Nature Friday ~ February 12, 2021

Nature Friday

🎵 Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam.
Where the deer and the antelope play.
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word.
And the skies are not cloudy all day. 🎵

It was 3ºF glorious degrees for our morning ‘pee-tio’ potty break in the dog run by the Ranch hands before breakfast. Wooly Mammoth (aka Norman) only made it to the front garden, quickly peed and raced back to the door. The big guy does. not. like. the. cold. If we reach the teens, I’ll be shocked though the weekend may not see the light of anything north of single digits, some even below zero.

Welcome to Friday where we share bits and bobs of nature from around the ‘Hood. Even though it’s cold, let’s join our weekly hosts, Rosy, Sunny, Arty and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard and see what’s out there. Don’t forget to click on their link to check out what Blogville shared for everyone’s enjoyment.

Mother Nature apparently took the week off from showing off any pretties, no doubt because it’s been cold, cold, cold. Even BBQ grills are upset about it.Snow

Ok, I know nobody likes a complainer but is there anyone out there who’s enjoyed this week of bitter cold, especially if you had a recent tease that spring might be close at hand? A-ha, thought so, since I’m not seeing a bunch of hands being raised. Could it be that no one likes their arms frozen to their sides? Oh, don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind cold per se…with snow, but without snow, you’re totally getting ripped off of any fun while you still shiver. At least in the snow you can make snow angels, build snowmen or run zoomies. You don’t usually do that on frozen, brown tundra.

WinterOn the plus side, there’s something to be said about no one thinking you’re chubby in multiple layers of clothes.

All that aside, we did see some buffalo geese roaming at a nearby senior home on our afternoon walk. Milling about without a care in the world (in bare feet no less) I noticed these guys and began humming Home, Home on the Range. I was too cold to rework the lyrics to suit the situation but to those of you far cleverer than me, feel free to leave your rewrite in the comments. [Hint, hint]

Geese

Geese

In the silver lining camp, the skies were blue and it was sunny even if it was bloody cold.

We hope everyone stays warm. I’m off to find ways to occupy clever high energy Ranch hands’ minds in lieu of tundra walking. Oh and keeping the walks clear of tiny white flakes that just started to fall. Hallelujah! Have a safe weekend. Stay warm!

P.S. Happy birthday to Abraham Lincoln. I hope you’re not rolling too much in your grave.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

 

73 thoughts on “Nature Friday ~ February 12, 2021

  1. Hot and sticky here with temps climbing to 45c as the week progresses. A few days ago we had 41c but because of a North Wind ( in this world a North .Wind comes off the desert and is hot) which made the day uncomfortable – which reminds ME of an Australian song
    “I hate summer
    Summer is a bummer
    My favourite position
    Is a room with air-condition”

  2. Its way cold here, too…11F, and now the snow machine has started, we might get 7 inches before its over….sounds like the work I didn’t want….there go my days off…sigh…

    Geese are not nice, aggressive monsters even! They stole a cookie right out of my toddler’s hand when we were walking on the sidewalk of a park once….good thing they didn’t take his hand along with the cookie…here we have signs in a few places where the geese ‘congregate’ to remind peeps that its an punishable offense to kill a goose/duck on purpose, and if you do hit one, it has to be reported to the DNR or police. Sheesh!

    Though they are beautiful birds and interesting to watch…and best wear your hip waders if you are where they have been….um…well, you know!

    1. Snow shoveling is the part of winter I’m not very fond of since I live on a oversized corner lot (what was I thinking when I bought this house?) so I empathize with you. You’re right on all counts where geese are concerned. We may actually see 20F today-woohoo! It has barely been above zero for the past few days, far too cold to walk the dogs. We all need to stretch our legs.

  3. Luckily for us, we only had a couple of those really frigid days, but overall it’s still been colder than I’d like. I’ll take above freezing please. We have at least seen some sunshine, in between several snow storms. It does feel better to have snow on the ground, but I do look forward to seeing bare ground again….someday…. 🙂

    1. It’s actually colder today 🥶 but wool coat Norman is laying across my lap so it’s good this afternoon. Have a toasty weekend.

  4. Our mom really likes that cartoon about the winter clothes. It’s going to be super cold and snowy around here all week! That’s okay we don’t mind the weather unless the temps stay below 10ºF which it only does over night.

  5. I enjoy being able to layer up in winter to hide my “summersize” body. We haven’t seen the geese down at the lake in our neighborhood yet so I guess they’re enjoying sunnier/warmer spots somewhere else. Super cold here again today with freezing rain and some snow. STAY COZY!

    Hugs, Pam and Teddy too

    1. Zoomies would be great, but not the kind for zooming outside just to pee and then racing back inside quickly. It’s too cold to have fun with zoomies.
      Your fur-iends,
      Norman & Elsa 🐾

    1. Oh to have rain (or even snow) and not just bitter cold. If I wasn’t so chilled to the bone, I’d be green with envy, instead I’m 🥶 with it.

    1. No kidding! It’s colder today and will be even colder tomorrow. I may need to start ‘wearing’ Elsa and Norman so the 3 of us can stay warm in a huddle!

  6. Wednesday it was 70 here, and 20’s early today. I just wish it would make up it’s mind (to be warm). Maybe a warm fire (in a fireplace) and hot chocolate would help.

    1. The closest thing to a fireplace around the Ranch are several candles. But the hot chocolate sure sounds doable. ☺️

    1. Normally that’s true but today was cloudy all day long and the temp never got over 12 with lower windchill temps. Supposed to be colder all weekend. I can only hope it snows!

  7. The temps are the same here. We don’t mind the cold; in fact, Mom has a hard time getting us to come in, especially Lightning. Maybe Norman would like a coat.

    Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber

    1. Norman has a coat. He’s just more of a lap dog especially when the weather is bad. An 87 lb. wuss. 🤣

    1. This weather’s enough to make anyone angry. It barely got any warmer all day and is expected to be colder all weekend. 🥶

        1. Oh trust me, we’re avoiding going outside as much as possible. Even potty breaks have been sparse!

  8. We had the exact same temperature today. Was going to send you a screen shot of my weather but the cell decided it was too cold to play. Mind you, we have the snow and I have to agree with you. It makes all the difference. Plus, during my walk today, the sun was shining and, while my face was numb, I was bizarrely able to take of my mitts to take pics…
    Happy what’s left of Friday!!

            1. It’s become such second nature for me; I never leave the house without mine. Especially with it being so freakin cold!

  9. I would like to have geese again…if only to see Podge facing up to them!
    Here it is hot…the thugs spend the morning baking themselves on the front path, then coming indoors ro the coolest corner possible where they throw themselves down with a groan. As the sun comes round to the balcony side of the house they venture out again in late afternoon, just tp warm up before evening…
    There’s one thing about living in rural Costa Rica…when you see the size of some of the ladies, it gives you heart….

    1. 😊 I have much sympathy for the ladies of Costa Rica. It’s mid afternoon here and still only 12F and Norman has refused to do any kind of potty break. The boy must have innards made of cast iron.

        1. No doubt. He’ll pee on any tree or fence corner 250 times if you let him but not if it’s bitter cold. Cracks me up.

  10. OMD, Norman, Ma’s Angel Panda was the exact same way! She had this super duper thick coat(s), and hated the cold. BUTTS, LOVED the sun! Would lay in the sun for hours..just baking! 😕
    I, howevers, like the cold. Since I come from WI, I would loves your weather! what? oh. Ma just told me HOW cold it was there right nows……nevermind…..
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

    1. Listen to your mum, Ruby. It just now is 12F and suspect even you might not enjoy the weather right now. 🥶

    1. Thanks. We’ll get through it. That’s the beauty of Colorado weather. Wait 10 minutes and it’ll change (or in this case a few days). 😊

  11. I feel for the ranch hands!! Ducky and I don’t mind the cold much; but when rain is mixed in? No thanks! But cold here is springlike for you. Yesterday it was mid-50s and partly sunny. Today? Mostly cloudy, rainy, and mid-30s to low 40s. Time to break out the treadmill again.

    1. I’d practically sell my soul to the devil for 30-40’s at this point! But everything weather related is just perspective. Stay warm and dry this weekend.

  12. I always thought the lyrics were: Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam. Where the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard a discouraging word. For what can an antelope say?” I guess you high plains drifters would know better. I agree with Sandee – geese are flying poo houses.

    1. That and a whole lot more. Nice lyrics. Not Grammy worthy but the Ranch hands give you a 4 paw salute all the same. 🐾🐾

          1. Yup. Still on the keto and teetotalling. Targeting a Feb 19th completion date which ties into AJF’s annual physical – I’ve been lending moral support as she whips herself into shape for that day. For reasons unknown she considers physicals a competitive event and has to beat her prior records on blood pressure, A1C, weight, blood test results, etc. It makes no sense but if she wants company in suffering, I’m her huckleberry.

  13. The sun is shining here and it will warm up to reasonable today. The high is supposed to be 61 degrees today. I’ll take it.

    Love the geese. They are beautiful, but I call them flying poo poo houses.

    Have a fabulous day and weekend, my friend. Scritches to the pups. ♥

    1. That description is very…diplomatic. They are cranky, aggressive birds but I rather enjoy watching them waddle around. From a safe distance. Have a great weekend and enjoy those 61 degrees for me. 😊

    1. When you normally look like the Michelin Man like me, I’m happy to go with the clothes excuse. 🤣 Have a super weekend-stay warm!

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