Let’s get this week started with a couple of smiles. As we bark out the old, we also bark in the new and hope you didn’t miss the ball drop.
We hope you managed to have a safe and peaceful celebration. Around the Ranch, fireworks were sadly prominent in the neighborhood, much to my chagrin and many stressed out pets. Fortunately a hockey game with its incumbent cheering and jeering as well as tightly closed windows helped keep Elsa reasonably at ease. That said, I know there were many pets who were terrified so we send out a good thump on the head to those thoughtless uprights who used fireworks to celebrate.
One other but less annoying ritual associated with New Year’s is the making of resolutions.
But for me, this is the only resolution necessary in 2024. Do you make resolutions? If so…what was yours?
We wish your new year is filled with good health, love, and laughter. Elsa also hopes there are plenty of tasty treats. Happy New Year from both of us.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
I actually prefer to be working at Mecca on NYE night than to listen to the neighborhood hooligans “celebrating” with all kinds of illegal explosives (and probably firearms)…
I had hoped the cold would have kept those bozos indoors but alas, they escaped outside to terrorize the neighborhood.
Well, I am very LATE…but nonetheless:
Happy New Year!!
We didn’t have noise at our area, thankfully!
You’re never too late for Happy New Year wishes. Glad the fireworks hooligans stayed away from your neighborhood. Don’t work too hard.
Grate comick’ss Elsa an Miss Monika!!!!
BellaSita sayss numburr #2 iss so true!!!
~~~head rubss~~~BellaDharma~~~ an ***giggellss*** BellaSita Mum
Glad you liked them!
thankfully no fireworks here! Most don’t do resolutions anymore, they are a thing of the past, I do “intentions” and have for years! That appears to be the preferred way to go, gives you nothing to feel bad about….resolution sets everyone up for failure. Happy New Year!
You’re very lucky there were no fireworks. It was fairly bad here. I hope those bozos got frostbite!
Intentions are a much better way to start out a new week or year (and I suspect have a greater rate of success). All best wishes your intentions are accomplished in 2024!
Java Bean: “We went for a walk at the lagoon on New Year’s Day, so things are off to a good start here!”
Lulu: “There were some fireworks the night before but Mama and Dada made sure to be home and I got lots of treats while it was going on, so I made out all right.”
Java Bean: “Fireworks don’t scare me, so it was just free food as far as I was concerned!”
Free food/treats to start out the new year seems like a good deal to us. So does the personal oversight of Mum and Dad. Happy New Year, Lulu and Bean. Best wishes for 2024 to you, the hipsters and your parents.
Here’s to less fireworks and more hockey, and good health and happiness for everyone at the ranch in 2024.
I will certainly second that! And despite the NCAA totally messing up the college playoff system, yesterday’s bowl games sure were exciting. It’s no wonder I’m a hockey fan where favoritism from the league, crummy officiating and a salary cap run rampant. 🤷🏼♀️
That Michigan game was pretty incredible. I would have felt so badly for the kid who muffed the punt for Michigan if that had cost them. As it turned out, it didn’t cost them. I was surprised to see Bama get booted, even though they aren’t what they were in years past.
Not a fan of either team but preferred the outcome over the opposite. Hard to like either coach.
Best thing I can say about Jim? At least he ain’t John . . .
Good point.
No resolutions! When I need to do something different, I do. If I waited until a new year came up to change, the speed of progress would be glacial. Of course some changes are hard and take longer than others.
Agreed…that’s a much better way to adapt to life.
Happy New Years, Monika and Elsa! We have both “resolved” to get back on our Gundry diet way of eating. I plan to have lost a great deal of belly fat before this time next year with the slow and steady wins the race technique, LOL!
We were gone overnight, but Andrew was here with all 4 dogs in the bed with him as a few fireworks popped in the distance.
That a great way to ‘celebrate’ with dogs in your bed. Bet they were happy as clams at high tide. Elsa and I send our best wishes for a great 2024!
LOL those cartoons were funny. Some of our dogs really fear(ed) fire works. Our Rollo is terrified. He was traumatized by a misfired illegal rocket that hit the ground and exploded close to us as I was walking him. It was a very large and potentially dangerous type of rocket that was not approved for fireworks within Dallas county. It was kids wanting to be cool. Anyway, I wish you a great 2024.
Thanks, Thomas. I was hit by a bottle rocket when I was a kid too and also at a professional fireworks event when it blew up so I completely understand when dogs freak out. People never seem to follow the rules when they don’t coincide with their wants. Sigh. We do however wish you a terrific 2024!
The idiots in my neighbourhood were letting the fireworks rip at 10:40… dumbasses.
I am not big on resolutions but it’s nice to have a few things to aim for 😉
Happy New Year to you and the Ranch hands! xoxo
Guess there’s no season on stupid, is there? 😬 Best wishes to you for an amazing 2024!
Nope… that season is open…
Thank you, lovely lady!
That’s clearly the best resolution. All of our dogs hated fireworks, and I never understood why people insisted on shooting them off in a tight neighborhood.
Particularly on a night when it’s quite chilly! Makes no sense to either of us. 🙄
We had more fireworks than we thought we would….we sure wish people would celebrate without the big bangs!
Wishing you a very Happy New Year!!
We’re right there with you guys. I had thought there wouldn’t be as many because it was fairly chilly. Guess dumb peeps don’t care if they’re cold. Hope it’s a terrific 2024 for you guys!
Yep. The canines love a good “ball drop. “.
Always a good time in the canine world. 😁
Happy New Year to you!
Fireworks is a problem here, too. People have asked, begged and prayed, been writing to the government to make shooting fireworks illegal, without any results.
No resolutions this year.
Onnellista uutta vuotta, Kristinna and Kosmo! We hope you have a cat-tastic 2024! I hope the ‘silent’ fireworks become more common. While not entirely silent, they are better for pets and people who get spooked by them.
Thank you, your Finnish is excellent.
You’re too kind. Dr. Google was a big help. 😉 Best wishes for a very Happy New Year, Kristiina. 💙
Thank you the same, hugs for Elsa. My aunt’s name was Elsa.
What a coincidence…I too had an aunt named Else. She was a fierce woman and why I named Elsa after her.
That is interesting. My aunt Elsa was very religious, a member of the Salvation Army, and I loved, at the age of seven, her uniform.
How fascinating. My aunt Else rather terrified me-growing up during the world wars, she no doubt had to be tough as nails. I worried my German wouldn’t stack up to her meticulous standards when I met her before she passed away.
Because these ladies, Else and Elsa, are our relatives we must also have something common with them, we just must find it out😂.
It was a wonderful night. Twiggy and I slept through all the fireworks. HNY
Lucky you guys. I could have sworn the fireworks were in our front garden! Stupid people…I hope they froze. Elsa and I wish you a ‘fur-bulous’ 2024.
I so hate fireworks. So invasive. Wishing you the best of 2024
Me too. Having a personal bad experience plus watching otherwise good dogs lose their minds, they are just horrid in my mind. Far too often alcohol is part of it as well…never a good combination.
So true.
Happy 2024! Here’s hoping it’s the best year yet!
Love and licks,
Cupcake and Mom
Right back atcha, Cupcake!
This was the first year since the nine years that we almost live here, that it was terrible with the fireworks. To much, to long and so loud and we’re happy that it is over🙈Double Pawkisses for a Happy New Year to you and Elsa, Monika. Make it a great year🐾😽🎇
We’re glad all the racket is over too. I was hoping the cold would keep people indoors but alas there were way too many who just couldn’t resist being jerks. Happy New Year to you all!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! We had NO fireworks – in all the years we’ve lived here there have ALWAYS been fireworks…..it was super cold New Year’s Eve so maybe that discouraged the noisemakers! Anyway, it’s snowing here – very lightly right now and we’re hoping that’s all we get. Loved the ‘toons…..it’s good to start the year out with a giggle.
Hugs, Pam and Teddy
Yes, new year, new giggles! It was chilly here last night and I had hoped it would keep the bozos inside but alas, they were too stupid and inconsiderate. What is wrong with some people? Hopefully there won’t be too much snow to keep you indoors. Happy 2024!
It’s snowing VERY VERY lightly now…..by tomorrow morning it will seem like a dream! LOL Happy 2024 to you and yours to…….. HUGS
💙
With Jaxson as a single pup, I stayed home and attended Watch Night service virtually. Lee plays a role in the service so he went to church. Happy with the decision because the fireworks were consistent and steady. We (us pet parents) do what we have to do – and we have no regrets about it. Happy New Year, please know I value your friendship, insight and loyalty to Jax and our blog!
💙 Here’s wishing you a kind and gentle 2024, Cathy.
I had ‘general admission’ tickets for staying home. With inflation ‘reserved seating’ wasn’t affordable or warranted-there’s never a line at the ladies room. LOL
Ha, the most thrilling ball drop to watch! No resolutions, as self-improvement is an ongoing effort with no goals to miss to make me feel like a failure. 😉 I’m with Elsa, more treats!
Good for you for having a sensible approach to resolutions. Elsa barks her approval on the treat wish. Happy New Year.
so funny!
the top comic… don’t forget barking at the human idiots shooting off fireworks next to your house til 1 AM… that required a lot of barking
Those kinds of clowns need at least two thumps on the head. Happy New Year!
I especially loved the ‘Bless this Bone” picture. Too funny. Happy New Year.
Of course, a few morons have to have noise, aka, fireworks. Mom hates them because we get up early, but the big issue is two of us are terrified, so the half hour of fireworks cost us most of the night of sleep. Mom can’t sleep waiting for it to happen so she can get up and deal with the two who are scared and then she is awake the rest of the night. It is so unnecessary. As for resolutions, we don’t do that, they are silly. We have goals that we set and we work on those all year and that works for us. New Years or not we need goals. Hope you all have a Grand 2024!
Pets and some people are adversely affected by fireworks. If they could somehow make them quiet, I’d be ok with the sparkle. Good for you with the whole resolution silliness. Their success rarely makes it through January anyway. Spending more time with my pet is something I can definitely handle successfully. Happy New Year!
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║╔╗║╔╗║╔╣╔╩╗╔╝ ★ NEW YEAR ☆
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Sorry, just saw this was parked in my spam folder. Ugh-the nerve! You are totally not spammy. Happy, albeit late, New Year, dear Sandee.
I don’t think I’ve ever made a NY resolution. If I want to change something, I do it any time of the year. Makes more sense to me. Nothing magic about Jan. 1. As for fireworks, In was pleasantly surprised that there weren’t any in hearing range. My cats don’t react to them but we have a lot of pups in our neighborhood which is full of elderly folks. Hope you and Elsa have a glorious year (or at least a good one!).
Good for you. They rarely succeed anyway, when you need to make adjustments, it’s better to do it as a well defined goal.
Fireworks are a hot button issue with me. Pets and some people really are affected and the noise is just not necessary for celebrations. We wish you and the kitties a very Happy New Year.
No resolutions here…we’d probably not remember them by the day after!
Bwahahaha! I find that hard to believe. More like you don’t need to improve yourselves. We wish you, Leo and the Thugs a very wonderful New Year.
Looking forward to your new year arrival.
We’re excited about potential new goings on. Hopefully more about that next week. 🤞🏼
HNY to all at The Ranch. No fireworks here in rural Tuolumne County. Just gunshots and M80’s at 9:00 PST. Sigh…. Guess our rowdy mountain brethren go to bed early like us at the Golden K. The girls perked up but quickly went back to sleep without much fuss.
Wishing you all the best throughout the coming year. As for resolutions I made one many years ago that I have kept: that is to not make resolutions but to continue to pursue just being a good person. Although I do like yours and I’m sure my girls would too. On a separate note today is 2 years that my Sweet Kali crossed the bridge so, like every day, I will spend much of my time thinking of her. Take care and be well M!
Yikes, I’m not sure what’s worse. I just wish manufacturers of those doggone things would make them quiet. Some people and pets would be most grateful for just the sparkle, not the noise. Hope 2024 is pawsome for you and yours, Mike.
Happy New Year to you and Elsa, and all your family!
Thanks Debra. Best wishes to you and the entire pack!
Happy New Year, my friend! And belly rubs to dear Elsa!
Fortunately we have on a few fireworks here and our dogs were fine. Part of that would be that they are harder of hearing now. Glad Elsa was Ok.
Haha on the comics, thanks for the laughs and I love your NY resolution, sounds perfect to me. 🙂 <3
In all the years I’ve made resolutions, that one is by far the best…and likely the easiest to fulfill. Those clueless bozos who set off fireworks really cheese me off. I just don’t get it and continue to hope we can curb the noise while keeping the dazzle they add to the night sky. Happy New Year, my friend!
P.S. Elsa says thanks for the belly rub and hopes you didn’t notice the slightly rotund waistline. She does plan to trim up a bit in between the times I’m working on my resolution. 🥰
Yes, you would think with all our technology that we should be able to curb the noise!
Elsa is very welcome and let her know that I didn’t notice her rounder waistline at all. 🙂 Just shows that she appreciates the treats her wonderful Mom gives her!
I’m pretty sure they can be found, as I recall, they’re in France. We need to be more considerate when it comes to that sort of thing. Veterans (as well as pets) don’t need the stress. Have a wonderful 2024!
Totally agree! Same to you! ❤️💚❤️
Happy New Year!
Yes, the fireworks were bad enough that we gave Tegan doggy downers to help her through the festivities. It was better that way for everybody.
I just don’t get why people have to terrify pets and certain segments of the population with those doggone things! Grrrrrr. Happy New Year, Amy. Please give Tegan (and Zoe) gentle ear scritches from us.