Welcome to the last day of the shortest month of the year. Being on the cusp of multiple seasons that happen this time of year (winter/spring, mud/spring/winter), comfort food in particular tends to take center stage around the Ranch. But beware of leaving your plate unattended for too long, otherwise you may become an unwilling victim like today’s smile.
A bowl of popcorn made over the weekend stayed surprisingly untouched although I did notice a few more drool spots on the ottoman. Such earnest innocence in those faces.
Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday where we join our New Mexico hosts, Rosy, Sunny and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard on their blog hop. Be sure to click on the link to see what others have shared.
Hard to believe little February’s last Friday of the month is here. Where has this month gone? The cold and snow repeatedly shared over this month seems much like a listening to a record with a deep scratch, repeating the chorus over and over in the short month. But time marches forward so we continue wait for Spring’s pending arrival.
Don’t know if you guys are as tired or snow scenes as I am, but I’ve grown weary of them. Don’t misunderstand, I’m happy about the moisture, especially since February is one of the driest months of the year here, but I need a change of ‘mise en scène.’ So for today’s post, let’s check out some critters from around the ‘Hood.
I’ve noticed traffic has picked up after a bit of melting with the congestion remaining front and center.
From a recent walk during a lull in the white stuff, a friendly nose greeted me. This big girl always comes charging toward the fence but then seems to realize, “Oh yeah, you’re that lady with the magic pocket of treats” who then turns into a tail-wagging ‘pussy cat.’
St. Bernard
No matter what the weather is like, Sloan’s Lake Canadian Geese never seem to mind. While somewhat threatening when the dogs are close, when I’m alone I can get closer to watch their slow paddling about in the water. It’s calming on the mind and allows me time to take in other slices of nature that I might normally miss just walking around the lake when I’m more focused on keeping the dogs in line. Reminder to self: walk this park more often, it’s good for your spirit.
The cabin fever that’s rather consumed the Ranch Hand brains has also tugged on my psyche, so with a friend from the Old English Sheepdog Rescue of Colorado, we took a cheese-making class at a nearby urban farm. The owner used to be a neighbor who moved 5 miles away to the farm which is located on a conservation easement in Wheat Ridge. She has a thriving egg business along with a small herd of La Mancha goats and offers cheese-making classes once a month. Previously she raised Nubian goats but switched to the La Manchas whose milk produces a less ‘goaty’ taste to the milk, are hardy but prolific milk producers with high butterfat content in their milk. Amanda’s goats are docile and will follow you around much like a pet dog. Not only did we all have a great visit away from all the recent, intense work of the rescue, we were also able to make a nice mozzarella, as well go home with a bonus of some ricotta made from the leftover whey. It was soooo tasty on a slice of breakfast toast this morning.
Making ricotta
The resident pooch is a real favorite, greeting all visitors. After a good ear and belly rub, sweet “Ava Perón” a friendly Bull Terrier, spent time enjoying a nice sun puddle while we swooned over the relatively simple cheese-making process.
Well, that’s it for a slightly different look at nature around the Ranch. We hope it inspires you to seek something similar this weekend. Whatever you do, we hope the last weekend in February is extra ‘pawsome!’
If your days have been anything remotely as cold as it’s been at the Ranch, you’ve probably been shivering with a pet (or two) in your lap. A slow moving cold front with snow continues its grasp around our throats. It was so cold and treacherous yesterday, Norman and I were unable to make our visit to hospital and the Ranch Hands are now beginning to develop a case of cabin fever. Their new Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop treat dispensers have helped occupy minds that don’t quite comprehend that it’s too cold to go out on any kind of walk, beyond potty breaks.
Keeping dog minds busy helps them cope, but what about us uprights? How do I cope being housebound on these sub-zero days without walks? I like taking a digital trip to a warm place. No pesky TSA, long lines of complaining travelers fussing about having to wear masks and all the other indignities associated with actual traveling to an previously visited vacation spot. After going through my library of places previously visited, I decided to once again go back to the isle of Roatán, Honduras where the weather was perfect for a lovely stroll along a beach with crystal clear skies and an amazing reef.
During my digital trip, I once again can feel the warm water on my feet, hear birds in nearby trees, smell the salty air and enjoy the amazingly gracious hospitality of the locals. A lovely and magical trip then and now, again digitally.
A visit to the animal sanctuary also makes for another lovely diversion.
Do you go on digital trips in your mind when weather turns bone-chilling? We’ll remain huddled up on the sofa under the blankets and cruising through old photos from a past in-person trip while watching more snow fall today.
Today marks a national federal holiday (Presidents’ Day) in the U.S., originally implemented by Congress in 1879 to honor George Washington, the first president and ‘father’ of the country on his birthday, February 22 but subsequently switched to the third Monday in February on January 1, 1971 by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, honoring both Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays. Both Ranch Hands will tip their hats to the office of the presidency today so we may be somewhat late in responding to comments or reading your posts as Norman be visiting nurses and patients this week. As usual, I am merely the designated driver.
After a weekend filled with grooming, baths and more dog hair than I could have imagined, Norman is all fluffed and spic and span clean to mark Presidents’ Day at the same time Winter decided to reappear with a vengeance with snow and bitter cold temperatures for most of the week. Tomorrow’s HIGH is only expected to be in the single digits which makes today’s smile seem all too appropriate. Guess I’d better re-locate the extra warm gloves.
However you mark today’s holiday, we hope you’ll stay warm and snuggly. Here’s to a super Monday. And remember there’ll be no postal deliveries and bank’s will be closed.
Welcome to Friday where we take a gander at what nature dished up this week. As always we’re joining our New Mexico hosts, Rosy, Sunny and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard. Don’t forget to check out their link to see what others have shared.
This week was the typical smorgasbord of tasties, courtesy of Mother Nature whose hormonal condition continues to rage. The days seem to jump between opposite conditions as one day is lovely with a hint of Spring, the next ‘ole man Winter yelling, “not so fast.’ I’m beginning to wonder if chiropractors are in league with nature because whiplash conditions between winter and spring seems more pronounced than ever.
A quick moving storm dumped another 5” trail of white on the Mile High Wednesday after a day of spring-like temps (61ºF / 16ºC) which is not unusual for this time of year around here. “Springtime in the Rockies” is well-known for the up/down weather patterns and temperatures. The snow this week though was absolutely dazzling. It looked like glitter had been sprinkled over soft powder. I can only hope it actually shows up in these images.
Tufts of snow filled spots on shrubs and spent perennials giving the landscape a cottony look among all that sparkle.
Could this be what a diamond field looks like?
A late morning walk yesterday (once the walks were cleared) showcased gorgeous bluebird colored skies behind a very unusual weathervane as I took in some of the melting process after the storm. Dripping icicles are mesmerizing to my way of thinking; I could watch the slow forming drips morph into miniature stalactites as they are shaped into crooked icicles while life all around transformed back into the urban hustle and bustle of the city. It was especially remarkable given there has been a constant buzz of construction work in the neighborhood from early morning until nearly sunset as the city replaces wheelchair access at corner curbs. The noise has been rather mind-numbing with heavy duty dump-trucks and road graters driving back and forth non-stop, yet for a few moments, I can get lost watching the slow drips as they transform into icy ribbons created by nature.
The weekend promises more spring-like weather before the next storm visits next week. Norman, Elsa and I are looking at a new route to catch a different glimpse of nature in the city. What are your plans?
Whatever you do, we hope some hypnotic moments in nature are included on your agenda. It’s good for one’s soul to spend time in nature and will no doubt improve your mental outlook, so get outside and look for some unique beauty. Who knows, you may just find a diamond or two.
Happy Valentine’s Day. We hope you had a fun, sports-filled weekend. Fans were treated to a plethora of events from the Olympics, NHL hockey and NBA basketball games, as well as the Super Bowl. Whichever team you supported in yesterday’s big sporting event (Super Bowl LVI), we’re ‘pawsitive’ yesterday’s Puppy Bowl XVIII hosted by Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart was the most fun of it all. Team Fluff came from behind (much like that other team did in the Super Bowl). Long-time ‘rufferee’ Dan Schachner (himself a former NFL referee), was the only human to take the field at Sunday’s Puppy Bowl game along with over 100 pups.
View from the ‘water cam’
Puppies from both teams gave it their all, but in the end it was Team Fluff that slid into the end zone with 7 seconds to go for the last-minute victory. A lineup with photos of the on-screen competitors can be found here.
More than 100 adoptable dogs from 67 shelters across 33 states dragged various toys around a miniature field in the event’s largest competition yet. Nine special needs dogs were featured during the game, led by one year-old Benny, a wheelchair-bound Labradoodle. Benny was born with an abnormal and inoperable spinal deformity and is paralyzed from the shoulder blades but was a zooming dynamo on the playing field. Moby, a French Bulldog with a cleft palate; and Rocket, a deaf Chihuahua/Dachshund, were also part of the event designed to raise awareness about shelter adoptions.
Benny Photo courtesy of Discovery+/Animal Planet/’The Dogist’ Elias Weiss FriedmanPhoto from Facebook
Kirby, a Labrador retriever and service dog in-training, was named Team Fluff’s MVP after helping his team win the coveted “Lombarky” Trophy.
It was a fun alternative to the Super Bowl and all the dogs and kitties were winners.
All best wishes from both the Ranch Hands for a ‘pawsome’ week as well as a love-filled day with your Valentine.
Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday, where we join our New Mexico pals Rosy, Sunny and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard. Be sure to check out their link to see what others around Blogville have shared.
This week in Nature is all about contrasts. With bitter cold and a significant snowfall headlining the first part of the week, it was nice when a number of subsequent days had temps reaching the mid-fifties. In Colorado that means people break out shorts and in some cases, sandals, despite wearing ski jackets above them. Go figure.
Walking the grand dogs during a short break while helping my son move earlier this week, we passed by the lake at his complex. Blue sky and blue water made for a very monochromatic landscape.
The fountains began to thaw and I couldn’t help but watch mesmerized as water flowed and sparkled in the icy pond while changing the ice flow around it. Despite the chilly look, the warm sun provided a lovely dose of Vitamin D.
And yet subtle signs from the next season greeted me during walks this week. As the snow began to recede, I couldn’t help but do a double take at some definitely non-winter signals this week. Early spring bulbs are beginning their annual wake up routine.
And then there was the magnolia tree the dogs and I walk past every day. I had to take a close up of the branches and realized just how warm it’s been (up until the most recent storm). It’s covered in buds and hopefully they’ll survive to actually bloom. How’s that for a February contrast?
Yesterday was another lovely day with most snow with any sun exposure melting. And just in time for today’s expected forecast of a quick moving cold front with anywhere from one to six inches of snow predicted to arrive later this afternoon. I may need to see a chiropractor for an adjustment for my whiplashed neck with all the changes Nature is dishing out.
With the Super Bowl kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m PT) on Sunday along with Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart hosting Puppy Bowl XVIII debuting on Discovery+ and Animal Planet on Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT (Snoop will be doing double duty, performing at the Super Bowl halftime show with Dr. Dre and Eminem). Talk about a busy dude. For the record, we rooting for Team Fluff.
We hope your weekend is filled with loads of good fun but hope you manage to take time to sample some of Nature’s smorgasbord. You just never know what she might dish up. I heard the charcuterie could be quite tasty.
