Happy first Friday of April peeps…it’s time for another Nature Friday post. Well spring continues to do spring things…you know…like dump tons of snow on the Northeast, bring 70’s and 80’sF to the central portion of the country with higher temps in gulf states with buckets of moisture to the West Coast. Good golly, it seems like Mother Nature is truly cheesed off. As we typically do on Friday’s, we’re joining our pals at Adventures of the LLB Gang. Be sure to click on the highlighted link to see what other posts were shared.
Elsa: So I finally was released from vet care yesterday by receiving a clean bill of health. They removed my stitches and pronounced me fully healed from a diagnosed UTI, femoral surgery and I received a good report on the histogram of the removed cyst (it was benign but Mom was told it could come back so I guess they’ll monitor it down the road). While the folks at this vet clinic are super nice, I told them I hope to never see them again…any time soon.
Wilson: That’s jolly good news, Ninja. Congratulations. I’m sure those vet folks will miss seeing you. Mum told me they always enjoyed you coming in because you were a great patient.
Elsa: They probably enjoyed seeing Mom and her credit card more than me. But now that I think of it, they were quite nice to me and gave me terrific ear rubs…even when I was shaking with fear at their fancy posh office. There’s just no way to disguise the fact that office visits to the vet can be very traumatic. From the first time I arrived with the femoral fracture to the dental procedure…it was doggone scary. But being the Zen Ninja I am, I handled it with great aplomb and dignity.
Wilson: Don’t sell yourself short. Everyone I encounter always says how lucky I am to have you as a sister. And despite the fact I get grumpy sometimes with you because you ofen hog all of Mum’s attention, you do make her smile a lot. Like all those times this past week where you lazed away on the sofa despite the no dogs on furniture rule. She laughed out loud. You didn’t even pretend to be sorry for disobeying both Mum and the vet’s specific instructions to not jump while your shoulder was healing. Tsk, tsk…naughty girl.
Elsa: Do I look like I care?
Wilson: Umm, good point. Still, I can’t help wondering why I get yelled at whenever I get up on the sofa.
Elsa: Well, you’re you and I’m me. There are different rules for Ninjas versus House Ponies. The sooner you realize that, the better we’ll all be.
Wilson: {somewhat dejected} Whatever happened to equality for all?
Elsa: {jumping up on the sofa as Mom types} You want equality? You need to look up it on page 391 of Mom’s Webster’s dictionary.
Wilson: {frowning} Umm, perhaps instead we should share some of this week’s nature images.
Elsa: Whatever cranks your handle. Mom has been walking past this little tree/shrub for months now and wondered what it was. According to her plant app, it was identified as an American Pussy Willow but she was somewhat dubious since it’s not known to be found in Colorado. Still, it’s pretty cool and Mom liked it.
Wilson: Whoa…look at those silky catkins! I guess they start blooming on the bare stems before the leaves appear, and provide a wonderful source of pollen for native bees early in the season.
Elsa: Supposedly the male and female flowers are produced on separate plants yet both plants have flowers. There was only the one there so Mom wasn’t sure if it was male or female. While the male plant produces pollen, both sexes produce nectar and the flowers of the male plant produce those nubby catkins that are used in flower arrangements.
Wilson: Trust me I checked to see what it smelled like but apparently no one has left any clues about it.
Elsa: Of course you smelled it. Sheesh, I am still of the opinion you’re part Bloodhound. Emphasis on the hound part.
Wilson: {eyes looking left and right, mind mulling over what was just said} Wait, is that some kind of put down because I’m 100% Old English Sheepdog.
Elsa: Hey, you sniff more that your normal English fur ball. You know I just call ’em like I see ’em.
Wilson: Rest assured, I am NOT a hound, blood or otherwise. I’m part of the magnificent group of herding dogs and…
Elsa: Save it dog breath. You try herding me, I’ll show you what Poodles do, ok?
The Mom: Ok you two, no more flexing of breed egos. Just get on with sharing nature this week, ‘kay?
Elsa and Wilson: {in unison and two part harmony} Yes Mom/Mum.
The Mom: {smiling} Whew, that’s better.
Elsa: He started it, Mom.
Wilson: Did not, you started it.
The Mom: Enough guys. Let’s. move. on! I’m sure there are a few more spring photos we can share.
Elsa: Okay, okay…yeesh…so cranky on a Friday. Anywho…the recent snow storms didn’t seem to have too negative of an impact on the emerging tulips, although apparently the moisture produced a by-product plant. Who know snow would cause Pringles containers to bloom? That’s a new one on me. And yes, we disposed of it. {head shaking} Man, what is wrong with uprights?
Wilson: {with stiffened back and shaking head} Unforgivable, I say! At least none of those containers grew with these tulips. Talk about a cheerful bunch.
Elsa: You’re so right there, Pony. Some people are just beasts.
Wilson: You can say that again. I know it really upsets Mum when we’re out on our constitutionals. She gets very sad seeing trash. Weeds are bad enough but litter is simple unforgivable.
Elsa: We started to see a few of the flowering trees emerging from their winter snooze. Check out this type of cherry tree in bloom. The bees acted like they were having a kegger, buzzing and noshing on all the nectar.
Wilson: Hmm, what’s a kegger? Sounds like some decidedly American expression. There were a bunch of bees in this ornamental pear as well. It sure was quite the sight against a Colorado bluebird sky.
Elsa: It’s going to be another warm day (sorry Northeast peeps). We’re under a Red Flag warning for high winds with extremely low humidity today for much of the state. Winds could reach 75 mph later this morning so we better get cracking and batten down the hatches. Hopefully tomorrow’s forecast for moisture will materialize. And here I just got a bath this week. Ugh.
Wilson: Never fear, sister…I’ll keep you well anchored on the ground. Between me and Mum, you have nothing to fear about blowing away.
The Mom: Umm, I’m sure that was a compliment.
Wilson: Of course it was, Mum.
Elsa: {interrupting} Sounds like the House Pony is saying you’re on the chubby side, Mom. {snickering}.
Wilson: Not at all, dear sister; I was just trying to alleviate any fears you may have about blowing away.
Elsa: There you go, ruining another easy softball I pitched to you. What the dog? Whatever…we hope that whatever Nature dishes out this weekend, you stay safe and are able to ‘enjoy’ whatever she delivers your way. Have a great weekend everyone.
Wilson: Right, enjoy your weekend…even if you’re sipping a nice cuppa with a good book from the sofa watching the snow fly in case you’re not interested in shoveling or sloshing around in it. Stay safe.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Great to hear that Elsa got a clean bill. As for those blooms, they’re booming! And the Pringles can . . . what is up with uprights indeed.
Thank you; very grateful that Elsa got the gold star for patience and she’s fully recovered for everything. As for the trash along that sidewalk, it was completely appalling! Stupid humans.
Yes!
And no!
Stupid humans indeed.
Java Bean: “Ayyy, I had to go to the vet a couple of weeks ago for my ears! I was so scared I spent the whole time in Dada’s lap! And I am not a lap dog.”
Lulu: “Well, you’re kind of a lap dog.”
Java Bean: “I’m more of a next-to-the-lap dog.”
Lulu: “Good job picking up the trash that the humans left behind. I don’t suppose there were any chips left in it for you to eat … ?”
No chips, just the trash. That’s so many ways wrong!
P. S. Hope your ears are better, Bean.
Beautiful blooms. I love pussy willows.
Me too but have never seen them in someone’s garden before. I was practically giddy!
Elsa, that was a lot for you and Mom to deal with. We are glad all is well now. You and your new brother found us some pretty flowers. Thanks for sharing. And yes, Mother Nature sure has been in a bad mood lately.
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
Thank you for swinging by. Hope Lightning is feeling better. We’ve been hoping he’s better. Hugs and tail wags.
Glad you’re doing fine again, Elsa.
Thank you. That makes both os us!
We have been in a cold rainy snap that is to change next week for the better. Finally. Warm March but cold April so far!
Here’s to a warming trend arriving shortly. After lovely dry temps and clear blue skies all week, it’s kinda cloudy and drizzly today. But that beats yesterday’s nasty winds. Enjoy the weekend.
WOWZERS – beautiful signs of Spring there – we’re still WAITING WAITING WAITING for some warmer weather (and less wind and more sun) before we will REALLY become “Springified”. We do have a few signs but until things change it’s kind of “on hold”. The azaleas have NEVER taken this long to bloom – there are buds but no blooms…..and same with the dogwoods – buds and no blooms…..it’s depressing! HOWEVER at least we haven’t had two feet of snow and earthquakes like SOME on this side of the USA have had! So happy to read that Elsa is doing well after she was sprung from the vet (wow on that office by the way!)…….sending HUGGIES to all.
Love, Teddy (and Mom too)
Thanks. ‘Springtime conditions’ on the East Coast sure have me scratching my head. Today is resembling your windy, cloudy weather. I forget how lucky we are to have so much sunshine and it really affects me on cloudy days. Not used to it at all!
Yes, that vet office is top drawer all around and the staff are truly amazing. I was so lucky they took such great care of Elsa and all the other pets who were there. It helps to make those serious treatments easier on a nervous mom’s mind. Have a terrific weekend-we hope spring starts to descend on your landscape soon.
Lovely spring blooms!! Our weeping cherry tree is just starting to show up with buds…if it stays cold and wet, they’ll be fine, if it warms up and then chills down again the poor bees will not get their gig pollen./nectar fix…we;ve had some typical yo-yo weather here too. At least we didn’t get a big dump of snow like some folks did.
We don’t have a pussy willow tree/shrub, but there are plenty about a mile from here, down by the creek.
Soon it will be pollen season here….UGH. Allergies are so annoying. At least my meds are effective, which is way better than years ago when I didn’t know what to do with myself sometimes.
Glad the vet peeps deemed you healthy, Elsa. It’s always good to get good reports!
Yes, we’ve been praying hard for a good report. Whew. Now we’re praying for some moisture though with the wind we had today, I don’t see anything happening any time soon. Oh well.
Riley: Elsa, I’m glad you get to lay up on the sofa. I think it’s our constitutional right. Wilson sounds like a foreigner, so maybe not him.
Chia: I’m stoic going to the vets, I’m stoic! XOXOXOXOX *wags and more wags*
Xena: Chia, you don’t even know the meaning of the word. You’re a happy, crazy dog at the vet, the same way you are most of the time around here….wanna play?
Amy: I grew up with a pussy willow tree in the backyard in PA. I always liked it. That’s definitely one!
Thanks everyone! You stick with me, Riley. We’ll live the life of Riley (if you know what I mean.
Your Colorado pal,
Elsa 🐾
BOL! *wag* Riley
I’m so glad Elsa has a clean bill of health. Great news. The photos of the flowers are beautiful, Monika. Well done.
Many thanks, John. We hope she stays well after all she’s endured, she deserves some peace and quiet. Have a lovely weekend.
… always enjoy being able to eavesdrop on your walks. The three of you contribute lovable and learnable material that I truly appreciate. Thank you.
We get the whole “blowing away thing” we’re expecting strong wind here too!
What beautiful Spring blooms you found!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
Thanks Rosy and Sunny. We hope you guys stay anchored!
Spring has GOT to win in the end… whenever that will be is anyone’s guess. 🌷🪻
The arrival date seems to be ‘influx.’ 😁
Blossoms! You have all sorts of blossoms! And I adore pussy willows. Haven’t seen many around anymore. They used to be everwhere.
Tulips! You’re just being mean now 😉 And I appreciate your lovely share. Really I do. What I wouldn’t give for some colour to break up all this damn WHITE.
Happy Friday to ya!
Sorry about the flower show. We’ve been disappointed there have only been that orangey red and the yellow mix. No pinks, whites or purples. I’m sure your spring will arrive soon. 🤞🏻
Nah, don’t be. They are so lovely!! Maybe the pinks and purples are yet to come?
Spring is coming… just on its own agenda!
Me thinks the box stores are limiting colors on bulbs like they e been doing on annuals. Rather sad IMO. Here’s to spring! 💐
That’s not cool. Maybe it’s time to do some on-line or catalogue shopping to get some extra colours! Spring!
Yeah, I tend to frequent small local greenhouses. This has been a trend for the past few years-I’d rather spend a few extra bucks for the unusual than plain blah-ish plants. 😊
Good on you. The big box stores may be cheaper but they also ensure that everyone has the same thing! I’m like you. It’s worth the extra to get the original!
We are happy for you that you are done with the vet for a while. None of us like to go there either, even though they are nice people. Mom always had a no dogs on the furniture rule, but when Bailie moved in, she insisted on being on the furniture and Mom gave up on the rule. Now we all enjoy being on it. If it was new still, then maybe she would mind. Have a fun weekend, and don’t blow away!
Thanks for the well wishes, we’re gonna do our best to keep from blowing away. The dogs on furniture rule is somewhat of a joke around the Ranch. I too often sit on the floor while the dogs occupied both ends. With Wilson being a bit possessive of me around Elsa, I decided to at least try to enforce it and correct him whenever he gets up. With Elsa and all her recent health issues, I just gave up, hoping she was at least comfortable despite injuries, etc.
Have a great weekend-presumably there’s still some snow for you guys to romp around in?
Sending Elsa lots of warm, healing thoughts!
Thanks, she continues to amaze me with her ability to heal. I swear that girl is as tough as nails. Have a great weekend.
Elsa has a clean bill of health…yay!🙂 I am absolutely sure those folks at that vet office will miss having such a good patient…because I am sure there are other patients who are quite the opposite. I haven’t seen any Pringles “in bloom” just yet, but I will certainly keep my eye out. We try to pick up after others…it would be nice if that wasn’t a thing (sigh). The sun has finally returned after a week of rain…so we shall gladly live with the cooler temperatures for this weekend. 70’s by Tuesday! Have a great weekend!
Thank you, Bruce-even her regular vet comments on how easy she is to treat and never gives them trouble drawing blood or getting injections. She’s really a sweetheart who just happens to think rules don’t apply to her. 🤣 Enjoy a nice dry weekend.
Good to see that blossom…let’s hope the winds don’t ruin it.
Glad Elsa has escaped from the vets….I had a dog years ago – Soldier – who would get his four paws on the door frame of the vet’s office….
Thanks Helen. Elsa has such a zen personality at the vets-probably more zen than me! You gotta give those stoic dogs lots of credit.