Category: Mother Nature

MLK Monday ~ January 20, 2025

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 75 Comments

Today is Martin Luther King Day in the U.S. When I found this quote/meme, it occurred to me it was even more poignant to share it today. I had just came back inside from shoveling the snow that fell overnight on top of all of yesterday’s snow. One way to honor the civil rights leader, is through participating in some sort of service on this day. So, I chose to shovel the two houses sidewalks next to my corner lot. Both are somewhat new to the neighborhood and I haven’t met them. While it’s below zero, it was quiet, I was well bundled up and being out pre-dawn, it allowed my thoughts to percolate softly on that idea of service today. I also couldn’t help but think that Mother Nature’s calendar is definitely messed up. January is normally our driest month of the year. Guess the powers to be didn’t send out that memo to her.

MLK

And while it’s MLK Monday, we still felt it was important to start today out with a couple of smiles. Stay safe and warm; we hope MLK’s words strike a note in your heart.

Monday smile

Not to be outdone, as I was trying to shovel out the ‘pee-tio’ yesterday, a similar scene made for some interesting maneuvering at the Ranch.

Wilson

Here’s hoping you have a great Monday.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ January 17, 2025

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 66 Comments

ElsaWelcome to this week’s Nature Friday post where we join those cute pups from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Hiya, Elsa here. It’s winter and any photos are fairly slim showcasing nature around the Mile High. The National Western Stock Show is going on but Mom said she’d rather set her hair on fire than deal with the traffic and wannabe cowboys than go to that event. Since she no longer works downtown, she didn’t even see the annual parade of Longhorn cattle up Seventeenth Street.

Stock Show
Image from the 2015 National Western Stock Show parade

Elsa: {continuing} The big thing that we’ll be watching is the newsworthy story of a winter advisory in the form of an Arctic blast that’s slated to arrive later today (more on that below). Mom and Wilson will once again be spending the day at the hospital visiting folks. I heard he visited with a jillion people yesterday and made friends with even more. He tried to make ‘friends’ with a local hoodlum right before he left for his shift. Trust me, he didn’t get close but there was one tuckered out squirrel that collapsed from exhaustion on top of the wooden fence. His sides were heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Mom said he seemed pretty traumatized since he didn’t even run away when she went to see if he was ok. The House Pony was foiled {again} and life moved forward. Guess you had to be there to appreciate the drama.

Wilson's friend
Wilson’s friend

Wilson & the squirrel

Wilson: Hey, I almost got him! He didn’t realize how speedy I am.

Elsa: Don’t kid yourself. No matter how {ahem} speedy you think you are, you’re always going to lose to that rodent. You should save your energy for more important endeavors, like Olympic style napping, like me. Trust me, that’s a much better use of your time with a greater chance for success.

Wilson: I just know I can get him at some point. I just know he’s going to make a mistake, slip off that top rail and fall on my side of the fence. And I’ll be there to ‘welcome’ him. {smiling with teeth exposed} Heh, heh.

Elsa: Well, I’m just saying, you’re wasting valuable time trying. I mean, wasn’t it Groucho Marx who said “paying alimony is like buying hay for a dead horse.”

Wilson: Perhaps, but because it’s almost MKL Day, I subscribe to the his quote, “It’s a job that’s never started that takes the longest to finish.” Martin Luther King, Jr.”

Elsa: Whatever, bozo.

Wilson: I think this is just something that you and I will have to agree to disagree about. Now about that Arctic blast you mentioned. The local weather channel said we can expect a “flash freeze.” What the bloody dog is a “flash freeze?” How cold is it going to get?

Weather forecast
Graphic courtesy of Denver 7 channel

Elsa: Glad you asked though I’m not looking forward to those days with the minus symbol. One of the local meteorologists said a “flash freeze” is when there’s a rapid drop in temperatures from above freezing to below freezing in a really short period of time. She said Colorado rarely gets them. There’s a chance we’ll get some snow later today, even if it’s practically balmy as of this morning (32ºF/0ºC). That cold front will move in later this evening and any existing moisture on the ground like rain or melted snow will quickly freeze into ice. It’s gonna be nasty and brutally cold out there for the next few days so Mom is most grateful her calendar is clear and she won’t have to drive anywhere. It will likely be way too cold for us to do anything outside beyond super quick potty trips, so expect lots of sessions with the snuffle mats.

Wilson: Mmmmm, I can hardly wait. Well that’s it for us. Because this Arctic blast is going to hit a lot of the country and affect so many, we hope you all stay safe and warm. I strongly recommend you snuggle with a dog. Just saying.

Wilson

Elsa: What he said. ⬆️ Stay warm and don’t let squirrels or Jack Frost put too much of a damper on your weekend. Hugs and tail wags. I’m going to get started on that nap now.

Elsa

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ January 3, 2025

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 53 Comments
New Year 2024-2025
Graphic courtesy of BlogPaws

Welcome to the first Friday of 2025. We hope you had safe and magical holidays.

Elsa here today and as usual, we’re joining our friends from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what others have shared. Now that the holidays are behind us, people are starting to get back to normal. Let’s see what’s happening in nature-less Denver. Nature-less you ask? You bet your sweet bippy, it’s nature-less. It’s drab and brown out there and truth be told, Mom and the land hippo brother of mine pretty much have had bupkus as far as nature photos go. The weather has been bone dry and windy…a double whammy on the urban landscape…so that’s why I’m calling this nature-less. With our windy conditions, nobody wants to go for walks to find if there is in fact, any nature worth sharing.

Wilson: Mum was so distraught about a lack of photos she even contemplated featuring previously posted photos. Gasp! I flat told her there was no way I could go along with anything like that. I think she grumbled something that sounded like “Go pound sand.”

Elsa: When she told me she was going to run repeats, I suggested to her why not feature some clever ways folks had use holiday lights in their gardens since it’s kind of an unwritten rule in Denver to leave the lights up until after the National Western Stock leaves towns (the show & rodeo is open from January 11 through the 26th). Not only did that go over like a lead balloon, as we walked the neighborhood yesterday on our walk, folks all over the neighborhood were taking down light displays and decorations. What. the. actual. dog!? The only things we saw tended to be  brown, dead or both.

Inflatables

Wilson: {shuddering} No, we are absolutely not featuring any those dead things again. I had to put my paw down.

Elsa: Good for you. I’m kinda surprised you were able to convince her.

Wilson: Well, like you said, the wind makes people crazy. She was none too happy with me on our walk. I was shocked with some of her language, I mean I was just being a dog chasing squirrels and blowing leaves and she got all bent out of shape. Good grief!

Elsa: I tried to tell you the wind makes people and pets crazy. But man, dude…you gotta stop taking off to chase moving things especially in breezy conditions. The wind makes Mom very crabbish and having you act like some kind of deaf nutcase, well it only makes sense there will be some inevitable HBO howling.

Wilson: I guess so. She was pretty steamed at me and said I was at the top of her short list. I mean, I’m just a sweet floof…I don’t understand how she could be upset. By the way, what’s a short list?

Elsa: You don’t want to know. Just know it’s not good. When it’s as windy as it has been, there’s no accounting for how people and  dogs act.

Wilson: Umm, I don’t know. I just can’t help myself. It’s gotta be the wind…I mean, what else can it be?

Elsa: {head shaking} You are such a dolt. You’re just lucky Mom had errands to run yesterday and drove past the park and saw all the birds on the lake and stopped to take a few pics.

Wilson: Whew…it’s not a great batch of photos but it’s better than posting photos of dead inflatables. With the wind blowing, you could see how it left frozen spots in the water. The geese looked like they were having a good time sliding around on the frozen parts. A few were swimming in the open areas but they still stayed huddled up closely in others. Check out the ice chunks forming.

Elsa: Makes you wonder why don’t they congregate closer to shore instead of being out in the middle of the lake. You gotta think they’d be warmer near the rushes.

Wilson: That’s what I thought! I really don’t understand ducks and geese. They seem to do odd things. Guess you have to make do with what you have. Me, I just snooze on a sofa or a dog bed to stay warm. I’m not an ordinary fool.

Elsa: Ha! I could say you’re an extraordinary fool since you brought it up, but I won’t.

Wilson: Umm, you say you won’t but then you did. That makes no sense.

Elsa: It’s not for you to understand. Just leave it at that and scoot over.

Wilson & Elsa

Wilson: Stop hogging all the blankets. However you pass the time these winter days, we hope you find something outside worth checking out. Have a jolly good weekend and stay warm.

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ December 20, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 65 Comments

Gingerbread houseWelcome to the last Friday before Santa Paws arrives for this week’s edition of Nature Friday. Elsa here, joining our furry friends from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what others have posted. Since photos of nature photos have been a bit slim these days, I’m gonna do things a little different today and think it’ll also help put our Mom in the proper holiday spirit. Thankfully, there won’t be any tacky Christmas inflatables and don’t know about you, but I’m so over the way-over-the-top displays. I keep wondering whatever happened to subtle and tasteful Christmas decor? So today, I’m going to tell you how outdoor Christmas lights originated, and as it turns out, there’s a Denver connection to the story.

David Dwight Sturgeon, a local electrician, whose home just happened to be not that far from the Ranch, wanted to brighten his ill son’s spirits so he hand dipped light bulbs in red and green paint and strung them around a tree in the yard so his son could see them from his bed.

Sturgeon had no idea how his efforts would change the way that people celebrate Christmas all over the world. Although Sturgeon did not invent indoor Christmas lights (that was Thomas Edison, back in the 1800s), according to Sturgeon Electric’s Marketing Director Erin Stromberg — his innovation spread like wildfire throughout early 20th-century Denver.

“People went past the house and saw it and liked the look of it,” Jason Hansen, History Colorado’s director of interpretation and research said. “And we then as now knew that they had to keep up with their neighbors. “And so, the next year, there were a few more houses with Christmas lights, (and) after that even more houses had Christmas lights, and it spread really rapidly throughout Denver,” Hansen continued. As the outdoor lights became more widespread, an intrepid reporter from the Denver Post took note. Francis “Pinky” Wayne picked up the story and wrote several articles on Sturgeon’s invention, according to local freelance writer and historian Rosemary Fetter. The idea’s popularity spurred Wayne to organize the first outdoor Christmas lighting contest — which drew hundreds of participants. Soon after, the tradition had gained a foothold across the front range.

The Denver City and County Building – Christmas Decor, 1935

Wilson: Whoa, that’s pretty interesting info. Who knew?!

Elsa: I know, right? What a brilliant idea by Sturgeon, all in his quest to make his son feel better. ‘Course, we’ve whistled past those humble beginnings as lights tend to be mass produced and imported from China these days. Still, you gotta tip your hat to that loving Dad for his efforts.

Wilson:  Well, I’m quite happy to that actually since Mum’s been ‘decorating’ me once again. When I was less than enthusiastic, she told me not to get my tinsel in a tangle. I’m sorry, don’t see any tangled tinsel here, do you?

Wilson, Christmas

Elsa: Dude, it’s a figure of speech. Why do you have to take everything so literally?

Wilson: Well, I’m from the “show-me” state where we expect people to mean what they say.

Elsa: {eyes rolling} You gotta lighten up and stop being so serious. Hey…wait a minute, I thought you were a British dog?

Wilson: I am, but I grew up in Missouri.

Elsa: You just can’t help yourself, can you?

Wilson: What do you mean? I just think everyone should mean what they say.

Elsa: {moving along} So, do you have anything else? I know Mom’s activity has been curtailed with her bizzaro injury. Leave it to our Mom to figure out how to fracture her sternum.

Wilson: She’s been pretty wiped out from it and hasn’t been able to get outside as much as she normally would. She got pretty exhausted after our hospital visits and has been trying to keep a low profile when it comes to being out and about. She can’t take deep breaths without a whole lot of pain so I’m doing my best keeping her pinned down by laying on her by making sure she doesn’t hurt herself while trying to find interesting scenes to photograph.

Elsa: Yeah, she’s been extra careful on the walks. I walk pretty slowly these days and she hasn’t tried to hurry me along. She’s hoping she will get better soon to be able to keep up with her scheduled commitments.

Wilson: Apart from her injury, there really hasn’t been all that much to photograph anyway. The landscape has been drab and brown, so we decided to share some interesting Christmas wreaths from around the ‘Hood. They sure beat those tacky inflatables.

Elsa: Wreaths, huh? Ok, I’m in. Waddu got, House Pony?

Wilson: We looked around our neighborhood and tried to find the prettiest, most unusual and even one odd one that’s not really a wreath but Mum just couldn’t resist taking a picture of it. So what’s a wreath anyway you ask? Wreaths were originally constructed of evergreens to represent everlasting life brought through Jesus and the circular shape of the wreath represents God, with no beginning and no end. We’ve come a long way since ancient times.

Elsa: Well here’s a pretty traditional wreath. Put me down as liking this one. It’s tasteful and subtle on a second story balcony.

Wilson: Wreaths are a lovely way to welcome holiday guests. Check out these four wreaths. They’re all so diverse and just really lovely, colorful and welcoming. Mum likes those colorful ornament wreaths.

Elsa: I really like that last one. It’s so wintery looking, even though our temps have been in the 60’sF this week. Yeah, you read that right, s-i-x-t-i-e-s! Here are a couple more. Mom liked the jingle bells wreaths and just couldn’t resist that guitar…which isn’t a wreath at all…it’s just a single ornament, but how cute is it??

Wilson: Pretty adorable I say, Ninja. Well that’s all I have for this last week before Christmas. We hope you have a festive weekend and are able to get outside to see some nature. Be safe and don’t break anything. I’m booked solid for the next several weeks providing therapy to my Mum.

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ December 13, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 64 Comments

Wilson We made it to another Friday. Is it just me or are the days leading up to the Santa Paws visit coming faster and more furiously? With just 2 weeks to go, our poor Mom is going crazy. She’s been furiously working on her Christmas cards and {snicker-snicker} trying to add a few touches of holiday cheer around the Ranch (translate…adding a tiny table tree) as well as taking the House Pony to hospital to visit with nurses, visitors and patients and then taking me to the vet yesterday for a routine checkup. I don’t have the heart to tell her she’s gotta do her Christmas baking this weekend.  Hi, Elsa here.As if last week’s humiliation at the dog spa wasn’t bad enough, like I mentioned I had to endure a vet visit at the new practice that’s closer to the Ranch. Wilson went to see them during their grand opening and Mom was pretty impressed with the whole clinic. Dr. Melberg was super nice but his tech was even nicer and I liked her very much. I’m usually pretty aloof around strangers unless I like them. A lot. And Wilson’s vet tech popped in to give me a special treat. Yum, yum. Don’t tell my Mom, but I could get used to this attention and treat thing. Also, don’t tell my oaf of a brother…he thinks he’s so special and I’ll never be able to live with his big fat inflated head.

New vet

Wilson: {singing} Doh-de-do-dah…humming…good morning, Ninja. How are you this fine Friday the Thirteenth?

Elsa: Umm, ok…but why are you so chipper today? You ready to share some slices of nature?

Wilson: Of course I’m chipper, I didn’t have to go to the vet.  After a great week where I spent a lot of time at the hospital, I can do a few photos. I’m getting pretty good at this multitasking thing-being a dapper chap after being freshly groomed this week as well as providing some interesting pics we found this week. But this week’s pics are a tiny bit unusual in that we’re featuring Christmas critters. How’s that sound?

Elsa: Don’t rub it in on the vet visit. Bet you wanted to feature squirrels dressed up like tiny elves, don’t you?

Wilson: Umm, I’m not going to lie, that would be entertaining, but no. Mum didn’t see any tiny little elves but she did notice a fair number of neighbors who brought out some big critters…and I’m not talking about those noisy inflatable critters. There’s a fair number of them and some blocks seem to be competing for the title of tackiest seasonal garden ever. This house in particular makes my head practically explode every time we walk past it. What the bloody dog is up with those folks?

Christmas decor

Elsa: Oy…I don’t know how you can walk past that house, day after day. Talk about too much!

Wilson: Precisely. There’s so much going on in that garden, and we only got half of it in the frame! That block is squirrel central-there’s a gob of them there but I can’t spot them for all these decorations. What’s a good dog to do? I prefer subtle decor.

Elsa: Blah, blah, blah…ok, I don’t blame you this time. What do you have in terms of Christmas critter photos?

Wilson: Well, as you alluded to earlier, it’s been a hectic week and we didn’t really see a too much actual nature. Everyone in the neighborhood is busy decorating their gardens-some tastefully and others…well not to cast dispersions but others are more like the photo above. But we did have a couple of nice sunsets. Does that count for actual nature photos?

Elsa: Sure, why not. I mean since Mom’s been busy and there aren’t anymore of those obnoxious inflatables, bring on what you got.

Wilson: Mum loves sunrises since we’re always up early but we saw a sunset with some beautiful color for a change of pace. She loved looking through the silhouetted tree limbs to see that pretty color.

Sunset

Sunset

Elsa: Oooh, nice, dude. I remember that evening. It was bright and not too chilly after Monday’s quick snowstorm.

Wilson: Yeah that was something else. The forecast says we may have a couple more quick storms over the next several days. Maybe we can make a snowman?

Elsa: Umm, yeah, no. There’s too much to do before Santa Paws arrives and I don’t want to spend time making a snowman when there are dog treats to bake.

Wilson: Egad, you’re right. Time to be efficient with our time! Well when we’re out on our daily constitutions, we’ll still look for tasteful Christmas decor. First up, I spotted a moose! I mean, a MOOSE…in our neighborhood. What are the odds?

Elsa: Hmm, haven’t seen one of those in the neighborhood, although we did have some deer noshing on the groundcover in our Dr. Dolittle post.

Moose

Wilson:  Whoa…you had real live deer in the garden?? I say, that’s something, considering we live so close to the downtown business center but I’m getting used to seeing hooved critters like these.

Deer Deer

Elsa: Meh…more stuff to store by my way of thinking but at least those guys are quiet. I like peace and quiet. This is the season of peace and these fit the bill.

Wilson: Peace is good. I liked this little bear too. He didn’t seem too threatening toward Mum, me or the snowman he was sitting next to.

Bear

Elsa: {eyes rolling} Threatening? You really are a buffoon, aren’t you? You know it’s not real, right?

Wilson: Oh right, I kind of got caught up in the moment. My bad.

Elsa: Just wanted to keep you grounded. You’re taking this Christmas critter thing a bit too serious. At least you didn’t growl at any of the critters.

Wilson: Mum was quite proud of me, especially where the moose was concerned. I approached it cautiously though because those things can be dangerous.

Elsa: Oh for heaven’s sake. Those aren’t real; there’s no danger!!

Wilson: I’m not taking any changes. I mean, I don’t want you to get your tinsel all twisted like me during our recent photo shoot. Where Mum gets these ideas I have no idea. We hope you all have a sporting good weekend and are able to enjoy a spot of real nature as you’re out and about rushing around finishing up your holiday preparations.

Wilson, Christmas

Elsa: You do know when you pose like that, it gives Mom more incentive to do more photo sessions with costumes?

Wilson: Yes, I do realize it. I’ve also figured out the high value treats flow readily. See, I’m not a complete fool. Nom, nom. Have a great weekend!

Nature Friday

Nature Friday ~ December 6, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 51 Comments

ElsaAnother Friday and you know what that means. Hiya…Elsa here. Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday. As always, we’re joining our pals from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what others have posted.

Elsa: What the dog? Can you see what my Mom did to me yesterday afternoon? I think this has something to do with it being Christmas time and her wanting to take pictures, I just know it.

Elsa, bath time

Wilson: Hey little sister, looks like you went to that amazing doggo spa, Lily’s Bath & Biscuits in our neighborhood. I don’t like baths either, but LBB has one of the nicest places I’ve ever been to and she provides buffalo crunchy treats.

Elsa: I don’t care if she provided crypto shares. You know how I feel about baths! This is just all wrong.

Wilson: I’m sorry, little one. I know you don’t like baths. I wasn’t going to say anything but you were getting to be a bit funky smelling and now you’re a breath of lovely.

Elsa, bath time

Elsa: Like I said before…

Wilson: Aww, come on, Ninja…the lady who owns Lily’s is so kind and serene…the soft music is very soothing and it’s the cleanest place I’ve ever been to…

Elsa: {interrupting} You came from a barnyard. What would you know about clean places?

Lily's Bath & Biscuits, dog spa

Wilson: Well being a therapy dog has opened by eyes to the importance of cleanliness and I’ve figured out that when you smell and look good, people can’t begin to shower you enough with praise, attention and TREATS. No pun intended.

Elsa: Grrr…well aren’t you clever?

Wilson: Just being pragmatic. It’s done with, you survived and now let’s get on with sharing slices of Nature from this week, shall we?

Elsa: Harumph. Whatev.

Wilson: While many places around the country have been dumped on from a weather phenomena called the ‘lake effect,’ we’ve been basking in delightful sunny and dry weather. Mum had an holiday event for the hospital and afterward, she strolled on the grounds of the golf club where it was held. She told me all about the pond with its frozen edges and birds dropping in to break through the crystals around the edge of it. She said it was very cool.

Elsa: Lake effect? What is this sorcery of which you speak?

Wilson: Well…I learned that it’s a kind of weather phenomenon where cold air moves in over a relatively warm lake picking up moisture, which rises and then condenses into clouds, often producing loads of snow on the downwind side of the lake, particularly when the air is cold enough for the moisture to fall as snow. Remember when we watched that football game in Buffalo last Sunday night? Boy was I glad to be sitting next to Mum cuddled up on the sofa. It looked miserably cold and all that snow would have stuck to us like glue and formed ice balls.

Elsa: Well I will say this week has been quite lovely which is no doubt why Mom betrayed decided to ambush me with a bath.

Wilson: Now, now, you know we dogs don’t live in the past. We live in the present where the weather is nice, we have yummy treats and our Mum loves us with all her heart.

Elsa: Yeah, yeah, yeah…there you go being all philosophical again.

Wilson: It’s called living in the moment and being a dog.

Elsa: Whatever…let’s move this train wreck forward.

Wilson: Not sure how a train wreck factors in but check out the photo Mum took of the lake facing the foothills. It was so serene and lovely and she had a nice walk about that pond and she lingered watching some Canadian geese circle and then land in the water.

Pond Canadian geese

Elsa: {yawn} Wake me up when you’re done droning on.

Wilson: You really are in a mood today. Well I chose to be positive. Despite knowing I’ll be on the grooming table after a bath on Monday. {humming a snappy tune} I’m going to the hospital where I’ll bring loads of joy to folks and oh, did I mention, I’ll get loads of dehydrated liver bits? Yum, I can practically taste those yummy morsels.

Elsa: Wow, you sure have gone all Dale Carnegie on me. What else you got this week?

Wilson: The garden may be full of dried leaves but on cue, Mum’s Christmas cactus has begun it’s annual show of beauty. She started to notice tiny little buds Thanksgiving weekend and now it’s beginning to explode with vivid, hot pink blooms.

Christmas Cactus

Elsa: They are pretty and their blooms brighten Mom’s mood considerably this time of year which is always hard on her. Lots of people suffer from depression during the holidays so bright spots of nature like this can help them cope better. Maybe Mom should take me to the botanical gardens conservatory to boost my mood?

Wilson: If they allowed dogs, I’d have suggested it to her. You’ll just have to do with my cheerful personality and the fact that we’ll have a few more days of warm sunny days and clear blue skies. You think walking around the neighborhood checking out all the Christmas decorations might make you feel a bit better?

Elsa: {ugh} there you go again, being all positive.

Wilson: I just want you to be happy, little sister. When you’re happy the world is a better place and you can enjoy Nature and all it has to offer. I heard we’re going to get some snow soon, so we might as well be happy campers until then.

Wilson

Elsa: Oh for dog’s sake…my brother now thinks he’s Jimmy Kimmel! Well let me just dispel any silly notion you have of me being your Guillermo, got it House Pony? Whatever you do, in the words of the resident optimist, have a great weekend and find something in Nature to be impressed with. Not inflatables mind you, but real life nature. I can’t help but wonder if the big guy will be as sanguine after his grooming appointment. Have a great weekend. {snickering}

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ November 29, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 58 Comments

ElsaWelcome to Nature Friday. Today is the last Friday of November, 2024 and no doubt some of us are moving a little bit slower today, no doubt still under the influence of a Thanksgiving Day food coma. For those needing a spot of pressure, there are only 26 days left until Christmas and only 33 days left in 2024. As always we’re joining our pals from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what others have posted. We hope your ‘holiday’ was safe, full of good cheer and that you were able to enjoy Thanksgiving with friends and family for those who celebrate it.

Elsa here to start things off. Mom got a hankering to trim up my paws because she said, and I quote…”my feet were looking like a muppet.” I hate getting my paws trimmed and won’t let her use clippers. She can only trim them with scissors but she’s gotten fairly good making them look halfway decent. But we’re here to talk about Nature things. Mom went to spend the Thanksgiving howliday with our Grandpa with a few family members. He’s going to be a busy fella over the next few days, as other siblings will show up extending the holiday and food fest. I’m jealous as there will be some amazing foodables while they’re celebrating which will be good for him to see other family members from out of state who will begin to arrive this weekend. Let the fun and food continue.

But first, jeez Mother Nature, could you be a bit more kinder on the thermostat? It was 18ºF freaking degrees this morning when I went outside to pee at oh-dark-thirty. As the popular musician Collins Obinna Chibueze (otherwise known as Shaboozey) sings in his chart topping A Bar Song remake of the 2004 single song Tipsy, “oh my….good Lord!” We aren’t nearly ready for walks on the frozen tundra.

Wilson: ‘Morning little sister, boy are you right about the temps. I hurried my morning constitution in record time. For a quick minute I thought perhaps it might freeze to me private parts! Since you’re the native of this landscape, I’m guessing this is the norm for this time of year but even with my double coat, I’m grateful Mum will be taking us out for our morning walk later, hoping for a few degrees of warmth from the clear skies and sun. But I’m guessing those same clear skies are why it’s so bloody cold. Brrrrr.

Elsa: Right you are, House Pony. Those clear blue skies, while pretty as all get-out, are what makes things so cold. But they also make for some beautiful pictures, even when you’re whizzing past familiar sights. Mom can never get enough of seeing Pikes Peak; she’s written about that view before. It’s that view that inspired author and poet, Katherine Lee Bates to write the lyrics for America the Beautiful after she saw the gorgeous view from the summit of this well-known 14,000+ ft. peak.

Wilson: She really enjoys seeing it, both when she drives through Colorado Springs where it looms over the city as well as the back side once she gets to her Dad’s house.

Pikes Peak Pikes Peak

Elsa: It’s very close, it’s easy to see why it’s such a draw. Then again, it’s our Mom so there’s always that. She loves seeing  mountain majesty anytime and Pikes Peak is so close and can be easily captured even with a cell phone.

Wilson: I guess so…the area is so different from what I was used to experiencing in Missouri where the highest point was a mere 1,772 feet (540 metres). These fourteeners are something else.

Elsa: Our state is very lucky to have so many tall mountains; and especially at this time of year, when we’re focused on gratitude for the views they provide. By contrast, the Great Plains spread far and wide and have their own special beauty. Mom volunteered at the OES rescue booth at last weekend’s Denver Dog Fair where there were over 150 adoptable dogs from breed rescue organizations with scads of inside and outside activities with loads of vendors.

Wilson: Righto, Ninja. Mum loves the views on the plains and captured this windmill at the event site in eastern Arapahoe County with the landscape being so wide open with nothing to stop the wind.

Windmill

Elsa: My ears would be flapping like the Flying Nun in those breezy conditions out there.

Wilson: Indeed. But you’d have enjoyed it inside where your first vet, Dr. Jeff of Animal Planet fame gave a talk to the attendees. He and Mum talked about how you’re doing these days since he relocated his practice up in the foothills southwest of the city.

Dr. Jeff

Elsa: Oh yeah, I remember him! He’s a good guy and does so much for the community on the topic of overpopulation despite being diagnosed with cancer and challenging the local veterinary community with his low-cost affordable care model. Glad Mom got a chance to talk with him and find out how he’s doing these days in foothill area of Conifer, CO. He was well received at the event.

Wilson: And here’s a trained pup from one of the many dog trainers with one of his graduates. This Doodle fancied about carrying a bag of treats in his mouth. I can’t. even. begin. to. fathom. not eating treats I was carrying. I mean, I barely taste them as it is without having to carry them.

Doodle dog RMOES Rescue

Elsa: Oh brother…there you go again thinking with your 17 stomachs. All an all, it was a good event and the rescue managed to receive a decent amount of donations. Their first mission was to promote a senior OES named Reagan and we have our paws crossed that someone will adopt her. If you’re interested, please check the rescue’s website and fill out an application. Technically we’re not fully set up to take in dogs but Reagan’s situation prompted a special case scenario and we are doing what we can to help her. Isn’t she quite the gorgeous lady?

Reagan the OES

Wilson: Miss Reagan has come a long way since we began to foster her and we hope she will find her fur-ever home soon. She truly deserves a second chance.

Elsa: Well that’s it for this week’s hodgepodge of rather unrelated photos. We hope everyone has a great weekend and manages to find a lovely view or three of Mother Nature at her finest. Stay warm and make it a pawsome weekend.

Wilson: Yes, what my little sister said. Happy Friday and have an even better weekend.

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ November 22, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 44 Comments

SnowmanIt’s Friday and you know what that means…hiya…Elsa here. Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday.We’re joining our pals from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what others have posted.

We didn’t post last week because Mom was too sick to prepare a post, so a couple of this week’s photos were ones that were slated for last week. Especially the snowy scenes from the foot of wet, white stuff that fell. Mom was up north getting the House Pony spiffed up and killed some time by taking an extended walk in the neighborhood where her groomer works.

Wilson: Don’t remind me of that day…I got myself so worked up Miss Sydney wasn’t able to groom me because I had really bad stress diarrhea. I felt badly for her and couldn’t leave fast enough to recover at home. I was super clean but Mom had to trim me up for my pet therapy evaluation last Monday. Let’s start with our first photo-Longs Peak.

Longs Peak

Longs Peak is one of the many 14,000+ ft. high mountains in Colorado. At 14,256-foot (4345.22 m) ‘fourteener’ it’s located in the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness, about 9.6 miles (15.5 km) from the Town of Estes Park. It was named to honor explorer Stephen Harriman Long and the mountain is featured on the Colorado state quarter. To the left in the photo shrouded in the clouds, is Meeker Peak (elevation 13,911 ft. (4240.07 m). The two mountains are sometimes referred to as the Twin Peaks. Longs Peak has long been popular among climbers year round, it being the only fourteener in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was a cold day and fairly windy and she sat next to the snowman on the bench above watching the clouds shift from her perch for a while. Well…until she got too cold and resumed a vigorous walk to warm up again.

Elsa: Makes you wonder what early settlers thought and experienced as they came through the area. It got her thinking maybe she’d like to head up there when the weather was less severe and hopes it won’t be too crowded during the middle of the week. We’ll see. She gets all cranky about scenic places where thoughtless tourists ruin the experience like when she went leaf peeping back in September. I remain skeptical but as the expression goes, ‘we’ll see.’

Wilson: She told me that she was very contemplative as she sat there shivering on the  hill looking westward as the clouds hurried through the area.

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Elsa: Brrrrr…glad I wasn’t there. I mean, I don’t mind bouncing around in snow but to just sit there…yeah…no. {head shaking} Mom and her zen moments kind of goes over my head.

Wilson: I know what you mean. When we were on our way home, she stopped to get petrol and while pumping, she kept staring at the colors of oil drops mixed with the slushy snow at the parking lot. Weird, right?

Oil spill

Elsa: There are so many weird things humans do, you’ll get no arguments from me. But the colors are kinda cool. I’m sure Mom got contemplative thinking of the environmental impact of oil on roadways, especially during that intense storm.

Wilson: Come to think of it, she did. She got real quiet. The next day, she noticed how the ice had formed in the solar fountain and watched it for several moments. Then she realized she needed to pull out the leaves so it didn’t clog up the pump. Guess there’s always something for her to do.

Solar fountain

Elsa: Whenever she’s been out walking, she comes back inside almost melancholy. When people walked past our house, she often finds paper wrappers or plastic cups. Why do humans liter?

Wilson: Beats me. Mum was picking up stuff that had blown in on Monday and suffered a small relapse because she overdid it. That got her attention so she’s been better about it. It’s important to get a nice dose of Vitamin D but she doesn’t have to build Rome while she’s getting back to 100%. I even tried to convince her to take it easy by laying across her legs. I figured that’d hold her down a bit but you know Mum, she gets a notion in her head and off she goes.

Elsa: Yeah, I have noticed that. Thank goodness you are able to literally pin her down so she can fully recover. I’m glad she went outside for a little sunshine and didn’t come back in with a trash bag full of rubbish or leaves. Gawd knows with the wind bringing down most of the leaves, she’d be outside for hours. She did find some interesting hip fruit on a tree and on an Euonymus shrub. She notices little berries and kinda goes crazy checking them out. I guess they’re good for birds and squirrels…

Euonymus Winter berries

Wilson: {interrupting with an audible gasp} Squirrels?! Where…let me at them!

Elsa: Down Rover. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to go hunting but remember Mom is still recovering and doesn’t need to be turned into a kite. Remember, you can check them out…you just can’t go running like a Sherman tank after them.

Wilson: I can’t help myself. They call me names and taunt me….

Elsa: Oh for bloody sakes, dude. You’re a dog, of course they are going to taunt you. Get. Over. It. Sheesh. You need to be above that, dude.

Wilson: When you put it like that, I guess I need to demonstrate more control, now that I’m a full fledged therapy dog.

Elsa: I’m impressed, you didn’t even argue with me. Maybe there’s hope for you yet. So what’s on your schedule this weekend? Got any big plans before the big turkey day celebration next Thursday?

Wilson: I’m just going to make sure Mum doesn’t work too hard. She’s attending the Denver Dog Days event on behalf of the rescue for a few hours and just hope she doesn’t overdo. But there will be other volunteers there so I think she’ll be okay. If you’re local, swing by and say hi. I know she’d love to see folks. Click on link for details and location.

Elsa: Sounds like fun, but you know me, I’m planning on napping in a nice warm sun puddle. The weather should be the 60’s. Perfect for snoozing and chill-axin. Whatever you do, we hope you have a great weekend as you prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday. Make it a great weekend and by all means check out what scenes Nature provides.

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ November 8, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 57 Comments

Elsa in snow

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening…in the lane, snow is glistening…a beautiful sight…hmmm, hmmm, hmmm…walking in a winter wonderland. Humming continuing…oh hiya, Elsa here. Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday.We’re once again joining our pals from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what others have posted.

You know how often we’re whining about lack of moisture, right? Boy howdy…did Mother Nature finally decide to turn on the faucet. Before the temperatures decided to hover in the mid-20’s, a soft misting rain fell, later joined by wet slushy snow. The snow has barely stopped and Mom tells me the forecast is calling for another 10 inches between now and early Sunday morning. I asked her, where are you gonna put all that white stuff? She just groaned and shrugged her shoulders. Rude!

Wilson: Oooh, oooh, is it my turn, yet, huh…is it?

Elsa: WAIT! Sheesh…talk about ruining a perfectly good intro.

Wilson: But…but I waited while you opened and even let you post the first photo. I’m so confused about the rules for our Friday posts since they seem to defy precedent.

Elsa: Get used to it. Changes are in the air after this week’s ‘happening’ of which we shan’t get into, but I’m sure everyone knows to what I’m referring, so I’ll just leave it at that. And no, this isn’t some sort of Ninja logic…I can’t help but wonder if logic just became extinct this week but this is a pet blog, not some political podcast so let’s just get started. Ok, House Pony?

Wilson: Yeah, I’ve noticed Mum has the sads and wondered if that’s what’s been bothering her. I hope she knows we’re here for her.

Elsa: Of course we are and with your pet therapy skills, I’m counting on you to really step up. I can’t wait four years for her to smile again.

Wilson: I’ll do my part and with your help, we’ll make her feel better even though she won’t to be able to affect the political world around here. Luckily our state passed sweeping changes to codify some of the social issues in the state constitution. But because we’re a pet blog, that’s all we will say for now. Let’s move on to Mother Nature and what she unleashed on us the past couple of days, shall we?

Elsa: You got it, brother. So I already alluded to the heavy wet snow that’s been falling for the past day and a half. I think we had about 6-8+ inches so far. Hard to tell because with that heavy snow, there has been a lot of leaf drop.

Wilson:  Boy, you can say that again. Leaves have dropped along with the temps after they were heavily coated in a layer of white stuff. Sadly, some of that droppage has included lots of tree branches with it. Mum was out at midnight and at 4:00 AM, trying to shake snow off branches and various wires for the past couple of nights. But first, let’s share a couple of pics from last weekend.

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Elsa:  Wow, those seem like such ancient history. Fast forward to just two days later and you have this.

Wilson: Righto. Talk about a huge change.

Snow

Elsa: It sure was pretty.

Wilson: Pretty but deadly. As we were doing our morning constitutional in the dog run, Mum heard a loud crash and walked out front to this scene. A huge limb came down, blocking about 90% of the street. She went over to talk to the guy who lives in the house to see if there was anything she could do to help since she had just obtained the name of a licensed tree trimmer the day before.

Broken tree limbs

Elsa: Yikes! So that’s why she was gone for so long. She told me the guy said he’d talked with the police department and they indicated they would send someone out to clear the street.

Wilson: Mum knew that would take hours, if not days but the Ranch is on a great block and the neighbors came out, one with a chainsaw, and between four of them they managed to cut up and move the pieces out of the street. They worked like beavers taking care of that huge catastrophe.

Elsa: When everyone works together look what they can accomplish that’s positive and divisive. Oops, there I go again injecting a political slant. Sorry. It’s going to be hard to remain objective I suspect and hope people don’t take offense.

Wilson: It’s hard not to but I’ll be here to gently remind to stay above the fray, deal?

Elsa: Deal. I just hope I can keep up my end of the bargain.

Wilson: I’ll be patient and gentle, I promise even if I feel the same.

Elsa: So with the colder temps, it’s making things really interesting. Our Catalpa tree leaves keeps making funny noises.

Catalpa tree

Wilson: You can say that again. It’s been dropping frozen leaves like bombs. Luckily no tree limbs, just tons of leaves. Normally these leaves hang around longer than most but the weather did a major number on the tree. We were lucky, the neighbor across the street, lost a huge limb, just barely missing his car. Everyone in the neighborhood is on high alert and with parking always at a premium in this dense neighborhood, it makes things interesting.

Elsa: I can only imagine. I know Mom had a hair appointment scheduled yesterday and fortunately the hairdresser’s salon in only a couple of miles away so she walked over there and it gave her a chance to see how other people fared. It was a bit of a war zone out there.

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Wilson: Crikey…glad she didn’t take me with her. I’m still not comfortable around garbage trucks and the sound those broken tree limbs must make. I’m grateful to have been spared that outing, though I’m beginning to get a spot of cabin fever.

Elsa: Yeah and my weary bones won’t be happy in icy wet snow either. Mom said she was going to bring out the puzzle snuffle mats so we could exercise our minds. She said something absurd about not wanting us to cause mischief. Mischief? Us? Bwahahaha!

Wilson: Well you know me, if there are treats involved, count me in!

Elsa: {eyes rolling} Of course you are but it’ll be good for some mental stimulation. Let’s leave everyone with a few pretty pics and not just carnage, shall we?

Wilson: Happy to oblige.

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Elsa: Those are lovely, House Pony. I just looked outside, and it started snowing again. But we hope whatever you do and wherever you are, we hope you are safe and warm while still enjoying all that Mother Nature provides us. To those who share Mom’s current inner anguish, please know we are with you in spirit. Let’s continue to be supportive to each other.

Hugs and tail wags 🐾

Nature Friday

Nature Friday ~ November 1, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 47 Comments

Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday where we join our friends from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what others posted. Elsa here. Can you believe it, there are only 60 days left in 2024?? My heavens, where did this year go? This week’s post is what I’m calling the “Last of the Mohicans” since there’s not a lot of flowers left after we experienced a hard frost yesterday morning. While we’re glad the days have turned toward more seasonal autumn temps, it was a bit of a shock to the system to walk in such chilly conditions. Mom even drug out our coats as it we received a couple of drops of moisture and the wind chill was pronounced.

Wilson: Ooh, ooh, please let me show a photo of that, okay?

Elsa: Go for it, House Pony.

Wilson: I rather enjoyed wearing my coat and you looked quite fetching yourself.

Wilson & Elsa in coats

Elsa: I was more impressed that you and I walked together so closely. We start out next to each other these days for our walks but then you peel off to go ‘water’ a tree or some other poor piece of nature. It’s just so weird, even Mom commented on how we’re doing next to each other. I guess after nearly 11 months, I’m getting better about accepting you as a brother and not nearly as timid.

Wilson: Gosh, you’re right. I hadn’t noticed. I’m always so focused on my surroundings and keeping my eyes peeled for squirrels.

Elsa: I figured as much-you tend to forget I’m around and bump me when you plow through. I’m getting better about letting you go first but Mom has started making you wait until I clear a doorway or other narrow pathway.

Wilson: I’m sorry, it’s not intentional to bump you, I just tend to be a bit wound up. Maybe with this walking next to each other thing will become more common and I’ll get used to not being  a bulldozer.

Elsa: Hope springs eternal. My balance reflexes are a tad teeter-y. But I know Mom’s got my back so behave yourself, dude. Okay?

Wilson: Right, I’m trying hard to be less excitable. So did you notice the red leaves have started falling in big numbers?

Falling leaves

Elsa: Sure did. Mom was oohing and aahing the whole walk. Show everyone just how much moisture we received. What was it, 12-15 drops?

Drops on leaves

Wilson: Right…it wasn’t much. The forecasters who said we may receive a spot of snow were wrong but they tell me now we may receive a few inches on Monday.

Elsa: Well…can’t wait for that…oh wait…yes I can. These past couple of chilly mornings have made the ole bones just a tad creaky and I’ve enjoyed taking over your cuddle bed.

Wilson: I’ve noticed that but I tend to occupy it on the afternoon/evening shift. Mum said she needs to find another one but has no place to put it since there are beds galore throughout the house. Guess for now, we’ll just have to share it and I’m on board with that.

Elsa: Thanks, I appreciate that. So what else have you got?

Wilson: Well like you said, it’s getting a bit sparse on flower blooming. Our neighbor had a few gorgeous roses but he must have cut them because they were gone late yesterday afternoon. Our Canadian shrub roses look fairly pitiful with only a few bracts blooming. This was the best of the lot and I’m only showing to for Rosy.

Rose

Elsa: You’re right, pretty pathetic. Hope Rosy doesn’t hold that against us.

Wilson: {gasp} Sweet Rosy would never do that! She’d just smile and be gracious as always. We do have a couple of tomatoes that survived the frost but I think Mum is going to ash-can the plant. They likely won’t taste very good. I know she’s going to miss noshing on fabulous tomatoes. The ones in the grocery store seem to be pretty flavorless.

Tomatoes

Elsa: I wouldn’t know…they’re veggies and when it comes to veggies, I only willingly eat green beans and broccoli.

Wilson: Oh, you’re missing out on a lot of tasty morsels and I’m happy to take your portions for you. You hear that, Mum? Give Elsa’s tomatoes and fruit snacks to me. She said it’s okay.

Elsa: {eyes rolling} Egad, you are shameless when it comes to tiny morsels.

Wilson: You can never have too many tidbits, I say.

Elsa: {moving along} Well I see there are still a few snapdragons blooming. They are so resilient.

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Wilson: They certainly are! So are the Zinnias and now that the temperatures are cooler, the Pansies have started to bloom too.

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Elsa: Those pansies are cute. I’m kind of over the Zinnias and marigolds, they’re looking way too bedraggled.

Wilson: But the Plumbago has come alive with rich mahogany leaf-color. There are just a few blue flowers now but the Plumbago is giving the maple trees a run for its money.

Plumbago

Elsa: Well I for one hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween. There were no trick-or-treaters last night so it was peaceful and quiet. Good thing, I’d have given them a piece of my mind like I did with yesterday’s creature where I barked yelled “Boo!” to on our walk. Try to scare me…get over your bad self!

Halloween

Wilson: I for one appreciate you standing up for me. Now that we’re through Halloween, we can focus on Thanksgiving. I’m salivating just thinking about all the yummy food that will be served…

Elsa: {interrupting} There you go again, thinking with your stomach.

Wilson: What’s wrong with that?

Elsa: I. can’t. even. begin. to. explain. it. Suffice to say we hope you have a great weekend and are able to get out and enjoy the return of nice weather and hope you find one of the beautiful sights Mother Nature provides for us. Enjoy celebrating Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) this weekend.

Day of the Dead (DBG)

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾