Welcome to the first Friday of 2025. We hope you had safe and magical holidays.
Elsa here today and as usual, we’re joining our friends from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what others have shared. Now that the holidays are behind us, people are starting to get back to normal. Let’s see what’s happening in nature-less Denver. Nature-less you ask? You bet your sweet bippy, it’s nature-less. It’s drab and brown out there and truth be told, Mom and the land hippo brother of mine pretty much have had bupkus as far as nature photos go. The weather has been bone dry and windy…a double whammy on the urban landscape…so that’s why I’m calling this nature-less. With our windy conditions, nobody wants to go for walks to find if there is in fact, any nature worth sharing.
Wilson: Mum was so distraught about a lack of photos she even contemplated featuring previously posted photos. Gasp! I flat told her there was no way I could go along with anything like that. I think she grumbled something that sounded like “Go pound sand.”
Elsa: When she told me she was going to run repeats, I suggested to her why not feature some clever ways folks had use holiday lights in their gardens since it’s kind of an unwritten rule in Denver to leave the lights up until after the National Western Stock leaves towns (the show & rodeo is open from January 11 through the 26th). Not only did that go over like a lead balloon, as we walked the neighborhood yesterday on our walk, folks all over the neighborhood were taking down light displays and decorations. What. the. actual. dog!? The only things we saw tended to be brown, dead or both.
Wilson: {shuddering} No, we are absolutely not featuring any those dead things again. I had to put my paw down.
Elsa: Good for you. I’m kinda surprised you were able to convince her.
Wilson: Well, like you said, the wind makes people crazy. She was none too happy with me on our walk. I was shocked with some of her language, I mean I was just being a dog chasing squirrels and blowing leaves and she got all bent out of shape. Good grief!
Elsa: I tried to tell you the wind makes people and pets crazy. But man, dude…you gotta stop taking off to chase moving things especially in breezy conditions. The wind makes Mom very crabbish and having you act like some kind of deaf nutcase, well it only makes sense there will be some inevitable HBO howling.
Wilson: I guess so. She was pretty steamed at me and said I was at the top of her short list. I mean, I’m just a sweet floof…I don’t understand how she could be upset. By the way, what’s a short list?
Elsa: You don’t want to know. Just know it’s not good. When it’s as windy as it has been, there’s no accounting for how people and dogs act.
Wilson: Umm, I don’t know. I just can’t help myself. It’s gotta be the wind…I mean, what else can it be?
Elsa: {head shaking} You are such a dolt. You’re just lucky Mom had errands to run yesterday and drove past the park and saw all the birds on the lake and stopped to take a few pics.
Wilson: Whew…it’s not a great batch of photos but it’s better than posting photos of dead inflatables. With the wind blowing, you could see how it left frozen spots in the water. The geese looked like they were having a good time sliding around on the frozen parts. A few were swimming in the open areas but they still stayed huddled up closely in others. Check out the ice chunks forming.
Elsa: Makes you wonder why don’t they congregate closer to shore instead of being out in the middle of the lake. You gotta think they’d be warmer near the rushes.
Wilson: That’s what I thought! I really don’t understand ducks and geese. They seem to do odd things. Guess you have to make do with what you have. Me, I just snooze on a sofa or a dog bed to stay warm. I’m not an ordinary fool.
Elsa: Ha! I could say you’re an extraordinary fool since you brought it up, but I won’t.
Wilson: Umm, you say you won’t but then you did. That makes no sense.
Elsa: It’s not for you to understand. Just leave it at that and scoot over.
Wilson: Stop hogging all the blankets. However you pass the time these winter days, we hope you find something outside worth checking out. Have a jolly good weekend and stay warm.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
The dead things are depressing, not to mention they remind me of the New England Patriots -Gate dynasty. With one of the gates being those deflated footballs.
Elsa’s right about the odd habits of the geese with their winter swim. But let’s face it, if you’ve come face to face with these peeps, you realize they’re kinda shy when it comes to people. And I don’t says I blame them. As for that sweet floof Wilson- I’ve never heard that term- he’s got the right idea about the couch being a really good place to find yourself when the weather goes brrrrrr.
Stay warm peeps
Trust us, there’s not much shyness in the geese that live here full time. They can be downright aggressive. Guess when your feet freeze, you can become a colossal jerk. 🤣 I’m sure I would.
Bahahahaha!
I’ve had both, and the shy geese are preferable.
Yes, I think their behavior has context.
I think the nice/shy geese live in Canada. The mean ones migrated to Denver and never left. LOL
You too? LOL
Everyone thinks the Venezuelan gangs in Aurora are bad, but these guys are super mean in the nearby park lakes.
Wind is never kind to any inflatables, LOL!!!
Those geese! How they don’t freeze off their feet!?! Pretty pictures though!
Thanks. Some of nature’s creatures have amazing adaptive behavior, it truly is astonishing.
As for the wind, the only consolation prize is that it gives inflatables what they justly deserve. 😈
Java Bean: “Ayyy, brown and dead describes most of nature here right now, too! I’m starting to think it is never going to rain at all this winter!”
Rain? What’s that?
Well I’m always happy to see BIRDS – we have lots of them in our yards because we have woods (and feeders!) and I think they like to TEASE me when I’m sitting in a window watching them. That frozen lake doesn’t look very inviting though – BRRRR!
Hugs, Teddy
Birds entertain us, as well as remind us that there’s nature all around. They also play an important part of the entire ecosystem with a subtle reminder to treat it kindly. Such a lovely gift especially when we stop and pay attention. Have a great weekend!
Those are great photos. XO
Many thanks, Ellen. I guess the freezing wind was worth it to have something other than drab and brown. Stay warm this weekend!
Mee-yow what a BEEG sheepyskin youss’ have Elsa an Wilson. Mine iss small but till cozy 😉
Yore both lookin comfy aftur yore walk! It lookss furry chilley out on THE water! Geese an Duckss due not feel THE cold like us 4 an 2 leggedss?? No nervess inn feet ot sumthin like that?!?!
Happy nappinn mee frendss!
~~~head rubss~~~BellaDharma~~~ an (((hugss))) BellaSita Mum
We love that sheepskin rug-it’s sooo toasty warm. Trust us, it was bone chilling cold on the lake yesterday with that wind. Now please excuse us while we take a toasty nap. Hugs and tail wags.
Your fur-iends,
Elsa & Wilson 🐾
No wurriess Elsa an Wilson…it’ss nice to meow to youss’. Mee gonna nappy two!
💙 🫶🏻 💙
Those dead inflatables sure did make me laugh though. The geese looked like they were having a fun time. Y’all keep plenty warm!
We’ll do our best keeping warm, Terry. It’s weird seeing so many ‘dead’ inflatables after Santa’s visit. Almost makes us wonder if Santa really stopped by and now they’re pitching a fit by leaving those hideous things flat. 😆
MOL about the plastic puppets, Wilson and Elsa…thank Cat they haven’t blown away by the wind…well..in a way they have been😹😹 Although we like to see your pictures, you don’t need them. You both are great storytellers, so we can picture effurrything you said😸😸Double Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend to all of you🐾😽💞
Thank you for your kind comment. You’re too sweet. I’m not sure what’s worse, seeing those inflated or seeing them dead. 😆 We hope you all have a great weekend.
I love the deflated decorations!
They look so pitiful but almost better dead than inflated. 😈
Nice duck shots. You wouldn’t catch me waddling around in that cold weather but they have the feet for it unlike my tender tootsies.
Thanks. Their specialized feet and physiology plus down help insulate them. Hardy souls, they are!
What beautiful pictures of the lake, geese and ice!
Our Mama has also getting low on current Nature, and may be doing a few posts featuring older pictures for the rest of the month, so tell your Mama not to feel bad if she needs to also!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
Thanks, Rosy & Sunny. Unless you’re a hearty soul, getting pretty nature photos this time of year (especially in the city) is a real challenge. We’re hoping there’ll be snow to share soon. Have a great weekend!
The geese are floating around nearly frozen ponds here in PA too. I don’t know how they do that. They must be very well insulated! Happy new year, and have a good weekend. Nature will return at some point…
A friend of ours who raises ducks for their eggs says waterfowl species circulate blood through a countercurrent heat exchange, isolating the blood that flows in their legs rather than circulating it throughout their entire bodies and helps to keep their body temperatures higher. Birds also have specialized scales on their feet and legs that help minimize heat loss. Who knew? She also said they need access to water even though we may think it’s crazy to sit out in a partially frozen lake!
Amazing. I guess they have adapted to their environmental circumstances.
It’s a genius adaptation, that’s for sure.
Xena: Those geese are doing the miracle of walking on water!
Chia: It’s sunny and in the low 40’s here. I. Wanna. Go. Out!
Lucy: Mom won’t let me out in the dog lot without her. I’ve been labelled “stone eater.” *hangs head*
Thanks, Xena. I loved watching them walk and slide around. It reminded me of my favorite sport-hockey. LOL
Poor Lucy, don’t eat rocks sweet girl. They don’t have any nutrition for a girl like you.
And Chia, you’ll need a good coat to go out in cold weather. And so will your Mom plus she’ll also need good gloves!
Oh you two!! You are quite the pair! Like an older version of The Z Kids! 🤣🤣 But I love you both. Truth be told, I don’t understand ducks and geese myself at times; but I do love your Mom’s photos!!
They banter (or is it bicker) like an old married couple. Thanks for the kind comment. Seeing those birds on/in the water just sent another shiver down to my toes! Have a great weekend.
A dog’s gotta do what a dog’s gotta do. Wind is never pleasant to walk in (I know, I was out yesterday) and the cold… shiver me timbers! I have to add a layer for today’s walk, that is for sure!
Lovely to see you guys did make it out just for a bit. Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!
I’d prefer snow to any kind of wind. Stay warm and have a ‘wagnificent’ weekend.
Oh, me too. Right now we have a dusting of snow but the wind is blowing so… glad to find myself back inside after a lovely evening with my sweet girlfriends.
You guys made my morning! Seriously!
Awww, you make us blush, Carole. THANK YOU! Have a great weekend while you’re at it. 🫶🏻
There is always something good outside to checkout. Fun post.
You’re right-you’ll eventually find it once you get the hair out of your eyes and mouth. LOL Have a great weekend.
I noticed the jet stream was ripping through your area, stirring things up. Hang in there! 🌬️
Thanks Eliza. It’s been miserable. Everything is dried out…from the landscape to sinuses. It makes people very cranky. Have a great weekend. Hopefully we’ll get a spot of snow soon.
Wait, what it’s Friday already?? Happy New Year to you and your furry crew. 😘
I know, right? Having holidays in the middle of the week has disrupted my biorhythms like crazy! Talk about being out of balance. Our daily routines seems very weird. Have a terrific weekend.
the wind!!! it makes me crazy too! I picture the wind here with hands that grab your scarf, hat and cloves and try to carry them off
Hands, scarf, throat! It’s definitely no bueno.
We have had trouble taking interesting photos lately too. No snow, nothing really going on, it is rather boring. Have a good first weekend of 2025.
Thanks guys. We’re hoping for snow to at least change things up. Drab and brown don’t make for interesting walks outside. Have a pawsome weekend!
That made me look for a sweater, just seeing that lake!
Those thin layers of ice chilled me every bit as much as the wind rifling through the afternoon. We hope you have a good weekend, Helen.