🎵 Oh give me a home…where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play…🎶…oh, hi,ya remember me? Elsa here and after a long time away, I’m back from the Thanksgiving Day break visiting Mom’s Dad in Southern Colorado. It wasn’t intended to be extended but Mom was kinda stranded with poor cell phone coverage and no Wi-Fi. I don’t know what Wi-Fi is but it spun my Mom into a real tizzy. She’s not a techno-wizard type and really had a hard time dealing with all the behind-the-scenes machinations of getting everything back to normal and restoring the network so to say she was stressed out was an understatement, but I came to her rescue providing just the kind of Ninja support she needed…but no I didn’t chew anything up. After working 87 hours and a few days on getting the network up and running with lots of crossed paws…we think everything is ok. We’ll be talking with Grandpa later this morning to make sure nothing fell through the cracks.
So here we are, the first Friday of December and that means we’re going to some views of Mother Nature from the past week or so. As always, we’re joining our friends, Rosy and Sunny from LLB in Our Backyard to share photos from Nature this week from time spent in southeast Colorado over the holiday. You ready for this?
Before Mom went to PW, she saw a rare sight in late November-a butterfly on a walk before the weather turned cold. It startled her when it popped up but true to its nature, stayed fairly low to the ground and hung out on the fallen leaves. They’re super skittish and didn’t linger long before flying away.
A rare November snow storm hit Pueblo West on Thanksgiving while the extended family gnawed on turkey, ham and all the trimmings. Mom’s sister and her family drove up from Texas and her grandkids enjoyed the little snow that Nature kindly provided. The adults weren’t quite as enamoured as the kids were, but everyone enjoyed being together, eating, laughing, playing games, watching football and yes eating again. Talk about a food coma!
Mom can’t stop gawping on and on about the view of Pikes Peak, the prairie and sunrises. She never gets tired of seeing one of Colorado’s most famous peaks. On the other hand, I’m happy to sniff for bunnies when I’m there, but it’s more like I can take it or leave it. Mom says I’m missing out on all the teeming wildlife. I keep telling her unless she’s actually letting me chase a bunny or two or better, prairie dogs instead of watching sunrises and wide open spaces, I’m more…meh.
Mom says she could watch the sunrise every morning and always takes a jillion pics as it goes from intense colors to pale as the sun rises. She raves about those pink and orange skies. I, on the other hand, am more interest in seeing prairie dogs, bunnies, deer and antelope. Talk about curious creatures. Those prairie dogs stay well away from the ‘jaws of death’ and as soon as they see me, they scurry their chunky bodies down into their burrows. I’m surprised they can fit. Those were the chubbiest prairie dogs Mom’s ever seen. Guess with the rain this summer, the grass was in abundance. I told Mom it wasn’t fair they’ve been celebrating Thanksgiving for months if their little chubby tummies were any indication. This guy is hard to see as he was pretty far away and Mom only had her cell phone with which to capture him so sorry for the crummy pic. They don’t pose for long before diving into those light tan burrow mounds.
Even deer avoid getting close, preferring to stay far enough away from humans and dogs. That said, sometimes they come close to the road in evening hours and end up paying for it. Nature is nothing, if not cruel.
Still don’t know why she wouldn’t let me have that antler. I could have chewed on that puppy for ages.
On a morning walk before the snowstorm, Mom captured the Spanish peaks far to the south. Usually they’re pretty pale bumps from Grandpa’s house since they are over 102 miles way to the south of Pueblo West even though they range in height from 13,623 feet (4,152 m), to 12,708 feet (3,873 m).
We’re waiting for a couple of new fronts this weekend that will likely include a flurry or two. Seems like a good time to stay inside and may pull out some holiday decorations. This is the time of year where the house is filled with the scent of hot cocoa and evergreen boughs. Whatever you do, we hope you have a lovely weekend and spot some scenes from Nature. Stay safe and warm.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Hi Monika,
Thank you so much for the tour. All the dogs here concur with Elsa that chasing critters is much more fun than watching sunrises.
I’m just having a cup of decaf tea and winding down before bed. It’s been such a big week. I had an angiogram on Tuesday and I had no idea what to expect or that I wasn’t going to be able to drive or move my arm for two days, which is challenging at the best of times here but particularly before Christmas. The angiogram was clear and things had gone very smoothly until I went to press the button for the lift and nothing my wrist was bleeding from the artery. I was still somewhat sedated and didn’t panic initially. Stopped the nurse who was leaving to go home and she applied pressure and waiting with me until things settled down. Told me to call an ambulance if it happens at home and we can’t stop the flow. Yikes. That put us on red alert for 24 hours but all good, and I just ended up with a sore arm and dreadful bruising. Thursday I was off to the lung specialist and more lung function tests, and they went well for me and my lung specialist was smiling. There had been a fairly sharp downward trajectory but it was turning around. His positivity said more than all the reports.
How are things with you going? I hope you are well. I’m looking forward to Amelia’ dance concert tomorrow and as she is going on to full time ballet next year, she will be doing her ballet solo. Very exciting.
Take care and best wishes,
Ro
What pretty pics!
I love prairie dogs. 🙂
Thank you! They’re entertaining little rascals.
They are as they play peek-a-boo!
I always enjoy their little barks.
😄
I relate to this in that I love the idea of breaking away from wifi, until I break away from wifi. But there are some amazing captures here.
Thanks, Marc. It was made perfectly clear to me that (a) living without WiFi is possible and (b) it’s not very enjoyable when you even think of the possibility. 😂
I think I feel independent when I choose not to use it but that’s not the same thing as not having it, LOL
Right you are!
LOL
Lulu: “Bunnies? Where?!?!?”
Java Bean: “Ayyy, you couldn’t have the antler? But it was right there for the taking!”
Surprisingly Mom is a stickler about road kill yummys. Go figure.
Lovely photos and tour, Elsa! Nice to be back visiting all of you on The Ranch. Hope you all are having a super-stellar weekend!
Thanks, Bruce. Glad to see you again. Hope life is treating you well.
All is good here, Monika. I hope you and yours are doing well, and it is so nice to be visiting here once more.
Happy you’re back. Have a ‘wagnificent’ Monday.
🐕 Monday “Wags” back at ya!
(( )) 😊
Lovely scenes and a great shot of the butterfly.
Thanks, Sue. It was quite the shock to see a butterfly so late in November!
Well, Elsa ~ all tech-frustrations aside, your Mom still knows how to take beautiful photos of beautiful places!
Thank you, Ann and June. Maybe one of these days she’ll overcome her tech issues…or at least not let them bother her so much. 😉
Mee-yow youss’ sure had sum fun over Thanxgivin!!! That Sulfur Butterfly iss beeuteefull Miss Monika!
Elsa this Why-Fye you woofed about iss sun sorta signal to make Pee C werk an when wee not get a Why-Fye signal; there are H-Bee-Oh werdss here……
Wee glad youss’a re home an safe & you look wunderfull purr usual Elsa!
***nose bopss*** BellaDharma an (((hugss))) BellaSita Mum
Thanks BellaDharma. Appreciate your kind comment snd explanation. Sounds like humans make life more complicated than it needs to be. 😉 Enjoy your weekend!
Mew mew mew Elsa you woofed THAT RITE 😉
Nothing worse than when we are disconnected from the outside world (in a sense). You have taken some gorgeous images!
You’re too kind, thank you. Being without Wi-fi made me realize how much I depend on the ‘Net to function well. Not sure that’s a good thing, but it is what it is.
I know what you mean. It is a necessary evil – if we choose to look at it that way! I think it’s a link to those far away even if it’s also a link to everything else!
Xena: You saw a butterfly taking a walk? Wow, didn’t know they did that. I’ll have to be watching for them now.
Lucy: Xena, sometimes, lately, I worry about you.
Chia: Why didn’t Miss Monika let Elsa off the leash to run?
Xena: Cause she must be like you, Chia, and just run, run, run and Mommy doesn’t know if you’ll ever come back alive.
Riley: I don’t think it was nature that killed that deer. It’s the same thing Mom worries about when you take off running, Chia. See, kiddo? It happens.
Chia: Why is everyone picking on me?
Poor Chia, sorry everyone is on the case…er tail. You have wonderful traits (even if you’re a ‘runner.’) I stay on a leash as Mom thinks I may be unpredictable when/if other dogs who may rush up to greet me. 😉
P.S. That butterfly surprised me since it was late November.
WOW – Pike’s Peak is a beauty but those chubby prairie dogs have captured my interest – I’m gonna put that on my Santa Wish List…..I think one might fit in my stocking??!
Hugs, Teddy
Ha…they’re like sand beavers, Teddy! Pikes Peak was the inspiration behind the Katherine Lee Bates song, America the Beautiful.
Sounds like fun! My in-laws are in Pueblo 🙂 they love it. I get to visit each summer 🌞
Wow, did not know that. There are some really interesting things about that town. Let me know when you’re there, perhaps we can meet up and enjoy some tasty Pueblo chili in person! 🌶️
It’s a reasonable 32c here today. Just Mother Nature giving us the heads- up for the real event in a little while. Loved all the photographs particularly the Pikes Peak, but then, I like anything with mountains.
Thank you. Pikes Peak is iconic and was the inspiration behind Katherine Lee Bates writing the song America the Beautiful.
Thanks for all the beauty you shared with us!
We think we saw about 3 or maybe 4 prairie dogs..yup, we’d want to give chase too…and then DIG!!
That sure was a big buck you captured!
Glad you had a great Thanksgiving visit, WiFi notwithstanding.
Have a good and cozy weekend!
It’s dismal here and drizzling…snow to the north…we may see a flurry later. The three inches we had is all gone, replaced with soggy leaves and muddies!
Those prairie dog towns spread out over quite an area so it’s fun to watch them pop up and observe them watching life around. There are lots of raptor birds so they keep watch for the whole group, barking when they see something threatening. They are adorably cute but I think a lot of farmers/ranches view them as pests and problematic if cattle or horses step in the burrows. It’s chilly this weekend but will get back into the 50’sF next week. Color us happy!
Stunning photographs of a beautiful part of the world. Really unfair not to let you loose on the prairie dogs….
I know, right?! Have a great weekend, Helen.
Fantastic tour, Elsa. Thanks to Mom too. I’m like your Mom when it comes to mountains off in the distance. Love them.
Thanks, John. Oh dear…you know you’re just my encouraging Mom with comments like that? 😂
I know. Dang me.
Believe it or not, we got 4 inches of snow here last week…but we were in Vegas, and missed it!
Still not sure if that was a good or bad thing LOL
An Albuquerque low brought snow our way-we tend to get more from those fronts. Woke up to an unexpected snow falling this morning…have no idea where it came from but it was sure pretty. Hope your trip home from Vegas was safe and trouble free.
Great pictures. We don’t get views like that here.
Thanks Kate. While we like those beautiful mountain views, there’s something very unique and special to the wide open prairies.
This is a dangerous time on the road for deer and humans. We saw so many dead deer on the side of the road when we went to Illinois a few weeks ago. Our Mom loves snow like we do but we are not expecting much in the next week at least. Without it, everything is so dead and brown. Have a great weekend!
Evenings at sunset are the worst for deer this time of year. Mom always gets especially sad whenever she sees them get hit by cars. We hope to stay warm and hope you have a super weekend!
Those views of yours are sure amazing! We’ve only had rain lately but since we’re in a drought I guess it’s okay!
Thanks; we never will turn down rain here either. Have a wagnificent weekend.
Glad you’re on the leash, Elsa… knowing you, you’d bound off into the prairie and we’d never see you again! 🧡
Heh, heh…you know me too well. But in my defense, I AM a hunter, doncha know. Have a great weekend.
it’s hot, it’s cold, it’s sunny it’s snowing… all in one day!!!!
I hope to pull out some decorations too this weekend. Love you both, LeeAnna
It’s definitely been a bit of a roller coaster. Looks like winter will be here for a couple of days then 50’s next week. Which will be just fine with us. Stay warm and give dear Milo a nice ear rub from my Mom.
Your fur-iend,
Elsa 🐾
Colorado is so beautiful! And Chester sympathizes with Elsa, mom doesn’t let him chase bunnies either!