Tracy Zhu

A hiker follows a fern-lined trail through a forest

Hansville Greenway in Kitsap County, Washington. The trail follows the bed of an old narrow-gauge railway once used by loggers to move timber. Thanks to dedicated community members, this land is now in conservation.
#forestfriday

A homemade protest sign reads "Big Dumper, not Big Diaper".

Seen at the Seattle No Kings march yesterday. Go Mariners!

An orange cat sleeps on his back.

Video and massage provided by Drew, my husband and Cat Daddy Supreme.

I aspire to find something that pleases me as much as Mango getting a chin massage.

Happy caturday to all who celebrate.

This is the biggest attack on free speech since the McCarthy era but it also has significantly less popular consensus behind it than the second Red Scare. It's being done on behalf of a minority faction led by the most unpopular president in modern history. Organizing against this can win.

The neighborhood cat and resident possum scampering through the yard. I wouldn't call them friends, but they are often in the same vicinity.

Betty, a resident Douglas squirrel, getting the nut placed just right before running off to stash it.

I left the back door open for a few minutes, and old girl walked right in! She didn't like the feel of the carpet and toddled back out quickly.
#possum #kitsap

I hope it's a fairly short term situation. Sending good vibes your way.

I own a retail store in a converted house, and almost daily I get asked if I live upstairs. And they usually seem disappointed when I say I don't. People make all kinds of assumptions about what a quaint, cozy life it is to be a small business owner.

Our resident possum is a mama! She's up there in age, and this is the first time she's had babies. I'm so pleased to have a new generation on the property.

#possum #kitsap #pnw

A brown Douglas Squirrel crouches on a bench, with sunlight illuminating its tail.

This is Betty, a Douglas Squirrel who has lived on our property for years and eats from our hands. Until recently, we called her Buddy and thought she was a dude, but it is now clear that she is a girl squirrel.
#squirrel #kitsap

Woman in Green t shirt hiking.

A trail leads to a bridge in a forested area

A trail leads through a clearcut toward a forest.

First hike of this year's WTA Hike-a-Thon. 7.3 miles around Green Mountain in Kitsap County. Ran some, hiked some, felt good. #kitsap #pnw #hike

A large orange cat lays on top of a pair of flip flops.

Mango has romantic feelings for Drew's flip flops. Drew finally gave them to him.

#orangecat #caturday

Mango still thinks Basil is a little baby to be fussed over.

#cats #orangecat

A woman in a straw hat kneels next to a tree with giant conk fungi growing on it.

A woman's hand rests on a large fungus

I saw these impressive conks today at the Hansville Greenway. I'm a steward there but I see new (to me) things every time I go.
#kitsap #fungi

Thanks Emily. Glad you're my rep.

Debris from a crashed plane lies in a field surrounded by forest. Near Tubal Cain trail in Washington State

From a hike I took in 2022 on the Tubal Cain trail on the Olympic Peninsula. It's a strange & beautiful one. The trail passes an abandoned mine, and a debris field from a long ago B-17 plane crash. The lower trail is gorgeous this time of year, flanked by rhododendrons.
#pnw #olympicpeninsula

Just donated $25. Thanks for the nudge.

Attended protests in Bainbridge Island and Seattle yesterday. Got weepy when people began singing "This Land is Your Land" as we headed to the Seattle Center. Both events were entirely peaceful, and Seattle was notable for the number of people offering free water & snacks.
#nokings #kitsap #seattle

Glad to see this. I was especially concerned about the proposed Raydient/ Bond rezone. Good decisions by the Commissioners.

A smiling man stands in a forest holding some oyster mushrooms

Foraging with my husband today yielded some nice oyster mushrooms.
#kitsap #fungi #mushroom #pnw #foraging

Bird drama. Barred own on my property getting harassed by smaller birds just now. At the end of the video a brave bird flies close enough to make the owl flinch, possibly even whacking it in the face.
#kitsap #owl #wildlife

A small black bear cub sniffs a garbage can.

A tiny fawn toddles behind a doe along a wooded driveway.

A couple of new babies in the neighborhood. The fawn image is from my neighbor Rae. The bear cub worries me a bit, seems small to be on its own. I reported it to Fish & Wildlife and will keep an eye on it. #pnw #wildlife #kitsap

This is wild!

I love your blog so much, it's helped me immensely over the years.

Basil's bean-cleaning routine is wild. Why are #cats so weird?

Bob, our resident bear, took a stroll through the yard this afternoon. Looking healthy and relaxed.
#pnw #wildlife #kitsap

A smiling woman in a brown bathrobe holds a smiling orange cat.

Mango and me with our demented smiles

#caturday

Rooting for you!