Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Still Soaring, Nine Years Later
Nine years ago we brought this sweet boy home from Seattle Humane. We’d gone to get a companion for Tiger, a mature cat would be good, I thought.
But Bob and Mom picked Benji out from the others, captured by his sweet disposition. I wasn’t so sure, he was still a kitten. They were so right.
“Benji, we made the right choice. You’re the sweetest boy ever.”
“Aw thanks, Sue. I bet you say that to all your cats.”
“No, really, Benji. You’re something special. So entertaining.”
“Aw thanks, Sue. Just living my best life.”
“And the way you’ve overcome adversity is something to be admired.”
“We do what we can, Sue. You’d do the same.”
“I hope so, Benji. Anyway, you’ve been inspirational. After all these years, down a limb or not, I’m so happy you’re still soaring.”
“Happy Gotcha Day, Benji.”
~ Susanne
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Reflections on the Green River
While walking through the park I saw a chase in the sky – dog chasing dog – more likely ducks.
I entered the wooded trail to the river, and came upon an animal tree, he offered his back for a place to rest but I continued on.
I saw the river through the trees, and signs of life on the shore.
We watched from a distance, the last few days of summer.
We wouldn’t go back if we could
though maybe we would.
~ Susanne
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A Peaceful Harbor
Better in Color?
Or Black and White.
You decide.
#WordlessWedneday
~ Susanne
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A Visiting Woodpecker – Downy or Hairy?
I heard the loud pounding in the trees above and assumed it was a woodpecker.
It took a while to spot him – he wasn’t that big and he’s not a regular in my yard. He moved up and down the trunk of the Douglas Fir tree, hopping from limb to limb, backwards and forwards, sometimes upside down, pecking furiously.
He persisted for almost an hour, giving me time to run for my camera, then sit and watch him.
At first, I thought he was a Downy but after doing more research, I think he’s a Hairy; both are black and white speckled woodpeckers common in Washington.
According to Audobon.org the main difference between the two is in overall size and bill shape.
“The Downy’s bill is dainty and about one-third the length of the bird’s head. The Hairy’s bill is a railroad spike in comparison, and almost as long as its head.
The Downy is a little over six inches tall, while the Hairy is almost 50 percent taller.”
Judging by size, I’m going with Hairy Woodpecker. It may have been the first time we had such a visitation; I hope it’s not the last.
Sharing with Sunday Stills #WingsandFeathers and #BirdsoftheWeek.
~ Susanne
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Little Cats on the Home Front
Yesterday I shared photos of the wildlife my brother encountered on safari in Africa, where the only kind of shooting that occurred was with a camera.
I loved the big cats, majestic and content, knowing they are free to safely roam.
On the home front, I also have two cats, perhaps just as beautiful, also free to safely roam, though I do stay alert for the occasional raccoon.
They are more pampered than their larger cousins on the other side of the world, but also still wild at heart.
Here they are in their best, ‘I’m also mysterious – you don’t really know me,’ pose.
Happy Caturday from Tiger and Benji!
~ Susanne
P.S. To see more of John’s incredible wildlife photos, here’s the link to his post if you missed it.
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Lions and Leopards and Cheetahs, O My!
I don’t think I’ll make it to Africa, where wild animals can still find places to roam and live their best lives in natural habitat. But my brother did, on safaris to wildlife preserves and his pictures are incredible. I especially enjoyed seeing the big cats behaving like cats! The lions, both majestic and playful, leopards and cheetahs, gorgeous and mysterious in their spotted coats.
And yes, there were elephants, giraffes, zebras and more!
I love animals and am happy to see them thrive. Visit the story at the link below for more pictures and clips of them all. It may be as close as you (or I) will get to them.
~ Susanne
P.S. For additional information, take a look at the comments, where John describes in more detail the nature of the ‘preserves’ he visited, where animals are safe from hunting and free to roam.
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A Walk in the Park, Thanks to Those who went Before
We visit Nolte State Park many times a year to hike through the woods around the lake; it never gets old.
This beautiful property was in private hands until bequeathed to the state of Washington by Minnie Nolte, after her death in 1971. It had been in the Nolte family since 1889, and used as a resort for many years.
Go back further and you’ll find a more complicated history.
“Nolte State Park lies within the traditional territories of Coast Salish Indigenous people whose present-day descendants include members of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
For thousands of years the lands around today’s Nolte State Park have provided habitat for a diverse community of life that forms the basis of their cultures, especially around the harvest, preservation and stewardship of salmon in the Green River.
Local tribes ceded ownership of the area to the US federal government under duress in the Treaty of Point Elliot in 1855, keeping rights to harvest natural resources in their usual and accustomed places including the area of today’s Nolte State Park.” https://parks.wa.gov/about/news-center/field-guide-blog/nolte-state-park-history
In fact, most of the treaties native tribes entered into were later broken by the United States government and its representatives, a sad part of our history. At any rate, I’m thankful this gorgeous property is still available for all to enjoy.
~ Susanne
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Well, that’s just Peachy!
I went looking for tan and peach in my garden, it wasn’t easy to find.
Most everything is green, including my garden shed, though you do see Bob’s decorations in tan.
I managed to find peach in the one nasturtium blooming. I get far too many leaves, a sign the soil may be too rich; nasturtiums prefer poor soil.
I found both tan and peach in a garden spider, perhaps not what you wanted to see. Some of you are skittish but it’s spider season and this variety doesn’t bother me; it’s the black ones in the house I detest!
But the best example today of tan with hints of peach is this handsome boy, who’s always willing to pose for me.
Sharing with Sunday Stills, #Tan and Peach.
~ Susanne
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Blackberries are Free for the Picking!
It’s August and the blackberries are ripening.
I like them myself but not quite as much as my mom does.
I think she loves them not only because they’re sweet and plentiful, but mostly because they’re free.
Free food for the picking appeals to someone who grew up during the Great Depression.
Which reminds me of the last time I went berry picking with mom. She was 89. Today at 95, she still enjoys the blackberries my friends and I pick for her.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 