Adventures about pet therapy, rescues and urban life in the Mile High City
Whoa…October has officially arrived which means it’s officially wear a sweater in the morning and regret it by the afternoon weather.
Today also means there are only 84 days left until Christmas. That can cause some to experience a fright even more than whether they have to take off that sweater this afternoon. 
Whether you openly welcome October with a new sweater or are feeling a bit stressed by it’s arrival, we hope it’s grand.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Welcome to the last Friday of September and the latest edition of Nature Friday, where we join our pals, Rosy and Sunny from LLB in Our Backyard. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what else has been shared. Elsa here to share some glimpses of autumn. Not so’s you’d know it here in the Mile High…it’s been warm and dry although the mornings are delightfully crisp. Mom says I’m practically giddy ‘boinging’ along on our morning walks. But Mom’s prone to hyperbole, so I’m not sure we can trust her on that observation. I have no idea what she’s talking about…she’s so weird sometimes.
Our family got together for a wedding this past week in beautiful Glenwood Springs in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado near Aspen. You couldn’t ask for a prettier setting at a prettier time of year for a wedding. Let the leaf peeping commence.
Crystal blue skies dominated the weekend and the aspen leaves were just beginning to start changing colors, being somewhat delayed by extended summer temps. But what has changed did not disappoint.
So let’s look at the area historically speaking. Ute Indians originally occupied the region and were nomadic hunter-gatherers who seasonally used the natural hot springs lived in the area. Glenwood Springs, originally known as Defiance, was founded by Isaac Cooper in the late 1800’s. Established in 1883 as an encampment containing tents, saloons, and dare I say, ahem…brothels. Like so many other Wild West towns, gamblers, gunslingers, and prostitutes made it home.
Surrounded by red colored sandstone cliffs, Glenwood has been visited by some famous peeps over the years, including President Teddy Roosevelt. Doc Holliday of the O. K. Corral fame, spent the last months of his life there as well as the outlaw gunman, Kid Curry, who was part of the Butch Cassidy’s gang, are both buried in the Pioneer Cemetery.
Did you know that Glenwood Springs was one of the first cities in the US to have installed electric lights. That says something, doesn’t it? Situated in and around narrow mountain valleys where the Colorado River and the Roaring Fork Rivers meet, the terrain is steep and has some well known geothermal activity (hot springs). 
Glenwood Springs owns some of the oldest and senior water rights to the Colorado River and has implemented a good conservation plan, so it continues to sufficiently serve its residents. The town itself lies outside of the Colorado Mineral Belt, with no mineral, oil and gas resources near the town so the watershed is clean and pure. Glenwood Springs has none of the typical legacy of pollution like many mountain areas that had mines did.
People in the valley are avid fishermen (and women) and those lucky enough to live on or near the river are always prepared. Mom said you never know when a 20″ long trout will ‘greet’ you. Even if catch and release is the norm.
While walking down to the creek, Mom stumbled on this scrub oak leaf. She seemed pretty jazzed. I’m not sure what the big deal is but I guess it’s pretty. Sort of. Looks like leather to me. Say, isn’t leather good eating? Asking for a friend, mind you.
On the drive home, Mom spied a waterfall on the side of I-70 near Vail. It was nice to see something pretty because traffic was heavy and moved at a snail’s pace. Guess leaf peepers gotta get home to go back to work. Mom wished they would have just stayed in the area and not clogged up the highway. Oops, was that my out loud voice? Sometimes you get lucky to see something beautiful and surprising. Way to go, Mother Nature.
One last slice of nature that caught Mom’s eye this week was the last Super moon for 2023.
Sometimes things in the city can be as beautiful as in the mountains.
And because I’m such a sentimental schloob, here’s a pic from the wedding of Mom’s nephew and his new bride. Nice setting, isn’t it?
So, have you got any exciting plans for this weekend? Are the leaves changing in your neighborhood?
Live, love, bark! 🐾
It’s Monday and that means two things, (a) we need a smile to start out the week and (b) we’re gonna get our groove down at the same time.
And if that doesn’t do it for you, maybe you need to work on improving your wag-o-meter.
Here’s hoping today has a great beat and your wag-o-meter is in good working order. Happy Monday!
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Well, ahoy me maties and shiver me timbers…today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day and because I apparently enjoy living dangerously, I thought why not try for another photo session with the ninja to celebrate it. I mean if she would no doubt pay me back anyway for the birthday Gotcha Day picture session, why not go all in and really make it worth her while? It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve walked the plank so I decided to go all in. It wasn’t as easy as you might think. Let’s review the process of how we got here after a few tidbits about how this day became what it is today.
Back in 1995, pals John Bauer and Mark Summer were playing racket ball together and randomly chiding each other by talking in an exaggerated form of pirate talk for the day just for fun. They decided to mark the day annually on Summer’s ex birthday so they’d be sure to remember it. For a few years it was celebrated mostly amongst themselves and friends until humorist Dave Barry brought public attention to it in 2002.
Now let’s see what it took for us to get here.
Step 1. Locate the hat thingy that Sam wore a few years back at a hospital visit one Halloween. Pull out the box that houses all the hats and bandanas. Drat, it wasn’t there.
Step 2. Ok then, no biggy. Find the bag with a couple of Halloween costume items. Normally I loathe the whole Halloween thing because the doorbell ringing always drove the dogs nuts but when I worked, our department was always a leader in clever costumes so I have a couple of old standbys from those days I can tap.
Step 3. Closet where the costumes live 99.9% of the time was going to need organizing in order for me to reach said bag that houses the costumes.
Step 4. Well I figured since I’m organizing any way, guess I’d better vacuum while I’m pulling things out, right? It’ll only take a second but discover vacuuming takes a while since I’ve been purging books, clothes and household items no longer being utilized into a large pile that I need to maneuver around. Grr…where the heck is THAT doggone bag in this mess?
Step 5. A-ha…find the bag. Rifle through it, poop…the Davey Jones hat thingy not there. However there is one other bag it might be in so I go find a step ladder to easily pull that one down to check.
Step 6. Eureka…finally found the Davey Jones hat thingy but realize it’s in the wrong bag so reorganize both bags to reflect what’s what. Get out labelmaker to identify the boxes both bags will now live in. Have successfully cleaned the shelves, reorganized the Halloween stuff and managed to find a bunch of old craft projects never started and arrange to include them in the pile headed for the thrift shop. This only took a couple of hours. Ugh, I’m tired and think maybe just forget the whole bloody thing.
Step 7. Fortuitously (or not, depending which side of the fence you’re on) Elsa sashays into the studio. Ooh, ooh, energy surges through my evil veins…”come here said the spider to the fly!”
Step 8. Surprisingly and unwittingly, Elsa waltzes over. I spend several minutes showering her with praise and ear rubs. She’s unsuspecting but now she’s giving me the signal she’d like to take a potty break. Sigh. To accommodate the princess, I take time to take her outside where she sniffs, sniffs, and sniffs some more. Finally, success. This only took 20 minutes.
Step 9. Aware I better strike while the iron is hot, I go into the pantry and pull out the chicken jerky and begin to cut up several pieces. Elsa’s nose catches that nirvana sweet smell of chicken and follows me into the living room, Davey Jones hat and chicken jerky in hand.
Step 10. I ask Elsa to sit politely. She’s starting to realize she’s walked into a trap while giving her a treat, and she plops down as I wave another one in front of her nose. Now I have her full attention. Like Blackbeard, I slyly go to set the scene.
Step 11. I slowly pull the hat from my pocket. “Uh-oh…what did I get myself into” expression flashes crossed Elsa’s face. Enter another well-timed treat. She relaxes-whew.
Step 12. Anchor hat on Elsa’s head which drops because she now realizes exactly what’s coming.
Step 13. Hold up head with the booty under her nose to get her attention. She perks up-snap!
Step 14. This old salt may be just a landlubber but I’m in the groove. I pull out another piece of jerky and wave it under the lassie’s nose. She sniffs at it like a true buccaneer and takes it ever so gently. Yum, she thinks…is this a great country or what?
Step 15. Snapping simultaneously as my hand quickly pulls out of the frame, I capture this pic. She may be a black dog and harder than heck to get any decent pic but after nearly 3 hours of preparation, I have my prize and shout for joy! Bonus, I have a clean and organized closet-woohoo!
Step 16. Elsa’s thinking ‘dead men tell no tales’ but another well timed piece of chicken jerky seems to make her forget her indignity for a few seconds. I retrieve the hat, put it in my pocket and dispense yet another treat.
Step 17. “Aye, aye, maybe this wasn’t so bad,” Elsa thinks. She even wags her tail a bit which she seems to know will also be rewarded since she’s not much of a tail wagger.
“X” marked the spot and we all found our respective treasure. Luckily for us, we have some time before there’s another photo session. I don’t think I can do this again any time soon.
Have fun today with International Talk Like a Pirate Day. All I can say is “thank heavens for Dave Berry and chicken jerky.”
Live, love, bark! 🐾
While I played ‘Queen for the weekend,’ and paw-tied like it’s 1999, today is Monday which means we get to start the week out with a smile.
And by smile, I don’t mean at the one above. And if you snickered at it, I WILL find you. Mom is already on notice; you can see me plotting my revenge .
She is not getting away unscathed for having me pose in multiple photo sessions. I will get even, despite her trying to bribe me make it up to me by making the best scrambled egg breakfast on my special day while showering me with loads of attention and tasty high-value treats all weekend. And because I’m not a complete tool, here’s your Monday smile. You’re welcome.
Here’s hoping all your ‘go’s’ are pawsome the entire week.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Good Friday morning and welcome to another edition of Nature Friday where we join our pals Rosy and Sunny from LLB in Our Backyard. Remember to click on the link to see pics from others. We got a late start today after a lovely shower last evening. We both slept so well that we were a bit lazy this morning.
Elsa: {Yawn…stretch} Yo, Mom, thanks for letting me sleep in this morning. This walking at oh-dark-thirty is for the birds. Wait…what am I saying…even the birds aren’t out when we take our morning walk.
The Mom: That’s pretty accurate. As we’re moving faster and faster toward the official arrival of autumn (for those keeping track, it arrives in just a week), the days are not nearly as sunny at that time of the day and no doubt contributed to our sleeping in this morning.
Elsa: Probably but then again, I know you didn’t really have a plan for today’s post anyway. Is that what’s called procrastination?
The Mom: Umm, erm…well, uh…maybe. Things have been rather hectic…
Elsa: Hectic? Just admit it, Mom…you just put it off. You should have worked on our post yesterday but noooo, you had to run errands all day. Come on, just admit it.
The Mom: {stuttering} I, er, wait…I’m not going to deny I had some commitments yesterday that took up most of the day, but even when I got home, I just wasn’t up for composing anything. Can’t a blogging mom take a break?
Elsa: Sheesh, a girl just can’t get good help. If I had thumbs, you’d likely be fired but alright…I’ll give you a pass this one time, but let’s not make a habit of it, okay?
The Mom: {clearing her throat while rolling her eyes} I’ll do my best.
Elsa: Well, so waddu got today? I don’t recall you taking a lot of photos this week?
The Mom: You’re right, I really didn’t so today’s offerings are a bit on the slim side.
Elsa: Slim?? They’re practically non-existent. For being so busy this week, you didn’t get a lot done on the photo-taking part, now did you?
The Mom: Well, it’s that time of year where things aren’t blooming all that much unless you consider the fully in-bloom Plumbago.
Elsa: Looks like the Hummingbird moth is still hanging around.
The Mom: You’re so right; those beautiful blue blossoms must be pretty tasty; I’ve seen some of the Painted Ladies noshing on them as well but those hummers are really particularly fascinating to watch.
Elsa: You may think they’re fascinating to watch but I can tell you for a fact, they aren’t very tasty. In fact, I can absolutely testify they are quite bitter.
The Mom: Silly girl, you’re not supposed to eat them.
Elsa: I thought it was a windup toy, not some foul tasting thing that flits around.
The Mom: {giggling} Oh Elsa…maybe next time you’ll listen and pay attention to me.
Elsa: It’s not funny. Those things are just gross. You know what they say…paybacks are a…
The Mom: {interrupting} Now, now…let’s not get all worked up. Pollinators are our friends.
Elsa: Maybe your friend, but definitely not mine. I prefer more protein in my friends. And they usually have 4 feet.
The Mom: Yeah, we need to have a chat about that. You can’t be chasing protein on the run all the time.
Elsa: Ehh, a girl has to get her nutrition where she can find it. You know what I mean?
The Mom: You don’t say. So what was the motivation for this latest infraction?
Elsa: Umm…fiber, yeah, that’s the ticket-fiber…I needed some fiber.
The Mom: Fiber? Oh for heaven’s sake. You eat more vegetables than I do! What are you talking about?
Elsa: {Erm, stammer…} Uh, I was bored?
The Mom: Harumph! Can’t believe you ate my Av’s coaster!
Elsa: You’d have preferred it if I ate one of the other local team coasters?
The Mom: No-absolutely not!! You’re not supposed to eat any coasters. Period.
Elsa: Sheesh, calm down. So how about you share something else instead of being fixated on coasters…which I might add, have nothing to do with Mother Nature.
The Mom: {steaming now} Ahem…fine. How about this oddly shaped Pfitzer Juniper bush? Kind of looks like a hot-cross bun, doesn’t it?
Elsa: {head shaking} That was deliberate? Seems like just another example of how weird you uprights are.
The Mom: Weird…you think we’re weird? Who circles 87 times before pooping? Huh?
Elsa: {flustered} Umm, moving along. Remember that unusual cloud formation we saw yesterday morning? You drug me around an entire block to try to get a pic without power lines in it. When we first saw it, it was a perfect “X” but then by the time we came back from around the block, it had changed. Still it was kind of cool.
The Mom: Yeah, it struck me as pretty unusual. Just goes to show it pays to look around when you’re outside-you’ll never know what you’ll find.
Elsa: All I know, is I had to walk an entire block to satisfy your fascinating with those clouds. Next time, let’s walk an extra block to follow trash pandas or foxes or something actually cool like that.
The Mom: Extra steps never hurt anyone.
Elsa: Said the person who drags me out in the dark of night to chase clouds. Ok, I see how it goes.
The Mom: So what did you think about this leaf we came across this morning? A reminder that leaves are about to change and is just around the corner.
Elsa: True enough. I noticed the leaves were most green last week when you went up to Golden. Clear Creek Trail and Park neat sight.
The Mom: Non changing leaves for sure, but the light had that golden glow about it. Haha…golden light in Golden, Colorado. You see what I did there?
Elsa: {ugh} Don’t quit your day job, Mom. You might think that was clever, but I can assure you, it’s lame.
The Mom: Jeez, so harsh! Anyway, hopefully this next week there will be more to offer. I’ll be heading up to the mountains to attend the wedding of my nephew and it’ll be a few days of celebration with the entire family.
Elsa: Celebration? What about tomorrow’s celebration. It’s my 7th Gotcha Day! That means I’m at least 9 years old, maybe older. Can I have a rager of a party? How about a keg? It isn’t everyday a puppy mill survivor and epileptic dogster gets an opportunity to have a blow out party.
The Mom: Keg? Umm, let’s just stick with a quiet day of celebrating, shall we?
Elsa: So long as there are treats. Plenty of treats. Got it?!
The Mom: Fine, treats galore and some extra special attention. We hope our readers have a great day and an even better weekend. Don’t forget to check out nature in your ‘Hood.
Elsa: Right you are, Mom. I’m all in. And I hope there are some roaming critters to help me celebrate my Gotcha Day while we’re at it. Paws crossed.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Twenty-two years ago we watched in horror and disbelief as life as we knew it changed our world. Today is Patriot Day where we salute, honor and remember all the heroes from that fateful day. We will never forget.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Elsa: 🎵 🎶 {humming and breaking into the song The Farmer In the Dell}…”oh, a hunting we will go, a hunting we will go…hi-ho, the derry-o, a hunting we will go…”
The Mom: {check on the Ninja} Good morning, Elsa, what in the world are you doing?
Elsa: Just singing a little ditty I heard the other day…
The Mom: You realize that you changed the actual lyrics of the song?
Elsa: Ahem…my blog, my lyrics/songs.
The Mom: {rolling her eyes} Oh dear, we haven’t even begun to write this week’s post and already you’ve starting in being a pill.
Elsa: Like I said, my blog. How many times do I have to remind you? Sheesh, I wish you’d get it, Mom.
The Mom: Ok, ok, {throwing her arms up in defeat}…I surrender. But you need to introduce us, first.
Elsa: Oh yeah, oops, I forgot. {Clearing her throat} Welcome to another edition of Nature Friday where we join our pals Rosy and Sunny from LLB in Our Backyard. Don’t forget to click on the link to see pics from around Blogville. There, you happy now?
The Mom: Better now that you’ve told people what’s going on. If you’re going to be a writer, you need a introductory beginning, you just can’t come waltzing into a room humming and singing without setting the stage. By the way, what’s this hunting thing that you’re singing about anyway.
Elsa: {getting excited} Well I just heard a story about the tarantula migration in Southeast Colorado and I thought, let’s go hunting for those buggers!
The Mom: Umm, hate to break it to you, but you do know we don’t hunt tarantulas?
Elsa: Wait, wha…why the dog not?
The Mom: Sweetie, first of all, this migration is near La Junta, Colorado which is not that close to us. It’s even further than Grandpa’s house. Second, why in the world would you want to disrupt the males in their annual nature crawl across southeast Colorado for their mating season?
Elsa: Hmm, good point, I’m not sure I want to ride all the way down to La Junta. I mean they do have the very best cantaloupe around, but watching a bunch of horny tarantulas skitter across the highway ain’t my idea of a good time. Besides, I can get my cantaloupe fix from the grocery store. I hear there’s a pretty good crop this year and did I mention cantaloupe is my favorite special treat? Hint, hint.
The Mom: Yes, I know, I’ll pick you up another one this weekend but you can still share a photo of the hairy legged spiders, who just happen to be more terrified of us than we are of them.
Elsa: Umm, speak for yourself but okay, I will share a couple of pics. I can just hear the howling from my readers. It may be the start of the Halloween season judging by all the gear I’m seeing in stores, but as a general rule, most people are not fans of spiders in general, and even less on tarantulas.
The Mom: I know, but they are quite fascinating creatures. My daughter kept a few of them as pets when she was in junior high. Did you know that very year, a mass migration of tarantulas shows up in southeast Colorado, with most of them being male tarantulas, looking to mate with females who burrow in the prairies.
Elsa: Whoa…that is pretty fast. Probably scares the bejesus out of most people.
The Mom: Uh huh, true enough. Most of them in Colorado are the Oklahoma Brown Tarantula, with their mating season happening from September through October. Tarantulas are found throughout the southwestern United States, including southern Colorado. Those found in Colorado are usually dark brown to black and can travel as far as twenty miles in search of a mature female. Tarantula mating is one of the strangers animal reproduction rituals. It is unlike anything else seen in the animal kingdom yet the males don’t live long after mating while females can live 20 years because they seldom leave the area around their burrows while the males tend to roam around.
While tarantulas can bite, their venom is not fatal to humans and is comparable to a bee sting. More likely, they will defend themselves by ‘shooting’ body hairs, resulting in itching.
Elsa: Ok, so that is sort of fascinating so I guess I’m glad we’re not hunting them. But I doubt any of my readers want to hear you wax on about them anymore. It’s been a less than stellar week in terms of photos due to the heat but I’m going to do my best. Let’s move on from the creepy-crawly, shall we?
The Mom: Fine by me. You’re the one who wanted to go-a-hunting.
Elsa: Let’s not get technical, ok? First I’m going to share some photos from my visit with my Grandpa last weekend. It’s always fun to spend time with him and even more fun because it was his birthday. I guess his favorite gift was that his beloved Colorado Buffaloes upset TCU on Saturday. We’ve been coming down from that high all week. Talk about college football hype though. Seems like the whole doggone town has lost their minds hopping on the Buffs bandwagon.
The Mom: Yes, it’s been a ‘little crazy’ watching otherwise normal people go ga-ga. Tomorrow’s game against long time arch-rival, Nebraska will be c-r-a-z-y and a big test for the new coach We have our paws crossed. So what was your second favorite part of our Pueblo visit?
Elsa: Well it was a veritable sniff-fest the whole weekend! I mean I found LOADS of bunnies, quail, a rattlesnake carcass and my absolute favorite, an antler. Too bad it was attached to the skull. I noticed you got pretty choked up over that.
The Mom: I was mostly concerned when you tried to bring one of the rib and leg bones home (not shown here).
Elsa: Yeah, that was not fair, I mean, I need bones to keep my teeth clean. What better way than chewing on a real live antler?
The Mom: Roadkill is not the way to go. But at least we saw a cool sunrise and a slug of sunflowers along our morning walks.
Elsa: It was so early when we went out, I didn’t even get a chance to say wake up good morning to the mules and donkeys that live across the road from Grandpa. I’d rather have checked them out than some dumb sunflowers.
The Mom: Stop being a brat, Elsa. Once we came home we did see a few signs than autumn is nearing. Take a look at this acorn.
Elsa: I only noticed them because the squirrels have been going up and down this oak tree in our yard like maniacs. One of these days, they are not going to get away from me!
The Mom: As long I have you on a leash, they’re pretty safe.
Elsa: You’re such a killjoy, Mom, you know that?
The Mom: It’s for your own good. You wouldn’t want to get rabies now, would you? So what else do you have from around our neighborhood?
Elsa: Well there were a couple of flowers that I spied that were kind of cool. Can we give the wood rose to Rosy, huh, can we?
The Mom: I’m sure Rosy would like that pretty pink flower. Looks like the stores are gearing up for Halloween already judging by all these tiny gourds from the market.
Elsa: Yeah, I noticed our neighbor has started decorating early. He even put up a ‘suggestion box.’
The Mom: Yeah, I always enjoy his yard decor. People come from miles around to see how he arranges them.
Elsa: It’s a clear sign we’re moving toward autumn when he drags out the skellies. Clearly he’s planning on upping their presence. I saw a new critter next to the suggestion box (out of view). A turtle…he was pretty cute.
The Mom: Yeah, he’s pretty clever. Should be a fun autumn. And because it’s the home opener for the local pro football team who shall remain nameless, we are sharing a cloud formation someone sent in to Channel 7. Looks a little like the horse head on their helmets.
Elsa: We send our congrats to the Detroit Lion fans who came from behind late in the last night’s opener and beat Kansas City. You weren’t expecting that, were you?
The Mom: Truthfully, I wasn’t but was happy for them. Should be in interesting football season all around. We’re going to have to get through the CU game first before I’m in pro mood.
Elsa: Ha! You’re still counting the days for hockey to start, you can’t fool me, Mom.
The Mom: True enough. But it’s going to be a busy sports weekend around the Ranch. Anything exciting plans for your weekend?
Elsa: I’m just waiting for the cool front to arrive late Sunday, early Monday. We hope you have a good weekend. But more importantly than a football win, we hope you are able to get out there and enjoy a slice of Nature.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Today is the first Monday of September and it’s also Labor Day in the U.S. and Canada. We send our best wishes for the unofficial end of summer, even as temperatures continue to remind us it’s not over. Not sure when or if those will ever end, yet we hope today is an enjoyable day off.
If you’ve ever wondered how we came to celebrate this day, please check our past posts here and here.
Stay safe and cool, while enjoying one last summer BBQ and recall those who made it possible. Happy Labor Day from me and the Ninja.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Welcome to another edition of Nature Friday where we join our pals Rosy and Sunny from LLB in Our Backyard. Don’t forget to click on the link to see other photos from nature.
Elsa: 🎵 🎶 Do, dee, do, dee, dee, dum. 🎵 🎶 {then switching to humming}
The Mom: Whatcha, doing, Elsa?
Elsa: Just looking something up. Umm, let’s see now…
The Mom: Er, wha…{stuttering}…what evermore for?
Elsa: Just wanted to see what the definition of au pair was…
The Mom: {interrupting} Au pair? Why in the world would you need to know the definition of au pair?
Elsa: Well, since it’s my blog now, I thought I should give out titles and didn’t think “Staff” was enough. From what I can tell, au pair seems like a better term. After all, I mean you’re from a foreign country, you’re living here in the States, and you have the responsibility for childcare, housework, you know…all the things an au pair does…so I thought you’d like something a little dressed up instead of just “Mom.”
The Mom: Umm, that’d be a hard “NO!” You’re getting a bit out of control since I said it was your blog.
Elsa: Moom…I’m trying to do you a solid and you get all bent outa shape. Sheesh. I mean if I’m supposed to be in charge, I need to organize and prioritize. We needed titles, that’s all.
The Mom: Um yeah, no. As in no titles, got that?
Elsa: Phooey. I don’t think I like your tone here so let’s just move on with this week’s post, shall we? {muttering under her breath…man SOME people!). Oh, before we (as in I) get started, I just want to give a huge Ninja birthday shout-out to my favorite Grandpa who turns 93 years old today! Woo-hoo, Grandpa. Well done. You look amazing. I mean I thought I looked good after my dreaded pawdicure and groom this week but man, oh man…you look fabulous! I thought I looked good for being in my 60’s in dog years but with your good looks and my intellect, we definitely make a pawsome team. Hmm, maybe I should give you a special title. I’m really looking forward to spending a few days celebrating with you. We could even do a ceremony whereupon I bestow a special title and…
The Mom: Elsa!! Enough with the titles.
Elsa: Oh alright. Sheesh. Moving right along…so unless you were hibernating, you may have heard about a ‘little’ celestial happening this week. A super blue moon event occurred on Wednesday night. None of Mom’s cameras did as good a job as one of the local TV channel’s website. She especially liked the downtown skyline view. I kept telling her to go to Sloan’s Lake but she wasn’t keen on walking that far in the dark so I needed to make concessions for the au pair. Maybe there’s a language barrier, you being foreign-born and all…?
The Mom: ELSA.
Elsa: Sorry Mom, I was just hoping you might have a change of heart. Clearly I misread that. Once we’re finished with this post, Imma gonna have to check to make sure your heart is working.
The Mom: {interrupting} ELSA!!! Knock it off.
Elsa: Um…sorry, I was just kidding. Mostly. {snickers}
The Mom: Oh for heaven’s sake. This nonsense has to stop. As in NOW.
Elsa: My, my…a bit touchy, aren’t we? It’s ok, I still love you Mom, even if you’re grumpy. And to make it up to you, I’m going to let you post one of the pics you took. Well done. You even managed to capture a helicopter that probably was also trying to snag a pic. Wouldn’t it be funny if you took of pic of a reporter taking a pic?
The Mom: {chuckling at that thought} Yeah, it was buzzing overhead and kind of annoying with all the frap, frap, frap noise hovering over the park. I took another photo on Thursday morning while we were out walking and it’s still a cool view a day later. So big and bright. And it was a whole lot quieter. I love our quiet, early morning walks.
Elsa: Yeah, me too. And I’m sure the wildlife appreciates it as much as we do since the zoo was apparently closed this week-as we only saw flashes of foxes escaping, and cottontail backends of little bunnies. Definitely not shareable. But in the critter category, you can count this dude enjoying a nice day sightseeing via his moonroof.
The Mom: Yeah, there hasn’t been much to capture critter-wise this week. But we did manage to see a few other things. How about you share them?
Elsa: Hang on to your knickers, Mom…I was getting to that. I wanted to showcase a different lake in our ‘Hood…Lake Berkeley. Located near Lakeside Amusement Park, Berkeley Lake is located a couple of miles from the Ranch and includes a nicely paved path surrounding the 34-acre lake. To our surprise, water lilies were blooming in three different spots. It’s not easy getting close enough to the water’s edge but it was kind of cool trying. Just glad you didn’t fall in around those marshes.
The Mom: It sure was…in all the years I’ve been walking around that lake, I’ve never once seen water lilies before-only cattails. It was really exciting and I had to check them all out as closely as I could.
Elsa: Good thing you didn’t get wet. Leave it to you to find something like that. Well done, Mom.
The Mom: Thanks, Ninja. It sure was a great find as was this white rose. After July’s hail storms, it’s taken things a few weeks to recover. This one was a tad past its ‘best by’ date, but pretty nonetheless and appeared to have been chewed on by some bug, most likely Japanese Beetles who have been relentless for the third year in a row. They may only have a 40-day life cycle but they are voracious pests and can turn even the loveliest of plants into a hideous skeleton.
Elsa: Eew, just thinking about those nasty bugs gives me the heebie-jeebies. Looks like that’s it for us this week. We hope you have a terrific weekend; be sure to enjoy getting out to enjoy some Nature. September is starting out right where August left off, hot during the day but cool enough at night. Autumn’s coming. Have a great weekend and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. That should leave you with ample opportunity for some Ninja fun.
Live, love, bark! 🐾