Welcome to the official arrival of Spring. It seemed like winter was year’s long even though we received hardly any snow or much cold. I know folks back on the East Coast, had it a whole lot worse than we did but it still seems like winter was endless. Wilson here and as always, we’re joining Rosy and Sunny from the Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on their link to see what others have shared for their Nature Friday blog hop.
Today’s Nature Friday post is going to be a bit light on clever observations on the world around us. Mum has been traveling back and forth to her Dad’s house. She and her siblings have been working to get Dad’s house ready to list as his deteriorating vision has forced him to move to an independent senior facility last weekend. It’s very nice facility and will be a good place for him but he’s understandably not happy about giving up the house he built for his wife of 73 years. He’s struggling with the idea that he’s become a renter after all these years despite the fact that everything in the new place is brand spanking new and beautiful. He said his old house was nice and quite comfortable for him but understands the reality with his vision and is learning to accept this new situation. So on with an abbreviated number of photos.
We’ve seen it all this week, weather-wise. The week started out cold (16F – -8.88C) after snow fell all day on Sunday. Apparently it wasn’t too cold for our neighborhood coyote, as he was happily walking along the golf course golf cart path. Guess he was getting his steps in for the day.
We saw another coyote just two days later. Notice the snow is completely gone. The temperatures started warming up and have been in the mid 80’sF since. The forecast is calling for 90F (32.2C) by tomorrow. In March, people! 90F bloody degrees. What the dog!
That coyote appeared to be a female. She wagged her tail at me. Being the ‘polite fellow’ that I am, I wanted to go over and introduced myself but Mum said, “No way. Jose.” I had to remind her my name is Wilson.
With the warm temperatures and now that the actual arrival date is now here, we are noticing certain fruit trees (plum and crab apples) are ready to start blooming. Mum expects them to pop this weekend.
Well that’s it for me. Mum has to leave now and hit the road before rush hour gets too insane. We both wish you all a wonderful weekend and we encourage you all to get outside and enjoy Spring! It may take us a while to respond to your comments and hope you’ll be patient. Cheerio!
Live, love, bark! 🐾
It’s not easy to leave a house were you had so many memories. We believe it feels like a part of themselves that they have to leave behind, that’s so sad. We’re so happy the temperatures are rising, imagine how long we can stay out in the garden, Wilson😺That ‘s a great picture of the coyote, beautiful environment too. Double Pawkisses for a Happy Day to you and your mommy too🐾😘💞
As we age our natural instinct is to be protective of our independence. Sometimes that’s all we have if our health isn’t top-notched. Hopefully Dad will assimilate in his new environment and thrive.
Thanks, we hope we get to see more scenes of the coyotes. I find them so fascinating. We’re back in another heat wave for a few days but we keep praying for rain. Our temps are over 30 degrees F above normal with unheard of highs this time of year and several out of control wildfires already. Summer is going to be rough.
Finally, we made it out of winter… 😀
Us too. And immediately into Summer! 😁
Best wishes to your father, mama. And to you guys for doing right by him. As for Wilson, he’s a gentleman and a scholar to everyone he meets. Except for squirrels.
Many thanks, Marc. I was down there again yesterday (and will be going back tomorrow) and he seems settling in and learning how to integrate into a nice community of folks. I think he’ll be fine. We brought him out to the house to ‘oversee’ how the clear out was going. He smiled a lot and seemed to approve which made me very happy. I hope all the good progress continues for both he and us siblings sprucing up the homestead.
It’s wonderful what you all have.
We’re a very blessed family.
❤️
I’m so glad spring is here! I like listening to coyotes howl. Do you hear them at night?
Oh yes. We hear them at night and early in the morning. I think they’re super fascinating to observe.
What a cool couple of coyote sightings…we have heard coyotes in the fields behind our neighborhood…but never have seen one, Mama says she would like to keep it that way!
Blooms are popping out everywhere in our backyard!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
Glad you’re seeing lots of blooms. The flowering trees are making their presence known here. Luckily we got a reprieve today (it’s ’only’ 65F) but it’s over 20 degrees above normal. I think summer is going to be very hot.
EEEEKKKKKK!!!! Coyotess!!!! **hidess beehind THE S00fah**
Wilson mee scared of Coyotess! They used to chae mee when mee was on THE meen streetss of Wireton. Pleese lissen to Miss Monika an steer cleer. They are NOT frendly….Mind you Lady Coyote has guud taste to wag her tail at you 😉
Wee are shoked how you had snow an then didn’t!! Wee still have sum heer. It iss above freezin an meltin slowlee…
Wee hope plantss will bloom soon efurrywhere!
***nose bopss*** BellaDharma an ((huggiess)) BellaSita Mum
Oh gosh, I can see how that might scare you. Wilson wasn’t interested in the first one but he was with the second one. I think she might be in estrous, he’s been very captivated by scents near there for a week.
Mew mew emw Wulson mite have a crushie Miss Monika?? 😉
😉
I hope your dad is able to adjust. I hope I do, too, when it is time! Our big four bedroom home (currently filled with our critters and fosters) will be too much at some point. Trying to keep that on the horizon for a bit longer.
Thanks Debra. I hope so too. Since this condition came on fairly quickly, it’s definitely made me think of the future in my own case. I just hope I can handle the stairs (and Wilson as well-the idea of trying to carry him up and down is terrifying-he weighs nearly 80 pounds!). Getting older isn’t for sissies. Have a marvelous weekend.
The weight of the dogs is one of the reasons we’ve stopped having labs and gone smaller as we get older. No way can I carry a 70 lb lab anymore. Gracie is 14 lbs and Ace is 25, which is probably my limit these days, especially with stairs.
I totally get that. I just pray I won’t have to life this lunkhead any time soon. 🤞🏻
Definitely want to keep the fabulous Wilson around for as long as possible!
Around but mobile. 😉
We wish your dad all the best Monika and hope he will be able to enjoy the ease and comforts of his new home. The coyote sightings are wonderful and Wilson, we love your St Patrick’s Day bandana! 💚🍀 Wishing you both happy Spring and a wonderful weekend ❤️✨️ xxx
Thanks so much, Xenia. Appreciate your kind comments. I’m sure things will work out with a bit of time. Enjoy a beautiful spring weekend.
The weather has been a merry-go-round everywhere. You have to have a strong constitution to go through all these ups and downs in temperatures. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Looks Spring-ish there finally! Beautiful in fact……….. We totally understand what your Mom’s Dad is going through – my Mom and Dad really shouldn’t be in a three story house with a big yard to take care of…..they are getting help with the yard this year though. Still all those stairs are tough – I tell them I’d be just as happy taking care of them in a SMALL place! Anyway, happy Spring – nice to see flowers and green grass again – in a few weeks I think we will begin seeing some REAL Spring here finally!!
Hugs, Teddy
Thanks. I totally understand the stairs thing. Our new house has a set of stairs and there are days my poor ole knees questions my sanity. 😉 We hope you have a lovely spring weekend!
It’s very hard to give up your own home, even if it’s the best thing. It’s why Grandma has threatened us we may not move her at all for any reason ever. I’m glad her father was more reasonable and hope he comes to like the place, even if it isn’t really home.
Your nature pictures are beautiful.
Many thanks. I think if my mom was still alive, it wouldn’t be nearly as hard on his heart. The house was a very strong connection to her. We have our fingers crossed he adapts and thrives in the new environment.
Happy Spring! That coyote is too close for comfort.
It had us both mesmerized. If Wilson were a small dog I might think differently but being larger that either of them didn’t bother us. They seem fairly comfortable co-existing in an urban environment. Have a wonderful weekend.
Happy equinox! Your temps are worrisome… 90s??? Yikes, when things like fruit trees bloom early, it sets my mind to worrying like crazy. Hope things ‘normalize’ soon!
They are quite alarming. Our snowpack is only at 59% and as I drove down to my Dad’s, everything was brown and scorched. It’s very dismaying with no end in sight. Wildfires are popping up all over. It’s going to be a long summer if the jet stream doesn’t move down to help the West. Have a terrific spring weekend.
It’s hard to leave a place you have memories in. I hope it goes well. Wilson, mom was right to stop you from introducing yourself to the coyote! Chester keeps trying to meet the skunks and we have to stop him.
Skunks? Hmm I think coyotes are safer!
Yes, it’s hard to leave the house that he built for mom. She designed it and he built it for her. Hope you have a good weekend.
All the best to your Dad with his new living situation. Hey Wilson, stay far away from those coyotes, they are never to be trusted! I hope you and Mom have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you. It’ll just take some time getting used to meeting new people. We’re encouraging him to meet one new person at meals every day. He’s a bit of an introvert so one might be all he can handle initially. But I think he’s liking it. 🤞🏻 Have a great weekend.
It is very hard to convince someone to move. According to one survey I saw, moving is the third most stressful thing. First is the death of a spouse or child, next is a divorce, and third is moving, forth is public speaking… Hopefully, he will find it is better to have moved in a facility that can help him.
Reality has a particularly unsubtle way of convincing people. Having moved myself just 3 months ago, moving ranks right up there as #1! Luckily my Dad (and Mom when she was still alive) were good about not hoarding stuff. But because his new place is about a third of the house’s size, we have lots of furniture to distribute. Oy…my aching back! Here’s hopeing it’s a lovely weekend around the Homestead.
Moving is such a challenge. Reality doesn’t always connivance some people. My husband’s grandmother didn’t want to move and she stayed in her home until she died. My father-in-law decided he didn’t want to move and that he wanted to die at home. He was able to have his wish in January. He really needed more help than the family could provide and he sometimes would mention moving to an assisted living apartment, then change his mind.
Well…I thought I had responded to your lovely comment, but don’t see it. Phooey. Thank you-you’re so right, moving is so exhausting and stressful. It’s been a 3-1/2 months since I moved and I still haven’t fully recovered and I think I’m a bit more open to the change this move has brought than my Dad. But I think he’s going to be ok (at least that’s my deepest hope); being around people his own age and a caring and dedicated staff will help. Making the decision to move to an independent living situation was a tough one-he originally planned to possible move later this year but with his vision going so fast, he decided now was the time. I’m grateful he made the decision on his own. With all us kids living out of town, at least we know there are resources to get him to his doctor when he needs to go and not worry about it.
It is good he made the decision on his own. That makes it a relief for everyone and there isn’t any stress of trying to get him to move.
We hear the coyotes around these parts, too! Everyone in a rare while we might see one. Same with owls,I heard them a lot, but have never seen any.
Our snow from Monday-Tuesday is gone now, and the temps are in the low 60’s. A nice way to welcome SPRING! We have made a vow to scare any wintery ideas away, BOL!
That is so hard for older peeps to have to move out of their homes to another venue…my parents did that early on, even though at that time they did not haver to, but it served them well for ten years, after which they went to the nursing part of their complex. (Several independent apartments buildings, an assisted living apartment building, and 2 nursing homes. Also a large auditorium/church, and many smaller things such as PT, two hair salons, a store, and a bank among others. It was like a small city and most of the residents not matter which part they lived min had various connections to each other. Check it out: Holland Christian Homes in Brampton Ontario. https://www.hch.ca )
We’ve heard the owls but never have seen any. They blend in so well it’s impossible to distinguish them in trees.
Feel free to send winter our way. Several wildfires throughout the state. It’s very grim. Have a lovely first weekend of spring.
Lovely photos of the coyotes and buds. Best wishes to your dad, Monika. It can’t be easy to give up a home after all that time.
Thank you, John. I think he’ll be ok once the house sells. 🤞🏼 We hope you have a lovely weekend.
hugs to your dad and all the best … its not easy to change all things and to give the key to a home to another peep. happy spring, we hope it comes to us and to you with big steps
Many thanks for the kind comment. He’s doing remarkably well. Wishing you a fantastic spring weekend.
Best wishes to your dad, change is difficult as we get older for sure. Love the fruit tree blossoms and coyote pics. I still live among coyotes having moved from CO to CA. Lots of late night yipping that gets the neighborhood dogs all riled up!
Thanks. That sound is definitely distinctive. I frankly love seeing them and hope to capture some good pics with the big camera. Enjoy a great weekend.
If you like hot, you’re gonna get a lot more as we send our heatwave over to ya! It’s up to triple digits in Socal and although we expect a respite to the high 80s for a few days, the blast doesn’t show signs of disappearing any time soon and it all heads your direction. Sorry to hear that Dad has to enter a nursing home but you are right that sometimes it becomes inevitable. Scares the crap out of me as I get into my (cough) advanced years.
Umm, frankly…you can keep the heat. It’ feels like June or July already here. 90F tomorrow. 🥵 The facility is an independent living situation and a lovely place. Just getting a 95 year old who’s let’s just say is a teensy bit set in his ways. He hasn’t rented since he returned from the Korean War. 😉 Have a lovely weekend-hopefully you and the pupster will cool off.
Java Bean: “Ayyy, we haven’t been seeing coyotes on Dada’s trail cam lately! I guess they all went out to visit you guys!”
Lulu: “We understand about your Dad leaving the house, but it’s great that he is willing to accept that the move is necessary. Not everyone would be able to do that!”
Well I left out the part about him kicking and screaming. Just kidding. He’s pragmatic if anything. It’ll just be an adjustment period. Have a good weekend.
Mother luckily retained all her faculties – including a sharp tongue – all her life. She was determined not to enter what she called God’s waiting room as many of her friends were obliged to do. I hope your father settles in well.
Thanks, Helen. The facility is actually quite nice, the staff very attentive and a wide collection of people living there. Fortunately Dad is still in the independent living portion where his autonomy is paramount to good mental health. I can’t wait for him to get fully settled and Wilson and I will go visit him. Cheers to you for a great weekend. It’s bloody hot here and feels more like July than March.
Wonderful photos. And that temperature fluctuation is off the charts… Good Golly Miss Molly!
I’m glad your dad understands the need – it takes some of the angst off the situation. My mother lives alone in a regular apartment, still. She has about 20% of her vision. The only thing we have managed to convince her to do is to get one of those white and red canes so people can understand that when she walks (which is every day the weather allows) they can understand her vision is impaired. It still makes us nervous!
Happy Friday and may the Weekend bring much joy!
Thank you so much for the sweet comment. Losing one’s vision is very humbling and definitely not for the faint of heart. Dad is still in good health but losing his vision is especially hard for someone who has always been active and healthy. Best wishes to your mum. Have a marvelous spring like weekend.
It’s the losing of independence that is the hardest. No longer able to drive, she must count on us and it pisses her off!
A joyful spring weekend to you. We are expecting 5 cm of snow tomorrow… how de-LIGHT-ful. Not.
Ah yes, how well I understand. Dad’s license expired last September and he knew he wasn’t going to renew it so he sold his car. For a while a cousin helped out but it didn’t last long. His vision began to quickly deteriorate so we all knew things would have to speed up.
Man, what I’d give to receive some snow. Shorts and flip flops are the outfits du jour. Sigh. Enjoy a cozy weekend with some tasty coffee and treats.
It can be so hard, for sure.
I hear you and I really, REALLY wish I could send you some. They are saying it will be really difficult out west this year. I think I shall take advantage of that tomorrow.
You’re so lovely. Thank you. 🧡🧡🧡
I speak the truth! 🧡🧡🧡
Cleaning out a house is hard work and sometimes very emotional. Hope your dad comes to love the new place.
Thanks, kate. We do too. It has been emotional going through the things my Dad and Mom collected and loved together for 73 years. We’re on a fast timeline to capitalize on the real estate market selling season and will go through the photos once the house is sold. Have a wonderful first weekend of spring!
I remember my brother and I moving our mother from her Pittsburgh, where she had lived for 87 years to Iowa to be near but NOT with my brother (emphasis was hers). Different reasons necessitated the move. Like dad, the place was nice but she was not entirely on board with the process. It did work out well.
I hope you have a very nice weekend, Wilson. You’re looking sharp with that bandana.
Moving an elderly parent can have all sorts of landmines in it…for everyone. It’s never easy but hopefully it’ll all work out well. We hope the first weekend of spring is a fabulous one for you, Dan.
We totally relate to you today! Gramma is 89 and refuses to leave her house but she is almost legally blind and pretty much never leaves her house. She would have a much better life in a nice facility but she won’t leave the house Mom’s dad built for them. We have also been through all the weather, 80’s on the weekend in Louisiana, then some rain as we were leaving and came home to about 15 inches of snow which is now almost all gone with 70’s forecast for tomorrow. If the weather up and down would end, it sure would be nice! Have a Grand weekend!