Adventures about pet therapy, rescues and urban life in the Mile High City
Boy oh boy, has it been a week or what? Well now we can all be rewarded by our thoughts this week. Hope yours is a pawsome one. Big plans for the weekend? It’s a special weekend around the Ranch where we will celebrate a certain Ninja’s one year Gotcha Day tomorrow. As I’ve been very busy this week, I’m hoping we can pull off a furbulous pawty. Cheers!
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
Since I wasn’t able to take any trips this summer [much to my chagrin], I’ve been looking through old vacation photos and decided the next best thing would be a digital visit via “Wish I was There Wednesday.”
Today I thought we’d go back to Germany and visit another jewel of the Fairytale King’s palaces. Hohenschwangau Castle is located near the town of Füssen and was initially used as a hunting lodge and retreat for agnates. Reconstructed on a hill above the Alpsee (Alp Lake) by Ludwig’s father, Maximilian in the 1830s, the castle became a museum with guided tours in 1913 following the death of the Ludwig’s uncle, Prince Regent of Bavaria, who electrified the castle and installed an elevator. Over 300,000 visitors each year tour the castle and its grounds.
Lying in the shadow of Neuschwanstein, the Mad King enjoyed his childhood years at Hohenschwangau. While his parents lived in the main castle, he and his brother Otto, lived in the annex. Like the other castles Ludwig owned, this one also had all the modern conveniences available at the time. The beautiful gardens where lions and swans are prominent, boasted alpine plants collected by the Ludwig’s mother, Queen Marie, who loved to hike in the nearby mountains.
Like so many sights in the area, the blue and white flag of Bavaria is prominently displayed, this appearing over the entry gate. 
The interior is decorated in Gothic Revival style with many frescoes depicting heroic German sagas.
Well there you have it. Hope you enjoyed another installment of “Wish I was There Wednesday.” Isn’t nice to bypass TSA and go on these trips (even if they are never as good as in-person ones)? Have you ever visited this region?
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
This is how I deal with a new week. How about you…did you have a good weekend?
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
I don’t know what it is about small little dogs but they really, really despise my dogs. For instance, take last night. We were able to take a nice evening constitution in daylight since the temperature had cooled off enough to make it comfortable for everyone. Ok, so far so good. We were on the last stretch of our 2+ mile walk when we encountered a guy with a couple little Chihuahuas. I spied them about half a block away. I could also see the much larger 3 dogs at the opposite corner we were approaching so I decided to take the high road, otherwise known as walking in the street between the two opposing dog camps. The smallest of the two Chihuahuas started snarling and carrying on like a possessed beast, screeching like a banshee being pulled through a knothole. How is it that 5 pounds of fur turns into 100 pounds of noise and fury? Rather than a couple quick leash correction tugs, what does the brave guy walking this pint-sized hellion do? He picks up the noisy offender and holds him out chest high as if it’s some sort of radio-active soiled diaper or something.
Can anyone tell me why little dogs much like this one below, who looks remarkably like the one we encountered, loathe my dogs? Anyone, Buehler? I mean sure, both of them have their moments in the ‘today I’m going to be a jerk’ category, but sheesh, we were just out for an evening walk for crying out loud, minding our own business.
Sam looked at me. Even Elsa looked at me. Then they both looked at the snarling handful. They both seemed to echo a “what the…heck look?” I rolled my eyes and we walked on through but I swear both dogs shook their heads in disbelief. I dunno…maybe it was the eery sunset from all the smoke drifting in from the West Coast fires that made the little monster pup go off.
Apologies for the crappy image from the phone-it really was much more reddish-orange in real life. Note the smokey sky? I miss our blue skies which we haven’t seen for days. Then again, I shouldn’t complain since Colorado isn’t on fire like the West Coast has been this summer. Knock on wood.
Do tiny demons dogs react that way around your pups? You think it’s the Napoleon complex? I don’t think either of my knuckleheads are threatening, but then I’m not a tiny little dog. If anything they’d beat someone to death with tail wags.
Tomorrow I leave town to attend my…gulp…50th high school class reunion so there won’t be a post this Friday. How in the world does a 50th anniversary sneak up on you? Rest assured our good friend Friday will be showing up with wine (or beer for you malted suds lovers) so please enjoy one, especially after a short week that seemed extra long. Right now I have to go lose 15 lbs. quick between I drop in on my fellow geezers classmates this weekend. This. ought. to. be. interesting.
Live love, bark! ❤︎
Public Service Announcement: It may be a short week, but it’s still only Wednesday. Why do these short work weeks seem extra long?
Make it a great one!
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
Because yesterday was Labor Day, we didn’t post our usual Monday Musings. A few days ago, I saw this browsing the ‘Net so while today’s title may be somewhat misleading (I will have a post about pup treats soon), this is the treat I’m referring to…the annual (and some would say, far too overdone flavoring of everyday life) opportunity to wash down some good old-fashioned Pumpkin Spice latte at your favorite Starbucks. You do have to admit though, the “Pugkin” spice is pretty adorable.
Are you a fan of the ubiquitous flavor, be it from Starbucks or some other coffee shop or do you limit it to candles? I used to be a big fan, but it’s just too sweet for me anymore, so now I just like to scent candles with this seasonal autumn scent.
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
Happy Labor Day! Today is the last ‘unofficial’ day of summer when swimming pools and amusement parks generally close, the list of the summer concerts and festivals wrap up the season, and it’s often a time to put away our summer clothes in favor of more autumnal fashion (though I expect Californians and West Coasters are still wearing as little as legally possible with their recent days of ungodly heat – you have my sympathies). While school has started in some areas, many school districts often start the new year the day after Labor Day. Some of us may take in a retail sales event or binge on our favorite TV programs re-airing in anticipation of the soon to be upcoming new season (can the next season of The Walking Dead come soon enough). We may have welcomed the beginning of football season over the weekend (hope your team did well). But today is a celebration of labor and union movements and their role in history. Last year I posted a brief history of the origins of Labor Day which you can read here.
Nothing exciting going on around the Ranch today so we’ll just reflect on the contributions American workers made possible to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country with particular thoughts for all those workers and volunteers trying to help with the clean-up after Hurricane Harvey. God bless you! Have a safe and Happy Labor Day and please remember how this 3-day holiday was made possible. It’s not all about backyard BBQ’s and camping trips before the first snows fly.
Got any special plans before you have to get back to work?
Live love, bark! ❤︎
It’s Friday and the start of a brand new month, September and one of my favorite months. I thought this meme from the summer summed up today pawfectly. Wishing you and yours a fantastic howliday weekend (it’s Labor Day in the US) and may your labors be all in the fun category.
And to the powers to be, please let Texas and Louisiana in pawticular, feel some sunshine.
Live, love, bark! ❤︎