Welcome to the Friday the 13th edition of Nature Friday where we join our hosts over at Adventures of the LLB Gang for their weekly blog hop.
Hey everyone, it’s me, Elsa, your world renown blog correspondent and gorgeous Ninja dog model, sharing some sights from around our neighborhood this week. But first, do you consider yourself superstitious when it comes to Friday the 13th?
As you may know, Friday the 13th happens when the 13th day of the month of the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday, and that can happen at least once a year but can occur up to three times in a year. This year will have two-today and again this October, which both me and that oaf of a brother of mine think that month is spooky enough without a Friday the 13th on top of it. I dug around to find out more about the background surrounding Friday the 13th.
According to folklore, the number “13” is considered unlucky. Based on a Norse myth, 12 gods met for a dinner party in Valhalla. That mischief maker, Loki, who had not been invited, arrived as the 13th guest, and arranged for Höðr to shoot Balder with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. After Balder died, Earth became dark, and mourned and the day was thought to be a bad, unlucky day. Norse mythology believed the number 13 to be unlucky and both Fridays and the number 13 are considered unlucky in Western superisition.
But we’re not here to talk about superstitious days, we’re here to see what Nature looked like around our ‘Hood this week. It’s been fairly chilly this week but Mom met up with a friend and they strolled over to her favorite place, Sloan’s Lake for a nice walk around the lake.
The lake was pretty solidly frozen and looking west you could see the beautiful, snow-capped Longs Peak, the 14,259-foot mountain located near Estes Park off in the distance. Did you know Longs Peak is the tallest point in both Boulder County as well as Rocky Mountain National Park?
Looking east,. you can see the Denver skyline as well as critter tracks. I think the Canadian Geese were looking for potential breaks in the ice so they could paddle about in the water. The very thought that any living creature would actually want to get into the lake on a cold day seems insane to me. Heck I don’t like to get wet on warm days {shudder}.
As Mom and her friend rounded the lake, they noticed the boat ramp had partially collapsed in the frozen water. Mom didn’t know what happened, but figures once the ice melts, the city will be out to reset the pylons for the many boaters and paddle boarders that use the lake.
Well that’s it for me this week. Mom is still trying to decide if she’ll continue blogging so I’m not sure when or if I’ll be back. She said she’s lost her mojo but I think she just needs a break. I’m always up for blogging and even Norman would happily pitch in. Maybe we should just stage a mutiny and take the whole thing over. What do you think?
We hope you can safely get out there to enjoy all the wondrous sights of Nature and don’t forget to check out what others shared at the link above. Have a great weekend and don’t walk under any ladders.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Elsa, it looks like you got all of our Winter as well! We have had no snow at all, and to be honest if we don’t have it for Christmas we really don’t need it now…so if you want to keep it that’s fine…but please just stay warm ok? Also, tell your mom I get the blogging burn-out. I’ve been off and on WP twice before, and over the recent holidays I had so much going on I just stopped. Stepped away for a couple of weeks. And now, even though I’m back now in 2023, I’m going to definitely cut back on writing and reading as well. I really hope that after a little bit of a break, your mom will then want to resume a bit. This is one of my favorite places to be! Hugs to you and Norman!♥♥
That’s very kind, sir. Thank you. Ironically January is our driest month, yet we’ve had more snow than in the past 30+ years. Mom’s about had it with the shoveling.
Mee-yow Elsa an Sweet Norman an Miss Monika wee sorry wee missed this post…..wee had no Pee C when you posted this Elsa!!
It sure lookss chilley an Wintery there Elsa…..
Did youss’ know Duckss an Geese an Swanss have no nervess inn their feet so they can not feel cold….
An with their speshell featherss underneath they are purrtected from cold so a paddle ’round THE water doess not bother them like it wuud us 😉
Miss Monika maybee you need to change up yore bloggin’…maybee switch from Nature Furiday to Poetick Thursday (Fursday) or create yore own spesehll day fore bloggin….
Wee liek Sunday Selfiess as wee can blog ’bout our week an then due a nice Selfie. Wee get xposure an it iss fun an wee vissit peepss wee not see durin THE week….
If you want feel free to email BellaSita an youss’ can meow ’bout thingss…….
***nose bopss*** BellaDharma an (((hugss))) BellaSita Mum
No worries sweet BellaDharma and BellaSita Mum. Thanks for swinging by. We knew that ducks (and presumably geese too) rely on water for keeping their plumage in good condition and keeping their eyes and nostrils clean so the lack of nerves in their feet makes sense when it comes to being in cold water.
Mom is reevaluating her blog and was very touched by all the sweet comments left by folks who continue to enjoy our silliness.
This year will be very busy as Mom and a few of her good friends have decided to start up an Old English Sheepdog Rescue since the one that Norman came from shuttered recently. There’s a lot to do on it. I don’t know why she isn’t doing one for Poodles but it seems to be taking up all her spare time. She just better not stop playing and cuddling with me. Norman is on his own! 😘
Thirteen is a lucky number for me so no worries there. I love these captures and with Elsa driving the bus? A perfecto.
Thanks. Thirteen is a fascinating number-we were surprised by the legend.
Thank you for sharing this walk. I love the beautiful portrait of Elsa.
Thanks so much. Norman had a professional photo shoot for Canine Colorado magazine and Mom wanted a professional pic of me. Us black dogs are so hard photograph but the photographer managed to do a ‘wagnificent’ job and you can actually see my eyes. She also made my Mom look good in a family portrait. And trust me, that’s erven harder than photographing a black dog! LOL
You look fantastic, Elsa! 👍👍👍
Thanks so much. Mom had a few taken of me when Norman had his Canine Colorado magazine photo shoot last year. She forgot to share them. It’s no wonder she needs a break! How could anyone forget gorgeous me? 😆
I do so love that portrait of you Elsa! Gorgeous. Very interesting about the 13th! Although 13 has always been one of my lucky numbers! I love all your scenery shots – wow the frozen lake is beautiful.
Now….Nooooo…tell Mom to please *not* stop blogging. I have gone through a few loss of mojo periods and maybe she just needs a little break. Please tell her to come back though! Hugs! <3
Thanks Dorothy! I know she’d miss all of blogging community. Hopefully a break will nourish her soul. 💜💜💜
I am superstitious about most things, but not Friday the 13th or black cats. Beautiful photos. I only started recently following you so I hope you don’t take a break.
Many thanks, Miss Ellen. We appreciate your support. Hopefully I can convince Mom to stick around. Have a lovely weekend.
Bellas fotos de los paisaje y hermosa corresponsal. Te mando un beso.
Many thanks for the kind comment. And thanks for swinging by the Ranch. We 💙 visitors.
Breaks are absolutely necessary sometimes!! And like Derrycats said, there’s nothing wrong with not being tied to a schedule, or just blogging when the spirit moves you. In fact, that’s what I’ve been doing. Keeping up with a blogging schedule when you have so much other “stuff” going on can be exhausting just to think about. The Z Kids and I will be here waiting for your return. We love you two, your mom, and the blog and would miss “y’all” if the blog stopped showing up in our inbox! Tell your mom she can call me whenever she wants to talk.
Aww, Sue…thank you so much for the sweet response. It’s been nearly 9 years blogging and some days Mom wonders where she has anything to say. But I know she’d miss it very much since she enjoys readers like you so much. Hopefully a break will inspire her to stay in the game. I know Mom would want me to pass along ear scritches to the Z-Kids and she’d send hugs to you. 💙
Scritches and hugs gratefully accepted and returned to you two and your Mom. ❤️❤️🐾🐾
This thankful friend of the Ranch supports your desire to Rest, Regenerate, Refresh and Rejuvenate, as needed. I’m betting your friends will be here. Be well!
Your Mom sounds like our Mom. She says she is trying to keep it going, but there have been so many “issues” lately with the furamily and the family that it is hard to be upbeat on the blog. We just keep pushing her to try. We hope you will too.
Elsa is simply beautiful, that sums her up!!!
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
Thank you, Cathy. Mom had wanted a professional portrait when Norman did his photo shoot for the Canine Colorado magazine. We hope things level out for you and life becomes less challenging. Mom misses seeing your sweet Sibes.
Elsa is so beautiful! Monika, take a break, if you feel so, but don’t stop, please. Your photos are great and I love your style to write.
Kristiina
Aww, thank you so much for the kind words, Kristiina. Mom is so blessed she has ‘met’ such wonderful bloggers like you. Please give dear Kosmo a nice ear rub from us. Stay warm and cozy this weekend.
BEAUTIFUL Winter photos! Elsa my Mom talks about quitting blogging all the time too. I tell her she should do what she WANTS to do…..besides if she wasn’t attached to her computer all the time she could take me outside for more walks! My Mom did say that your blog is one of her favorites – not sure that would keep your Mom blogging but it’s the TRUTH!
Huggies, Teddy
Aww, that’s very nice of you to say. Thank you! It made Mom blush, but she understands. She’d be lost without ‘furiends’ like you guys. 💙
Time for you and Norm to let your mom know how loved she is! You can take over her blog fof awhile as you give her TLC to help get her mojo back.
You looked like. Princess in your photo Elsa and i enjoyed your Mom’s photos too! Have a Pawsome weekend! ❤🧡❤
We’ll do our best-hopefully we can convince Mom to let us ‘help’ her.
Your fur-iend,
Princess Ninja
I am sure you both will, you are amazing dogs! 🥰
Your park is even more beautiful and majestic in winter garb as in summer.
Elsa you are making us pups swoon, BOL!!
Both Hubby and Petcretary are born on the number 13…(not Fridays, LOL!), as are plenty of our friends and acquaintances. Petcretary shared her BD with her Mom, making #13 even more special…and Hubby’s Mom and our Angel Pipo, shared the same BD, Dec 26, which is two times 13. Nope we love 13!! Bring on Friday the 13th…sometimes our BD’s have been on such a day.
Wow, the number 13 really plays large for you and your family! That’s pretty cool.
Sloan’s Lake is one of Mom’s favorite getaways in the city. Those mountain peaks look so incredible when they snow capped. Hope you all have a swell weekend.
Stunning photo, Miss Elsa! 😍
Many thanks. I wasn’t all that keen about posing but the photographer did do an amazing job. You can even see my eyes, something that’s always hard with us black dogs!
We would miss tails around the ranch! Maybe just a little less for a while would help. Hoping your find the energy and the muse!
Thank you. We all hope so too.
What beautiful scenery today Elsa! Our Mama totally gets the whole mojo thing….we hope your Mama finds hers!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
Thanks, we hope she does as well. She’s been in quite the funk about 99% of the time lately. Have a great weekend.
Wow Elsa, you look so regal in that picture! We certainly hope your mom doesn’t stop blogging. Maybe cutting back a little can help with burnout, we certainly all struggle with content ideas from time to time.
Thanks, Lisa. Ever since she caught COVID she’s been a bit of a slug. I think she just needs to take a break (although she’s pretty much done that for the past 4+ weeks). LOL
Your mom certainly deserves some time for rest and relaxation. We hope she will feel up to keeping us posted on you, Norman, and all of your adventures every now and then.
I am not superstitious and Friday the 13th is usually a good day for me. I just read your interesting post, so I was lucky today.
Aww, aren’t you nice? Thank you!
Thanks Miss Helen. We don’t argue, I merely am empathic when I tell my brother how things are gonna be, sometimes he listens, sometimes he doesn’t. He can be very literal sometimes. 😆
I will really miss your blog should you decide to stop. I enjoy your writing style.
That’s very kind of you to say. Thanks. I’ll keep you posted.
Most of us feel this way at one time or another. Tell mom to take a break and then come back refreshed
Thanks John. I’ll just do that! Have a great weekend.
You as well, Monika.
NOOOOOOO – you can’t quit the blog. I enjoy reading it when I take a break at work. You’ll break your fans’ hearts. I must get back to the wonderful world of accounting. Have a wonderful weekend!
You’re too kind, Susan. We’d hate for you to be stranded in the world of accounting! 🤣 I’ll pass that alone to Mom; she would empathize with that!
I think you need to blog even more, maybe two or three times a day. 😈
She would blog more…if she had something to say. Norman and I on the other hand…
Wow that photo!!! I didn’t know why Friday the 13 is unlucky but when i win the megamillions it will be lucky!! I’ve been blogging a little less just because I haven’t had much to say (new post coming later after Chester’s walk) so i get it but I’d miss your blog!
I know Mom would miss it terribly (which is why she hasn’t completely stopped. After nearly 9 years, she’s not sure she has much more to say. We’ll see. Norman and I will do our level best to try to convince her just to take a break.
So great to see you here today, Elsa. You look so beautiful with your red rose❤️your pictures are always so beautiful and we hope you won’t stop the blog, they’re always very inspiring🙏Double Pawkisses for a peaceful weekend to all of you🐾😽💞
Aww, you’re so very kind. I’ll try to convince her to just take a break, ok? Have a ‘furbulous’ weekend.
I hope your mom doesn’t quit blogging, but let her know breaks are just fine! And blogging less often, not being tied to a schedule, is okay too. Whatever works, and whenever the spirit moves…that’s our philosophy!
Thank you for those kind thoughts. We’ll see how she feels about it long term. Maybe just a dial back for a while. Mom has a bunch of stuff going on so maybe a break will be just the ticket. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
Elsa, you look gawgeous in your beautiful picture. The 4 of us and Mom vote for your Mom to keep helping you and Stormin’ Norman to blog. That makes 6. Or 5. Or some bigger number. Maybe take a “winter break” like the we hear the schools do. We would miss you terribly if we didn’t get to snoop on what you’ve been doing, er, we mean see your pretty faces and say hi! XOX Xena, Lucy, Chia and Riley
You’re too kind. I’ll be sure to pass along your thoughts to Mom. She tends to cave when there’s lots of begging puppy dog eyes. 🤣
It is interesting to know the origin of Friday the 13th!
We would miss you, but also know blogging takes up a lot of time. I an only posting 3 or 4 times a year now, myself.
We hadn’t realized it was based on Nordic mythology either. Kind of interesting background.
Yeah, it’s hard to keep the blog fresh after so many years, especially when you’re being pulled in so many other directions. We’ll see how it goes. Have a lovely weekend.
Lulu: “I sure would like to get the chance to see snow and walk around and play in it some day!”
Java Bean: “Ayyy, I will stay here where it’s warm! Or at least, warmer …”
You can snuggle with Norman who shares that same opinion, Java Bean. I can see Lulu and myself being loons in the snow. Plus it tastes soooo yummy.
We would miss your mum if she stopped giving us all those super photographs …and all the info on you and Norman. You two had better spell her for a while…but no arguing!