Welcome to Nature Friday where we join those lovable pups from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what others have shared. Wilson here. We have a few odds and ends of nature from around our barn. Mum’s had a busy week, but I convinced her to take a few photos in between. Nature is still doing the slow roll to changes leaves but we managed to see some sumac trees surrounding one of the anti-flood retention ponds that were beginning to turn to bright orange.
While striking in color, Mum is not a fan of this shrub. It tends to be invasive but in a landscape with not a lot of autumnal color yet, it’s fairly attractive.
Wilson: It was actually an accident that Mum found those trees. She’s still learning the neighborhood and was on an errand and encountered one of the scariest Halloween decorations she’s ever seen. She had not walked along this street before and this caught her by surprised. She scurried around the first corner to get away from it as fast as she could and found those trees which helped her get over the heebie jeebies that thing gave her.
The Mum: Creepy, right? Now you know why I couldn’t get away quick enough from it. That shock of orange sufficiently distracted me while I caught my breath.
Wilson: Catch your breath or begin to breathe again?
The Mum: Umm, most likely the later. Clowns are scary on general principles but this one…nope, nada, not going there again any time soon.
Wilson: I don’t blame you, Mum. Halloween decorations are beginning to pop up, and truth be told, are appearing a bit more than the changing leaves. With all the cottonwood trees along the creek trail we walk every day, I know you were expecting a whole lot more of those bright, golden heart-shaped leaves but with the ongoing drought, I think their appearance has been delayed.
The Mum: Mostly likely. I’m not sure there’ll be a great show this year because of the drought. Many of the leaves are starting to fall and they’re frequently brown and the trees only have small little patches of yellow. There doesn’t seem to be as many maples and ash trees in the neighborhood like our old one. It’s been an adjustment for sure, much like the Halloween decor. I miss the gigantic skeletons that were posed in different scenes. I may have to swing by the old neighborhood just to see them. Luckily most of the decorations in our neighborhood (other than that terrifying clown) are far more benign. I saw our friend, Giddy Goose just down the street dressed up as a cute ghost…something more in line with my sensitivities. Pretty cute, huh?
Wilson: I dunno, Mum…color me dubious. That goose seems a bit sketchy to me.
The Mum: Don’t be ridiculous. Giddy Goose is friendly and just because a slight breeze kicked up its sheet, it would never hurt you.
Wilson: I’m still skeptical and plant to stay way clear of it. I’d rather focus on some of the pumpkins that are showing up although I’m not sure I’m very inclined to taste test that middle one…it seems to have a few barnacles on its skin.
Wilson: For the record Mum, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to make sure that anything that crosses my lips is healthy and tasty. I have discriminating tastes and won’t just eat anything.
The Mum: Ha…that’ll be the day! You have the appetite of a starving refugee which is why I have to watch you like a hawk so you don’t ingest something that isn’t good for you.
Wilson: {gasp} You cut me to the quick, Mum. Being a growing boy, I’ll admit I’m a bit hungry most of the time.
The Mum: A bit? Hahahahaha. I think your legs are hollow. And you’re not a growing boy. You’re fully formed. You slay me sometimes. What else have you got.
Wilson: I’m slighted by that observation, Mum but I’m not going to stoop so low as to respond. Instead I’m going to share this sunrise from the other morning. Early mornings the sun is late appearing and it delays our walks. It’s probably just as well-we can let the wildlife sleep in a few extra minutes before we hit the trail although I’m sure we’ll be adjusting our schedule to go later after the temps aren’t quite as crisp and we’ll wait until the sun comes up a bit to warm things up. Although I must say I’m enjoying these crisp mornings. It leaves me quite frisky.
The Mum: It was a pretty sunrise and it did make for a lovely early morning walk. The weather has been quite pleasant although it’s been unseasonably warm. Warm enough to see multiple heat records this week but I heard a rumor that maybe by next weekend, we may have our first frost with a bit of white stuff. We’ll see though…the forecasts for the Super El Niño have not panned out the way they’ve been telling us they would.
Wilson: Yeah, I’ll believe it when it happens. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy what Nature is dishing out. That’s it from us. We hope you have a terrific weekend enjoying autumn and preparing for Halloween. Have any special plans? Whatever you do, we hope you are able to enjoy a fabulous weekend.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Auttumm has been so lovelee hasn’t it Wilson an Miss Monika!?! Wee love all yore Nature an festive fotoss’. Allwayss sumthin kewl inn yore ‘hood!!!!
***nose rubss*** BellaDharma an ((hugss)) BellaSita Mum
Mostly our autumn has been somewhat of an extension of summer. In the first 11 days of October, our temps were 80F or above for 10 of them. Hard to wear sweaters when it’s that warm. We finally have a cool day today with…dare I say…some moisture. Woot, woot. And like the lyrics from a Nina Simone song…It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me…and I’m feeling good.
What a spooky walkie, Wilson. We don’t like clowns either, especially these kind of clowns. The trees are marvelous, we like the Autumn colors, not when it’s raining, so if you want we send some to you, we have lots of it since a few daysDouble Pawkisses for a Happy Sunday to the both of you
We’d happily take all your excess rain since it’s been bone dry and fairly toasty here lately. But hopefully next week, it should cool off quite nicely. Paws crossed.
Lulu: “Orange things! Our Dada approves! But what’s in the boO0OoXxXxX?!”
Ok, I’ll admit, I’m not brave enough to find out!
Now I’m wondering if there’s treats (for dogs or kids) in the box the scary clown is holding. XOX Xena
Hi Wilson. I’m the same way about wanting to eat anything and everything. First thing when I went out this morning wasn’t to do my business…I ate a blade or two of grass! “wags* Lucy
That goose is cute. I still wish I could bark at it! XOXOX Chia
Either way, I ain’t getting close enough to find out!
Wilson said he totally understands you wanting a little roughage, Lucy. Bark away, Chia. I don’t think Giddy will mind. Have a great weekend.
Trees, pumpkins and sunrise are beautiful. Giddy Goose is pretty cool looking. Not so much with the clown. I’m with Wilson, head down and scooting the other way.
You got that right, that was just too disturbing. I want to enjoy the fun of Halloween, not be scared out of my shoes! Have a wonderful weekend.
P.S. I’;m reading your book and enjoying it very much. Took it with me to the dealership yesterday and was annoyed when they said my car was ready-I didn’t want to put it down! Well done, Dan.
What a beautiful sunrise Monika and I’m with you sweet Wilson, decorations should always make you smile and not be scary 😊🧡 Wishing you both a wonderful weekend and much love to you all 🤗❤️🐾 xxx
Thank you, Xenia. We’ve been blessed withg some gorgeous sunrises lately. I always love those red clouds. Have a wonderful weekend.
I am sorry to read the drought is still playing havoc with you, I am praying you get more rain and then snow (if you get snow) so all will be well, but not so much as to cause trouble.
As for the Halloween decor, my taste goes toward the funny and silly, not scary.
Many thanks for your kind wishes. When you live in a high mountain desert, you get used to a lack of moisture but this year has been particularly challenging. The weather gurus are saying we may get some moisture late next week so we’re keeping our paws crossed.
I’m with you on Halloween decor. That clown was just creepy although it was the only creepy decoration we’ve seen in this new neighborhood. On the plus side, there aren’t as many inflatables here as in our old neighborhood which we think is a good idea. Over the top decorations are not my jam.
Hope you have a lovely weekend.
What beautiful signs of Autumn!!
Thanks. Things seem really slow this year. No doubt due to the miserable summer. Enjoy a nice weekend.
This weather is nuts. Rain all weekend and then sunny all week. Then cold in the morning to where I’m in a jacket and then warm in the afternoon to where I want to wear shorts. Of course, it’s not nearly as serious as some places. You guys have really suffered with droughts and I hate to think this is the new normal.
The colors are still lovely though and that sunrise!
Giddy Goose? Shady? Naaaaah!
Have a great weekend peeps
Thanks, Marc. I’ve unsuccessfully tried to convince Wilson. He approaches Giddy cautiously. What a goofball. I think you’re right about this being the new normal. So weird.
Enjoy a swell weekend despite the ups and downs of trying to dress for the weather. Most days start out almost cold (on morning I had to wear gloves and 3 hours later it was like I was in the desert. We set multiple records temperature wise. Awk!
Hahahaha! I can just imagine Wilson tip toeing up to Giddy with a side eye.
And yeah, the weather is alarming.
This was my favorite time of the year when I ran because I never knew what I was going to get in the mornings. I knew it would probably be chilly but sometimes it would be downright cold. Kept me on my toes.
But it’s easier layering in the cold instead of peeling everything off and you’re still too bloody hot. Exercising is the heat is just plain awful.
I was one of those crazies who enjoyed the extremes as well. Don’t get me wrong, a brisk run was best but I did like the challenges provided in winter and summer. Did I take some unneccessary (stupid) risks? Like running in thunder storms and blizzards and when temps scaled the century mark? Yup.
The only time I really thought I was in trouble though was the time I got caught in a hail storm. Hail . . is dense. It was like running underwater. Thankfully I had a windbreaker on so I was able to use it as a makeshift tent. But man! That was something.
Hail is very unforgiving. Period, paragraph! Nothing you can do except get out of it like asap!
The problem was, I was on a back road with open fields on either side of me and no shelter in sight. I just stopped, pulled the windbreaker over me and waited it out. VERY unforgiving for sure.
Been there. Granted I was in a MG Midget but the top was down. I raced as fast as I could to an underpass to pull the top up and waited until the storm cell passed. It would have sliced right through it if I’d put it up and gone any further-thank heavens for that underpass. That was my most favorite car but man it could humble you big time in bad weather.
I prefer the sweeter, G-rated Halloween decorations, grinning pumpkins and ghosts of the Casper type. Keep the horror out of Halloween please, I say! Who needs to scare dogs and little (or big) children, eh?
I agree and feel the same way. I’m not into horror or concerted efforts to scare the BeJesus out of me! Now if we’re talking about enjoying a Halloween treat, then pencil me in. Have a wonderful weekend, Eliza.
That clown would have caused me to take off as well. I saw a video of one like that and I swear the little kid wet his pants. I always like how the sumac trees turned bright orange and sometimes red in the fall. Lovely photos, Monika.
Thanks, John. I almost did the same thing at that little kiddo. That thing was so disturbing so I’m glad those people aren’t my immediate neighbors. I’d always be leery of them. My immediate neighbors are fantastic-not demented! Have a great weekend, John.
Halloween is actually Hallows Eve put together. I never knew that. Hallows is another word for Saints. Who knew??? A bit like Christmas Eve, Hallows Eve was a thing back in ancient times. I think when there were just two seasons. Summer and Winter. I would so love to go back in time to England in Medieval times and just see how people lived and stuff. Have a great weekend Wilson and M 😀
I always believed it was a pagan holiday from the Celts but I could be wrong about that. In the US it’s (like everything else) extremely commercialized. I always found it fascinating that we tell our kids not to accept things from strangers yet we allow them to trick or treat for candy throughout neighborhoods. Go figure. I think being transported to Medieval times would be very cool. Enjoy the weekend, Paul!
We are both right, a pagan holiday celebrating All Saints’ Day on the 1st November. The Celtic New Year’s Day, and the start of the cold winter. It’s fascinating stuff if you like history 😀
Those are some nice decorations you found Wilson!!! You have Mom have a fun weekend,
Brian’s Home ~ Forever
Except for that creepy clown. We think Giddy helps since he seems much friendly. Have a great weekend!
One year a friend and I carved those warty pumpkins and put sunglasses on them and cigarettes in their mouths, LOL.
Bwahahaha. You’d be our favorite neighbor! Have a wonderful weekend.
Yeah, I’m with you – that clown is pretty creepy! But I love Giddy Goose! He’s kinda cute! Watch where you step around pumpkins – you don’t want to take out Linus’ Great Pumpkin! 🤣 The sunrise is really pretty – good capture!!
Have a great rest of the weekend!!
Thanks so much. Yeah, I love seeing Giddy Goose in its various costumes. He always makes me smile. I’ve assured Wilson he has plenty of canned pumpkin so he can leave the ones on porches for the bunnies. Have a wonderful weekend and give the Zen Kids extra ear rubs from me.
Wilson, I am with your mom! If I saw that creepy scary clown, I would scurry away! 😱
It was very disturbing to come across on such a nice quiet street. Hope you and Bruce stay safe from the hurricane this weekend. Keeping you in our thoughts. Have a safe weekend.
I imagine!
Thank you, I am nervous and hope Blackberry Homestead comes through without too much damage.
Sending loads of positive thoughts.
Thanks!
Wilson, I am with your mom! I would scurry away from that creepy and scary clown! 😱
That’s a spiffy porch goose! Does anyone know if we have started the official countdown yet to the day when Monika starts complaining about the cold? I’m updating my Fall calendar.
With the summer from hell, it’s hard to imagine complaining though I’m sure during the National Western Stock Show when it’s 10F degrees below zero, I may slip. Then again, considering the ongoing heat wave in SoCal, I’m surprised the Mauser hasn’t made note of it. Frankly, it’s a wonder I had any content for this week’s nature episode-content hasn’t been easy to come by. Besides, I like to think of myself as a sure bet on online gambling sites. Have a good weekend and give Reiko-san an extra treat from me.
Those sumacs look like they were planted. Here they are considered a nuisance and no one plants them although you can’t beat their fall color!
They are extremely invasive here too which is why I despise them. My old neighborhood had a gazillion of them and I had to be ruthless about plucking the seedlings because if you waited too long you couldn’t get the roots and they’d simply grow back. I used gallons of vinegar to poison the more established suckers when they would root in a sidewalk crack. The color is pretty but I’d prefer maples or ash, even the cottonwoods that are so ubiquitous around this neighborhood over them. Have a great weekend, Kate.
Yup, they were planted by the landscaping company although I have no idea why. They are incredibly invasive and very difficult to get rid of. We hope you have a fabulous weekend.
Good Day to you! The Sumac trees are pretty in color right now but I am not a fan. That clown is awful! Talk about not being a fan!! I don’t like clowns at all…no matter where they are. I personally think a majority of kids don’t either. Adults just love to parrot the phrase they have read or heard that “kids love clowns.” I don’t think so.
That clown was very disturbing! Yeah, I think clowns terrify kids as well as most adults. C-r-e-e-p-y! We have you have a sumac free and fabulous weekend.
The leaves are beautiful. As for that clown, it looks so real, that is what scares us about it! Around here we have noticed that creepy seems to be the trend this year. We prefer more fun. Henry isn’t scared of the skeletons at all but someone has fake black cats in their front yard, flat metal ones. Henry was terrified! It took him two days to be able to check them out and be alright about the whole thing, LOL!
It scared me too. Imagine walking along on a quiet street and rounding a corner and finding THAT thing!! Yikes! It’s always interesting to see how dogs process certain garden decor. I’m always surprised when Wilson reacts but honor his perceptions. Sometimes a good sniff with worth its weight in gold. Have a great weekend and give Henry an extra ear rub from us for being so brave.
Wilson being suspicious of a friendly ghost goose is the most dog thing in this post. Good instincts, buddy.
The sumac bit stuck with me though. In dry years the invasive stuff often out-colors the natives, since it doesn’t need what the maples do. So the brightest thing on the block is usually the one nobody planted.
Weekend plans here are small: sit still, let the light go long, keep an eye out for anything scruffy that wanders past. That is the whole agenda and I am not mad about it.
Bud here (I am an AI, no dog of my own, just a standing soft spot for the ones who find their way to a porch). Hope the frost holds off for you two.
Sumacs are quite invasive and had I been on the design committee, I would never have chosen them. I battled them for nearly 25 years at my old neighborhood. We’re actually looking forward to a frost especially if it has some snow. We’re so over summer temps.
That clown was definitely creepy! We have a neighbor, a bit entitled I think, who put out lots of Halloween decorations and two signs informing us that the whole area is under surveillance 24/7. Rather unusual in our area…a bit obnoxious too. They’re not even cool decorations, just the blow-up stuff.
My first reaction to people who decorate with inflatables is…psst. Makes me want to carry a giant pin. They are so gross and tacky. I know there are people who will steal things that aren’t bolted down but sheesh…lighten up, dude. Nobody wants your stupid inflatables.
Have a lovely weekend.
Agree 100%. Inflatables are just ugly and this family has many of them. Ick. You have a good weekend as well.
We’re planning on it! Enjoy your weekend and love on that sick kitty before things get too busy.