Welcome to Friday, mates. Norman here along with my sister Elsa ready to share a few slices of Nature around us. As always, we’re joining Rosy and Sunny from the LLB life. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what others have shared.
Elsa: Come onnnnnn, dude….ROAD TRIP.
Norman: Patience little one. Let me set the scene before you go sharing pics, okay?
Elsa: Jeez, you’re so prickly about procedure. Just get on with it, will you?
Norman: Ahem…as I was about to say before your interjection, we took a trip to visit with Mum’s Dad. Her sister from Maryland also came to visit so we had a nice family visit for Easter. Needless to say, we received lots of ear rubs and “Atta boy’s.”
Elsa: And “Atta girl’s.” Don’t forget I get lots of attention too, dog breath!
Norman: Yes, yes, of course, there were lots of “good dog” accolades all around. Now may I continue without further interruption?
Elsa: Sheesh, you’re kinda grumpy today. But do go on, brother dear.
Norman: {eyes rolling} As I was saying, we drove down to Southern Colorado but not before Mum got together with her friend from the new sheepdog rescue to discuss some fundraising business. They had a long conference call with someone who knows fundraising techniques that could be helpful to the rescue and hope to make more progress on fundraising future efforts. After their call, they decided to take a rejuvenating break and walk around the small lake across the street. It’s like a little oasis in the city. They took a quick walk around it on what was a beautiful day and the view of snow-capped mountains on the horizon was just what Mum needed to clear her head.
Elsa: That is a gorgeous sight. But what Mom encountered around the lake…well I can’t stop giggling. I mean, look at this pups whose owner may be a ‘tad’ paranoid about wildlife encounters. She was even carrying a wedge golf club with her.
Norman: I’ll leave it to you to decide which would be more scary, seeing this or the golf club on a walk. Even though I’m a big dog and could likely frighten off any potential coyote, I don’t think Mum would walk us in an area where a pup might be snatched to begin with, and would likely just walk us on the sidewalk near houses. But that’s just me.
Elsa: {giggling hysterically} Oh my dog…I can’t catch my breath I’m laughing so hard. I guess there’s truth to the adage “it takes all kinds.”
Norman: Now, now, sister, no aspersions, okay? Not everyone is as…hmm…how shall I put this…brave as you are.
Elsa: Doggone straight, bucko. And don’t you forget it!
Norman: Moving right along. When you look around the lake (which by the way, is very low these days-much as it pains me to say this…we need moisture in the worst way), you can see lots of dried, crunchy vegetation that probably is wildlife’s habitat. Mum saw a few birds along with other signs of wildlife traipsing through the area, providing water and cover to all the wildlife. Mum herself has seen a coyote on the other side of the park once when she drove by.
Elsa: By the time we arrived in Southern Colorado and got settled in, we marveled at the quiet plains and beautiful sunset which is so different from our city life.
Norman: It sure is a wonderful place to visit and not just for all the attention we receive. Just look at that sunset.
Elsa: You’re so right, brother. The sunsets ARE beautiful. No wonder it’s called “Colorful Colorado.” And the sunrises are very similar…ahem…when you actually get your butt out of bed and check them out when we go say good morning to the neighbors across the road.
Norman: Hey, don’t look at me as the cause of us not getting out there to see the colorful sunrise which you can still see a glimpse off in the distance. Mum said it was a bit crisp for my old bones when it was brightly appearing.
Elsa: Those four-legged creatures sure were interested in you and they seemed pretty friendly.
Norman: I visit them every time I’m there, so yes, we’re old friends. I noticed you play bowed, wagged your tail and started bouncing around like you wanted to play with them. They do better when we’re not making sudden moves.
Elsa: Sorry, I couldn’t help it…I was so jazzed to see dogs even bigger than you!
Norman: Umm, dear sister, those weren’t dogs-they’re horses and donkeys, for the record.
Elsa: Whatever, I just wanted to play with them. Mom was afraid I’d start my play bark and at 6:30 in the morning, we thought people sleeping in might not appreciate my enthusiasm.
Norman: I don’t think people care for barking dogs at livestock any time of day. Just saying.
Elsa: Sometimes people can be such killjoys. But at least it was a good trip and I’m excited we will get to go back again in a couple of weeks.
Norman: Yes, we will be going back and will scope out more signs of Mother Nature when we do. Once we drove back home after a few days, Mum noticed signs of spring in our neighborhood.
Elsa: Those flowering Phlox sure were a shock of color but I’m partial to this little fairy house scene with a fabulous smelling Hyacinth. Oh man, was it ever fragrant, even if it didn’t have any horses or donkeys.
Norman: I don’t think the neighbors would be all that keen on the barnyard scents in the city but you’re right, Hyacinths are quite fragrant and that gorgeous royal purple color is just spot on beautiful. Well sister, that’s about it for this week. We hope our readers will get out and enjoy Nature of all kinds this weekend.
Elsa: You’re right, dude. Time for us to hit the road again. Next time though I get to choose the playlist. While the 70’s and 80’s music was ok, but I was hoping for more hip hop if I have to lay next to you in the back seat.
Norman: Best to cool your jets, Ninja. It’ll be next week when we’re on the road again. Until then, you’ll have to simmer down and enjoy urban Nature in the meantime. Cheerio and let’s hope we get some measurable rain later today and not just a cool front.
Elsa: {voice trailing as she bounces into the other end of the house} Pip, pip you ginormous bag of fur. I’ll race you to the toy box!
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Happy Good Friday peeps, pups and kitties. Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday where we’re joining the cool kiddos over at 
Although Mum’s lineage is mostly German, we happily (ok, maybe ‘happily’ is a bit of an exaggeration, let’s just say we generally tolerate and by we, I mean me) participate in the ‘wearing of the green’ for St. Patrick’s Day for her sake. Of course, that means she has to work über fast when trying to capture Elsa in costume. We all know that Elsa never likes to participate in photo sessions but Mum has gotten quick with the shutter after years of countless bloopers with Elsa.
For a hot minute, I thought that Spring had arrived on Wednesday. It was a lovely day in the low 70’sºF and about as glorious a day as you’ll find. Then Winter stepped in with a cruel way to remind us that Springtime in the Rockies is not for the faint of heart. In other words, it snowed {shiver}. Not much mind you, but enough to keep the coats, gloves and hats close at hand.
On the plus side, Mum noticed the blue hyacinths were coming up as their lovely blue shade contrasted nicely against the snow and dried leaves. On a walk late yesterday afternoon after most of the snow had melted, she noticed some Spring bulbs that have nice southern exposure. Mum was excited at the thought of these tulips blooming soon which, if she remembers correctly, are red and very cheery looking. They are much farther along than any of the bulbs in our garden since they are warmed by that nice sunny spot while ours tend to be somewhat shaded by large trees.
Welcome to Friday where we join our friends from 
Elsa: Count me out on eating bulbs. I have high standards as to what I eat {snorfing heard in the background from Norman}. I noticed some green around the Ranch as well. Achillea x ‘Moonshine’ (Yarrow) is beginning to show signs of waking up. It looked pretty grim with brownish dried-out sticks and leaves until Mom cleaned it up a tad yesterday. It still has a l-o-n-g way to go, but that spot of green is a good sign.
Hello there, sports fans. Elsa and Norman here to share photos for this week’s edition of Nature Friday. Like always, we’re joining those sweet pups from 
Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday which just happens to fall on Veterans Day in the US. An official public holiday celebrated in the US annually on November 11, we honor military veterans, that is, anyone who served in the United States Armed Forces. Also known as Armistice Day and Remembrance Day in other countries, it marks the anniversary of the end of World War I when the major hostilities formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. Prior to 1954, it was known as Armistice Day in the US and still is known by that name elsewhere. The Ranch Hands and I tip our hats to all veterans today so that we may be free. Red poppies are frequently worn to commemorate today but without any blooming poppies, we’ll serve up as different kind of flora and hope you don’t mind.
With Halloween in the rearview mirror, the skellies have mostly been put away (or seem to be focusing on upcoming holidays), welcome to the first Friday of November. As usual, we are joining the cuties from the 
As you can see, it got a bit nippy last night with the first icicles forming on the bird bath.