Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
What Lasts Seven Years?
My blog, that’s what!
Seven years ago, I published my first post on CATS and TRAILS and GARDEN TALES.
I’ve mostly stayed true to my vision – to share stories of my cats, travels, hikes, and gardens – though I admit I’m increasingly focused on photography, which hopefully enhances the stories.
CATS
It’s heavy on the cats as it should be – they have top billing. Tiger has retained senior status and remains the face of my avatar, while his rambunctious brother Benji gets more press. I forgive you if you can’t tell them apart. Hint: Tiger has the white.
TRAILS
I use ‘Trails’ loosely to cover local hikes as well as travels further afield. Here’s a taste of my local favorites – Mt. Rainier and Olympic National Park.
GARDENS
You’ve seen a lot of my garden, including the birds and the bees that inhabit it. It’s my favorite place to hang out.
Who knows what the next seven years may hold?
Only time will tell.
Thanks for following along.
Susanne
Hanging with the Jellies
We had a reprieve from the rain yesterday so we went south to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma.
The Jellies were my favorites.
Especially the Sea Nettles.
Mesmerizing, don’t you think?
I could watch them all day.
~ Susanne
Looking for Pastels on a Rainy Day
For this week’s Sunday Stills Challenge, I went outside looking for pastels in the rain.
My expectations weren’t high, but I managed to find some hiding midst the green – in the form of very wet periwinkle in lavender, and forget-me-nots in blue.
Soon after I remembered the rhododendron next to the driveway, all delicate and pink and ruffly.
Not through yet, I walked around the side of the house and hid under the eaves to take pictures of a neglected tree, bursting with buds and blossoms.
Till I finally succumbed to the rain.
But I’ll have plenty of pastel for you next month when the clematis takes over, the highlight of my May Garden.
I can’t wait.
~ Susanne
Catnip Conundrum
I have an empty garden bed.
It’s empty because the boys use it to sleep in.
“It’s a bed, isn’t it?” asks Tiger.
“What else is it for?” adds Benji.
“Right, but you already use the other beds. Give me a chance, with this one, okay?”
“Sure, says, Benji! “How about planting some catnip?”
“Hmmm, catnip,” I thought to myself. “An attractive herb.”
Then I remembered the last time I bought some and left it on the deck.
Benji discovered it first.
Then Tiger came along.
And couldn’t stay upright.
Let’s just say the catnip never made it into the ground.
It’s a conundrum.
~ Susanne
Red Berries on a Rainy Day
Rain, rain, and more rain in the Pacific Northwest.
Dismal. Dreary. Dampening. Disappointing.
Even so, the berries offer the occasional bright spot, lighting up the yard.
I shouldn’t complain. We’ve fared much better than the rest of the country, which has been hard hit by tornadoes and other calamities.
Sunbreaks expected today and tomorrow.
Hope I catch some rays.
~ Susanne
It’s April 11th – Happy National Pet Day!
I said these words to our two feline residents and they were puzzled.
“What’s a pet?” asked Benji.
“Um, well,” I replied, a bit startled by the look in his eyes.
“According to the dictionary it’s a tamed animal kept for companionship.”
“Tamed?” questioned Benji.
“Kept?’ asked Tiger.
“Are you planning to curtail our freedoms? You know how much we like the outdoors. At least when it’s not raining.”
“No of course not; you’re way too sensitive. I just thought you’d want to celebrate, that’s all. Sorry I mentioned it.”
~ Happy National Pet Day from Susanne and Tiger and Benji
Rainy Day in a Tulip Field
The tulips are slow to bloom this year in Washington’s Skagit Valley due to the unseasonably cool weather. I hope to make it up north to see them when they do.
But last year we stopped by the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Oregon, on the first day of a road trip to California.
It was a very rainy day.
But still beautiful.
Six soggy photos for Six Word Saturday.
And Cee’s FOTD.
~ Susanne
Cats Seeking Shelter in the Rainy Northwest and Baseball – Revisited!
After a long, cold winter, we have now settled into a typical rainy spring. The garden is loving it and new plants are being thoroughly watered in.
Cats seek shelter wherever they can find it, if they are willing to go out at all.
When inside, they have baseball to watch though our Seattle Mariners are not off to a good start. (Fooled us again.)
Tiger watches attentively while Benji is more distracted,
and hushed by his older brother.
~ Susanne and Tiger and Benji
Benji – from the Roof
“Sometimes I don’t think I know you, Benji.”
“What do you mean, Sue?”
“I mean you there – up on the roof. It’s unnerving. Please come down.”
“Relax, Sue. I gotta keep an eye on things. Who else is going to do it?”
“I don’t know, Benji. But you look like some kind of wild animal.”
“Sorry, Sue. I’m the same old Benji, but I’m still a cat; I do have some secrets.”
“Now leave me alone, would you? You’re blowing my cover.”
“Sorry, Benji.”
~ from Susanne and Benji
Bumble Bees Waking Up in the Garden
Even though spring is officially here in the Pacific Northwest, the temperatures have remained icy cold, with bouts of wind, rain and hail. Perhaps that explains why I’ve done so little in the garden. Fortunately, the azalea is in full bloom with no help from me, and that has awakened the bumblebees.
I love watching them buzz from flower to flower, their chunky bodies supported by gossamer wings, their tiny feet dangling beneath them.
Larger and furrier than honeybees, bumblebees are important pollinators, the first to arrive in the spring and the last to leave before winter. Their two sets of wings beat back and forth more than 130 times per second, and according to the National Wildlife Federation ”the beating combined with their large bodies vibrates flowers until they release pollen, which is called buzz pollination. Buzz pollination helps plants produce more fruit.”
I’m hoping for sunnier days soon, to make their work in the garden – and mine – more agreeable.
Inspired by: Sunday Stills, Awakened.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 