Nature Friday ~ January 23, 2026

WilsonWelcome to the 2026 Snow Armageddon, otherwise known as Friday where we join our friends, Rosy and Sunny from Adventures of the LLB Gang. We first want to express our concern for folks in the direct line of this massive storm crossing the country from Albuquerque to New England and hope the power stays on to keep everyone safe and warm. While it’s chilly in the metro area, I don’t think it’ll be nearly as bad as some areas but flurries have started this morning. Because this storm is coming from the North, we likely won’t get much in the way of accumulated snow, but it will be cold, of that there is no doubt. Anyway, Wilson has a few pics and thoughts he wanted to share with you.

Wilson: What the bloody dog, Mum? I hope you plan on keeping me plenty warm this weekend. I just heard the forecast and you know how much of a fair weather. I so hope you’re well prepared.

The Mum: Umm, good morning to you too. Just so you know, we’re as prepared as possible but you need to remember that I don’t have any control about how cold it gets. We should be fine presuming the power stays on, buddy. I might even let you snuggle with me on the bed.

Wilson: Oops, sorry about not saying good morning. On the bed? Oooh, YESS…count me in. As you probably know, I’m not particularly a fan of this new rule about being on the furniture. Come to think of it, I still don’t know why it was instituted in the first place. May I remind you that you are not a king?

The Mum: You’re watching too much news, buddy. You were beginning to take over the furniture and after I broke my sternum last year, I couldn’t risk you flopping on me, thus the new rule. For the record, I’ve never minded you on the furniture but it must be by invitation. And you can’t crowd me out which is what you’ve been doing.ย  So what do you have for us today?

Wilson: {grumble, grumble…fine} The landscape is still brown and drab but I think I’ve curated a few pics that you might like. Warning, if you are not a fan of seeing wild animal scat, you might want to skip this first pic. Mum was pretty excited to find a couple areas where evidence of wild critters (mostly like coyotes) have been traversing the Ralston Creek Trail. I wasn’t nearly as impressed, and wasn’t all that interested in reading any messages. I don’t think they eat very well. Looks like a lot of birdseed and wood chips to me.

Scat

The Mum: You may not have been interested in sniffing, but you were pretty insistent on photobombing-I should have completely cropped out the presence of your foot paddle…otherwise known as a paw.

Wilson: Harumph…uh…I was merely scanning the surroundings to make sure I didn’t have to go into protection mode.

The Mum: Oh please…the chances of encountering a coyote are pretty slim. They will retreat to avoid any threats…

Wilson: I see my reputation precedes me…

The Mum: {eyes rolling} If it makes you feel better. What else have you got?

Wilson: I should haver realized there was going to be a change in the temps after yesterday morning’s walk. There was frost on the bridge planks. It was sparkly though it doesn’t really come through on the photo-more like fading in the wood, but trust me, it looked cool as it followed the shadows. Literally.

Frost

The Mum:ย I notice the water hazards around the golf course had a small bit of frost in the shallow areas. Makes you wonder how ducks and geese can stand paddling around the cold water.

Water hazard

Wilson: What I want to know is why they avoid me. I just wanted to get close enough to say good morning. But the mallards are very timid and avoid me like I’m some sort of plague carrier. How come they don’t like me, Mum?

The Mum: Aww, buddy, it’s not that they don’t like you, they’re just afraid you might harm them. We’ll have to watch them peacefully paddle around from a distance.

Wilson: Well their Canadian cousins aren’t nearly as afraid. Those geese practically taunt me to come close even though I could care less about them. Maybe they are more closely related to the doggone squirrels who always taunt me but the little monsters always manage to stay out of reach. I think they’re afraid of me…as they should be. The jaws of death are just waiting for them.

The Mum: Easy does it, House Pony. The jaws of death are going to have to put the kibosh and halt all encounters with tree rats as I don’t want you to get some horrid disease from them.

Wilson: While I’m looking out the window at the snow flurries, I’m fondly recalling the beauty of past days this week. It was fun finding this mural on the nearby underpass but it’ll be more fun when the temps go back to 40’sF (4C+) next week.

Mural

The Mum: Yes that mural makes me smile and I’m looking forward to when gardens begin to wake up from winter. I’m going to miss seeing the hyacinths and other spring bulbs that we had in our old garden, but am hopeful folks’ gardens around the neighborhood will satisfy our spring desires.

Wilson: Yup, me too Mum. I like to check out new flowers to see if they smell as good as you say they do. I’m looking forward to seeing what the wildlife habitat offers. Can’t wait!

Wilson

The Mum: With ‘only’ 55 days until the official arrival of spring, it should be interesting seeing how it looks in the suburbs. We hope everyone has a good weekend, staying safe and warm.

Nature

Live, love, bark! ๐Ÿพ

65 thoughts on “Nature Friday ~ January 23, 2026

  1. Wilson is taking the furniture situation with a humorous bent, good to see. As far as the weather is concerned, blech! I can’t wait the 50 or so days . . . get here now spring! Before another snowfall! Oh well . . .

    I LOVE that butterfly mural all dressed in state colors!

    Be safe ranchers

    1. Thanks, Marc. Sheepdogs are legendary comedians.

      Yesterday we were in sub zero temps…today low 40’s. Talk about yo-yo weather!

    1. Absolutely! Beauty is everywhere-you just need to look for it. Have a safe and cozy weekend.

  2. Lots of pretty pix! Even the scat (ewww)! We are hunkering down and waiting for the snow/ice – should be a lot. We hope we don’t lose power but at least we have a fireplace and lots of wood and plenty of food (but no way to cook it of course!) We will resort to cuddling if necessary. Mom says I’m like a little heater so maybe I can help out!

    Big Hugs, Teddy (and Mom)

    1. Thanks, Teddy. I know itโ€™s weird but I was rather fascinated by the scat. Always good to โ€˜know the neighborsโ€™ right? ๐Ÿ˜‚

      You guys take good care. Weโ€™ll be praying for you and hoping it isnโ€™t as bad as the weather forecasters say it will be.

    1. Kiitos. We didn’t get much in the way of snow but it has been unseasonably cold but today though the sun is out and it doesn’t seem as bad.

        1. Oh no, Wilson is not a fan of snow and while he’s been antsy to go for a walk, I know it’s too way cold for him to enjoy one. We’ve been taking lots of potty breaks and he’s more than happy to come back inside quickly.

  3. Cold is the understatement! I had to run a bunch of errands, and when I was driving back about 730pm (EST), my car thermometer said the outside temp was -13F. BRRR! Right now the official for this area is -11F. At least the snow that fell here from Thursday to Friday didn’t need immediate cleanup. Good thing, cause my arms are aching after shoveling, Mon, Tues, Wed and Thursday…and each progressive day there was more than the last, Sheesh!
    I bought a hyacinth bulb full of buds in one of those special vases, to have some spring in the house.

    That sure was a bright and gloriously summer-like mural!
    That scat sure was um…interesting! Sometimes I find the grossest scat in our yard, either from coons or groundhogs…possibly possums. I am not a scat expert when it comes to wildlife!
    Maybe whomever chewed the woody things rot floss or brush its teeth, BOL!

    Frost can truly be pretty, it’s one of nature’s paintbrushes!

    Stay warm!!

    1. Thanks. So sorry youโ€™ve been having to do yeomanโ€™s work shoveling. We just had flurries today and cold, but not nearly as cold as you guys. Yikes! Seems like a good time to sit in front of a fireplace and relax. Stay safe and warm this weekend.

  4. Thanka for the smiles. You and Wilson are quite the pair! ๐Ÿ˜„
    “Jaws of death” Noo Wilson, you listen to your mum, you are a big teddy bear! ๐Ÿ™‚
    55 days! Woo-Hoo! I am ready!
    Have a relaxing weekend and stay warm! If you want snow, we should have some to share. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    1. We didn’t get much in the way of snow but more than enough cold. We spent yesterday shivering visiting with a friend from California but we did enjoy a nice catch up. ๐Ÿ˜‚

  5. I had to laugh when I saw the picture of your water hazards, Wilson. Our geese are standing on the water at the golf course near us…frozen solid. You guys seem to be having the kind of weather we had a couple of years back. A snowless, dry, brown Winter. Loved that photobomb…paw-fectly placed. And, a lovely mural photo too. Stay warm, and look forward to your warmer temps next week!

    1. Thanks, Bruce. With some snow today, warm temps seem very far away. Blustery, icy, in terms of visibility-next to nothing…just plain ole nasty winter at its best. I think drab and brown is looking pretty good at this point. Stay safe and warm.

  6. Just love the butterfly wings, and that scat is actually very interesting. Wonder if wood is all they can find to eat?? Wilson, you look like you could be a cold weather pup, but it sure doesn’t sound that way, BOL! XOX Xena, Lucy and Chia

    1. Thanks. Isn’t that mural gorgeously vibrant? I just stopped and stared for several minute.

      I wondered that about the scat-there is a lot of wooded areas along the trail. Coyotes are opportunistic omnivores that eat almost anything, primarily small mammals like rodents and rabbits, but also birds, reptiles, insects, fruits, and berries, plus scavenged carcasses and where available, human-provided food like pet food, garbage, and garden crops. They adapt their diet to whatever is available in the environment.

      Bo, it’s very safe to say that Wilson is not a cold weather dog. ๐Ÿ˜‚ Have a safe and cozy weekend.

    1. Thanks. Yeah, scat is never good to look at but can tell you what’s going on with animals. Not much snow-just flurries but it’s brutally cold. But then again, we got used to lots of of days in the 50′ and 60’s and are just out of practice. I hope you have a good weekend.

  7. I hope you guys do well with the cold weather. Wilson, you better be quick outside. I’ll think of you and those big paws when I’m clearing the snow on Monday.

    1. Thanks, Dan. It’s cold enough to keep both of us from lingering outside. ๐Ÿ˜‰ Hope you don’t have to shovel too much this weekend. Stay warm and have a good weekend.

  8. You have such beautiful walks in your area sweet Wilson! May you both stay safe and warm and much love from our house to yours โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’ซ xxx

    1. Thank you, Xenia. We’re so spoiled with our 300+ days of sunshine a year. It always seems better when we have those pretty blue skies. Have a lovely weekend and we’re quite spoiled.

    1. Aww, you’re too kind, Terry. It’s miserably cold today and we’re staying inside. Only quick potty breaks and then back in under our lap blanket. Brrrrr. Stay warm and have a good weekend.

  9. One more okay day Saturday and then too much snow. We’re preparing a place for Gracie to do her business once it snows. 8 inches or more and she’d disappear in it! Then lots of arctic temps. Ugh.

    1. We’ve had flurries all day but nothing that’s accumulating. But man-o-man it’s brutally cold. Wilson seems grateful we aren’t going for a walk and his potty breaks have been quick. We’re looking forward to the temps moving back into the upper 40’s next week. Stay safe and warm and have a good weekend.

      1. That arctic air is headed our way. Temps we don’t usually see. I was thrilled when one of my pet sitting clients who live in the hills cancelled their trip today so they won’t be gone all this coming week and I don’t have to try to get there twice a day! They wanted to know if they owed a cancellation fee – hell no, I’m delighted they’re rescheduling for May!

        1. So glad you won’t have to travel in this weather. Enjoy a toasty weekend in front of a nice fireplace-that what we plan on doing!

    1. It sure is! And if today is any indication, it can’t come soon enough! Hope it’s not too brutal on your end. We’re only taking quick potty breaks and coming back inside asap to warm up here. Yikes.

      Have a safe and cozy weekend.

  10. Stay safe and warm! Might be a good night to watch the Avs demolish the poor Flyers, my long-suffering husband’s favorite team, LOL.

    1. Hope springs eternal on the game outcome. I always have to chuckle that those fools traded Forsberg away. Our greatest two way player and those chuckleheads let him go. ๐Ÿ˜‚

      It’s so fereaking cold, even the potty breaks are quick dashes out and back in. We’re going to be bypassing our regular walks-it’s just too brutal. Have a great weekend!

        1. At this point, Iโ€™d take a cold day with blue skies. But gloomy grey just ainโ€™t my jam. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  11. Looking forward to the sleet and freezing rain this weekend (not). It looks like we are getting nighttime lows in the teens from Saturday through Monday. Not our kind of weather, but we are ready.

    1. Keeping our paws crossed it’s not as bad as the forecasters are predicting, John. Stay safe and warm. It’s brutally cold here. It’s just too cold for Wilson to go for any kind of oluting other than a quick potty break. Have a great weekend.

  12. It seems weird not to see snow in your area. And you are lucky to miss this storm. Like Dale, we’re going to have a ‘wicked’ cold day tomorrow, but the rest of week will be ‘tolerable’ cold. It IS winter after all. In January, I think of July, and vise versa. It keeps things in perspective. Have a great weekend, no matter the weather.

    1. We’ve had flurries all day, but nothing is really accumulating. It is however brutally cold. Wilson makes potty breaks very quick! Next week we’re back in the mid 40’s…I can live with that. Have a safe and cozy weekend.

    1. Thanks Paul. We’re trying. It’s only in the teens (though the windchill makes it colder) (-7C) here. Wilson isn’t minding not going for our normal 3 mile walk and his potty breaks have been quick. Have a lovely weekend!

  13. We would love some more snow but we just have below zero weather for three days. It hasn’t been this cold here since January 2019 which means and me and Olivia have never experienced this kind of cold before. It hasn’t been too bad really. Even Bailie seems to do alright with it. Of course, at -23 without the wind, walks are limited to 20 mins at our house. We had to wear boots and show mom that boots mean no going to the bathroom. She was not amused but finally we decided we could do all our business even if our paws were hiding in these boot things. Hope you get some fluffy snow and a seat on the couch to stay warm. Happy Friday!

    1. Snow would be an improvement since the temps are brutally cold (for us anyway-I know you hguys have it much worse than us). Wilson’s potty breaks have been super quick and then he’s happy to dash back inside and cuddle under the lap blanket. Stay safe and warm this weekend.

  14. This cold front is really spread out wide. We will be in the feels like -35-40 range tomorrow… Let’s just say I don’t think I’ll be doing my usual 1.5 hours walk…
    Stay warm!

    1. Ugh…that’s worse than what we’re experiencing but when it get down to single digits, it’s hard to tell if it’s 7F or 15.

      Yeah, we decided to bypass our 3 mile walk as well. Potty breaks are brutal enough. Stay safe and keep warm this weekend.

      1. Yeah. I’m okay at -25, I start to hesitate any lower.

        No plans to go out tomorrow, though I was looking at how much wood I have inside and I might have to restock…

        1. You brave, hardy soul. That’s too cold for me to walk Wilson. And I’m quite sure he wouldn’t enjoy it either. Hope your wood supply holds out and you don’t have to do much restocking.

          1. I think, in my time off during the Christmas holidays, I hardened myself up again. I was more wimpy before! And I don’t doubt Wilson would prefer not.
            I’ll wait till tomorrow to start heating with the wood ๐Ÿ™‚

      1. Thanks. We are. Most of the time heโ€™s good about staying in his cuddle bed but in the middle of the night he sneaks up on to my bed. Little bugger! But when itโ€™s the coldest so Iโ€™m kinda glad. For both of us. Stay safe and warm this weekend.

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