Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
When Beauty is Needed
In the Quinault Rainforest.
~ Susanne
My Feathered Friends – It started with the Chickadees!
I’ve been a backyard birder for as long as I can remember, and it was the chickadees that first attracted me. I saw them flitting about in the trees and heard them calling their friendly greetings to one another and to me too, it seemed. I was hooked.
I’m still charmed by chickadees and am happy that both the black-capped and chestnut-backed varieties live in my yard; I was recently visited by both.
It seemed that spring finally arrived last weekend (yes, I know it’s nearly the end of May) and I was out enjoying the sunshine with the stream running.
I was hoping to entice the birds and I succeeded when a black-capped chickadee stopped by for a dip.
I was ready and sat quietly nearby with camera in hand enjoying the show.
That wasn’t the case when a chestnut-backed chickadee surprised me while I was in the hot tub!
He landed on the branches of the evergreen tree hanging over the deck and bounced from branch to branch looking for insects. Sometimes he hung upside down just a few feet from me, without any fear while I watched, both overjoyed and astounded.
Now obviously I did not have my camera with me in the hot tub, so you’ll have to take my word that this visitation occurred; by the time I was out he was done hunting for the night and all I got was a picture of the branches.
I thought it might be one of the chickadees who nested out front earlier this year, so I went to see if I might find him there.
Instead I found these two enjoying the snag – house finches I believe – more of my feathered friends.
Sharing with Sunday Stills.
~ Susanne
Under the Sea – at the Monterey Bay Aquarium!
I didn’t mean to leave you hanging in Big Sur so I’m back to close out the road trip series with our last major stop in California – the Monterey Bay Aquarium – one of the top aquariums in the United States.
We were welcomed by Aqua Man and all manner of sea creatures, both great and small!
(Click on pictures in the gallery to enlarge them.)
All were wonderful but I enjoyed the jellies the most. The Moon Jelly and Crystal jelly are the first two in the gallery below, followed by the Bloodybelly Comb Jelly, Sea Nettle, and Purple-Striped Jelly. (Click on pictures in the gallery to enlarge them.)
Check out the link to the Aquarium for more on these marvelous creatures.
I was mesmerized by them and could have stayed and watched them all day. Instead, I took videos so you could watch them too.
Aren’t they mysterious? Why don’t see for yourself the next time you’re down in Monterey.
~ Susanne
Whatcha Doing, Benji?
“Isn’t it obvious, Sue? I need to get into the closet.”
“No you don’t Benji. I don’t want you in there. I don’t even like you sitting on the banister. You could fall.”
“Fall?? We cats are nimble, Sue. We don’t just fall.”
“Okay, Benji. But I’m still not going to let you into the closet.”
“Please, Sue. I need somewhere quiet to sleep. Where it’s nice and dark.”
“No can do. It would be too cramped in the closet anyway, it’s full of stuff. Why don’t you find a place to sleep where you can stretch out a bit.”
“Good idea, Sue. I’ll see what I can find.”
~ from the desk of Susanne and Benji
Fragrance in Today’s Garden
It’s been a cold and rainy spring in the Pacific Northwest, but herbs and flowers are blooming in spite of it.
I told you recently that my lilac bush – a gift from my mother-in-law – is blooming for the first time after many years in my garden.
There are only two clusters of blossoms on the bush so far and they are opening slowly. But a single tiny flower is full of fragrance!
My azalea is also blooming. It’s a small plant and looks rather beaten down by the wind and rain – but the scent is strong, as sweet as honeysuckle.
Apart from these are many herbs that fill up my garden beds; their scents are released by gently rubbing the leaves.
I love lavender and have many varieties, this one just beginning to bud.
Sage always has a place in my garden and provides wonderful contrasts of color and texture as well as a unique musky smell. Also good for cooking though I usually don’t.
As every gardener knows, mint lives wherever it chooses. The chocolate mint below rises above chives and oregano in one of my garden beds.
Lady’s Mantle is nearby but its claim to fame is not its fragrance nor medicinal properties – at least not in my garden – but the wonderful way it holds the rain.
Finally, I mentioned in an earlier post that the real star of the May garden is clematis, and my Montana is happily climbing as high as it can midst the evergreen trees and shrubs.
I was about to say that despite its beauty it has no fragrance but thought I should doublecheck just to be sure.
I’m glad I did! It has a lovely fragrance though mild, that I only detected by sniffing the flowers close up!
Sharing with Sunday Stills.
~ Susanne
Captured by Bubbles
Don’t ignore the ordinary.
Happy Monday! 🙂
Susanne
California Road Trip – Onward to Big Sur!
Everyday brought a new highlight on our road trip to California!
After leaving Morro Bay on the central California Coast – here if you missed it – we headed north for one of the most scenic drives in the world – Big Sur!
Our first major stop was at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery where the giant mammals congregate different times of the year. We arrived during molting season.
They cover themselves with sand to keep cool when resting on the beach
or take a dip in the water.
After our visit with the seals we said goodbye and continued north to Big Sur where the mountains meet the sea and civilization fades away!
For the next 90 miles we enjoyed incredible views of the ocean around every winding turn.
There was a stop by Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for a short hike to see McWay Falls, which drops 80 ft. into the Pacific Ocean.
Can you say wow? I did.
Then we continued on our way, stopping at the overlooks and finally crossing the last bridge,
where another happy couple asked if we’d take their picture, then returned the favor to us.
Before I go, I thought it fitting to share Big Sur with this week’s Sunday Stills Challenge, #Aqua.
Next stop, Monterey Bay!
~ Susanne
Stand Up for Blogging!
Maybe not how you think.
In my case it’s a matter of ergonomics.
My entire working life I spent in an office, in a chair, with a desk and a computer. Well, actually, I’m old enough to say the computer came later. But I digress.
During the last few years that I worked for the City I had a nice spot on the 43rd floor of a high-rise with good views of Seattle’s waterfront where I could watch the ferries come and go.
Fun stuff.
During that same period I also had two desks in my office (well cubicle really) – a normal sit-down variety where I spent most of my time and another stand-up desk in front of the window.
Pampered? Not really. I hadn’t asked for another desk specifically – a coworker did. But when she got tired of it, I took the stand-up desk off her hands, and found it useful for giving my back a break.
Fast forward to now.
Can you guess where I’m headed with this?
Not to complain or anything but yeah, there’s some lower back pain, because as much walking and gardening and outside stuff as I do, I still have a hobby the puts me back at a desk with a computer.
So I did a bit of research online on what could be purchased. But not wanting to invest without knowing I’d really use it, and also knowing the wondrous skill of my dear hubby, I asked him to make me a stand-up desk, a platform of sorts to sit on top of my regular desk.
Bingo! The last few posts I’ve published on my blog, I did standing up, with views not of the Seattle waterfront, but of my own front yard. Just thought you’d want to know. 😉 And when I want to sit for a while I remove the platform. Nice, huh?
And because I can’t do a post without a couple of photos, here’s a sandpiper from the beaches of Central California, also standing.
More of the California coast including Big Sur to come.
~ Susanne
Three Stacks and a Rock at Morro Bay and Cayucos
We always had the scenic coastal route in mind on our trip to Southern California, especially Highway 1 and Big Sur, between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
So after enjoying our time in LA, Beverly Hills, and Disneyland,
we started the next phase of our journey – the scenic route to Morro Bay. I didn’t know much about Morro Bay, other than it was roughly halfway to our next day’s destination, allowing for a slow drive and as many stops as we desired.
We were there by early afternoon and were hooked on the place after our first view of the rock.
We headed across the bay for a closer look at Morro Rock, at 564 ft. tall, one of 13 giant rocks that line the coast, the remaining plugs from ancient volcanos that eroded away 23 million years ago.
After admiring the rock, we turned back for another look into the bay and were treated to the largest number of sea otters we’ve ever seen frolicking in the wild. (click on the pictures in the gallery to enlarge.)
Behind them on the shore we saw three stacks.
We would learn more about them after dinner that night, where the food was delicious and the views superb.
As we were leaving the restaurant my husband asked a local what the stacks were.
“Smokestacks,” the man said and laughed.
Then he told us the story of the decommissioned stacks from an old powerplant and the controversy over whether to remove them or not. It was then I learned of Morro Bay’s nickname,’ Three Stacks and a Rock.’ My vote would be to leave them as to me they add character to this blue-collar beach town but it’s more likely they’ll be coming down.
The rock will remain but the city’s nickname will have to change.
We left Morro Bay the next day, stopping by Cayucos where I took time to explore the beach while Bob shopped in the collectible stores.
I was looking for jade. My mom had told me of the gemstones that were lying on the beaches for the taking, at least when she visited in the middle of the last century.
I appreciated the tip as there were indeed many beautiful stones dotting the beach.
But did I find jade? Only the rock knows for sure!
I loved the small towns of the central California Coast and if I had it to do over, I would have booked more time there. But many other adventures awaited us so we continued on to Big Sur, which I will save for next time.
~ Susanne
Saturday Caturday, Where’s Benji?
“You looking for me, Sue?’
“Well I was but I don’t mean to disturb you. I’ll go use the other sink.”
“I’d appreciate it. And could you turn off the light on your way out?”
“Sure, Benji. Will do.”
~ Susanne and Benji
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 