Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Ambling in the Rainy Day Garden
After being missing in action for most of April, the rain returned to the Pacific Northwest and was welcomed by all.
I took a walk in the garden admiring the raindrops on the Lady’s Mantle
the Chives
and the budding Clematis. It won’t be long before they burst into bloom.
Tiger was happy to join me on my walk –
while Benji took a rainy day nap inside.
~ Susanne
How Many Browsers Does One Blogger Need?
Three so far!
Microsoft Edge
My computer came loaded with Microsoft Edge and I’ve used it for everything including blogging. Until it became increasingly buggy. First, I started losing my credentials when reading other blogs which caused my comments to show up as ‘Anonymous.’ Next, and even more annoying I can no longer upload pictures when creating a post. And more recently I’m finding glitches with comment notifications.
Chrome
Okay, fine. I’d already switched to Chrome to solve the anonymous problem and I’ve been using it to load pictures. So it had become my browser of choice for blogging. Until today that is, when I opened my blog in Chrome and found that the font had shrunk making it hard to read. Sigh.
Firefox
Enter Firefox! Rather than log a case with WordPress I thought – what the heck – let’s try another browser! So yes indeed I downloaded Firefox and I now have three – count ’em three! – browsers on my PC to use when one or the other of them causes me heartache.
I’m using Firefox to create this post – so far so good. The font is what I like, I’m able to upload my pictures and my credentials are working on other blogs.
I hope there is not a fourth browser in my future!
Now before I leave you I want you to know that I accomplished this amazing feat this morning while being continually harassed (excuse me, entertained) by my office helper, you know the one.
That will be all for now.
~ Susanne
A Thanks and Celebration of Four Years of Blogging!
I debated whether to make a thing out of April 22nd or not – the date I published my first post four years ago. What is there – after all – to say about it? That I’m surprised to still be at it today? Well yes, there is that!
But as I considered further – I thought it would be a great time to thank those – both human and feline – who inspired my adventure in blogging.
I’ll start with my brother John who blogs here about food and entertainment. I’d written some cat stories a few years ago but wasn’t sure how to proceed with my newfound hobby. It was he who suggested I start a blog and to show me the possibilities recommended the blog of a man named Pete.
It was with a bit of fear and trepidation that I released my first post four years ago. Thanks to both of you who not only left me tips on that first story in 2016 but for continuing to provide your blogging support today!
Finally – and perhaps most importantly – are the cats who by their good looks and charming antics continue to fuel the stories that form the backbone of Cats and Trails and Garden Tales.
And lest I forget – thanks to my husband – my faithful reader and willing participant in my life and stories. And of course to all of you who take the time to drop by and visit. We so appreciate it! 🙂
~ Susanne, Tiger & Benji
The Eyes Have IT!
This week I’m thankful for all of you bloggers who faithfully give us prompts and challenges. You really help to keep my creative juices flowing – which would otherwise dry up.
So for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, Seeing, I give you the wonderful eyes of my two favorite felines.
Tiger
Benji
To close I would like to share a poem with you – written by my best friend in junior high. I have always remembered it, even loved it for its truth and simplicity, I wonder if she knows?
So here’s to Cindy S. wherever you are.
“The cat sits
and smiles and sings;
he knows a lot of secret things.”
~ Susanne, Tiger and Benji
Water, Fire and Ice!
In celebration of Earth Day this week, I thought I’d give you a tour of water, fire and ice from my place in the world.
The first picture is not my own as I have not yet scaled these heights. Still, can you see me waving from the northwest corner of the USA?
Notice the blue everywhere! Water covers 70% of the Earth’s surface and the Pacific Ocean, the largest body of water takes up 30%. I’m thankful to enjoy its beauty on Washington’s rugged coast.
Further south in Oregon lies the Graveyard of the Pacific where you can see the wreck of the Peter Iredale. Perhaps the ocean was misnamed by Ferdinand Magellan who thought its waters peaceful?
Fortunately for us, we enjoyed tranquil sailing on the Pacific during last fall’s cruise to California. I hope it’s not our last.
For fire let’s go to Yellowstone National Park, which sits in the caldera of a giant super volcano, as evidenced by erupting geysers and bubbling hot springs! I never get tired of visiting this masterpiece of creation!
Lastly, there’s no better place to see ice than in Alaska’s Glacier Bay.
So there you have it! Water, Fire, Ice!
Yes, our planet can be wild and turbulent, but it’s still rather magnificent don’t you think?
Shared with Sunday Still’s, Mother Earth.
~ Susanne
Forest Flowers
Sometimes the loveliest flowers thrive in the unlikeliest places. They don’t want our care – they prefer to live wild where rivers and forests remain intact.
Yesterday I showed you a Trillium but here is another. See how easily it grows from the messy forest floor?
The Bleeding Heart grows too without a fuss. Delicate yet hardy, even the name is lovely.
Last – and possibly least of all – is the humble dandelion – an intruder in our gardens – but lovely next to the trail.
~ Susanne
A Walk through Federation Forest fueled by the Black Diamond Bakery
Talk about social distancing! Yesterday Bob and I had the trails to ourselves at Federation Forest as we walked under the canopy of old growth evergreens with the sound of the White River flowing nearby.
To get there we headed south on the Maple Valley Highway, stopping by the Black Diamond Bakery, which has been serving customers since 1902!
After fueling up we continued past the scenic countryside of Enumclaw
and onto Highway 410 to Federation Forest.
There wasn’t a single other car or visitor as we entered the quiet beauty of the woods
and soaked in the strength of the aged trees reaching high into the heavens
and the gentle beauty of the trilliums springing from the forest floor below.
I think Robert Frost said it best in one of my favorite poems,
“The woods are lovely dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
~ Susanne
Forty Years Ago
I once had a conversation with my grandpa who told me he’d recently found himself saying “forty years ago… ” and he remembered back when he was younger how some older folks would also say “forty years ago” and wasn’t it curious that he now found himself saying the same thing and I remember him telling me this little tale in his slow grandpa voice about forty years ago…..
~ Susanne
Lifted Spirits in the Garden
During this time of ‘staying at home’ I’m thankful I can retreat to my backyard and enjoy the beauty of nature.
And I’m not alone.
I caught this little hummer perched high above in the fir tree, looking fresh and fluffy.
And I found a female finch playing hard to get,
though a handsome male was pursuing.
Don’t they make a nice couple?
Shared for Sunday Still’s, Lifted Spirits.
~ Susanne
Sweet and Savory from the Aloha Bowl!
Two months ago – seems like a lifetime – we visited Aloha Stadium in Oahu. No, not to watch football – but to walk its perimeter and shop its marketplace.
It was close to 80 degrees. I wore sunscreen and a hat – but no mask back then and neither did I practice social distancing. Instead, I ambled along with all the others, soaking in the sun’s rays, and looking for bargains, of which there were many.
Time for a locally made Hawaiian bag? Sure, why not?
How about some Jack Fruit?
I wish I would have. Instead I opted for fresh coconut (is it just me or does it taste a bit like rubber?)
And then – along with the jewelry and wood carvings and hats and sunglasses and beach towels and slippers and all manner of trinkets from the Philippines and China – I came across this:
SPAM??
First introduced by Hormel in 1937 this canned meat product became popular during World War II, and yes – Hawaiians love their SPAM!
And so does my brother. At least I think he does. So when I saw the stockpiles at the market I texted this picture and asked which one he wanted me to bring back for him. Tocino he said – whatever that is.
I picked one up for me too – though I probably haven’t eaten any since 1972 – maybe not even then. Because you never know when you might need some canned meat – say for instance, during a pandemic?
I opted for the Portuguese Sausage and it’s still in my cupboard. I’m biding my time.
If only there’d been a way to bring back some Shave Ice.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 