Good Friday morning. As is our usual MO, we’re joining Rosy and Sunny from the LLB life for this week’s Mother’s Day edition. Be sure to click on the link to see what others have shared.

Elsa: Before we get started sharing some of this week’s photos, I personally want to wish our own Mom a very Happy Mother’s Day weekend.

Wilson: Yes, Mum, I too want to wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day. You provide us both with treats, unconditional love, great ear scritches and belly rubs, and are the best walking companion who happens to be a super duper pooper scooper. In fact, I’ll go one better…I wish all dog mums a Happy Mother’s Day.

Elsa: Yo Big Guy, this isn’t a competition. Those are all implied in my Happy Mother’s Day wish, so stop trying to up your game, okay?

Wilson: Well I just wanted to elaborate just a tad in case Mum didn’t know how I felt about her.

Elsa: Face it House Pony, you’re a brown nose and are trying to make up for being a pill yesterday. Trust me, Mom loves us no matter what we chew up or do. She may be unhappy for a quick moment, but I guarantee you she still loves us, so stop going overboard.

Wilson: You mean she won’t be upset with me because I chewed one of her craft tools when she took you for a separate walk? Whew…glad to hear that. And again, you seem to be a bit colorblind, my nose is most assuredly black, not brown. Just wanted to point that out for the record.

Elsa: Oh for crying out loud. STOP, just stop. I told you before it’s a figure of speech. Now that we’re 300 words in, let’s get on with the post, all right?

Wilson: Just wanted the record to be clear. It’s been a very windy week accompanied by cool temps. Yesterday morning it was a cool 36ºF (2ºC) when we went outside for our morning wee. I didn’t mind it but Mum seemed a tad chilled.

Elsa: She was sleep walking I think. She made sure she had a jacket on this morning. While it’s ever so slightly misting, at least it wasn’t quite as chilly. Neither of us seem to mind (well at least not the cooler temps-but I’m not walking around if it’s raining) but at least we’re not in the mountains where 1-3 inches of white stuff are expected. Over the past 4 of the past 5 years, we’ve actually had a bit of snow during Mother’s Day week so I guess we should consider ourselves lucky.

Wilson: Snow? Hmm, I thought we were over all that.  Well it hasn’t seemed to damping any spring flowers from what I can tell on our walkabouts. I mean just look at this gorgeous lilac bush. Mum said it’s different that the solid color ones we’ve seen over the past couple of weeks. Each bloom is rimmed in a narrow stripe of white and the purple is quite intense. It smells amazing, too.

Elsa: Whoa…that’s quite a beauty, dude. I haven’t seen that variety on my route but then I don’t walk the Santa Fe trail like you do. I’m not good with a deviation from the route so probably won’t get to see it before it’s finished.

Wilson: You should try a different route, it’s good to experience new things-trust me. I’m exposed to all sorts of new and look how great I am.

Elsa: Umm, I wouldn’t be going there, Pony. You still get wigged out with large trucks and…

Wilson: {interrupting} Excuse me…those things are terrifying to a country boy like me. I don’t know how you city chaps manage to not freak out whenever a UPS or garbage truck rumbles past. They are quite noisy and they startle my otherwise calm demeanor.

Elsa: Oh brother…just deal with it. As long as you’re with Mom, nothing is going to get you. Chill dude, ok.

Wilson: Well I’m trying, but I don’t have to like them.

Elsa: What’s to like. Just look pitiful and not like some scaredy-cat and Mom will likely give you a treat if you don’t freak out.

Wilson: {wheels turning in his brain} Hmm, treats you say? Ok, I’ll keep that in mind and practice on the pitiful look for the best effect.

Elsa: Yeah, I thought that might make you stand up straight. Yeesh, what a chow hound. What else did you see on your travels?

Wilson: Well the bearded irises are blooming all over the place. Gosh some of them are quite striking. Like this one.

Wilson: Mum was very excited at this bearded iris from her garden. Most of her’s are in the very early stages since the garden doesn’t get as much intense sunlight. This one is actually a reblooming hybrid that she really likes but that hasn’t performed as reliably as she’d like. Still, it’s rather pretty even if it doesn’t have any scent. What’s up with that?

Elsa: Hey, do I look like a botanist? I don’t know why some plants have scents and others don’t. I just like the way they look.

Wilson: Well scent is very important to me, I mean have you seen my nose?

Elsa: Good point. That honker was made for sniffing. I’m surprised they don’t use Old English Sheepdogs like bloodhounds.

Wilson: Well we need to sniff out potential predators, so maybe that’s why. Sniff then drive them for forward together. That’s us.

Elsa: {eyes rolling} Look dude, this isn’t a job interview. We’re sharing slice of Mother Nature, okay? What else have you got?

Wilson: Mum noticed this blooming wisteria a couple of days ago. I asked her, “Where’s the leaves?” She assured me they’ll start forming soon. Seems rather odd to me, those droopy racemes hanging down. Mum said they are part of the legume family so naturally I inquired if they are edible but she said the pods and seeds are quite toxic and for me not to get any clever ideas about noshing on them. Luckily this house has a wrought iron fence so it’s not likely pets will mistakenly snack on the toxic parts.

Elsa: There are plenty of things for you to nosh on, you don’t need to sample poisonous things. This next plant is also toxic so don’t get any bright ideas.

Wilson: These plants are tucked into an overgrown corner of a garden we pass every day and Mum liked that park bench in the back. She thought what a lovely secluded spot. They come in a variety of colors and are quite ornamental. Mum says they’re part of the garlic/onion family and can make us dogs sick if they ingested. She said some species are quite poisonous so I’ll be staying away. Don’t need any stomach upset any time soon.

Elsa: Whoa…you’re actually not interesting in eating something. That’s gotta be a first!

Wilson: Ahem…don’t sell me short. Yes I enjoy food but it’s just not worth a case of diarrhea or vomiting. Not when Mum hands out tasty treats like Tic-Tacs.

Elsa: Hmm, maybe you are trainable! So when you were out on your walks, did you come across these flowering trees?

Wilson: Yes, we did see one near the post office the other afternoon. Mum said it’s a Aesculus x carnea..a red buckeye/horse chestnut an artificial hybrid. Mum said it’s a medium sized showy tree with toothed leaves. It’s pretty striking to look at and makes a great shade tree. Those flowers can be messy when they’ve finished blooming.

Elsa: That looks like it for this edition. Nice job, Pony. So what’s on the agenda for Mother’s Day? I heard Mom is going to see the new great grandbaby for brunch tomorrow. I keep asking Mom when are we going to be able to see her and she said soon. She turned one month old yesterday. Kinda a cute little chunk, isn’t she?

Wilson: She sure is. Mum is nuts about her. I’m not sure just how I’ll react when she starts wailing but I’m sure I’ll be Johnny on the spot, ready to soothe her with a pup kiss or three. I always react to videos of her with a cocked head, with  upright posture and loads of bum wiggles. Crying babies need to be soothed and they don’t call us sheepies Nanny dogs for nothing.

Elsa: You do know she’s not edible, right?

Wilson: Of course I do. But she is kissable and I can’t wait to see and meet her. Mum says soon and I can’t wait. We hope all mums have a wonderful Mum’s Day whether your ‘kids’ have two or four legs. Enjoy your weekend being the center of attention-you totally deserve it. And don’t forget to enjoy some nature over the weekend.

Live, love, bark! 🐾