Elsa: Welcome to the St. Patrick’s Day edition of Nature Friday. I think you all understand how I feel about dressing up so we’ll leave it at that.
Wilson: Oh come on, dress up is fun! There are treats involved. I LOVE treats.
Elsa: You would, dog breath. We’ve got lots of spring pics to share so let’s not dally with mindless chatter, ‘kay?
Wilson: Right! Well spring is definitely starting to show up in our neighborhood. Birds are arriving and the spring bulbs are starting to grow in earnest. I had to check out these hyacinths. At first I thought they might have a tasty morsel in them but then realized that was only an illusion. I think their appearance must be related to the whole fabricated AI thingy. As in ‘not the real deal.’ I was expecting something yummy in the middle. Imagine my disappointment.
Elsa: Jeez, dude, not everything is about food!
Wilson: Wait, it’s not? What the…
Elsa: You may think you’re some great hunter of food, but let me tell ya, that’s bunk. As a dignified Standard Poodle, I refuse to be a hunter around the Ranch. I am far too regal to have to search for food.
Wilson: Hey, don’t knock it until you try it. I think I’m a pretty pawsome hunter. Auntie Cheryl got us each a snuffle mat and I’m getting really good at being a real life hunter of goodies. Just look at that buried nose!
Elsa: Oh for crying out loud…you’re an embarrassment to civilized dogs everywhere.
Wilson: What?! It was fun finding all the goodies. But I must say, it wore me out. Hunting is exhausting.
Elsa: I just make sure the forewoman brings me my treats…I am NOT in the hunter/gatherer business. I have a kingdom to rule and as such can’t be bothered with such nonsense.
Wilson: Well I for one, think you should try it, you just might like it.
Elsa: Highly unlikely. Besides, why would I work for food when my subjects Mom will provide it without any interference from me {gasping at the mere thought of such routine plebeian activity}.
Wilson: Whatever. I told Mum I was all in…
Elsa: {interrupting} Of course you’re all in…food never escapes you. And you seem to think everything is food.
Wilson: Not true, I mean I didn’t try to eat these blue grape hyacinths.
Elsa: Well maybe the bees gathering nectar on them might have dissuaded you?
Wilson: Well, that did factor in my thought process. That and Mum hollering “LEAVE IT!” I’m catching on to what that command means. She sure says it a lot.
Elsa: {eyes rolling} Well if you didn’t view everything as nourishment, maybe she wouldn’t have to yell at you.
Wilson: She told me it was a good way for me to show off some self control. I’m pretty good most of the time…well except for when I hear the dog next door. That guy really winds me up behind the fence.
Elsa: Which is exactly why Mom is trying to make you ‘leave it’ whenever you’re in the dog run. I mean, you’ve got to be 15 shades of stupid to race the length of the run barking, snarling at him.
Wilson: He really pushes my button but I’ll try to be better about the whole self control thing. I mean, when I’m good, Mum rewards me with things that I enjoy very much. Like taking me to Sloan’s Lake earlier this week. I enjoyed the long walk and sniffing things out although there were a few weird things. Didn’t I pose nicely at the lake?
But what’s up with some of the yard art around here? We didn’t have anything like that back in Missouri. Well we did, but they didn’t have horns and they made grunting sounds. There are some very odd humans who live in this neighborhood.
Elsa: You’ll get no arguments from me on that subject. I probably would have challenged that guy if I’d been along on that walk.
Wilson: Well he was ok as far as boars go, but just not what I expected to find in the city. Mostly I thought he was more of a ‘bore,’ than an actual boar.
Elsa: Hahaha, Wilson made a funny, Mom.
Wilson: Ahem…I think we have a few other spring pics to share.
Elsa: Oh yeah, sorry I got carried away. So spring in the Rocky Mountains always has its challenges. Crummy soil, intense sun, and a wide range of temperatures but DANG! I sure wasn’t prepared for this type of Spring. What the dog?!
Wilson: I know, right?! I nearly tipped over trying to balance pee in the piles of snow.
Elsa: Ha…if it’s sympathy you want, look it up in the dictionary, Bucko. Try squatting in a foot of snow, dude. Brrrr.
Wilson: The snow was very heavy and broke some branches that Mum will have to deal with, once she can get back in that corner.
Elsa: Mom tried to shake off the snow a few times, but there were just some areas she couldn’t reach. She noticed that despite the snow, there were a few signs of spring emerging and was very grateful the trees hadn’t leafed out yet-the damage would have been much worse. The good news was there was a LOT of moisture from this storm that will help the landscape.
Wilson: That tree shades my favorite spot to pee and I wasn’t quite prepared for clumps to come falling down on me. But like many things, I know just how to react. Shake it off and take a nap. It’s the best way to deal with things Nature throws at you.
Elsa: Hmmm, I’d have figured you would have said, eat a treat to soothe being startled but a nap does sound like a good idea.
Wilson: Well, a nap was my second choice.
Elsa: Of course it was. Anyway, we’re all snug as bug, the power stayed on (unlike for 11,000 peeps) and Mom made sure we were entertained, happy and didn’t go stir crazy.
Wilson: Yeah, she’s the best. I hope the snuffle mat comes out again soon, but I think all that super heavy, wet snow is supposed to melt in the warmer temps this weekend so walks will resume. We hope you have a safe and fun filled St. Patrick’s Day weekend-enjoy the green. I’m looking forward to more broccoli but no green Guinness. Even Mum doesn’t like that beer. Have a bonnie good weekend and “may the road rise up to meet you; may the wind be always at your back.” Happy St. Patrick’s Day from all of us at the Ranch.
Elsa: What he said. Just make sure you explore nature in your neck of the woods. You may be surprised with what you’ll encounter.
Mee-yow youss’ two??? Wee had sum flowerss peekin outta THE ground an now wee has snow efurrywhere! Spring my Furry black A$……..ummm fanny!!!!!!!!!
Sorry Miss Monika…..
Wilson you look so kewl inn green! An Elsa you allwayss rock what you wear1
Wee sorry wee so late….BellaSita iss still havin Seezuress an upset an stuff….your nose???
Mee even wrote a poe-em inn memoree fore her Mistur Paul. Try to cheer her up a bit!
***nose bopss*** BellaDharma an (((hugss))) BellaSita Mum
Thanks, sweet kitty. We’re so sorry to hear about your LadyMew having seizures again and send positive healing energy her way. Hugs and tail wags.
Java Bean: “Happy St. Patrick’s Day! That is the fanciest snuffle mat I have ever seen, and I’ve seen a few of them!”
It has a ton of nooks and crannies and takes the Hoovers several minutes to scoop the treats up. I was surprised how exhausted they were after cleaning up the bits. Great way to exhaust energy especially when the sidewalks were full of snow.
That was a lot of snow you all had in that region. A snafu for the roads, too. Good thing that St Patrick’s Day isn’t a big deal for traveling. BOL! Wonder if anyone spray painted the snow drifts green?? One year where i work, we had a lot of packing snow, so the more able bodied peeps went to our courtyard, made huge snowballs and sprayed them with many colors. It did look pretty till they melted!
Thanks for the fun banter and reporting, Wilson & Elsa!
It was quite the storm and surprisingly, most of it has melted already. Love spring storms with all their moisture and speedy exits. 😉 Have a great week.
Such cuties. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Thank you for the kind words you left on my blog for the loss of Lucy. XO
You’re most welcome. I’ve been there enough to know it’s never easy and can only hope all of comments help ease your sadness. ☘️
Gotta love March… unpredictable, moody, happy one minute, pissed the next. It’s the teenager of the year! We had beautiful blue skies and warm (for us) weather yesterday. Today? Rainy and cold but whatcha gonna do?
Spring is nature’s yo-yo.
Yes!
I thought about you when I saw that Colorado was getting some Mo Nature. Good to see that spring is trying to change that game plan, soonish.
I’m with Wilson, naps and treats rock.
Gorgeous blue skies this morning and while it’s crisp right now, it should reach close to 50 today. Then closer to 60ºF all the way through Thursday. Yay springtime in the Rockies. Have a great weekend napping and noshing.
50?!
AYE!
60?!
Double AYE!
Oh, we’re on it!
Welcome to springtime in the Rockies!
Now if only you had a baseball team to root for!
Hahahahaha…yeah. THAT organization pretty much killed any affection for the sport.
You should adopt a team.
Y’all look fabulous and festive in your green but Brrrrr Humbug on the snow!
Thanks, we try to show a little festivity around the Ranch (when the fur kids let me 🤣). It’s surprisingly not that cold despite all the snow. I was able to shovel in a sweatshirt without any problem…well until snowe bombs dropping from trees went down my back. LOL Have a great weekend.
The doggies look great in their leprechaun hats. Two more days to St. Patrick’s day. I bought dog beer for my dogs, alcohol free of course. Our Leonberger Bronco loved it. Our pug Daisy took one sip and then never got close to it again.
Thank you. How funny that Daisy’s palate didn’t appreciate the taste of alcohol free beer but your big guy did. Perhaps her tastebuds prefers champagne over beer. 🤣 Wishing you a fun St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
Lots of snow for you guys. The storm is just sitting there and not moving. Stay warm.
Spring storms tend to dump a lot of snow and then move out quickly. Lots of clear blue skies yesterday and today. I noticed the house across the street that faces south has about a quarter of the front lawn that is exposed to sunshine, melted with green grass now showing. How’s that for quick? The streets are mostly melted and with temps heading for 50ºF this weekend, it will be a bit wet and quenched. Have a lovely weekend, John.
Gotta love that high altitude sun. Wishing you a super weekend. Monika.
It sure really comes in handy this time of year. 😊
😁
So Mrs. Chess says to me…”did you hear about the big snow storm out West?” I said “no…where?” She said the Denver area…and I immediately thought of you guys. You certainly specialize in having all four seasons simultaneously out there. Have a great melty weekend!
Yup, it was a right proper mess for a couple of days but nothing unusual for this time of year (we’ve had snow as late as Mother’s Day in Denver). We never turn down moisture and this one was super wet. Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day.
I think we have four snuffle mats but they are all in the closet. We find the treats so fast, it isn’t worth Mom’s time to hide things in them. Lots of dogs really like them. We are jealous of your snow. We have warm and dry here and it is still dead, brown and ugly. It will be nice when the pain of this miserable failed winter is ended. Hope you all have a nice St Patrick’s Day weekend!
It was quite the storm full of moisture-just what was needed after the windy conditions earlier this month. Hope you’re beginning to feel better after your surgery. Have a great St. Patrick’s Day weekend. ☘️
Oh Wilson…or was it Elsa who made us MOL about the 15 shades of stoopid😹Wilson you look amazing, not only at the lake😺 Double Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend to all of you🐾😽💞
Trust me-that’s 100% Elsa. Wilson is adorably sweet and trying his hardest to fit in around here. We hope spring has returned and you can all get outside in your beautiful garden. Have a great weekend!
The snow cancelled out a visit from a friend from Denver but maybe next week. Hope it’s a fast melt!
It’s not surprising. The airport was a mess and lots of flights were cancelled. Hopefully your friend will get to visit with you soon. Next week should be back in the 50’s. And more importantly, dry!
Yay! Dry!
reports say we got 17″ of heavy wet snow that’s melting faster than superman jumps off a building. We shook trees too to protect branches. Used a broom to hit at the taller parts. Laughing at Elsa, she has a kingdom to run, yassssss
Trust me, she lives to rule her kingdom. She was up on the sofa again this morning surveying her domain. I think we received about a foot but it is melting fast. The streets are a mess but spring storms are like that. Dump a ton of snow, melt in a few days. Perfect for spring windy conditions that will dry things out. Have a great weekend. ☘️
What a beautiful Spring you are having!! I sure wish some of that snow would move a few hundred miles south…paws crossed we get a little bit this weekend!
xoxo,
Rosy
PeeEss…Sunny says she likes all your pretty flowers!
Thanks, Rosy and Sunny. You’d be welcome to check out our flowers any time. The snow was super wet but will be terrific for the landscape, especially after a few windy days that dried things out. I absolutely LOVE spring storms. They’re the best.
What a wonderful spring snow you guys have! We were jipped this year. Not much up here in “north country.” My Huskies would have been so disappointed. What’s up with our crazy weather?! I bet you both were exhausted and you did have me giggling in sections (especially the pee spots)! By the way, love you both in the St. Paddy’s hat!
It was incredibly amazing but extremely wet and sloshy. It’s been fairly dry so the moisture has been very welcome. I watched a very happy Husky walking by yesterday and it was such fun to see his glee with the mounds of shoveled snow.
Snuffle mats–love that!
They have been totally amazing and seem to help calm Wilson down when he gets stressed out about all the new stuff he’s been dealing with as he adjusts to city life. And they really make the dogs ‘think’ and tires them out a lot more than a long walk which is especially great on nasty weather days. It’s been a great addition that I can’t thank my friend enough for gifting us.
Well VERY FESTIVE in your St. Pat’s outfits…….and that treat mat looks a whole lot more “SPRINGY” than out your window! EEEEEEEEK!
Hugs, Teddy
Ah well, it’s just another fun spring day in Colorado. 🤣 Have a great weekend!
Looks like you can still peek out of the snow! Have a great weekend.
Just barely. 😂 Enjoy your weekend.
Oh wilson, everything is better after a nap! I love the springy snuffle mat. Both of you are just adorable in your st patricks day gear!
Thank you. I’m sort of getting used to Mum dressing me up but Elsa says what I’ve seen so far is nothing compared to what she used to do to Norman. I think I can barely wait? 😂 Here’s to a jolly good St. Patrick’s Day.
The hunting stuff was funny. I have a friend whose dog goes with Gracie and me on visits to a memory care unit. And she tells folks that our dogs do search and rescue….they search out food (and there are usually plenty of crumbs) and rescue it.
OOH…I like that and plan to use that for when I am able to get tested at the hospital. I think the nurses will like that one.
Your fur-iend,
Wilson 🐾
Happy St. Paddy’s Day…Erin go bragh! 🙂
Yes, Erin go Bragh to you as well ☘️
I take it a lorry load of doggy treats will soon be arriving to make up for the amount of treats you had to give Elsa to get her to agree – well, not disagree – to wearing that hat…
Luckily we always have gobs of treats around. With her, I definitely need to start the negotiations out with lots of them! Have a great weekend.
Sorry you lost some branches. And sorry that Wilson’s favorite pee place is now a little treacherous. We had a slide of snow come off the roof that would have buried the dogs if they’d been under it. But wisely, they’ve chosen to pee in the house for now.
It was a surprise to see branches broken on that tree. I expect it on the silver maple but hadn’t on the elm. I had plans to trim it up a bit anyway but it may be more brutal than I wanted. Sigh. Both dogs haven’t minded going out in the snow (even at 1:30 AM) and were pretty bouncy outdoors. But I had to chuckle how they adapt their stance/squat with the deep snow. You’d think they’d make good use of the pee-tio I shovel out for them, but nooooo. 🙄 Have a great weekend.
What a lovely post. Your babies are so precious and Wilson is so handsome.
I also love all things spring.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Scritches to the pups and a big hug to you. ♥
Thanks Sandee! Spring and winter are often interchangeable around the Ranch. LOL Have a super weekend!