Fredericksburg – and a big city – Dallas. We enjoyed both and it will take a while for me to sort through the pictures and give you the specifics.
In the meantime, here’s a foretaste of Fredericksburg, arguably the most charming town in Texas.
Now, before I go, did you know there have been six flags over Texas?
France – Spain – Mexico – the Republic of Texas – the Confederacy – and the U.S.A.
I believe they still prefer the middle one the best.
That will do for now.
~ Susanne
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Just Another Bird Bonanza!
Not today, the backyard is mostly cold and quiet this morning.
I took these pictures earlier this month, of the hummingbirds sharing their feeding station with an assortment of other birds.
Sugar water to the right and suet on the left.
The hummers didn’t seem to mind.
And the other birds loved it, including the regulars – chickadees and nuthatches –
and woodpeckers – both flickers and downys.
I loved having them, but it’s a dilemma.
I usually only feed hummingbirds year-round, but added suet and seed to the mix for other birds when cold weather arrived. The first location was overrun by squirrels, so I moved the suet here thinking they’d be unable to reach it. Too far to jump from any trees or fence, I thought. Didn’t know they could climb poles!
The new feeders also attracted other unwanted rodents and though the cats could take care of them, I’d rather not have them around.
Still considering my options but I may have to leave the other birds to nature’s offerings, except during the most inclement weather.
By the way, you may have noticed I’m back on the blog after a short break. I’ll have more to share later about our recent travels to this most unlikely of places.
Can you guess where?
Perhaps this will help.
More to came later from the Lone Star State.
Until then, I’m happy to be back in the Pacific Northwest.
~ Susanne
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A Thanksgiving Wish for You
Last weekend, my husband and I shared a wonderful Thanksgiving buffet with my mom at her residence. Along with more exotic offerings were the traditional favorites: turkey that melted in your mouth, perfect stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, sweet potatoes, assorted salads and after all that, an entire dessert room, if you were still hungry (or not.)
And this card was on our table, as a reminder.
I’m thankful for a husband who loves the outdoors as much as I do. And I’m thankful that we’re healthy enough to continue adventuring far and near.
I’m thankful that I still have my mom. She’s 93. That’s something, right?
I bet you can think of a few somethings to be thankful for, too.
If not, just look around.
At the beauty surrounding you.
And give thanks.
I’m taking a few days off from the blog. Wishing you a happy holiday and a joyous week!
Sharing with #Sunday Stills
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 