Good Friday morning everyone…even though it feels like the day is practically gone. Elsa here. Mom has spent several hours trying to fix some of her technology and sort out some issues in WordPress and has been muttering and grousing for the past few hours about how tech is conspiring against her. I’m not sure what’s going on (I’m a Ninja, not Steve Jobs) but she’s pretty exhausted and very frustrated so I’ll apologize for her right up front. Hopefully, she’s resolved the issues and you’ll be able to see our post. As the House Pony says, “Sometimes you’re the dog, sometimes you’re the hydrant.” I think today qualifies for being a hydrant. As always we’re joining the fur kids from Adventures of the LLB Gang for their Nature Friday blog hop. Be sure to click on the link to see what others have shared.
Wilson: Cheerio mates, yes what my sister just said above is quite true. I’m trying my level best to make Mum not so miserable but then some other link breaks, or the passwords needed to be changed and all sorts of falderal and she has been holding her head a lot for the past few hours and moaning. Even tech products that work 99% of the time seem to have abandoned her and been über vexing. Let’s hope she takes a few deep breaths and things will start to look better. In the meantime, how about some photos from around our neighborhood?
Elsa: Good idea, Pony. What’cha got?
Wilson: The weather has been quite changeable since the weekend. It rained all Mother’s Day and put the kibosh on a planned outing to a favorite public garden nearby. But we have managed to make lemonade from the lemons since the flowers are blooming nicely. The Alliums and Poppies have exploded with gorgeous blooms and the bees sure seem to enjoy them. I’ve been tracking those flying bugs and I think I might have figured out how to capture one or two of them.
Elsa: Ok, listen. to. your. Big. Sister. Stay away from the flying raisins with stingers! They bite back and, I hesitate to break it to you, but you’re not a Venus Fly Trap. Last thing Mom needs right now is a trip to the vet’s office because you got stung on the nose or tongue. Got it, Bucko?
Wilson: I’ll try to keep that in mind but they kind of remind me of squirrels and I just can’t seem to help myself although Mum’s constant training sessions about self discipline on going after squirrels has shown definite improvement. I want to please Mum so I’ll try extra hard, Ninja.
Elsa: Mom and I have seen those Alliums on our walking route too. It seems to have been a very good year for Alliums and I’m sure the recent showers have been a good thing for them and all the plants in the garden.
Wilson: Mum had wanted to share some images of last weekend’s Northern Lights from some of her Facebook friends and received permission to share them just this morning since she couldn’t see them from our Ranch. Look how amazing they were; talk about a visual treat. These photos are courtesy of Carrie Back-Edwards from Indian Hills.
Elsa: Whoa, those are fabulous and far more interesting than all the hype associated with the recent eclipse. So what other pics did you guys find on your walks?
Wilson: We came across a blooming cactus that was quite exquisite. Most cactus gardens are kinda boring here but this one particular garden was professionally installed and this little guy is nicely nestled near a big rock. The entire bed is full of xeriscape plants and has amazing diversity and color. This little fella is fairly small and Mum thinks most people probably overlook it.
Elsa: Bet you tried to sniff it, didn’t you?
Wilson: Um…I started to, but Mum reigned me in so technically, I didn’t sniff it. But not because I didn’t want to.
Elsa: You and that honking big nose. It’s gonna get you in trouble yet!
Wilson: Can’t help myself. When you have a nose like mine, you are tempted to use it for what it was designed to do. Can I help it if it’s on the large side?
Elsa: Large? Ha, Mom should have called you Jimmy Durante! So what else do you got, big guy?
Wilson: We pass by this shrub rose all the time and Mum was quite surprised to see that it started blooming. Actually she was fairly gobsmacked! It’s far too early for roses to be blooming.
Elsa: Nice. Again, I caution you about sniffing around this plant. See those thorns. They don’t go well with big noses.
Wilson: Thanks for the head’s up; I’ll keep that in mind. Not too far away from that shrub rose Mum found this beautiful Snow Anemone. The white petals looked like they were illuminated from within. Talk about glow-ey!
Elsa: Although I know it kind of looks like Mother Nature switched some lights on, it’s probably just a glitch in the metering on the camera. Still, it’s kinda cool. Looks very woodland-ish…something we don’t really have a lot of around our arid landscape.
Wilson: Well that’s it for now. We better wrap this up and post it before the day is completely shot.
Elsa: We hope you are able to get outside this weekend and check around for all the beauty Nature leaves us if we only look closely. Have a great weekend and remember, don’t sniff the thorny roses.
Live, love, bark!
Some WP blogs drive me nuts in that I have to go through all kinds of hoops to make my comment…and I have to use a different browser or I get kicked off, even though I am logged in. Phooey!
So far, since my own WP blog is out a copy’ paste of our blogger blog, I haven’t had any issues…yet…
Sometimes they change things in bloggerland, too…like how to put the images in there…argghhhh!
The other day my GIMP program wasn’t liking me either…but somehow I figured it out…I hope!
Tech can be such a PAIN sometimes!
You sure had lovely nature to show us this week. The northern lights were visible here, but I missed them…sigh…
Thanks- we were lucky. Some interesting plants ate in bloom right now. Spring has been quite lovely this year. Must be the moisture. We couldn’t see the lights from my house but a friend of my daughter’s was willing to let me share hers. When it comes to things in the sky, I can’t seem to get pics. Too much light pollution I suspect living in the center of the city.
Recently I’ve had to completely log into Blogger whenever I leave a message. I had to switch browsers and now this logging in hiccup is annoying…in a first world sort of way. Technology across the board has vexed me this past week or so. You’d think it shouldn’t be this hard. 🙄 Hope technology starts to cooperate more.
What gorgeous flowers you see on our walks! And those northern lights…wowzers!! Wilson, we noticed you actually used something called idioms (not to be confused with idiots, BOL! Elsa has taught you well.
Elsa: Trust me, he’s still an idiot. BOL
Tech problems definitely can ruin a whole day! Glad it all got sorted.
Those blooms are gorgeous but especially the snow anemones. Wow! Wow! Wow!
I’ve got a whole bunch of plants to plant. This weekend is a three-day one for us and it is traditional to get the veggie garden going because at this point… usually… it’s safe!
Have a fantabulous weekend!
Thanks, I’m a big fan of anemones anyway but the white ones just seem to glow in shady areas. White gardens are so under-rated. Enjoy your 3-day weekend which, hopefully will permit you to handle all the planting. I worked in my garden yesterday planting a few veggies myself. Hopefully I haven’t jumped the gun but think the cool mornings and sunny days will be perfect to give them a good start. Happy gardening!
They really do! Wonder if they’d grow in my plot in front…
I finally cut my grass… I can only “no-mow-May” so long!!
I picked up a few more items and am just about to start digging and planting.
There is something very therapeutic about digging in the dirt. That luscious scent of damp soil…it really touches my soul. Have fun. Anemones can be cold hardy (check out https://www.coldclimategardening.com/2019/07/25/canada-anemone-my-frenemy/). Enjoy your day and R&R tomorrow. 😉
Oh, absolutely. I’m bone-tired and there is still stuff to do but it was a nicely paced day.
Oh… I think I shall skip the anemones!!
Tomorrow will be more work in the garden but there is way less than there was 🙂
Gotta eat that elephant on bite ya time wow you know it, your garden will end being in lovely shape. 🧡
True thing! 🧡💞
Wow! Great photos ~ sky shot awesome ~ thanks, love the doggies ~ hugs,
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in yours days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Thanks so much, Carol. Appreciate your kind comment and also for swinging by the Ranch. We 💙 visitors.
I love thinking of “flying raisins with stingers.” That made me laugh out loud.
As for WordPress – all I can add is an “ugh” and an “I feel your pain.” I don’t know where they are trying to go, but the road is being paved with frustrated bloggers.
The photos are delightful, as is the conversation. Thanks for sharing both.
Thanks, Dan. You’re very kind. Like all platforms, none of them seems to want to interact well with the others. The bad part was they all decided to act up at the same time. I think I have the issues resolved but frankly I’m very concerned about what WP plans for the future. What they think is exciting usually translates into a colossal cluster.
Their track record lately is not great.
Beautiful flowers! I hope the tech stuff is working OK now.
Thanks Sue. You know technology…one minute it works and the next (and usually when you least expect it), it’s cantankerous. Everything seems fine. For now 😉
elsa N wilson…ewe both take de best fotoz 😺‼️🐶🐶 eye am knot
even a loud ta get neer a cameraz…let a lone uze it ‼️‼️‼️‼️tell
yur mom thanx for sharin theeze…..they troo lee iz awesum and yez,
mom nature iz aweum pawsum two 🌸🍀💙🐟 mackerull
You kids have the BESTEST and most BEAUTIFUL photos of Mom Nature’s masterful work decorating our world……!! My Mom says WordPress is a mystery – people complain about it all the time including her and we HAVE a WordPress blog so totally understand. Sigh. It’s always something right? Have a great weekend…..we all deserve a break. LOL
Hugs, Teddy
Oh gosh, Teddy…you make us blush with your kind words. Nature is something else…and a little like technology. You just never know what direction she will take you. Have a super weekend!
Java Bean: “Ayyy, we have quite a few of those little poky plants in the rock area out front! Dada is a big fan of them, for some reason.”
Charlee: “Maybe the flowers.”
Lulu: “You’d think Dada would be wary of plants that sharp, what with his notoriously accident-prone nature, but apparently not.”
Chaplin: “If Dada knew enough to stay away from stabby poky things, he wouldn’t be accident prone, would be?”
Oona: “Those Northern Lights are so cool. Why does Oona not have them here? Oona wants them! She will figure out a way to rotate the Earth to get them!”
Lulu: “Here we go again …”
Good luck with that, Oona. 🤣
Yes, WordPress can be frustrating, especially with all the changes. But hey, y’all sure found so many beautiful flowers! Have a super fun weekend.
Thanks, Terry for your always positive comment. Technology (be it WP or Blogger and social media sites) can be vexing. I just hopew we’re good for a long while. I do not want to have to relive the past few days. I’d rather be looking at pretty flowers. 🙂 Have a great weekend.
Kids, I totally get where mom is coming from. I have been the ‘hydrant’ more times than I care to admit when it comes to technology. I love the stuff, but it rarely seems to love me back in that same way.
The blooms they are a blooming!
Here’s to the weekend. May you all enjoy a great one at the ranch.
None of us think technology has been kind these days. No one wants to play nice and Mom is not feeling like she wants to talk to some youngster to solve a simple problem. They always make her feel old and stupid-two things no woman of her age wants to experience. We hope you have a swell weekend!
I can’t stand talking tech with younger people, because you’re right. They make me feel ancient!
Have a beautiful one kids
We will if you will. Yeah, those spunky little jerks…no thanks. I’d rather eat a bed spring I think.
I’m with you!
Such a beautiful post Elsa and Wilson. We loved the flowers and the Nothern Light. Amazing how beautiful it is when you can see it. They said we could see it too this time, but with this kind of weather we only see rain, fog and rain and when we can see something, it is light outside🙈Wilson you’re kind of Peachy, he has to stick his nose in effurrything too..ouchie😸😺Double Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend to all of you🐾😽💞
Thanks guys. One of these days his nosiness is going to get him in loads of trouble. We thought the Northern Lights were far more interesting than the recently eclipse and have never seen them this far south-what a gift! We hope you have a wonderful weekend.
What lovely flowers you found this week! We especially like the blooming cactus!
Supposedly, you could see the Northern lights all the way down here in ABQ…well, if it hadn’t been cloudy.
Have a pawsome week and thanks for joining us for Nature Friday!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
Thanks Rosy & Sunny. In addition to the light pollution, it was cloudy here too but the foothills and a bit farther north were alive with beautiful colors. We heard you could see the lights even as far south as Florida! Have a wonderful weekend in the Land of Enchantment.
WordPress…sigh! Some blogs work differently (from a commenting perspective) than others and I don’t know why. Northern Lights photos are astounding. Almost like a Photoshop photo! So perfect. I surprised that big honker on the house pony doesn’t get dinged occasionally.
It’s not just WP, it’s everything. WP and Blogger apparently are mortal enemies, Google doesn’t like Safari, Adobe hates everyone, and the simplest thing of changing a password becomes some kind of tech gymnastics to accomplish (does’t it Facebook 😵💫). Throw in two-step authentication, a vexing VPN and and it’s the perfect excuse for making a pitcher of margaritas, I tell ya!
🙁
Mom gets very cranky when we have Blog issues so we understand. Pretty flowers you found, this is the most colorful time of the year. Mom used to be a flight attendant and watched Northern Lights from the cockpit, she didn’t look for them this time.
From what folks around here posted on social media, they were quite amazing. But wow, to see them from a cockpit must have been really something! Here’s hoping the universe gets sorted out and stops being a pill for everyone. Have a lovely weekend.
I love the snow anemone! And yes, Chester also tries to eat the flying yellow and white raisins. Sigh….
Oh gosh, I hope he doesn’t get stung. I think that may be the only thing that curbs Wilson’s appetite for things that easily escape him.
I think your Mum probably believes the programmers at WP may be paid per change at this point. It seems we never know what to expect when you fire it up anymore. Tiring, to be sure. These are very lovely photos, Elsa & Wilson…and I’ll do my level best to take in all the similar sights we have around here this weekend without encountering any flying raisins…and certainly keeping my big nose outta places where it does not belong.😊👃
It was the perfect storm of chaos, not just WP-centric. Not that we’d be first in line to defend them these days. The Block Editor is a big gripe of our Mom’s and when she read about “exciting new changes coming in 2025” in an email this week she began to worry they’re going to ash-can the Classic Editor once and for all. Awk! Don’t know what she’ll do then. Block takes way too long to put out even the simplest post and Mom’s tried more than once to get on board with it…to no avail. Life is too short and WP is too expensive to have to tolerate such nonsense and brain pain.
Yes, Bruce…be sure to avoid the flying raisins and thorns. They both have a tendency to bite back. So much for the old adage, “stop and smell the roses, eh?” 🤣 Have a lovely weekend.
I feel your pain with WordPress — everytime I log in, it has a different look, which means somebody changed something …
Lovely walk around your neighborhood. And I’m glad somebody got to see the aurora borealis! One disadvantage to living on the west side of the metro area is that I get beautiful night views of the lights of the city — even when I’d rather see the northern lights. Small problems, though. Have a great weekend!
Thanks Amy. You’d think it wouldn’t be so hard. I’ve spent the past 3 days troubleshooting browsers and reestablishing connections. Ugh!
Yeah the city is nice for convenience but light pollution makes capturing some things in the sky impossible. Oh well, like you said…first world problems. Have a great weekend!
When one thing goes wrong with the tech it has a trail of other stuff behind it…..I was installing a VPN on Leo’s computer….it shut his down and threw mine off the internet! Language was colourful…..but prefer the colours of these lovely spring flowers!
Some days colorful language (and alcohol on the really bad days) are an absolute godsend. None of the various browsers, pages etc. talk nicely amongst themselves and they all neglect to say why. Here’s hoping the weekend is better technologically speaking for both of us. And don’t get me started about VPNs. The you’ll really hear some growling!
These are lovely images. Thanks for sharing the LLB site too.
Our pleasure. Those two pupsters at LLB share some amazing images from their travels. Have a super weekend.