Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday. Today is Valentine’s Day…the day of love. It’s been a helluva week for all of us. Both Mom and Wilson are exhausted after some very intense visits at the hospital, visiting tons of people and patients and Mom had multiple commitments every single day this week. On top of that she’s been trying to nurse-mate me to feel better. She’s took me to the vet again today and it looks like I have a mild case of pneumonia. Any POTP wishes you can spare would be greatly appreciated.
Please join us along with our friends from Adventures of LLB Gang as we celebrate Nature on this day of love. Be sure to click on the link to see what others shared.
Wilson: Mum especially loves it when she can find slices of wild nature in the depths of the city and not just on Valentine’s Day. Because I had hospital duty this week, that meant that I have to get bathed and groomed and Mum was in no shape to do it herself so she took me to the nice people at The Dirty Dog in Broomfield. Miss Sydney loves us sheepdogs and got me totally spiffed up. Everyone knows I don’t like baths but Sydney is very sweet to me and always she tells Mum I’m a good boy for her.
Elsa: Bet Mom would appreciate it if you’d be that as good for her as you are for Sydney. The last time she bathed you, she thought she was in a steer wrestling contest.
Wilson: I don’t know why I hate baths so much and I was sorry I got Mum and the bath totally drenched. I know with her sternum and now torn bicep, she couldn’t easily do me and like most kids, we tend to behave better for others than our own parents. Umm, sorry Mum. Anyway, Sydney trimmed me up and because of all the nasty dirty snow melting of late, my feet and legs were extra dirty. They had to give me multiple washing. Ugh. Luckily like all dogs, I live in the moment and soon forgot the torture. I was a happy boy at the hospital and brought a lot of joy to lots of doctors, nurses, staff and patients because I don’t discriminate…I love them all, even when it’s not Valentine’s Day. Heh, heh.
Elsa: Oh for crying out loud, you’re such a suck-up. So whaddya got to share this week that’s nature inspired.
Wilson: Well, while I was getting washed for the 87th time, Mom went hiking around the neighborhood after she met up with a rescue board member who lives up north. They were able to have coffee and catch about rescue matters and Mum dropped off some supplies. Afterward, Mum went to explore the nearby area. The Dirty Dog recently moved into a new space not to far from their old shop but it was a world away in terms of finding slices of nature.
Elsa: What the dawg are those furry creatures?
Wilson: Ha! Speaking of dogs, Mum said those are prairie dogs. Mum says they are a keystone species having a huge impact on the environment. Native to the grasslands of North America they eat various plants and are especially found in newly developed areas where humans are taking over their habitat. While not actually canines, they belong to the family of similar critters like marmots, chipmunks and are related to my nemesis, squirrels. You can imagine how sad I was to not be able to accompany her on that walk. I’d have shown those scurrying little varmints how fast I really am.
Elsa: You probably would have made those burrows a whole lot bigger. No wonder ranchers don’t like them because any horse or cow whose leg fell in one of those holes never ended well for livestock.
Wilson: Right you are! Those rodents make my life a living hell and I just can’t help myself trying to chase them down. Not sure what I’d do if I ever caught one, but Mum is very keen on keeping me as far away from them as possible.
Elsa: So where were those little cuties. I always love when the bark at us while sitting up on their mounds when we visit our Grandpa’s house.
Wilson: They were behind the Broomfield Depot Museum-a small unassuming little structure that was built in 1909 as a stop for train travelers. While Mum waited for me to get finished, she took a tour through it. It was one of the first steps that led to Broomfield being created as a regional city. Here’s a photo from their website since Mum forgot to take one herself.
Elsa: Nice building. Wow, look at this old bee hive that was out back. Very cool.
Wilson: The inside of the depot was pretty fascinating too. Just check out these photos from the living room and kitchen.
Wilson: Life must have been challenging for uprights back then but it looks like this place had all the conveniences of the time for travelers.
Elsa: Yeah, things must have been a lot different back then. Guess that makes us pretty lucky that we’ve got soft comfy beds, and modern conveniences like furnaces, running water, but don’t think much toast would be made around the Ranch with that appliance.
Wilson: Times were different back then. Next week we’ll finish up Mum’s visit to the museum with a special surprise she found near the beehive. We’re hoping today is a nice day after all the sub-zero temps this week but heard Winter is returning this weekend. It’ll be a good time for us to lay low, chill and catch up on our rest. You’ll forgive me if I hibernate to stay warm with this new haircut. Hope you all have a great weekend and if you can, get out there to check out what Nature shares with you.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Deer Miss Monika wee so sorry you have a torn Bye-cep now!! Wee have been outta THE loop alot. wee furry sorry….an sorry you are havin so much go wrong!!!
Elsa wee sad you has New-moan-ee-a two!
Mee iss sendin all mee POTP to both of you!!!!! BellaSita iss sendin white lite of healin.
Wilson mee gonna send you **smoochess** ’cause you were guud for Miss Sydney!
***purrss*** BellaDharma an ((huggiess)) BellaSita Mum
Thank you BellaDharma and BellaSita Mum. The bicep’s better now and our mom is getting better every day after being sick all week. We have a big wet storm coming on Tuesday but it sounds like it’s one of our typical spring storms which will make our mom happy. The official arrival of spring is 18 days and we’ve seen some early spring bulbs starting to wake up. The end of this ugly winter is near. Whew! We’re hoping you’ll be able to say the same thing soon. Stay well, safe and warm.
Like wrestling a bullock
Indeed. And I’m no longer strong enough to wrestle back enough to win.
My dogs hate baths too.
I’ve never seen a dog so anti-bath as Wilson. It’d be funny if he wasn’t as strong as a bull ox. 😵💫
Java Bean: “Here is your belated Valentine’s Day *BOOP*, Elsa, and some tail wags for you to be feeling better!”
Chaplin: “And also purrs from us cats!”
Lulu: “Wow, look at those prairie dog holes! I would have a field day digging in there. The holes are already 90% finished!”
Charlee: “Our Dada is fascinated by those old appliances. Apparently the stove one reminds him of a stove that used to be down in the basement at his Nana and Papa’s house …”
This pneumonia thing has been a hard illness to conquer so good POTP is most welcome. Many thanks.
Mom chuckled about Lulu’s comment-she thought of you guys going after moles. Those holes run long, some as much as 15 ft. They are pretty impressive.
All good wished for you and Elsa. I hope the rest of V-Day was good. I had to laugh a little at the thought of giving Wilson a bath.
Thanks Dan. Bathing Wilson is a nightmare when I have to do it at home. It takes twice as long to clean up the bathroom than to give him a bath…presuming I can actually wrestle him into the tub. Last time, I thought he was going to drown me and the room!
I can only imaging. Our dogs seemed to enjoy their baths, The only problem was Maddie didn’t like having a wet head. Even when we came in from the rain it was, “Dry my head!” She’d dry it on your pants if you didn’t get to it quickly enough. My wife would wash her head last, and put a towel on it immediately.
None of my dogs were ever keen on baths but Wilson has taken it to a whole other type of rejection. It’s not easy wrestling an 80 lb. dog in a wet tub and I stopped being a spring chicken a while ago. At least when I bath him at the dog wash, he’s tied down and the owner helps me get him in the tub. Always an adventure with sheepdogs. 🙂
A nice V day for sure.
Thank you. Hope yours was lovely.
Oh, Elsa, we’re putting our paws together for you to get all well soon. And Wilson, it’s better you weren’t there on a leash near those prairie dogs. You would have dragged your poor Mom after them.
Good observation. Mom was very grateful he wasn’t remotely near those prairie dogs. Her poor war torn body couldn’t have survived it!
At first, lots of POTP for Elsa. So tiny rodents dig so huge holes, they must love digging.
Broomfield House looks nice, I remember those typewriters.
Valentine’s Day here in Finland is a Day for a Friend, so it is not so romantic as there.
Many thanks for the POTP wishes. I’m hoping with the new medication, she fully recovers and gets her appetite back.
That burrow photo is a bit misleading. It’s only about 6 inches (15 cm) across and they can be 15 ft. long (4-1/2 m) with several chambers. I’ve always been fascinated with this curious little critters. Even their name is interesting. The Cynomys genus is derived from the Greek word for “dog mouse.”
That name“dog mouse” is interesting, they dig like dogs and look like mouses 🤔.
Exactly! I thought it was interesting to note. Here’s wishing you a wonderful weekend-we have fog today, something that’s rare here, so we think we’ll just stay inside today.
We have had freezing cold wind with about -8°C temperature, too cold for a walk.
Great photos. Happy Valentine’s Day! XO
Thank you. Hope you have a lovely Valentine’s Day weekend.
Such interesting photos today and I totally love your header pic. Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us!
Thank you, Terry. We hope you have a terrific weekend.
I am sorry to hear that you hate baths Wilson. They are good for you. Have fun with the prairie dogs and Happy Valentine Day Elsa and Wilson.
Thanks, Thomas. I tried but Wilson wasn’t convinced baths are a good thing for him. 😉 Wishing you a nice weekend.
Get well soon Elsa and please tell your Mom we loved all the photos in the blog today! My Mom loves seeing old train depots (I think she just likes old things because she’s also old…..HAHA). Hope you all had a nice Valentine’s Day with some treats and hugs and lots of LOVE.
Huggies, Teddy
Many thanks, Teddy. I’ve always had a thing for train depots and the older, the better. Here’s wishing you all a terrific weekend. Stay warm!
Sending get well thoughts and happy Valentine’s day wishes to all, have a restful weekend!
Many thanks, Lisa. We hope a quiet weekend will allow us both to turn the corner. Enjoy your weekend!
I have to send get well wishes to you and Elsa. It can’t be fun taking care of her when you aren’t 100% Happy Valentines Day to you and the ranch hands.
Thanks for such kind wishes, John. Appreciate it. I hope a relaxing/rejuvenating weekend is just what the doctor ordered to make us both feel better. Have a good weekend.
Sounds like the thing to do. 🤗
Wishing you a blessed and relaxing weekend Monika and sending love to you all with healing thoughts to you and Elsa too 💜💞🐾 xxx
Thanks so much, Xenia. We hope things start to improve for both of us. Have a lovely weekend.
Oh, Elsa, how pretty you look with the Valentine’s decor!
We hope you get better real soon, pneumonia? What a bummer:(
And we hope your Mom heals up too. How did she ever end up with a torn biceps? That must really hurt.Make sure you stay healthy Wilson, your Furmily needs you!
We have groundhogs here and gophers too…yes they make huge holes! But I, Benji, make even bigger ones, BOL!
We have about 6 inches of new snow on the ground…and more coming tomorrow night. UGH!
Thanks for the get well wishes. The bicep tear was the result of overcompensating on the broken sternum. Crazy, right?
Sorry about the snow forecast. We’re supposed to get some here too which is ok, it’s the bitter cold that is more troublesome. I’m over the cold. Stay safe and warm. Hoping the wrist is better?
I have a cast on it, likely for 6 t0 8 weeks…so its quite the hindrance, but at least it isn’t terribly painful…
And wouldn’t you know it…the snow thrower decided to go on the fritz just as we need it the most, go figure.
Oh no, sorry on both counts. I think that’s Nature’s way of saying you’re working too hard and to take the weekend off. Here’s hoping your 6-8 weeks goes quickly and is accurate. They told me the same thing about my sternum. Am currently at week 11. Sigh. Sending hugs and healing energy.
Sounds like the right idea for all of you to lay low and rest up this weekend. Take it easy and heal up soon!
I think it sounds like the perfect way to spend another cold and snowy weekend. Hope you have a good weekend.
Sternum and torn bicep??? That’s way too much. I hope you feel better soon, and Elsa too. Pneumonia is nothing to fool with. POTP to you both.
Many thanks, appreciate the POTP wishes. Have a good weekend. The doc reminded me the rib cage’s connected to the clavicle, the clavicle’s connected to the shoulder bone, the shoulder bone is…well you get the idea. Not funny, doc! 😉
Poor Elsa…thank goodness you have the best of care. Get well soon…..and whatever has happened to your mum…not just the sternum but a torn bicep! At least the worst that happened to Wilson was a long drawn out deep clean!
I am horrified to tell you that I do not only recognise most of the stuff in that house…but have used most of it in my time as well!
Thanks for the well wishes for both of us. Those museum items reminded me that I was stepping back in time. And I was good with that! Have a terrific weekend.
Sorry Elsa. Lots of hugs coming your way!
Many thanks, Kate. I hope she starts to feel better. It’s just not the same without my little mischievous Ninja. Have a great weekend.
Hope you feel better soon, Elsa. Being ill is no fun. We saw loads of those prairie dogs when we went to Wyoming and to Montana. They were all over the Badlands and the Black Hills. We had no interest in the buffalo or horned sheep but our eyes were glued to those prairie dogs. Boy did we want out of the car to chase them! Have a fun and relaxing weekend and Happy Valentines Day!
Thanks for the get well wishes. We just bet you guys could give those prairie dogs a run for their money! Hope you receive some snow this weekend.