Category: Smiles

Monday Musings ~ June 1, 2026

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 82 Comments

Whoa, welcome to the first day of June…I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around that little facct. Since the temps will be rising this week, I guess it’s safe to say we’re cruising in overdrive toward summer.

We had quite an encounter with a coyote Saturday morning. I think it was a female being protective of her pups; she went after a couple of folks with little dogs along the path. She took one look at Wilson and said, “umm, exit stage right.” It was definitely interesting and if you were slightly sleepy, it was quite a wake up call. Everyone kind of laughed it off but I think it would be safe to add coyotes to the “what outsiders think” column particularly in spring when there are new babies everywhere. Including Canadian geese…which makes them even more dangerous.Monday smile

Here’s hoping all your wildlife encounters this week are good ones.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Monday Musings ~ May 4, 2026

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 71 Comments

Monday smile

And so the ongoing battle between the 80 lb. quilt continues. I swear this dog rather enjoys ‘busting a move.’ On top of me.

Here’s hoping all your moves this week are pawsome. Happy Monday.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Monday Musings ~ April 13, 2026

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 69 Comments

Monday smile

Have a very Happy Monday and don’t forget to include some sunbeam therapy.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Monday Musings ~ April 6, 2026

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 58 Comments

We hope your holiday weekend was ‘pawsome.’ Anyone who owns a pet knows the drill when it comes to taking care of the water bowl. All I can say, is it’s a good thing the ‘other’ bowls all have lids.

Monday smile

We hope your water bowl (as well as the week) remain clean and fresh. Happy Monday!

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Monday Musings ~ March 9, 2026

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 51 Comments

It’s Monday again and we hope you had a fantastic weekend. The weather here was beyond gorgeous and most of last week’s snow has begun melting in earnest. Our temps will be bouncing up and down all week. In the low 70’sF (22C) followed by a day of high 50’sF (58C) all week long as we rush toward the official arrival of Spring in 10 days. Loads of birds that we hadn’t heard before seem to be extra happy if their chirping up a storm is any indication.

As I was looking for a smile to share today, I came across one that rather tickled me. In a world of helicopter parents, those of us of a particular age will no doubt be nodding their heads identifying with today’s smile.

Some days I wonder how I manage to make it through childhood so today’s smile especially cracked me up and I hope it sets the stage for you to enjoy a wonderful week for you and yours to enjoy a wonderful week full of good vibes and smiles. Let’s hear it for thriving and surviving this week. Happy Monday!

Monday smiles

Live, love, bark!  🐾

Monday Musings ~ March 2, 2026

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 41 Comments

Monday smile

While MLB spring training actually began February 20, Wilson is getting in shape for it. Here’s hoping you’re ready to compete for the week. Happy Monday.

Live, Love, Bark! 🐾

Monday Musings ~ February 16, 2026

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 50 Comments

Good morning peeps. We hope you had a good weekend and are enjoying improved temperatures. With 32 days until the official arrival of Spring, things are starting to show signs that temps is moving in the right direction after a seemingly endless winter for many. We saw our first daffodil blooming on Saturday right before attending the rescue fundraiser at Kendra Scott’s. Wilson was quite the guest and seemed to enjoy all the attention and treats. He even tried his hand with herding after his appearance but was somewhat disappointed with the results. He said, “those doggone difficult creatures showed him no respect.” You can judge for yourself if the sheep disrespected him.

Wilson & sheep

Have a marvelous Monday.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Monday Musings ~ February 9, 2026

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 81 Comments

Welcome to another Monday. We hope you enjoyed your weekend and met your quota of sports viewing. Between the Super Bowl, the Olympics and the all important Puppy Bowl XXII, there was something for everyone. Your football team may not have won but everyone won in the Puppy Bowl with all 150 contestants finding their forever homes. As usual, kittens provided the adorable half time entertainment. Team Fluff again won the “Lombarky” Trophy in the 2026 Puppy Bowl, beating Team Ruff by a score of 73-69 (there was a whole lot more offense in the Puppy Bowl than the Super Bowl) for the second year in a row. Wilson and I offer our best congratulations to Team Fluff. For a look at the highlights. please click here.

We’ve heard folks on the East Coast suffered another brutally cold weekend but hope today marks a turn-around in their temps. With Spring just 39 days away, we’re hoping Nature gives them a much needed break.

So let’s move on to a couple of smiles for today.

Snowman

I realize when you’re freezing, there’s not a lot of funny aboiut it but thought this might bring things into perspective. Winter

We hope you’re staying toasty warm and have a great Monday and even better week.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

 

Monday Musings ~ February 2, 2026

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 75 Comments

Happy Monday, peeps. Welcome to the first Monday in February. Today is known as Groundhog Day where millions of people turn to a rodent to predict whether or not winter will be extended for another six weeks or not. Falling midway between the shortest day of the year. This tradition comes from a medieval Catholic holiday, Candlemas held on February 2, but the science behind it is questionable at best. In Germany, it was believed that when a badger emerged from its den, if it saw its shadow, it would return to said den, signaling six more weeks of winter. In the 1700s German immigrants brought this custom with them when they settled in Pennsylvania but changed the animal with the native and abundant, groundhog (or woodchuck) as the forecaster of spring’s arrival rather than a badger.

The first “official” Groundhog Day took place in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and was organized by a local newspaper editor, Clymer Freas. A group of hunters known as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was formed and well…here we are…relying on a rodent to let us know if winter will continue. Whether you believe in this long-standing custom, I’m sure many believe they couldn’t do any worse than the local weather forecast. 

In keeping with our custom to enjoy a smile or two on Mondays, we have a few offerings today. We hope they make you smile even if it’s nearly certain Phil will see his shadow and the prediction of six more weeks of winter will follow. Hmmm, how convenient…it coincides with the calendar’s announcement that spring arrives on March 20th (in 45 days for those keeping track). Hang on peeps, spring is coming. 

Groundhog Day smile

Groundhog Day smile

Groundhog Day smileHave a Happy Monday and for those of you on the east coast who received more snow over weekend, we hope things warm up soon.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Monday Musings ~ January 26, 2026

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 66 Comments

Welcome to Snowmageddon…as if Monday wasn’t bad enough to deal with. We are hoping everyone is staying safe and cozy. Wilson thought everyone deserved a couple of smiles today with a minor edit to the first one.

Monday-winterOn the plus side, once you finally defrost, there’s good news:

Monday-winterAs expected, not a huge amount of snow arrived; my neighbor and I have managed to stay ahead of any accumulation on the sidewalks but today with clear skies, we are experiencing near blizzard-like winds blowing the snow over shoveled walks. Today’s high is expected to hit 41F (5C) which will seem like a heatwave. Please stay safe and warm. We hope all those affected with power outages will have their power restored soon. Happy Monday.

Live, love, bark! 🐾