Wilson: Hey Mum, you know it’s Friday, right? It’ll be my second day of visiting patients and staff at the hospital but I wanted to know if we’re still going to try to participate with the Nature Friday posts from our friends over at Adventures of the LLB Gang without the Ninja?The Mom: Well…I thought we should at least try but I doubt our posts will be nearly as entertaining. Would you be up for it? I’m sure Elsa would like that. Just know some days will be easy and some will be harder. That last sentence is more of a note to myself than to you, House Pony.
Wilson: You do know that I miss her even if I’m more than enjoying having you all to myself. Is it wrong for me to be selfish?
The Mom: No, I understand, House Pony. She was a special girl and while she had her quirks, she was quite unique in her own way that made her truly adorable. I was always rooting for her to succeed as a dog-it just took a little longer after enduring such adversity in the puppy mill.
Wilson: I can’t imagine what she endured. But I do have to wonder, if you loved her more than me?
The Mom: No, sweet boy. She and I just had a slightly different connection-she was basically feral when I got her and needed lots of love and care. You know I loved you as well.
Wilson: That’s reassuring but you do know I’m worried about you. You seem so sad at times…that’s why I feel like I have to smother you with love.
The Mom: I know. It’s okay…well except when I wake up and can’t breathe easily because of it. But I do understand. You’re a sensitive chap and true blue loyal which are some of the many qualities I love about you. So what kind of slices of nature did you find this week to share?
Wilson: Right-o. I’ll give it a try but without her unique slant, I think you’re right, it’s not going to be nearly as entertaining. Let’s start with a couple of pics taken earlier this week now that some of the early spring flowering bulbs have begun to appear. Just look at this lovely Scilla luciliae specimen (aka squill). It’s part of the Asparagaceae family and its common name is Bossier’s glory-of-the-snow after the Swiss botanist, Pierre Edmond Bossier. Sometimes it’s referred to as Lucile’s glory-of-the-snow, as an homage to the botanist’s wife. After this early spring bulb blooms, it goes dormant until the next spring and originally came from western Turkey. It is a low-maintenance naturalizing bulb that can be found in zones 3 to 8. I know you like low-maintenance and was surprised you don’t have any in your garden. Their blossoms have a white center with blue or violet petals and the stamens are flat and clustered in the middle of the flower.
The Mom: It’s lovely, Wilson. You know how partial I am to blue flowers and this is a pleasant change from yellow daffodils that are beginning to bloom. I like how it naturalized between the fence post and sidewalk. Isn’t it fascinating that there weren’t any other flowers like it nearby. I keep asking myself why I haven’t planted any before too. So far, I haven’t got a good answer to that.
Wilson: Well maybe this autumn you’ll remember to add some. You know I was just about ready to ask about how is it that Nature is so selective and surprising when it comes to placement of some plants.
The Mom: It’s one of those botanical mysteries, I guess. But it never ceases to amaze me how Nature arbitrarily decides for something to appear out of nowhere.
Wilson: Boy, you can say that again. Nature really knows how to surprise gardeners. Speaking of surprises, did you see that yellow magnolia tree blooming in the next block up from our house? Talk about being pretty. Hard to believe it’s blooming in March especially considering the temperatures were just shy of 80ºF (26ºC) yesterday. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.
The Mom: I know! The temperatures have been crazy warm for March and uncharacteristically dry. March and April are the two snowiest months and all we’ve had around the Ranch is wind, wind, oh and more wind. Everything is parched and spring bulbs are flowering earlier than usual. I’m surprised any bulbs are blooming without winter moisture. Guess flowering bulbs somehow manage to be quite adaptable when conditions aren’t ideal. No wonder they’re so popular.
Wilson: When we were on one of our long walks a couple of days ago, I noticed the pussy willow blooms were beginning to change. Those fuzzy nubs are starting to flower. When I looked them up to find out more about them I discovered those nubs are insulation from cold temperatures before these yellow flower bloom. It’s like finding two different plants in one shrub. What a fascinating morphing. Soon the plant will be leaving out and look completely different. We probably won’t even notice it much then.
The Mom: You may be just right about that. It’s a real striking shift from the throws of winter to spring and finally toward its summer look. Again, Nature is full of surprises.
Wilson: Well that’s all I have for this week. I gotta get ready to go back to Lutheran and visit folks. Yesterday was a fun packed day and lots of folks seemed to enjoy our visit. It was the first time I got to train a new applicant who is bringing her dog into the program. She shadowed me as I visited patients and staff. It was a long day but I enjoyed it. How about you, Mum?
The Mom: It was a long day but a nice diversion to establishing a new normal. You and I both passed out early. Hopefully today will be less packed but it felt good bringing a bit of joy to others. You did good, House Pony. Let’s hope today goes as well.
Wilson: Thanks, Mum. I’ll do my best today…as long as I’m with you, I’ll be ok. I’m just glad I don’t have to have another bath any time soon. We hope spring has sprung where you live and you are able to get outside and enjoy finding lots of signs of spring. Wishing everyone a terrific weekend. I see that WordPress acted up on some of the spacing. Doggone it, I relied on the Ninja to make this stuff look right. Hopefully next time I’ll do a better job. For now, please accept my apologies. I may be a trainer for pet therapy but it seems obvious that I need to my own training to account for the vagaries of blogging.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
We think you and your mom did a great job on this postie, Wilson and we believe that sweet Angel Elsa was smiling at you both, that you did create a postie, even if it didn’t feel the same as when she was still here on our planet. We can see her shining through effurry flower you posted, especially when they bulb up unexpectedly💞Double Pawkisses for a Happy Day to the both of you🐾😽💞
Thanks Stippie and Peachy. You’re so right, unexpected flowers spell E-L-S-A all over them.
Deerest Wilson you did pawtastick with this blog post! No wurriess eer frend! Those Scilla flowerss ae so purrty! An THE Pussywillowss are lovelee two!
Miss Monika wee hope you are feelin a bit bettur….wee nsoe it iss furry furry diffycult. Wee miss Elsa so much two…
~~~head rubss~~~BellaDharma~~~ an {{hugss}} BellaSita Mum
Aww, thank you. hopefully we’ll begin to find ‘our voices’ soon.
We love you, Wilson. We love you, Miss Monika. Keep on keepin’ on! XOX Xena, Chia, Lucy and Mom Amy
Thanks, guys. Appreciate your loving support.
Java Bean: “Ayyy, flowers around a post! The perfect peemail server!”
Lulu: “You boy dogs and your fascination with things like posts and trees. Not nearly as classy as the Ninja.”
Java Bean: “But still fun!”
A fence post with a beautiful bulletin board, eh, Bean?
You’re doing a wonderful job sweet Wilson, looking after your mum and bringing smiles to people 💕🐶 We wish you both a wonderful weekend and send love and hugs across the miles ❤️💫 xxx
Aww, thank you. He’s definitely doing his level best to put a smile on my face and everyone else that he meets. Hugs and tail wags from your friends in Denver.
Good job, Wilson getting Mom out to experience the spring colors. Cheers to the comfort you bring to each other … and now it’s your time to shine as a therapy dog. 🙂
As we know, March is naturally bonkers – and to think we hit 80 yesterday … which makes no sense to me.
Thank, Frank. You’re so right, the weather is getting weirder by the month. What used to be ‘normal’ is anything but now. Have a good weekend.
It’s tough finding a “new normal” when one of the gang has become an Angel…..but it seems that we CAN do it with time. Wilson sure is making a good go of it! We love the beautiful Spring flowers and I’m thinking The Ninja wanted you to see them and remember the beauty of Spring will remind you of the beauty of love and memories of her along with them.
Hugs, Pam and Teddy too
Thanks, Pam and Teddy. A new normal is going to have lots of ups and downs for a while. Being back at the hospital and bringing smiles to folks was a good start and Wilson absolutely shined at it.
March is weird around here, too.Right now at 230am it’s still 67F!! And more warm tomorrow, and then a stormy Sunday might and we might see snowflakes on Monday, Whoa!
Those Scilla are big ones. We have oodles of them all over our yard, but they are quite tiny .Yours must be a cultivar, and ours the ‘originals’.
We only have two crocus plants, even though there used to be all kinds of them that I planted. They must be yummy for some critters, Sigh…
You did a great job Wilson, Angle Elsa taught you well. And it’s good to do ‘normal’ kinds of things to help ease all the sadness you and your Mom are feeling. It’s so hard when things won’t ever be the same, but you , Wilson, will help your Mom with your comforting lovable-ness!
Hugs to you both!
Many thanks, Ingrid. Yes, the weather is weird indeed and likely to continue into the super weird category. There are different kinds of Scilla-there are a lot more of the tiny variety around here too and are a paler shade of blue. I really like the Bossiers because of their vibrant color. Squirrels seem to nosh on my grape hyacinths-luckily they are hardy and prolific.
It’s good to hear from you guys again. We know first paw how difficult it is to lose a precious, loved family member. For us, the blog is kind of therapeutic even though trying to blog with a huge part of is missing brings Moms to tears. You and your mom will be a super pair and will get through this tough time together which will build your bond even more. Hugs to you both, and enjoy the spring flowers.
Thanks, Joy. We both have to take each day, one at a time. ❤️🩹 Thoughts of comfort being sent your way.
You know who surprises gardeners? Squirrels! We have crocuses blooming in unusual places! You did fine House pony. Good job taking care of mom.
Many thanks, Martha. Squirrels…the bane of Wilson’s existence. 😆
Hey Wilson, I’m sure glad you posted today, I was hoping you would. I know it is not quite the same without your sweet Elsa but ya done good! You found some pretty flowers too.
You’re too kind, Terry. Thank you. Here’s hoping you enjoy a terrific and flower filled weekend.
Great job, Wilson! Glad you are taking care of your mum, keeping her mind busy and helping bring smiles to others. Healing comes in all forms. Rest well and have a good weekend. xx 💜
Thanks Eliza. These past couple of days he’s been making lots of people happy while still keeping an eye on me. 😉
🥰
Wait what? 80?!!!!
That is absolutely nuts. We got up into the high 60s and I was thinking how crazy THAT was, but wow!
As for Mother Nature, she’s always surprising us with something or other. Just so long as the something or the other is higher temps or beautiful blues and yellows come early, that’s just fine with me. But when she starts huffing and puffing and blowing the cold weather back in overnight so that it goes from 68 to 30? Me no like.
Job very well done mama and son. Wilson, you know your big sister would be needling you, because she loved to do that. But you also know that she loved you very much. She would be proud.
Yup, almost 80 (it was 78 the last time I looked at my weather app-early afternoon). That’s just crazy for March! I personally love spring storms. They come in with a vengeance, dump a lot of moisture, leave quickly and melt fast. 😉 And we could sure use a good soaking dump about now.
That is!
Yeah those are just fine. Give us some weather with which we can make a nice home cooked meal and watch a movie under the blankets . . . and then vamoose.
Bless your hearts, I know almost exactly how you feel. It’s been more than 3 years now without Ducky; and there are still times when I feel like I can’t swallow the water I just drank. It will never be the same. But, I have the Z Kids and they get me through the rough spots as well as the easier ones. And the two of you have each other. You know you can always call me if you want to just chat, right? I’m here for you, even if we are 100s of physical miles apart.
I can’t even remember the last time I posted anything on “inmyheart4ever.” I just haven’t felt like it. I’ve been in one of those “funks” lately. But I enjoyed this one…no, it’s not the same without “the Ninja” but it’s a good one just the same. Don’t worry about the quirky stuff that WordPress does … I just read right past it, as I’m sure many of our fellow bloggers do. There are far more important things to do – like smelling the flowers and listening to all the birds singing.
Have a good weekend! Hope we all have some nice, slow, steady rain that can penetrate the hard-as-rocks dirt. But at night after we’ve had a nice, sunny day. 😉💐🌦️
Thanks, Sue. Anyone who’s lost a special dog gets it. It just takes time. Here’s hoping you receive some nice rain and a good weekend.
What a good job you did today Wilson…We agree, Elsa did put a special spin on Nature Friday, but you and your Mom did a great job of finding some beautiful nature!
xoxo,
Rosy, Sunny(and Mama Beth)
Thanks Rosy, Sunny and Mama Beth. Spin is a nice way of putting it and that description made me smile so many thanks for that. Have a good weekend.
I am so happy you have each other for comfort and to keep each other company.
I absolutely love yellow magnolia and cannot believe you already have blooms. And pussy willows are another of my faves. Very cool to capture them in two different stages!
Happy Friday to you and extra hugs send your way.
Thanks, dear Dale. We’re trying to be there for each other. I have only seen pink and white magnolia’s so the yellow always surprises me. I love pussy willow nubs, the flowering part is rather interesting if not a bit disconcerting, especially when they’re mixed together.
Two is better than one. Especially when one is soft and cuddly. There is a new little magnolia around the corner. And I cannot remember where, there is a huge one somewhere!! It is rather weird to see the nubs mixed in with the flowers – I now remember seeing these flowers and I did not know they were once the pussy willows. Will be paying attention if spring could spring already.
I’ve walked past that shrub/tree for years and had never noticed the flowers in the past. I only remember the pussy willow nubs-they’re just too adorable to not notice them.
That’s too funny. I so love pussy willows – they are tiny fluffy bits of joy.
Yup…you nailed it!
A sweet post, Monika and Wilson. We miss Elsa, but you guys gave it a go and more power to you. Those blue flowers were very special. I have a magnolia with white flowers, so the yellow ones were different to me. Thanks for pointing them out. As a kid, I was always sad to see the pussy willows fade. I knew it was necessary, but still seemed sad in a way. I hope your visit today is joyful.
As always, you’re too kind. Thank you. I had never seen a yellow magnolia before this tree started blooming a few years back, only being aware of the white or pink ones too. It’s kind of different but very pretty when the sky is bright blue and clear. Hadn’t realized that pussy willows flowered after the fuzzy nubs appeared. It does seem sad since those buds are so iconic and the flowers are so un-pussy willow like.
Here’s hoping you have a good weekend.
Elsa was a beautiful special girl, we love her still and share the grief with you. It’s so empty when they must leave us, they leave a void. Wilson you are so handsome and a good boy. Take care of Mama’s heart now, help her heal the way you do with other patients
LeeAnna
Thanks. He’s doing his best. It just takes time to fully navigate the grief process.
What a fun post! Loved reading this. So happy spring weather is starting to come back!
Thank you for swinging by and leaving a comment. Our previous Nature Friday posts were penned by Elsa who recently earned her wings. We’re trying to figure out how to make this weekly post fun and educational. Wish us luck-I think we’re gonna need it. 🙂 Have a good weekend.
Thanks to Wilson and his mom for bringing us these lovely signs of spring from the neighborhood, we love hearing from you!
We’re trying to map out a new normal. It seems weird and we’ll likely have ups and downs until I figure it out and develop a rhythm. Writing this post was a lot like walking with a broken heel-definitely out of sync. Wishing you a lovely weekend.
wow spring is in your area… wish your ninja girl could enjoy it with you… we can not wait to wear t-shirts… oh wait… dogs wear no t-shirts right?
Thanks, I so wish she could enjoy it too. It’s just not the same without her-she was such an amazing muse…Wilson is sweet but not nearly as entertaining as the Ninja. Unless you like bathing bucking broncos. Here’s to t-shirt weather arriving soon in your village.
Nice to see you back. We missed you, and the ninja as well. I bet Wilson is doing a fantastic job at the hospital. Gracie doesn’t have to be bathed for any of her visits. I guess that’s a hospital thing?
Oh wow, you’re so lucky not having to bathe Gracie every visit. This was my alternate month where I bath him myself and just did a few snips to clean him up and trim those staggeringly eyelashes. I think it’d be easier bathing a bucking bronco.
Thank you. I’m not 100% sure about blogging without Elsa. She had such an entertaining personality…me and Wilson…not so much. We certainly don’t have that Ninja zing. We’re still trying to find our voice. Sigh.
Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Picking up the new foster this weekend, one of the ones dumped at the spay/neuter clinic. Should be interesting. And I take Gracie to the groomer once a month for bath and clips. She wouldn’t be tough to bathe, but clipping a cavalier isn’t in my wheelhouse! Keep on blogging…you’ll find your new voices over time
Those fosters truly won the kitty lottery. I only wish I could afford to take Wilson to the groomer every month so I need to do him myself in the alternate months. I’ve never had big dog who objected to baths as much as he does. Makes life really interesting, to say the least. 😉
Gracie is pretty good about baths, and at 14 pounds she’s not much of a handful anyway!
Wilson is almost 80 lbs. and has effectively learned how to use his size to his advantage.
We are looking forward to warmer temps (please without the wind!) starting tomorrow. Well, today is 61 so maybe that’s good too. Your flowers are lovely and we all miss the ninja! She always added some spice to the narrative!
Yeah, her presence brought such fun to Friday. Sadly today’s post had neither fun or spice. Sigh. Have a good weekend.
It was wonderful. The gift was spring flowers.