Don’t let the title of this post freak you out…this is NOT a post about the unspeakably sad losses experienced during the past 365 days. Instead consider this my feeble attempt to get a 12+ hour head start on tomorrow’s Nature Friday with an affectionate look back at some of the wonders Mother Nature so graciously shared despite our planet’s collective poor stewardship of her. We hope you will take a moment to follow Blogville around by clicking on our friends’ and hosts link [Rosy, sister Sunny and her two brothers at LLB in Our Backyard] and hope they don’t mind our pulling the trigger early).
While it’s true we received a spot of the white stuff this week, as fast as it frosted the landscape, it quickly melted under beautiful, bright blue, sunny skies.
Mother Nature may have some prickly moments, but boy does she possess an amazing canvas when she shows it off.
While some of you may shiver at images of snow, I can’t help but wonder about all those unique and sparkly facets of crystalized ice that highlight a winter landscape.
Sure Norman, Elsa and I are fortunate to enjoy 300+ days of annual sunshine in the Mile High but we’re also gifted with some spectacular sunsets (and sunrises) on occasion. This one showed up shortly before this month’s full moon.
And now for a look back at a few of the most popular images from nature this year. This past summer provided some much needed visual comfort then as well as now.
A 2020 retrospective on nature would be incomplete without some sunshine-y sunflowers from our garden as well as a a view of the plethora of lupine which provided a nice backdrop for the Ranch hands.
As we reflect over the past year, all the while keeping a keen eye looking forward to the new one, we’ll toast to a New Year with a recent batch of aged, handmade Sazerac cleverly crafted by my son. Just look at that gorgeous amber color. If you like rye, Sazerac can be quite the tasty cognac/whiskey kind of beverage. Add a slice of lemon or orange peel and voila…a moment perfect for contemplative reflection.
With loads of cheers for love, laughter, with a few tasty treats for 2021, we can’t help but be optimistic after seeing these babies who I spied on yesterday morning’s walk. I’ don’t recall seeing bulbs appear quite this early but I’ll take it. Knowing, or at least hoping there is more white stuff down the road, we’ll keep ‘pawsitive’ that 2021 will be a big improvement over 2020, though it may take some patience to see it blossom.
The Ranch will be taking some extended time off to attend to computer maintenance issues and I’m uncertain as to how long it might take to dust off any cobwebs on the laptop. As I do not wish to yank out all my recently cut hair trying to compose posts on a tiny cell-phone screen, those of you who do have my undying admiration, we’ll be back as soon as our battery pack is refreshed, our files cleaned and scrubbed. No doubt the Ranch hands will think of loads of ways to exasperate me entertain us with new adventures…but until then…stay safe, sane and keep smiling, my friends. Have a Happy New Year!
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Wagnificent images; especially those of Miss Elsa & her brother Norman. Cleaning the devices sounds like a pawfect thing to do; I’ll have to mention this to my huMom😉 All the best & much pawsitive energy in this we year 🐾💜🐾
Oh, those are some PAWSOME pics!!! Looks like the right amount of the white stuff to me ~ not enough to have to spend hours shovelin’ the drive, yet enough to bury your snooter in! I’ll be right overs! BOL!! Okays, you two are just ADORABLES! I hopes you gets the puter fixed right quick…nothin’ worse than puter troubles!
Keep safe, and let’s hope for a FABulous 2021!
Kisses,
Ruby ♥
You’re always so kind, Ruby. Thank you for being one of our favorite tail waggers. Here’s to a pawsome 2021!
Some beautiful nature photos, hope you have a happy and safe new year.
Thank you. Hopefully 2021 is better for everyone. 🙏🏼
Handmade Sazerac?! I’m on my way! Your pictures and year looked lovely. I wish you and your pups a beautiful New Year full of adventure. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog. We are happy to know you 🙂
Better hurry, the Sazerac is going fast! We’re very glad to have found your blog and always appreciate your comments on ours. We 💙 fellow travelers.
Cheers to a ‘furbulous’ 2021! 🎊🎆🎉🍾
Happy New Year!!!! I hope that the computer is easy to work on. Your flowers sure were beautiful in 2020.
Thank you. We hope the flowers of 2021 are even better! Happy New Year 🎈🎆🎊
I’m loving that sky picture. Been totally into checking out the clouds and sunset or sunrise more. It has a way of making the Zen vibes float your way and being present a bit easier. Glad you got some snow, it does make me shiver but I always enjoy a good snow man. 🙂 good start to a New Year 🙂
Thank you! We’re very fortunate for incredible sunrises and sunsets here. Thanks for swinging by our Ranch…we 💙 visitors.
Great pictures, thanks for sharing them!
Thank you for following our adventures. We pray 2021 is a good year for you and the entire FACE Foundation. Happy New Year 🎊🎈🎆
Thank you! We wish the same to you and yours 🙂
Love the retrospective, Monika.
Here’s wishing you a happy and healthy New Year. Jack and Wednesday wish you the best as well.
Thanks, Marco. All the best to you and the fur-kids.
🙂
Lulu: “Happy new year! We hope the computer issues get straightened out soon, and we will see you when they do!”
👍🏻 Thanks! Happy New Year to your whole gang. 🎉🎊🍾🎆
Enjoy your down time – well deserved! Have loved all the tons of fabulous photos this past year – you pick just the right angles and lighting and subject matter….especially woofies and plants! Here’s to a WAY WAY better year ahead. We deserve it.
Love, Pam
You’re too kind. Yes, we’re hoping for a much kindler, gentler 2021!
Fun post – looking down and looking up at what’s around you. Happy 2021, friends! Good luck with your tech update.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
We think it’s good to reflect back at good stuff and forget the bad. Happy 2021 to you and your writing mom, Cupcake.
That first photo is our favorite as we have never seen a prickly thing like that let alone in the snow! We don’t do much on our phone and can’t understand how people seem to run their lives from such a small gadget! Hope your computer gets back in form soon and your batteries recharge. Happy New Year!
That bent cactus really stunned me too. How people manage to do so much on their phones is a total mystery to me. It’s way too frustrating to do any blogwork on one so I hope the repair shop can tune up the laptop quickly.Here’s hoping everyone at GBGV has a great 2021.
may it be a really happy year for all of us… and even when nothing happens … that’s better than to get a remake of 2020…
A little bit of nothing could be welcome after the dumpster fire known as 2020. Here’s wishing you, Mark, Phenny and Da Nelly a better 2021.
As years go, it will be long remembered for the good times and the bad. We lost a few friends this last year and we are waiting on news on another. I have spent a lot of time in the Ada Ryan Gardens with Benji and my camera. I go there regardless of how hot it might be simply because of the number of very large trees and the massive branches and leaves that keep the place reasonably cool, even on hot days. Annabell has been unwell and this will be on-going for some time. More than most years, this year has had its up and downs, but we are looking forward to this new year with hope and optimism. I will have my year ahead cut out for me, but I am looking forward to it as I come to fully understand what “in sickness and in health” really means. Take care, hug to Stormin Norman, and a salute to my faviourite Ninja ( Ninjas don’t do hugs) ——— Ok here goes…
May 2021 be a kindler, gentler year for us all. After 2020, we deserve it. Thoughts, prayers and hugs to you, Annabell and Benji. 🎉🍾🎉🍾
have a super break, Monika and a peaceful New Year,
Our best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year.
Your photos are incredible!!! Stay safe and well too. We have ice and snow headed in overnight. Mom say she will not be venturing out anywhere until it is dry and no ice.
Happy New Year!!!
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
Aww, thank you! Enjoy the winter weather heading your way-great way to start out the New Year. 🎉🍾🎉🍾
Happy New Year, Monika, both to you and the pups!
And to you as well. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2021. 🎉🍾🎉🍾
Nice review! I love the pup poses by the flowers. We got a few inches of snow here too, but the sun has melted almost all of it. Hoping more – much more! – is on the way. Have a nice break, Monika, and warm blessings for the new year. 🌞
And to you, Lisa. Hopefully we’ll be back soon sharing fun winter adventures. Happy New Year 🎊🎆🍾
I’ve been taking my own blogging “sabbatical” these last several months, mainly to deal with Ducky’s pop-up issues. If it hasn’t been one thing, it’s been another. But, maybe – just maybe – she’s finished with them now. I hope so anyway. I love all your nature photos – they all make me smile.
We’ll keep our fingers and paws crossed for Ducky. Here’s to a better 2021 for us all! 🍾🎉🍾🎉
Wishing you all a very happy new year!
And to you as well! 🎉🍾🎊
You have sunflower weeds? I’ll be happy to get rid of the seeds for you.
Your welcome to fly over any ole time. Happy New Year 🎊🎆
Nature is an amazing thing for sure. Beautiful shots. I always enjoy seeing Norman and Elsa.
Have a fabulous day and a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year. Scritches to the pups. ♥
Thank you, Sandee. All our best wishes for a ‘fur-bulous’ New Year 🎉🍾🎉🍾
Happy new year 🎉🎊🎇 💐🙂
Thank you! Happy New Year to you and yours. May 2021 be a good one.
We love the snowy pictures! Good luck with the computer stuff. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year 🎈🎆🎊 to you as well!
Love the snow pics and the pics of the bulbs! A sign of hope for 2021! Good luck with the computer issues and have fun bringing in the New Year with your fine looking ranch hands! HAPPY NEW YEAR Monika!
Happy New Year to you as well. Those bulbs really did provided me with much hope. 🎉🍾🎉🍾
😊😊
“The lips that touch liquor shall never touch mine.” — Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Well, OK, I’ll make an exception for some of that Sazerac! Great photos and happy themes! Happy New Year to you Monika, your family and the four-legged Ranch Hands. Wishing y’all happiness and good times in 2021.
AJF: “明けましておめでとう”
Max: “Yap!”
This must be why the union turned me down. All best wishes to you and yours. Happy New Year 🎊🎆🥃🍾
From PA, I’ve always thought a new-fallen snow is beautiful. Here in TN, most things close and we can’t get out of our subdivision without sliding down a hill to a rather busy road on a blind curve. *sigh* The South just isn’t ready for the stuff, and I’ve become too much of a Southerner myself!
Beautiful pictures of Elsa and Norman, and the flowers are reminders and promises of warmer weather. Wishing y’all a very happy new year.
Snow isn’t for everyone but for us, it’s a nice diversion. Happy New Year Amy with big ear and belly rubs for Lucy and Xena. 🎉🍾🎉🍾
A fun look at a hodge-podge of stuff. Hope all goes well with the tech maintenance. Hope you are back when I return on the 9th. Happy New Year to you, Norman, and Elsa!
Have a great New Year and safe trip home, Frank. 🍾🎉🥃
Happy new year! So good to see the happy pooch faces!
Yes! Thank goodness for pets especially after this year.
Definitely!
So good to have positive memories from the year that nearly was.
Don’t let the dogs run off with any computer parts! Happy New Year.
Luckily Elsa hasn’t expressed any interest on noshing on the laptop. Yet.
It was hard to focus on positive this year but in between scads of images of my favorite Knucklehead, there were lots of pretty flowers so it seemed to be a natural avenue to take.
May your, Leo’s and the Thugs’ New Year be filled with loads of good cheer and maybe a wee dram (or two).
Norman is a lot bigger than I thought… have a sip for me, and a toast to hope
He outweighs her by a good 20+ pounds and he’s tall like a long drink of water. Hope…always a good toast! Happy New Year.
A Happy New Year and all the best for 2021 to all of you,
Pit
Einen Guten Rutsch und ein Gesundes Neues Jahr!
Such a beautiful post and lovely retrospective and perfect for Nature Friday! We have the blog hop set up on our Nature Friday page if you want to hop aboard!(just click on the Nature Friday button on our sidebar!)
Enjoy your break…we are also thinking of cutting back for a month or so!
Thanks. Will definitely link up. Paws up for being ready in advance! My laptop is super sluggish and needs a new battery. Hopefully a good tune up will help it run better. Not quite prepared to replace it just yet. Hugs and tail wags from me and the Ranch hands. Happy New Year. 🎉🍾🎉🍾🎉🍾
We will miss you while the computer gets a good physical./rehab or whatever is needed! Have a happy new year, and thank you for ending the year with such wonderful photos.
Most happy to share/reshare a few spots of beauty in a year of ugly sadness. It’ll be hard not posting (I miss seeing all you guys!) but really need to get the Mac tuned up and have no clue how much time it will take. Fingers crossed it won’t be too long.
Wonderful post, Monika.
I wish for you, Norman, Elsa and your two-legged relations, a fabulous 2021 filled with love and laughter, joy and bliss, health and creativity and why not some wealth, too? xoxo
And to you as well. For the record I’d not be rejecting any of the wealth portion of that wish. Cheers for a happy 2021 with loads of beautiful gardens.
I should hope not! I give it whole-heartedly!
And I thank you! xoxo
We love you and we greatly enjoyed seeing these beautiful images!!! Left me smiling!!! Sending love and wishes for a MUCH kinder and gentler 2021!!!!! Don’t work on that computer too hard! xoxo
Ha…as if! This is one area where I’ll leave it to the pros. Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy and loving New Year. xxoo