Welcome to hell, erm I mean Friday, where we are living the song from Beverly Hills Cop as the heat is most definitely on. Wilson here and I’m almost grateful that Mum stole my furs last weekend. While I may have lost my fabulous floofiness, I’m probably more comfortable than Mum is whenever we’re outside. We’ve been taking our walks even earlier than usual when it’s still reasonably cool and we’ve actually found some rather interesting sights. Of course, there’s almost no one on the trail except for some fairly interesting critters. Chalk up a new one on Mum’s list of wildlife seen on the walk. I was rewarded in seeing my first pack of wild raccoons. Not those urban cousins who looked at you with merely a glance. Mum calls them trash pandas but I’m too refined to be that disparaging. There were at least 3 of them, possibly 4 and they did their best to hide their presence. We wouldn’t have noticed them in the trees if one of the chubbier ones missed a step and fell a couple of branches downward and I first thought it might be a squirrel. They looked like a troop of mama and her babies.
They took one look at us and skedaddled up the trees in a heartbeat…thus the crummy photos. I keep telling Mum she’s gotta be a whole lot quicker with her cell phone. To which she retorts that, “she’s got her hands full simply holding on to my leash,” let alone fishing for a camera inher pocket.” Personally, I think she’s just making excuses.
The Mum: Umm, I heard that…
Wilson: Oh, hiya Mum. {trying to act quite innocent} What ‘cha doing?
The Mum: Nice try, House Pony. Those guys were super quick and I doubt I could have responded any quicker even if you hadn’t been with me. I was surprised how quickly they bogeyed up into the high canopy. Seeing them two days in a row was some kind of fun. I love those kinds of encounters.
Wilson: {changing the subject} Regardless, the sunrise was pretty spectacular what with a threat of rain and lots of wildfire smoke adding to the intensity. It was pretty special. What is that old sailor’s saying…red sky in morning, sailor take warning, red sky at night, sailor’s delight.
The Mum: That morning show was supposed to have been a warning that we might get some rain later in the day and true to the forecast, we received about 2-1/2 minutes of light rain later in the afternoon. I had hoped for a longer shower but think it was a bit too warm and most of it likely evaporated before it hit the ground.
Wilson: It was a bit disappointing but not as much as yesterday when we were told to expect a nice afternoon shower. Sadly it didn’t materialize though I think there might have been 15 drops when it got windy.
The Mum: Yeah, it was disappointing. The weather people keep telling us to be patient…El Niño and the monsoons should be arriving in about 10 days but I’m not all that optimistic. I don’t want to get my hopes up, only to be disappointed.
Wilson: Well look at the bright side, at least we enjoyed some pretty morning sunrises this week. 
Wilson: Yes, nice quiet walks and new discoveries. Speaking of new discoveries, I found a new plant that you should make sure neither of us get too close to it. American licorice or wild licorice is popping all around the trail as well as along the canal behind our house. Along the canal it’s quite thick and we discovered the hard way that it has burs. I don’t want to rub up against that thing again! It’s a North American perennial legume native frequently found in the western United States. Native Americans used wild licorice for medicinal purposes and as a food source, it was discovered it had high nutritional value for livestock. Too bad livestock aren’t that keen on it so it quickly reproduces through seeds and rhizomes, leading to large infestations, especially in pastures as well as along streams and ditch banks. We won’t be walking near those plants again any time soon now that the burs are appearing and are so prolific.
The Mum: Right you are. While those burs look soft, they are anything but. And speaking of sunsets, did you know, that yesterday was the last day the sun sets at 8:30 pm. It’ll be the middle of June in 2027 before the sun will set at 8:30 pm again.
Wilson: You don’t say. Huh…well that’s kind of interesting. Guess that means the days are growing shorter as we move toward the arrival of autumn in 74 days just in case you are interested. I think we’ll be be happier though I know a lot of our readers really like the extended sunlight in summer.
The Mum: I’d enjoy the extended sunlight if it wasn’t so doggone hot. Well, that’s about it from us. Triple digits are set to arrive this weekend so I think you and I will definitely be hibernating. Maybe you can scoot over a bit and we can hang out together. What do you say?
Wilson: Umm, I don’t think there’s enough room for you here, Mum. Sorry. Have a good weekend and stay cool and hydrated. If you can, get out early to see what kind of fascinating ‘gifts’ Nature has left for us. Have a great weekend.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Beautiful photographs Monika and we too hope you’ll soon have some respite from the heat followed by a refreshing rain 🩵 xxx
Many thanks, Xenia. It’s hot everywhere. We’re going to have to be patient while Mother Nature pitches fits. Have a great weekend.
Oh, poor you and Wilson. I hope you get some respite from the heat soon.
Thanks. Relief may come in a week or so. We hope 🤞🏼 Hope Mother Nature begins to take pity on everyone who’s suffering from outrageous temps globally. Have a great weekend.
The wild critters are fast, it’s how they survive, except skunks, of course. They know they have no need to hurry, everything avoids them.
I hope you do get rain soon, but not too much all at once. Those plants do look like the ones to avoid.
Good point. I’m glad we haven’t encountered Pepe Le Pew!
No rain in the forecast for at least a week, but hopefully after that, we’ll get some. We’ll definitely need it because we’re expecting triple digit temps for the next few days. Have a ‘pawtastic’ weekend and stay cool.
Beautiful photos. I can’t wait for fall. 🙂
Thank you. As far as I’m concerned, autumn can’t come soon enough! Have a lovely weekend.
The heat has been on here too Wilson and we have been hunting for the off switch. That sky was amazing. You and Mum have a fun weekend!
Thanks, Terry. It was definitely an amazing morning sky. If you find the off switch, please let us know. Till then, have a wonderful weekend!
Good spotting of the trash pandas in their natural environment! I’ve only seen one (alive!) once since moving to San Diego.
They’re nocturnal so it’s hard to find them. I probably would have missed this one if it hadn’t missed hanging on to a branch. I saw the movement and then realized what it was that caused it. It was just dumb luck! Hope you have a lovely weekend, Lisa.
I hope you get the rain you need. We are expecting a bunch next Tuesday and Wednesday. Of course, that could fade away. We are also expecting a large plume of Sahara dust, which never goes away. Hope you have a restful weekend. 😊
Thanks, John. All we can do is hope and wait for Mother Nature to gift us something other than pizza oven temps. At least she’s kind by not including humidity. Give the fur-kids ear rubs from us and have a ‘furbulous’ weekend.
I wouldn’t want to encounter those burrs on the licorice plant either, let alone Benji. Dalton’s smooth furs are easier to get burrs off of…but still. Beautiful skies, and how cool to see little coonies!
Stay cool however you can. We are hot here too, but it seems cool compared to your heat. And the humidity we have is so oppressive. GO out for 5 minutes and you need a shower, LOL!
Exactly. Rough coated dogs don’t stand a chance around those burrs.
What was so interesting about those clouds was those shots were pointed westerly, not toward the east where the sun looked like a red ball! I loved seeing a whole different perspective on the clouds.
Yeah humidity is the worst. Hope we guys and manage to stay somewhat cool. Have a good weekend.
It is definitely hot as hades here too….With afternoon storms that are mostly blowing dust and 4-5 drops of rain. It really is putting a cramp on even our early morning walkies!
Cool tile helps!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
Sounds all too familiar in the metro area. That’s why I drag Mum out every day at sunrise {yawn}. I know she’d rather sleep in for another hour but if we wait it’s just too warm for walking our daily 3 miles. We hope you guys have a great weekend.
WOWZERS……that licorice plant stuff gets a nasty “coat” of burs (I prefer coats of furs myself) doesn’t it. Watch out for that stuff for sure. It’s been ridiculously hot here too and NO rain. We’d be excited for TEN drops or even FIVE drops. There’s a chance today but we have learned not to trust “them” who provide us weather info. They lie. Anywho – always good to catch up with you all – you sure get some pretty clouds…..!!
Hugs, Teddy (and his Mom)
Isn’t that plant terrifying?! They were small plants (and they were EVERYWHERE) and after that one decent shower and then the hot weather, they went on a huge growth spurt. We hope the weather forecasters do a better job with their forecasts. Thanks for enjoying the sunrise clouds. Early mornings are always pretty but those were exceptional. Have a pawtastic weekend!
I love the long days and feel my best in summer daylight, though I’m not a fan of excessive temps, either. Getting up early is the only solution, I guess! Have a great weekend.
I realize a lot of folks enjoy summer. I’m just not one of them when it’s so blinking hot. Luckily I’m a morning person so getting up and out on the trail isn’t a problem. I can’t remember the last time I slept in. 😂 We hope you have a most enjoyable summer weekend!
Wilson aka House Pony, it is very nice to be here with you and The Mum again. Here in Philly, we had our “hell” phase on the 4th of July. While you expect it to be hot then, we did not expect to find out which thermometers had a third digit in them and which did not. Thank you for pointing out the countdown to Fall! Your morning skies have certainly been something special to see recently. Hopefully, that wild licorice won’t wind up taking over the trail. No matter what trails you take this weekend, stay safe and hydrated!
Eek…triple digits on heat with high humidity is the absolute worst combo ever. At least it’s a ‘dry heat’ here in the Mile High area. Yup, we’ve been in countdown mode for a number of weeks now. I know lots of people raze me about it but I’ve had a lifetime of getting sick in the heat. It’s no bueno.
As for that wild licorice, the county came and mowed it off our trail. The canal behind our house only has foot traffic (and a few horses riding through) so I suspect it’ll get about 4 ft. tall. Wilson and I plan to avoid it like the plague.
Try to stay cool and have a terrific weekend. We were delighted to see your comments. Thanks for dropping by!
Just as the emerging crocus is the first sign of spring and the first flurry signals winter, we all know it is summer in Colorado when Monika starts griping about the heat. 😈
Yeah, yeah, yeah…make fun of the person who gets physically ill when she’s overheated. I still think autumn is the best season!
We’ve had a few days of moderate temps and even some rain, which is nice, but high temps on the way for next week. Last weekend we had wild winds and heavy rains resulting in thousands of people without power for several days. We were lucky not to be one of them!! Wild weather all over the place.
You’re so right about the wild weather. The one problem with the El Niño effect is much warmer temps to go with the moisture it provides. Here’s to a weekend with full power. Have a good one.
PS. Have a great weekend whatever you do (or don’t do)! I need to do a few inside “jobs” so I can start using my new treadmill next week.
For photos taken “on the run”, especially with a cellphone camera, I’d say they’re pretty darn good! And Wilson, you need to be less judgmental toward your mum! She is not being lazy. You deserve two fewer treats for that. 😉
As mama to TWO hooligans I can absolutely defend her when it comes to trying to juggle a dog leash in one hand and a phone clinging to the inside of a pocket with the other hand, all while trying to stay upright and balanced! It’s nearly impossible at times.
We haven’t gotten much rain here lately either. I think yesterday’s downpour lasted about three minutes; but it came down so hard that it just ran off instead of soaking into the desert-dry earth. At least I got the Zs out for a quick pee break and back inside before it started!
Thanks, Sue. It’s never easy walking multiple dogs, especially when you’re looking for a bin to drop off a poop bag, the leashes, cell phone, house keys. I try to be prepared for any contingency we may encounter but some days there just aren’t enough hands without potentially dropping a leash or a phone. Wilson just sees a critter and loses his mind not taking into account trying to keep him steady and safe.
This universal heat that seems to be everywhere is becoming relentless. We are so over it. Try to stay cool and have a good weekend with the Z-kiddos.
The older I get the happier I am to have this big, fenced-in yard for theZs. Twenty years ago, when Callie & Shadow were youngsters, I could handle walking them together at the park by myself. And they weren’t all over the place like these two crazies.
What gorgeous sunrise pictures! The raccoon face was adorable. While I enjoy seeing raccoons, they ate all my grapes when I lived in Golden, CO. We saw the culprits in a tree.
I keep hoping for a good rain in Colorado.
Thanks Julia. I just learned a new trick with my cell phone but it requires a few extrta moments to bring things fairly far away into focus and with these guys shyness that wasn’t going to happen. When I lived near downtown we came across a 5 member family of raccoons on a porch. Talk about stopping dead in your tracks!! They’re such iconic little rascals and it’s hard to dislike them even when they eat garden produce. And I love the little chittering sound they make.
I have the same problem trying to take pictures of birds. Just how do they know I’m trying to take a picture of them? 😆🤷♀️
They don’t call ’em crafty critters for nothing!
😁
Casey loves reading Wilson’s take on the world. Casey’s pretty shy, sees Wilson as a brave friend in a sometimes confusing world.
Awww, isn’t Casey sweet. If it’s any consolation, Wilson isn’t quite as put together as he may signal but he rallies around me and if it keeps him happy, then I’m happy. Hope you guys have a good weekend, Jacqui.
Wilson, your hair cut looks amazing. Your barber is good at what he does, mol. We love going on the walk with you and Mum outside. We had Rocky the ‘coon all Spring as he would lumber home and climb the huge wild cherry, get in the fork and go to sleep all day long. Happy Week and hoping you git some the rain we got today. Lynn and Precious
Thanks so much for coming along our little walks. We love the company! Raccoons are such a hoot to watch and because they’re fairly nocturnal, we don’t get to see them all that much. Our old neighborhood in the city you could see them waddling down the alleys looking for a trash bin to rob. They were too funny and definitely not afraid of any of the local dogs.
Wilson is lucky he has a fantastic groomer who specializes in grooming sheepdogs. We are so lucky to have Miss Sydney trim him up so nicely. While I’d always done the grooming on the past sheepdogs and standard poodles, Wilson is just too strong for me to handle in the tub so Miss Sydney it is!
We hope there’s a spot of rain in the next week or so. At least we don’t have the humidity. We wish you a pawtastic weekend!
Those red clouds are spectacular. I always thinks about the saying, Red in the morning, sailor’s warning, red at night, sailor’s delight. It often proves true And yes, we’re familiar with the weather “forecasters” saying lots of rain and we don’t get enough to even wet the dirt in our yard. The ‘coons, wow, I wish I had seen them too. Finally, Wilson, Lucy is here staring at your picture and making little sounds. You’re lookin’ real good, and I think she likes it. 😂
Many thanks. It was unusual since that direction is westerly. Usually we see red sunrises in the opposite direction but that one was nicely situated against the foothills. We even saw an ever so slight rainbow showing up which was a real shocker. Sadly the pics I took didn’t show it very well so I didn’t include it. Wilson blushed at the thought Miss Lucy was making little sounds while looking at his picture. ☺️ We hope you guys can stay reasonably cool this weekend and rain appears soon. Have a great weekend.
That IS really strange that the sunrise was more westerly….I think I’ll ask my friend Chip (ChatGPT) about that, LOL!
I’m guessing the eastern sun shining on those western clouds reflected off the moisture in them.
That sure makes sense.
Just say no to burrs in the furs! We pick them up easily in our furs and Mom usually doesn’t even know until we try to get them out on our own. Mom would love to see raccoons but we never see any, not sure where they live around here. We are headed back into the sauna for about the next week, yuck. Keep repeating every day is another day closer to winter. Thankfully we have had a lot of rain so things are pretty green and happy. Have a good weekend!
We were surprised to see raccoons along the trail. We used to see them frequently in the city. I read where they like to hang out along waterways with trees. We only saw them at dawn, I guess they’re noctural.
We pretty jealous of your rain but keep hoping some storms will develop soon. Have a pawsome weekend.
Great sunrise photos and I love the capture of the raccoon. Good enough, especially under the circumstances. We are back in the hot and muggy weather. It was 77 degrees and 99% humidity when I first looked out today.
I hope you guys catch a break with the weather. I hope you get some moisture and not just monsoon type rains.
Thanks, Dan. It’s amazing how easily raccoons can blend into the landscape.
Yikes, that weather update doesn’t sound pleasant at all. At this point, I’d be thrilled if the only moisture we received was monsoonal…beggars can’t be choosers at this point. And it might help with all the wildfires in the state. We hope you are able to enjoy a good weekend.
The raccoons are clever rascals, that’s for sure.
I should be able to walk this morning 68° and 95% humidity. Gross but cloudy, so maybe I can stay out of the sun.
Yup, rascally but oh so cute. Oi…those are not pleasant numbers. We’re looking for 100 but then again our humidity is likely to be in single digits. Try to stay cool this weekend.
it seems we have the same sorrows this time… big wildfires at the area where da phenny was born… the people have to leave their homes… this summer is way too hot… ugh
We are sorry to hear that. My brother had to evacuate and still cannot get back to his home. Yes, summer is too hot, everywhere in the world. Climate change is real despite what the flat-earth contingency think. We hope the temps moderate soon and you have a nice weekend.
We are currently in between heat waves. Next one starts next Thursday so we are trying to enjoy the weather now.
Enjoy pleasant temps for us. These rolling heat waves are starting to wear on my nerves. Have a great weekend enjoying summer, Kate.
They are on my nerves too. We don’t get days over 100 and never consecutive so this new to us and it makes us cranky!
So hot that I forgot to say – lovely header!
Thank you, Helen. You’re so right, the heat is just so oppressive.
I do feel for you….it should be the rainy season here, but all we have is heat – really unbearable heat! You can tell it is unbearable when the thugs desert the soft seats to lie on the tiles in the main loo – coolest part of the house. You want to use it? Tough…..use the other one….
Ha! Yes, ‘their’ comfort comes first. Unless you want a fat furry head in your lap. You have my sympathies, I cannot bear the thought of humidity on top of sweat dripping heat. Hope things moderate for you and the Thugs soon. Have a lovely weekend.