Welcome to Friday where we join our friends from Adventures of the LLB Gang with glimpses of Nature from around our urban ‘Hood as well as Southern Colorado. With the official arrival of Spring on the calendar a mere two weeks away, there are more subtle signs that the landscape is beginning to wake up. Hi, there, just us two Ranch Hand editors sharing a few scenes from around the area.
Norman: So Mum’s sister from Texas came to visiting their Dad in Southern Colorado so we came down for a few days to visit and wanted to share some sights from life in the 719 as well as a few scenes from earlier in week from the Big City. Plus I know my Grandpa absolutely adores me and was especially concerned after I was sick last week. He needed to make sure I was in tip-top shape.
Elsa: You’re still milking that pancreatitis thing, aren’t you? Life around the Ranch has been windy and dry so Mom is keeping her eagle eyes peeled for signs of color. She squealed when she saw these tiny crocuses between the sidewalk and lawn. That’s definitely a sign that Spring is on its way, right?
Norman: Cute little buggers, aren’t they? With such a nice pop of purple, it made them fairly easy to spot but Mum thinks most people just walk past them because they so tiny.
Elsa: Right about that, brother. But you know what Mom says about Spring Bulbs?
Norman & Elsa {barked in two part harmony and in unison}: DON’T LET YOUR PET EAT ANY SPRING BULBS-THEY’RE TOXIC TO US 4-LEGGED FUR BABIES.
Norman: Mum took us for a walk a couple of days ago before heading south Mum spied this grass seed head. It was rather stunning against the wooden fence. All those lovely shades of tawny brown.
Elsa: {interrupting} You just wanted to sniff it, you could care less about how it looks!
Norman: Ahem…that’s not completely true. I’ll have you know I can appreciate an interesting picture as much as the next bloke.
Elsa: {giggling} Right. You keep telling yourself stuff like that, maybe one day you’ll actually believe it.
Norman: I rather do believe it now, thank you very much. Not everything is about the neighborhood pee bulletin board, I’ll have you know, little sister.
Elsa: Uh-huh…sure. Whatever.
Norman: {moving along} Did you know this week we had a Full Moon? Seems as though it was the third and final full Moon for the northern hemisphere’s winter season which took place and fell on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Did you know it’s referred to as the “Worm Moon” in some parts of the world because of the ground temperatures are warming allowing earthworms to come to the surface. Mum didn’t have her big camera so only was able to take this shot with her cell phone.
Elsa: It won’t win any Pulitzer prize, but it was interesting how the clouds seemed to pull back with the Moon in the middle, almost like a curtain, so I guess that’s kinda cool.
Norman: Very cool. So let’s share some of the sights we saw once we arrived at Grandpa’s house. The sunsets and sunrises are always quite stunning and Mum never tires of seeing them on the prairie. Check out this sunset shortly after we arrived. Is this a great country or what?
Elsa: Yeah, the sunsets are only surpassed by the sunrises. Mom really likes that time of day…it’s quiet and you can’t beat the colors. Especially against all the brown that tends to dominate the scenery this time of year. Check out this progression of light. This series started when it was fairly dark. But chilly.
Norman: You can say that again. 22ºF but when a mate has to go…well it makes you do your business and then trolly back into the house quickly.
Elsa: Us girls may have stronger bladders than you boys, although I can practically pee on demand whenever I go outside.
Norman: No need to remind me. Sunrise didn’t take long. Check out the next pic.
Elsa: Those are some pretty colors over the Greenhorn Mountains. And you can still see a few spots of snow on some of those peaks.
Norman: It was quite the trio of sunrise pics. Here’s the last one of the series. The sun came up fairly quickly after that. And I noticed Mum managed to capture a shot with the moon hanging over the mountains.
Elsa: Well, as they say in Hollywood, that’s a wrap. We hope you have a terrific weekend. Make sure you can get outside and see what Nature is dishing up.
Norman: Cheerio, mates!
Live, love, bark! 🐾
The photos are quite beautiful! Glad to hear you are feeling better after the pancreatitis episode.
Thank you! Spring is taking it’s sweet time arriving but we’re hopeful it’ll be worth it. 🍀 Have a great weekend. 🍀
Beautiful photos. I am glad you are feeling better.
Many thanks. On both counts. 😉
Any sign of spring is more than welcome for us!
Norman, big sisfurs should keep their yaps shut, and keep their noses out of our business, amiright? ~Latte
My dear Latte, I think you absolutely make a great point. I’ll tell Mum-let her break the news to the troublesome sister. 🤣
Lulu: “A worm moon? Interesting … I wonder if I could find some nightcrawlers to roll around in …”
Chaplin: “I’m sure Mama would think that was delightful. You should totally do it!”
Umm, we’re just guessing but probably think your Mum wouldn’t be all that keen on as good worm roll.
Lulu: “A worm moon? Interesting … I wonder if I could find some nightcrawlers to roll around in …”
Charlee: “I’m sure Mama would think that was delightful!”
Always nice “visiting” your skies, but especially with those wonderful landscapes in the foreground. Elsa & Norman, you are so fortunate to be able to see those views!
You’re too kind, Bruce. We are very fortunate to be able to enjoy amazing sunrises, sunsets and crystal clear blue skies. Hope you had a lovely weekend.
Speck-taculur fotoss Miss Monika!!!! Such beeuteefull Sunrisess an Sunsetss!
An those wee Crocusess are so purrty! An THE wheat stick iss furry gee-o-metrick!
Wee still have snow here an chilley.
An wee missed takin a foto of THE Moon as BellaSita did not know what nite Full Moon was
**sighss**
Yore foto of Full Moon iss beeuteefull an Sweet Norman an Elsa THE cloudss due look like curtainss openin up to show off THE Moon!
Don’t furget to Spring Forward onn yore clockss tonite or tomorrow!
~~~head rubss~~~BellaDharma~~~ an {{{huggiess}}} BellaSita Mum
Many thanks. That pic was two days late but it was still pretty cool.
Yay on family coming to visit! Good times.
What lovely photos. I love sunsets! And the blue sky is awesome! Happy weekend to all of you! Happy for Spring and getting outdoors again. 🙂
Thank you. That sky was so intense. It only lasted a few minutes but boy was it worth it!
Indeed it was! 🥰
Beautiful pix, Monika!!
Many thanks. We hope you and the Z-kids have a wonderful weekend.
Excellent pictures of the sky, Monika, and what a wise conversation you two had, Elsa and Norman. Here come some Healing Pawkisses just for you, sweet boy and for the both of you a Double Pawkiss too🐾😽💞
Thank you. We so enjoy the wide open skies when we visit with our grandpa. Have a lovely weekend.
Beautiful images, all of them…esp the little crocus sprites! Our snowdrops were in bloom, and then they got a rude surprise for the second time…third storm in 3 weeks…we got around 7 or 8 inches of heavy wet snow…again…and might get more on Sunday. Blah…
Winter has long overstayed its welcome, we think. Stay warm.
I’ll take your sunrises or your sunsets . . either or, they’re both spectacular. As are the two narrators of this Friday jaunt. I love the way they do their round up the way I love purple flowers . . and I love purple flowers, much.
22 degrees? Nope.
Yeah, it was a bit ‘crisp’ this morning but it’s nearly 70ºF now. If it weren’t for that doggone wind. Argh. Our Mum likes purple flowers too so she’ll always swoop down on them…wherever they are. Have a splendid weekend, Marc.
That’s nuts!
Enjoy the weekend.
We call it, Springtime in the Rockies. 🤣
Eeesh!
Sooo pretty!, we have a few crocuses but also 3 inches of snow on top of them! Argh!
Oh boy, nothing like some snow to make you appreciate Spring bulbs. We have some of that dreaded white stuff in the forecast next week. Sigh.
Oooo, we can see the moon like it’s on a stage with the stage curtains. Cool picture, Miss Monika! Mom said a lot of awns (grass seed heads) are dangerous to dogs, so be sure those that y’all are sniffing aren’t the kind that have tiny barbs that stick in your nose and face and mouth and other places. XOX Lucy
We voted and agreed that Miss Monika already knows those awns (not to be confused with yawns) aren’t the ones that can hurt you. XOX Xena
Norman: Yeah, our Mum is a stickler about me putting my face in things like that because of all my hair. She can be a real kill-sport
Elsa: She just doesn’t want you peeing on plants. FYI, no dogs were harmed in the photographing of awns or Spring bulbs. 😊
Beautiful photos of the sky, Monika
Why thank you, John. Here’s wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend as well
Such beautiful skies and anytime of day!
Much like New Mexico, the sunrises and sunsets are pretty gorgeous here.
Oh my – what beautiful photos AND I bet you all enjoyed that trip to visit family. My Mom says that Mother Nature is a wonderful artist and that she knows just how to paint the sky and landscape with color.
Hugs, Teddy
Thank you. Mother Nature definitely knows how to paint!
You had a lovely trip!
It’s always fun when the family get together. Tomorrow, a trip up to the high country.
looks pretty in that part of Colorado. You have a big family, nice. get well Norman!
LeeAnna
With less light pollution, the sunsets and sunrises are pretty amazing down here. Yes, the family is good sized and spread all over the country. When someone comes back to Colorado, we like to greet them in person and catch up.
These are stunning photographs….the composition, the colours…really uplifting!
Thanks, Helen. The colors are truly spectacular. Have a great weekend.