Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
A Monday Walk and Pandemic Visit
On the first Monday of summer under the bluest skies and warmest sunshine I went to visit my mom – pandemic style. I pulled up under her apartment window, and gave her a ring, ‘hey mom, I’m down here to visit,’ and visit we did, waving and talking and planning our next exchange of books and things. Such is life in the pandemic for those living in senior communities. No going out and no visitors allowed inside so we find ways. It’s strict yes – maybe too strict – who’s to know? – but her community remains virus free. We hope and we hope for things to return to normal – whatever that will be.
She remains cheerful and so do I – buoyed by the weather and my next stop – Top Pot for a latte and donut – then to nearby Coulon Park.
I walked my normal route on the path next to the lake where children swam, eagles flew overhead, turtles rested in their favorite spots and the Mountain was out.
Crowds were thin and seemed properly distanced. Some wore masks – some did not – both made sense in the great outdoors. It’s what keeps us sane.
How was your Monday?
~ Susanne
Roses and Herbs and Bees in The Garden
Honestly I have a lot of local travel stories still in the queue – all backed up and waiting to be shared. But the garden called me so I lingered there taking time to smell the roses and watch the bees among the herbs.
First the roses. Though they’re temperamental I continue to grow them for their singlular fragrance and beauty.
This is Doris Day and I think it does her justice. If only you could smell her sweetness!
The orange rose is another beauty and I wish I could remember her name! Though that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet – as this one does!
Next are the faithful herbs that fill my garden beds with color. The lavender is my favorite.
The Platinum Blonde – another name that makes sense I think – should bloom in the next few weeks.
And finally here are the bees – they love the catmint as much as the cats do.
They love the purple sage too.
Yesterday was hot and muggy, the last day of spring. This morning is cool and overcast, and rain is gently falling.
Welcome to summer. 🙂
~ Susanne
Pull Up a Seat on Oahu
In the midst of our cool and rainy spring in the Pacific Northwest, I’m dreaming of Hawaii and would like nothing better than to pull up a seat on Oahu.
Wouldn’t you?
~ Susanne
Cat Interrupted – Benji in the Bag
I heard the scuffle in the closet and when I opened the door this is what I saw.
“Don’t you ever knock?” he asked.
“Oh sorry Benji. It’s you. I wondered what all the commotion was.”
“Well okay then,” he said. “It’s hard enough to find a place to take a nap without being interrupted.”
“Sorry Benji. I know exactly what you mean.”
“Good,” he said. Now would you please close the door so I can get some sleep?”
“Sure Benji.”
~ Susanne and Benji
Rain, Clouds, and Eagles
Saturday evening we took a walk at Coulon despite the threat of rain. I didn’t carry my camera – I’m always slowing my poor husband down on our walks – but I did have my phone.
The clouds were spectacular and of course I took a few pictures.
And then I saw the first eagle soaring overhead.
Then there were two.
And then as we stopped to watch the numbers kept increasing.
Three, four, five, six soaring overhead – sometimes swooping down to the lake – perhaps training the younger among them to fish. It was marvelous – the most bald eagles I have ever seen in one place – anywhere – anytime.
Later that night I walked down the street to catch a sunset through the clouds, yes, with my real camera.
Monday morning and it’s still raining.
~ Susanne
Wet and Green
Rain is falling and clouds are hanging low. Grass is wet, my feet are too.
Young birds all aflutter at the beaver pond, follow their mamas from branch to branch waiting for food. Do they belong? Only she knows.
Water, water everywhere and all is wet and green.
At Flaming Geyser State Park.
– Susanne
Long Beach Peninsula, Discovery Trail and North Head Lighthouse
After three months of mostly staying at home we finally took a mini vacation and headed to the Long Beach Peninsula on Washington’s coast. We checked into our lodging via email, picked up our keys and stayed clear of others. There were no room services of any kind which was fine with us.
Some restaurants were open for inside dining though most were not. None of it mattered as we were there for the outdoors – to walk on the beach, visit the forts and lighthouses and to bicycle. Yes, we brought our electric bikes prepared to ride the Discovery Trail, and that’s where we’ll start.
The Discovery Trail runs 8.5 miles from Long Beach through the dunes to Beards Hollow in the south. The trail is nice and easy with occasional twists and turns and beach access.
We sailed along the trail, peddling yes, but boosted by battery power, the only way to bicycle!
There were sculptures along the way commemorating those famous travelers from more than 200 years ago, Lewis and Clark. This was of William Clark with a 10 foot sturgeon he mentioned in his journals.
And this one – Clark’s Tree – of the carving he made in a pine tree. The inscription reads, “William Clark. Nov. 19, 1805. By land from the U. States.” It marks the northernmost point of Lewis and Clark’s journey on the Pacific Coast.
As we continued south the vegetation increased and we headed into the trees.
Till we reached the end of the trail at Beards Hollow in Cape Disappointment State Park. During Lewis and Clark’s time the area was still ocean. The wetland formed after the Columbia River jetties were built over a hundred years ago.
This was our turnaround point but before we head back, let me show you Beards Hollow from the overlook above, which we visited the night before.
And nearby North Head Lighthouse, built in 1898.
We made it back to Long Beach just in time to watch the sun dip below the horizon. You can see the North Head Lighthouse on the bluff in the distance.
That’s all for now. I’ll save the rest for later.
~ Susanne
Planting with Benji
Yesterday we visited Flower World to buy Benji a new bed.
Or perhaps bath tub.
I decided to borrow it to carry home the plants I bought while I was there.
I bought the plants to fill up the bucket I got at a collectible store last week.
We were both satisfied with the results.
~ Susanne and Benji
Unwinding with yellow roses and the new block editor
It’s true I’m unwinding. After returning from our first mini vacation in months I’m happy to be home – to my cats – my own bed – and ordinary food.
I’ll share from our trip to the Long Beach Peninsula over the next week or so – the historic towns, the lighthouses and forts and bicycling the Discovery Trail.
In the meantime here are some yellow roses from my garden – also unwinding – and brought to you by the new Block Editor.
Yes, I’m experimenting with the new editor. It’s not terrible and it’s not perfect either. I still have access to the Classic Editor but I’m finding that moving between the two can be tricky. How about you? Have you made the switch?
~ Susanne
And Yet There is Still Beauty
I, like you, have been greatly disturbed, distressed, and even depressed over what I have seen in our country this past week. Yes, I remember the sixties but this feels worse somehow.
I am doing my best to stay focused on the things I can do, supporting the protesters, praying for change and voting in the fall.
In the meantime we managed to escape to the coast for a few days, our first getaway since the pandemic started. We are still adhering to all the proper protocols and social distancing; I’ll be sharing more from our trip soon.
But I thought you would enjoy a preview from our visit to Fort Columbia this morning, where this deer was feeding. Beautiful and unafraid, it approached where I was standing. I gave it room and quietly backed away to maintain social distancing even in nature.
Thankful there is still beauty in the world.
– Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 