Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
A Nature Walk at Flaming Geyser
Sorry but you’ll be hard pressed to find a flaming geyser – its methane source petered out years ago, though tossing a match into the well, may get you a reaction (we didn’t have any.)
But who cares with so much beauty surrounding you at Flaming Geyser State Park?
Last week, on a cold and frosty autumn day we bundled up and went for a walk in the park, starting out on the deserted road that runs through the center,
then into the woods to walk the trail beside the Green River.
We saw ducks heading downstream,
and salmon fighting their way upstream, returning to their birthplace to spawn, a fall miracle that never ceases to amaze me.
We paused for a few minutes to absorb this peaceful scene where the river decided to hide and rest a while,
then exited the woods, where as if on cue, two bald eagles appeared overhead.
A fitting end to a beautiful walk. And I even managed to ‘square’ all my photos for Becky’s WalkingSquares challenge.
And that’s all for this Monday morning. Better get out for today’s walk.
~ Susanne
A Conversation with Tiger
“Good morning, Tiger. Don’t look so alarmed. There will be no trip to the vet today”
“Sorry, Sue.”
“We were doing it for you, Tiger. Because we care about you. Just a short ride. A quick checkup. It would have been fine. “
“But you were going to put me in the box, weren’t you Sue?”
“Well yes, Tiger. That’s how it works. Into the box and off to the vet. Kitties do it all the time. Why couldn’t you?”
“I can’t help it, Sue. Bad memories.”
“Kind of like me and the dentist, I guess. But at least I go, Tiger. I don’t hide under the bed.”
“But you would if you could, right Sue?”
“That’s beside the point, Tiger. Eventually I go.”
So, there was no trip to the vet this week.
We’ll try again.
Maybe.
~ Susanne
Morning Moonshots
I regret to say I missed the lunar eclipse earlier this week.
I just couldn’t fathom leaving my warm bed in the middle of the night and venturing out alone into the freezing cold. Hmm, now that I put it that way maybe it’s understandable.
To make up for it, I met the moon this morning at a decent hour on my front porch where I snapped these –
and these which I intensified just for fun.
No law against that, right?
~ Susanne
Bogged Down in Squares at Shadow Lake Bog
Not too far from our home in Renton is an ancient bog, surrounded by forest, carpeted with moss and decorated with magic mushrooms. The trail and boardwalk through the bog is short but marvelous so I thought it would be perfect for this week’s Sunday Stills Challenge.
“The famous Shadow Lake Bog is the jewel of the Nature Preserve. This 8,000 – 10,000-year-old, peat-moss bog is a remnant of the Puget Lobe Glacier, which once covered the majority of Western Washington. SHADOW Lake Bog is the only spaghnum-hemlock peat bog under protection in Washington state. The bog’s unique soil and water qualities allow plants found nowhere else in Washington to grow.”
Shadow Lake Preserve
And did you notice? All of my pictures are squares! So I’m also sharing with Becky’s #WalkingSquares.
~ Susanne
‘Tis the Season for Hummers
November has come on strong and stormy as it often does in the Pacific Northwest. Perhaps that’s why I’m seeing more hummingbirds at the feeders; it’s easier for them to get their food fast and ready to go without fighting against the wind and the rain.
I cleaned and refilled both feeders on Saturday and waited nearby for them to appear.
Then this morning I saw one overhead in the evergreen tree as I stood on the deck. He seemed a bit smaller than the others, perhaps a youngster? Or maybe he only looked young all fluffed up to stay warm. Either way, he completely charmed me as he turned this way and that while I took pictures.
Afterwards he buzzed down to the feeder while I stayed behind taking pictures from a distance.
Even so, he seemed to look right at me, as if thanking me for the food.
The pleasure is all mine.
~ Susanne
On the Street Where I Live
Some days I don’t feel like walking far; I just need some fresh air and beauty.
Thankfully, there’s a park at the end of my street full of color.
~ Susanne
Just a Walk in the Park for Squares
While in Hawaii I amassed thousands of steps on my Fitbit. It was not a chore but a delight, as walking in good weather with gorgeous scenery usually is.
Since our return to Seattle, we’ve had nothing but rain. Rain, rain, and more rain. It was welcomed at first, to end the long summer drought and smokey skies and wildfires in the mountains nearby.
But I’m already weary of it and somewhat dreading months of the same until spring.
Even so, I’m determined to walk, whether on the treadmill at the gym (I finally returned after covid) but hopefully outside as well.
Earlier this week we went for a walk at Nolte State Park in between rain showers and the air was fresh and clean and filled with the fragrance of fall leaves.
We saw interesting trees and stumps and lichens and mushrooms
and lovely reflections in the lake.
I’m sharing this post for Becky’s Walking Squares Challenge and for that reason all of my photos are squares.
I’m so happy to have her back in the blogosphere.
~ Susanne
Mysterious in Oahu – a Photo Challenge
After pondering ‘mysterious’ for this week’s Sunday Stills Challenge I found some photos from our recent trip to Oahu that will work. See what you think.
One morning I woke before sunrise to see the moon cast an eerie glow on the Ala Wai Harbor and Pacific Ocean. I was looking down from the 30th floor of our hotel in Waikiki – no balcony (thankfully) but the top of the large window opened, allowing me to zoom down from above.
The cruise ship looked mysterious to me, like a painting I might enter.
When the sun came up, I turned my eye toward Ala Moana Park and found a pool reflecting palm trees
while at the beach people looked like ants,
even more mysterious in black and white.
Later, on a drive up the windward coast we saw someone jump off the cliff with no fear –
and sail high above the ocean. How does that work? It’s a mystery to me!
Finally, what do you think of this sunset? It looks mysterious to me, taking me back to another time, perhaps 1940.
And that is all.
~ Susanne
Sunrise and Sunset at Turtle Bay
One of the highlights of any trip to Hawaii is watching the sunset over the Pacific, or depending on where you’re staying, sunrise. Rarely do you get to enjoy both at the same location.
But on our recent trip to Hawaii, we spent half our time at Turtle Bay on the tip of Oahu (a special place for a special anniversary) and got to see both sunrise and sunset from our hotel. What a treat!
Every morning I woke up early for sunrise – it was easy to do since we were still adjusting to the three-hour time change from Seattle.
Some days I walked down the beach and waited quietly – almost reverently – with a handful of others, as color began to build in the distance.
Other mornings I stayed closer to the hotel with a few other solitary types contemplating the day.
In the evenings we gathered at the Sunset Bar, though not quite as solitary, it was a perfect place to watch the waves roll in and surfers riding them – while watching the sun go down.
That too was marvelous. I’m still pinching myself that I was actually there.
~ Susanne
Cheer up Benji!
“What’s the matter, Benji? You look down in the dumps.”
“I’m bored, Sue. There’s nothing to do.”
“You could go outside, Benji. Lots to do out there.”
“It’s freezing cold, Sue. You know that.”
“You’re right. Now that you mention it, I’m feeling kind of down myself.”
“What’ll we do, Benji?”
“I know! Let’s play!”
So we did.
We were both happy.
~ Susanne and Benji
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 