Category: Standard Poodles

Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 133 Comments

This is the kind of post no pet parent wants to write. I’m completely gutted to share that my beloved Elsa, ninja extraordinaire, earned her angel wings and passed peacefully late Monday afternoon. To say I’m beyond grief stricken about this immense loss is an understatement.

Elsa possessed a fierce spirit and was one of the most loving, sweetest dogs I’ve ever known. She was somewhere between 11 and 13, but her actual date of birth was unknown. As a puppy mill mama, there were no records of her or any of the other Standards found when she and the other  dogs were seized after the owner passed away. Each of those dogs all had genetic problems, and Elsa’s was epilepsy. But she never complained, took her daily meds willingly and was never a problem trying to draw blood. Her vet and his staff loved that she was always an easy patient to treat. When I adopted her, she was basically feral and it took a few years before she knew how to respond to a positive home environment where she could relax knowing it was safe, comfortable and loved. You can read about her adoption here. Thankfully Sam kindly took her under his paws and taught her how to be a dog instead of a shut down canine who I adopted. I’m convinced that Norman taught her to wag her tail. Suffice to say she had many quirks and did not give her affection easily but once she did, she was loyal through and through. Elsa was definitely a “still waters run deep’ kind of dog and I adored her with all my heart. I will miss her impishness and those loving nose nudges.

Because I am so overcome with grief, I will be temporarily stepping away from blogging and social media until my heart has had a chance to heal a bit. But first I want to thank you for all the kind, caring get well wishes over the past month. In lieu of cards or memorial gifts, I would ask, if you’re so inclined, that you make a small donation to our favorite rescue, RMOESR.org in her honor or your own favorite local shelter/rescue. We think rescue dogs rock!

It’s so hard recognizing her noticeable absence from the Ranch and continue to wait for her to raise her head from her bed and give me ‘that‘ look. The look that said I’m here and want something and can’t wait for you to figure out what it is. Despite being a total ninja, quiet and stealthy, her personality was large. While there are hundreds of favorite photos of this very special dog, these two captured her most perfectly. The first a professional photo; the second one taken a few years ago on a beautiful spring day in the neighborhood.

Angel Elsa

Elsa

Rest in peace my sweet precious fur-angel and give my love to Sam and Norman for me. 💔

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 ~ 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! 🐾

 

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day ~ 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 72 Comments

Anyone who’s owned a pet knows all too well the pain of losing that special companion, but they continue to live in our hearts yet every once in a while, something you see or hear reminds you of them in an especially significant way. Today is the day we honor and remember them through Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. Not a day goes by where I can’t imagine any day that went by over the past 4 years where I don’t recall my two most recent angels.

How did this day come about you ask?  The day was created by author Deborah Barnes as a way for people to share their memories of the pets that were lost after she had to say goodbye to her kitty, Mr. Jazz back on August 28, 2013. Deborah published a heartfelt book detailing the journey of letting Mr. Jazz go, called “Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale Of Life, Death and Beyond” wherein she expressed her feelings and the anguish she felt.

Reaction to the book was profound and Deborah realized other pet owners shared a similar journey when they lost theirs. Then in 2015, Deborah created Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day as a chance for people everywhere to share their stories and memories of pets who were loved and lost.

These two sweet and precious Angels remain missed ever so much.

Angel Sam
My Angel Knucklehead, Sam
Norman
Precious and adorable, Norman

So today, I can’t be remiss by not acknowledging and honoring other beloved pet such as my beloved McKenzie, the black standard poodle who was rescued from the Denver Dumb Friends. He was one of the most fun, loving companions who made me laugh countless times over his 13 years with me. He passed on August 29, 2002, shortly after I moved into my current home so today is particularly poignant.

McKenzie, Eliot & Crosby
The Three Amigos-McKenzie, Eliot & Crosby

There was Eliot, my first sheepdog, also adopted from the Denver Dumb Friends who introduced me to the Old English Sheepdog breed and Crosby, the lovable Airedale/shepherd/mastiff mix who had the goofiest mohawk and who also was an epi-warrior, passing away far too soon. He taught me so much about the condition which has definitely benefited Elsa. Puck, my second Old English Sheepdog was also rescued from the Denver Dumb Friends two years after Eliot was adopted, after she had been taken away from an abusive family. That girl was a pill of a dog if ever there was one and the cleverest counter surfer I’ve ever known.

Puck & Eliot
Puck (l) and Eliot (r)

All these special dogs brought a deep richness into my life and I still miss them all through tears, smiles and memories from our time together. I’m a better human for having had each one of them in my life.

Hope you take a moment to recall the beloved pets from your life, especially today.

Live, love, bark ❤️‍🩹

Nature Friday ~ August 2, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 42 Comments

Hello mates, Wilson here. Today is the first Friday of August. There are 51 days until the official arrival of autumn and for those of you who enjoy Halloween, 90 days until the fun day. As always, we’re joining those cute little guys over at Adventures of the LLB Gang. So let’s get right to it, shall we?

Elsa: Hey…what are you doing?

Wilson: Mum asked me if I’d host today since she and I took the pictures last Sunday after you had your walk.

Elsa: Oh yeah, right. Ok, Knock yourself out…I’m going back to sleep. You realize it’s still dark outside right now?

Wilson: Righto…but it needs to get done before it gets too hot and there are a bunch of photos which will take some time to load and make ready. Mum has had a busy week and wasn’t able until today to start working on today’s post. I doubt I’ll be able to get it done before we need to leave for our early morning walk-about but am trying to get started. Wish me luck!

Elsa:  💤 💤💤

Wilson: Umm, looks like she was serious about going back to sleep. Oh well. Let’s get started. Last weekend was the annual Dragon Boat Races. We were busy on Saturday and missed the opening which I understand is a big deal with the event being a huge celebration of Asian culture but we decided to check it out on Sunday morning. I must say, I’ve never seen anything quite like it back in Missouri but being devoted to my Mum, I thought, why not. We arrived as the teams were setting up their tents and stretching to get ready for the race. There weren’t many visitors yet which suited Mum just fine. This event draws over 150,000 visitors over the course of a weekend and it gets pretty congested with people, pets, strollers, etc. The northeast entrance to Sloan’s Lake looked quite promising to my stomach with several food trucks greeting us. I wanted to get a closer look but Mum was didn’t want to dally and kept me moving along. The water stations were ready for {yet} another hot day with sunny conditions so we decided to check out the teams and the rest of the festival.

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Wilson:  We found the team assembly area and it was abuzz. We wandered around watching people stretch, meet for strategy sessions and pep talks and the taking of their team photos. Mum thought the teams were more numerous and bigger this year.

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Wilson: Mum giggled about the team name “Blazing Paddles.” Sometimes I don’t understand her sense of humor but Elsa assured me it was ok. I can only rely on her experience for matters like this.

Elsa: Wha…yawn…did you call me? Is it time for us to go on our walk now?

Wilson: Crikey…I actually am beginning to see a spot of sunlight so right, we best start out. I’ll finish this when I get back.

Wilson: Well, we’re back and I’ll try to get this wrapped up now. As you can tell, it was a bright clear day. The recent weather conditions have contributed to a city wide advisory about blue algae blooms on all lakes. It’s was so bad at Sloan’s Lake, there was even a fish die off.

Elsa: Boy I bet all those million dollar homes surrounding the lake were pretty cheesed off with the smell of rotting fish in the area.

Wilson: Well, can you blame them?

Sloan's Lake

Wilson: Mum wouldn’t let me get near the lake to check things out more closely. Even the cattails were out of bounds. A poor bloke can’t even get a sniff, eh, Mum?

Elsa: Yo House Pony, Mom is just keeping your best interests at heart. Be grateful. You do not want the digestive issues that come from being in contact with that stuff!

Wilson: This year the dock the teams use to get into their boats was segregated from visitors. We couldn’t get very close to inspect the boats.

Dragon Boat Races

Wilson: After a bit of strategic positioning, Mum was able to capture this view but that was as close as it got.

Dragon Boat Races

Elsa: It bears repeating for the umpteenth time, Mom needs to bring her big camera with her for stuff like that.

Wilson: Now that’s ironic, she said the exact same thing! But carrying it and keeping me from squirrel hunting tends to make her rethink that so we’ll see the next time.

Elsa: I’m just saying…

Wilson: Since we couldn’t get close enough to easily see the start of the first race, we decided to head down toward the finish line. Before we got there, we went toward the boat launch to see that view. Not great, but I did get to see a Cormorant bird take off from the launch.

Sloan's Lake

Elsa: Mom calls those guys the aerial submarines of Sloan’s Lake since they dive into the lake to feed and come up yards away. Hope the birds of Sloan’s Lake aren’t impacted by the algae and fish die-off.

Wilson: Me too. I like watching them fly over the lake. Well here’s the winner of the first heat grabbing the flag. Mum is always amazed how they manage to scramble up to the head of the dragon and extend their body to grab the finish flag first.

Dragon Boat Races

Elsa: Can’t help but wonder if anyone falls in while reaching?

Wilson: Wait…what? Why in the world would you even contemplate something like that?

Elsa: Hey, it happens!

Wilson: {dubiously shaking his head} I think, dear sister, you are slightly demented.

Elsa: Hey it’s a reasonable thought. Don’t get all sanctimonious on me Land Hippo!

Wilson: {ignoring the pejorative} Mum learned the theme for this year apparently was the Year of the Wooden Dragon. There was a contest for artists to submit their best depiction. This year’s winner was a student from Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design, Markiey Fantonial. Formerly a premed student, Markiey couldn’t resist the call to satisfy his creative spirit. From his bio at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival website,  Mum found this explanation: “His vision for the contest was a fusion of diverse influences, weaving together the intricate beauty of Asian art, using the iconic imagery of Hokusai’s “Great Wave,” the vibrant energy of anime, and the nostalgic essence of his childhood memories. Each stroke of his design reflects a tapestry of cultural resonance and personal expression, drawing viewers into a world where tradition meets innovation, and imagination knows no bounds.” Pretty striking, huh?

Dragon Boat Races

Wilson: As we left the park, we came across the Wooden Boat outrigger which Mum really liked but was disappointed the probably uncovered for the opening ceremonies.

Dragon Boat Races

Wilson: We walked past the dragon tunnel and headed back home as temperatures began to soar. Mum would have like to found someone to chat about that outrigger but there wasn’t anyone nearby.

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Elsa: Whoa, that’s pretty cool. Thanks, House Pony. You ‘done good’ this week and I appreciate the extra beauty sleep. Before we go, I want to ask everyone to keep all those working the wildfire lines around Denver in their thoughts and prayers. You may have heard in the national news that Sunday was the last day we had clear skies as 4 fires broke out beginning on Monday. With hot, dry temperatures, gusty wind conditions and in some cases, steep terrain, those fires quickly expanded to include thousands of acres with the air quality in the metro area reached very unhealthy levels affecting everyone, not just conditions. The fire southwest of Denver is in an area where rattlesnakes have complicated efforts by keeping boots off the ground. They’re only able to use air tankers and helicopters to fight that one. Overall, one person has perished, a couple of firefighters were injured and numerous structures have been destroyed. Please send positive thoughts for all first responders as they work to contain these fires as Colorado burns. Have a good weekend and keep in mind that nature is quite cranky with us these days.

Pray for Colorado

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ July 26, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 72 Comments

Welcome to the latest edition of Nature Friday where we join our friends, Rosy and Sunny from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Elsa here. Another hot week is in the books and an even hotter one is forecast for next week. It is compounded with some of the worst air quality in the entire country. Denver continues to be plagued with ozone issues and now wildfire smoke coming from Canada and the Pacific Northwest has arrived. On Tuesday, the Swiss company IQAir who tracks air quality, rated Denver the worst in the country and was rated 9th worst in the world. With 40+% humidity and somewhat cloudy conditions, our walks stop being fun. Normally the humidity hovers in the very low teens so this definitely feels muggy to us.

Wilson:  Exactly. As I walk three times farther than you do, I huff and puff like a bloody steam engine. Even potty breaks throughout the day are short to say the least.

Elsa:  It’s miserable for all of us. Normally the early morning air is clean and fresh but we know isn’t because Mom coughs almost the entire walk even before she checks for air quality alerts that now last all pretty much all day long.

Wilson: It’s enough to make a chap stay indoors, I tell you. But let’s share what we saw just this morning, shall we?

Elsa: I’m game. What ‘cha got?

Wilson: Well I’m still getting used to the botany around here. I have to inspect some things very closely.

Flowers - Coleus

Elsa: Umm, I think you photobombed Mom.

Wilson: Ah…well, how’s this frame showing off that beautiful Coleus and those lovely Dahlias?

Flowers - Coleus

Elsa: Oh yes, that’s much better. That planter has a lot of pretties in it. And besides, no one wants to see your big fat jughead in a planter.

Wilson: {miffed} Well, I had to check it up close and personal and can tell you that I was quite mesmerized by all that color. Nearby I found a nice patch of orange coneflower, also known as Rudbeckia that was located within some other plants. Guess Mum realized she probably needs to hold me close to her so I don’t investigate too closely.

Flowers - Rudbeckia

Elsa: Well just realize it’s good practice for you to stay close for when you go visit folks at hospital. They can’t have your large tuchus sashaying all over the hallways.

Wilson: Oh dear, I never thought about it like that. I’ll make a note since I certainly don’t want to get Mum in trouble because I’m investigating the world around me and will try to stay more focused.

Elsa: You say that now, but I know when a squirrel or bunny comes into view, all bets are off. At least you give the birds a break.

Wilson: Not that there will likely be any birds in hospital but crikey…you ever try to get close to birds? Obviously they don’t want to become friends with a cuddly chap like me anyway.

Elsa: Your size probably intimidates them. I learned a long time ago it’s impossible to try to get close to them. Those wings work hard to stay away from the jaws of death.

Wilson: If you think I’m big, you should see the Irish Wolfhound puppies. Those little buggers are growing like weeds. Check out this little ‘chonker.’ He’s the largest of the litter and will likely be quite a specimen when fully grown. Check out those little pinky paws and that round belly!

Irish Wolfhound puppy

Irish Wolfhound puppy

Elsa: I’ll grant you that he and his siblings are going make you look small by comparison. Mom’s daughter says they’re doing well and gaining weight.

Wilson: They’re sure cute and I’m glad Mum receives regular updates on how they’re doing. And just for the record, the ‘jaws of death’ are reserved just for squirrels. I will say the birds were definitely enjoying all the sunflowers we walk past. They wait until the last second to avoid any encounters with me and Mum while eating the seeds.

Flowers - Sunflowers

Elsa: Everyone seems to like sunflowers. They’re pretty cheery, that’s for sure. I’m also a big fan of hollyhocks. They can grow just about anywhere and it makes you wonder how they manage to thrive in sidewalk cracks.

Flowers - Hollyhocks

Wilson: Right-o! Another beautiful example of brilliant color. Rather like this daylily which I’m particularly fond. They are blooming all over the neighborhood in assorted colors.

Flowers - Daylily

Elsa: Oooh, that is a vivid specimen! I’ll give you points for finding that one. So…you got any critter sightings this week?

Wilson: As a matter of fact, I do. This cat was lounging inside the windowsill and seemed fairly focused on making sure we didn’t linger too long interrupting his bird watching. We walk past that house every day, but have never seen him before. He seems like a fairly big fellow.

Cat

Elsa: Meh…I’m sure I could take him.

Wilson: {gasp} Why on earth would you? He’s minding his own business. Such hostility…what’s up with that?

Elsa: It’s not hostility-I’m a Ninja. It’s just what we do.

Wilson:  I see no reason to cause a bloody ruckus in the neighborhood. Unless we’re talking about squirrels…then you have my wholehearted approval…although I’d prefer if you left the squirrel hunting to me. I’m getting better at anticipating their wily ways. Why just a couple of days ago, I was within a whisker of catching one before he jumped up on to a power pole to escape.

Elsa: Yeah, You startled both me and Mom. Remember the house rule-one mustn’t hurt Mom.

Wilson: Well he startled me, too. And because I know it upsets Mum, I’ll keep that rule in mind. I did however see that African chap you’ve mentioned before. I think he enjoys munching on tree leaves.

Giraffe

Elsa: {eyes rolling} You buffoon…that’s yard art. That giraffe statute isn’t real.

Wilson: It’s not? Hmm…that’s a major disappointment. So little sister…what plans do you have for the weekend?

Elsa: Lots of naps in air-conditioned paradise, Dude. Not much else can be done. Oh and I’ll probably check out some of coverage of the Olympics. But that’s the extent of it.

Wilson: I’ll be right there with you. I rather enjoy watching the telly. Whatever you do, we hope you have a marvelous weekend and hopefully are able to see some of the finer examples of nature’s beauty when and wherever possible. Cheerio!

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Happy 6th Barkday

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 70 Comments

Elsa: It’s a Saturday and with me posting here, I hope you aren’t freaked out. Yeah, I know, it’s weird but there’s a good reason. Today is the House Pony’s 6th Barkday. Mom asked me if I wanted to host a ‘paw-ty’ and being the sweet girl I am {giggle, I know, I could hardly stop guffaw-ing even thinking about it), I agreed.

Wilson Birthday

Wilson: Aww, you love me…she actually loves me. {butt wiggling} Thanks, Ninja.

Elsa: Whoa, whoa, whoa…umm, let’s not go all Sally Fields on me, ok? I’m still just a tad leery of being in close proximity around you. I mean, you know…boy cooties and all. This is probably the closest I’ve been next to you in a while so just be grateful. But don’t get any bright ideas like this is gonna be a ‘thang’ cuz I’m a Ninja and well, we Ninjas live in shadows. Got it? That’s why Mom can never get a good pic of me-I blend in too well and you rarely, if ever, see any details in my face.

Wilson: Oh, I thought it was because Mum’s not the best photographer around {mom wincing but nodding her head in agreement}. Well, I still appreciate your efforts and the good wishes. You’re making me feel loved and that’s all that matters. So…wanna come to my paw-ty and nosh on the goodies Mum’s making?

Elsa: Umm, yeah, no. I was taking a nap when Mom asked me if I wanted some watermelon and I actually turned up my nose.

Wilson: Blasphemy! How can you turn down such a tasty treat? Mum used her doggo cookie cutters and everything and had watermelon juice running down her arms. I mean…come on! It’s a paw-ty!

Elsa: Nope, it’s hot and those candles kinda wigged me out so paw-ty hardy, pal. You like the attention…go for it!

Wilson: Well if you insist. Let’s see…I guess I’m supposed to make a wish, right?

Wilson Birthday

Wilson: {continuing} Umm, let’s see…I want this wish to come true. I know, I got it! I want treats all weekend!

Elsa: {eyes rolling} You’re not very original, are you?

Wilson: Well, what else would you suggest? I mean, Mum already plays with me, she takes me for pawsome walks around the neighborhood, and she is making sweet potato jerky which I just know I’m going to love. And…and…she’s making pupcakes for later this weekend…I mean what else could a guy possibly wish for on his…

Elsa: {interrupting} Do you ever equate the good life with something other than food?

Wilson: {gasp!} Without food?! {head cocked} What’s the point of that? That doesn’t sound very fun.

Elsa: Whatever…you do you, ok? But while you’re at it, please make it a great birthday, okay? I’ve got street cred that needs to be preserved. Don’t want anyone to think I can’t do birthday celebrations.

Wilson: I promise. And thanks for the birthday wishes. Now, let’s cut up that watermelon and get this paw-ty started.

Wilson birthday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ July 19, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 41 Comments

Wilson & ElsaWelcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday where we join our friends from the Adventures of the LLB Gang  for their weekly blog hop. There are 64 days until the official arrival of autumn, but who’s counting?  Sorry we’re late posting. Mom gets easily sidetracked and said she had some things to take care this morning. Elsa here with slices of nature from around our ‘Hood. Like everywhere else on this blue marble, it’s been hot and unlike many areas, our neighborhood remains dry as a bone.

Wilson: Bone? What…where…did you get a fresh bone? How come I didn’t get a bone?

Elsa: Here we go again. Yo, “Hoover,” it’s an expression. I didn’t get a bone; there. are. no. bones, I’m just describing the moisture situation. Or lack thereof.

Wilson: Whew, I was afraid that maybe I missed something to nosh upon…ok carry on.

Elsa: {eyes rolling} Well, it’s that time of summer where bad grasses come out and stick to everything…socks, furry legs,  paws, well you get the idea. Mom had to pull some of those nasty things off both of our ankles and feet and several of them managed to weave their nasty little selves into our back door mat. They’re a real pain to remove since they’re like Velcro with barbed ends. We’ve written about these rotten things before. Well dude, I’m here to tell ya they haven’t gotten any less evil. Let’s take a gander at Foxtails first. Yikes, they have a gajillion seeds that are stickier than Gorilla Glue…just waiting for some unsuspecting chunk of fur to attack like Velcro.

Grasses

Guess Nature decided Foxtails weren’t bad enough, so she decided to create goatgrass.  This one is particularly troublesome for us dogs and can cause all sorts of problems.Grasses

Wilson: Yeah, one those guys hitchhiked on one of my legs when I was sniffing for the perfect spot to relieve myself and I had a devil of a time trying to pull that bad boy out. And I thought the weeds and bugs were bad in Missouri.

Elsa: Oh trust me, Missouri does not have a monopoly on bad weeds. Luckily Mom is neurotic very conscientious about anything that sticks to our furs. Which is a good thing, unless of course, you’re the one at the end of a slicker brush.

Wilson: Egad…don’t remind me {shivers}. Count me in the ‘not a fan’ category.

Elsa: Down Wimpy…let’s talk about some nice things. Hibiscus flowers are in bloom right now. Talk about striking and BIG. Did you know they are part of the mallow family. The leaves alternate, ovate to lanceolate, and can be toothed on the edges. The flowers are huge, rather trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals. They can range in color from white to pink, red, blue, orange, peach, yellow or purple, and are approximately 4–18 cm (1-1/2 to 7 inches) across. Dried hibiscus is edible and is often a delicacy in Mexico. It can also be candied and used as a garnish, usually for desserts. Contrary to popular beliefs that the flowers or petals are what is being eaten, it’s actually the calyces (that part in the center of the bloom). Even your big fat head looks small by comparison.

Hibiscus

Wilson & the hibiscus

Wilson: Hey, that’s not nice. There’s nothing abnormal about the size of my head; I just needed to see how it smelled.

Elsa: Well, you do have a large head and nose, you can’t deny that.

Wilson: Like I said, I’m perfectly sized for a sheepdog.

Elsa: Oh, you mean B-I-G? Whatever. Did you notice the new lawn art in the ‘Hood? At least I think they’re rather new-ish.

Wilson: I did. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of those things. It seemed clear they weren’t squirrels or rabbits, but I wasn’t sure just what they were. They were quiet and didn’t move one bit. Such stealthy creatures.

Flamingos

Elsa: Oh my dog…you are such an idiot! Those are lawn art statutes, you bozo. Jeez…were you standing behind the door when they were handing out brains? {smacking a paw against her forehead}

Wilson: Well, I’ve never seen anything like that, and you shouldn’t be so judgmental.

Elsa: You’re right, sorry. But for the love of all that’s holy…I can’t believe how literally you take things. Anyway, let’s share our last photo for this week. Mom seems obsessed with heart shaped things lately and she seems to often be in the right place at the right time and found this new heart. She’s walked past this corner garden lot for years and the owner is always switching things out or otherwise updating the plants. Looks like she decided to install a heart-shaped succulent space. I kinda thought it was kind of sweet.

Heart shaped succulent garden

Wilson: Cute little hen and chicks.

Elsa: Whoa…look who’s got the Mister Green Jeans impersonation down pat.

Wilson: Hey, I’m not just a handsome face. So what’s everyone doing this weekend? Mum said she’s attending the Open House for the new Lutheran Hospital which opens in two weeks. She attended the ribbon cutting ceremony last night and says I’m gonna love visiting the new facility. It’s amazing and will be incredibly modern and state of the art updated compared to the old hospital. Hopefully I can visit the nurses and staff on practice runs soon.

Elsa: Paws crossed. I need some quiet time where I don’t have to explain everything to you. You can be quite exhausting at times. Whatever you do, we hope you’ll take some time to look for all the cool things Nature gifts with us. Have a great weekend, peeps!

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! ,🐾

Nature Friday ~ July 12, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 50 Comments

Stone heart DBGHappy Friday peeps and welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday where we join our pals Rosy and Sunny from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Elsa here and Imma ready to dish the latest from the summer of hell. It’s not that it’s been bad mind you, but for the love of all that’s holy, could it get any hotter? For the record, that’s just a rhetorical question. Of course it can be hotter. Just remember this Ninja life observation, House Pony…”things are never so bad, they can’t get worse.”

Wilson: Oy, don’t tell me that. I was hoping we could maybe  catch a break on the relentless hot temps that have played out from sea to shining sea.

Elsa: Sorry dude, I just report the news/weather, I don’t create it. But yeah-no…nature decided she was going to pay us a few days visit with gifts. As in recording breaking triple digits. You know what that feels like on a black dog?!

Wilson: You have my sympathies, little sister. But I’m sure our readers are sick of hearing us whine about the heat. We’re all over it. Mum keeps checking a special calendar she has every day and told me we’re ‘just’ 71 days from the official arrival of autumn. She actually cheers now with each passing day as the number is getting smaller. I’m a dog; I live in the present so it kind of passes over me.

Elsa: Yeah, me too…I’m a big proponent of living in the here and now but think I might be tempted as that number gets a lot smaller. Still it kind of dovetails with what’s going on in the urban garden right now. We seem to be in a bit of a transition. All the pretty late spring/early summer blooms are now history and, at least in our garden, not a whole lot is very pretty or blooming much although I will note the Plumbago is starting to set it’s pretty little blue flowers and Mom even found a couple of leaves that were turning mahogany. She thought it was a few weeks early and couldn’t help wondering if that’s a sign that we’ll have an early autumn. This is after all, a La Niña year. Oh sure, the coreopsis, yarrow and the last remains of the Bachelor Buttons are blooming and the Russian Sage is making a colorful splash throughout the neighborhood but our garden is in a bit of transition now.

Wilson: What the bloody devil is a La Niña year? Is this related to El Niño?

Elsa: Well, I’m glad you asked. A La Niña year is when winter temperatures are warmer than normal in the South and cooler than normal in the North. La Niña can also lead to a more severe hurricane season, as evidenced by Hurricane Beryl that pounded Texas earlier this week and still has a million people without power.

Wilson: Gosh, sounds so ominous. I know Mum has been worried about her daughter who lives in the Houston area and who’s been without power all week long. As of last night, the hope was that the power will be restored by midnight tonight. So what’s the difference between La Niña and El Niño?

Elsa:  El Niño is the opposite of La Niña. According to NOAA, during La Niña events, “trade winds are even stronger than usual, pushing more warm water toward Asia. Off the west coast of the Americas, with seawater levels increasing, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface. winter temperatures are warmer than normal in the South and cooler than normal in the North. La Niña can also lead to a more severe hurricane season. These cold waters in the Pacific push the jet stream northward. This tends to lead to drought in the southern U.S. and heavy rains and flooding in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

La Niña graphic

Wilson: Fascinating. Thanks for the meteorology lesson.

Elsa: Hey, that’s what I’m here for. So let’s share the pics Mom took this week. I’m giving her a pass on the few photos because of the heat. I’m not completely heartless.

Wilson: Quite sporting of you, mate. So she and I walk past this corner garden every day. The garden itself is somewhat nondescript as gardens go, it’s a bit wild and jungle-y. And now that the allium have finished blooming the gardener had a brilliant idea to bring some color and attention to that corner space. Mum watercolored it for today’s header. Here’s what it looks like for real.

Allium

Elsa: Whoa…that is pretty clever! I see what you mean about the jungle but I do like that ceramic piglet on the bench. And I see there is an Oregon grape (holly-leaved barberry) plant there too, along with some other plants.

Allium

Wilson: You know I’ve never noticed that pig statute before. I’m always more interested in the tree rats that live there. Mum always grips my leash tightly as we walked past.

Elsa: Well gosh, I wonder why? Could it be that her shoulders are shot and she’s tired of becoming a human kite?

Wilson: {blushing} Sorry, I just can’t help myself. I am beginning to focus a bit more on the numerous bunnies that have populated our neighborhood. Boy, are they ever fast! And wily too. They deke so much better than squirrels. Even the babies. They could make a kite run much more interesting…er I mean a side hunt.

Elsa: {eyes rolling} Are you trying to kill our Mom?

Wilson: Certainly not. I’m just a victim of canine instincts. But I have to protect my Mum.

Elsa: Protect is one thing…your homicidal critter chasing is something else. You gotta remember you’re a herder, not a hunting dog!

Wilson: I know, I know…but I can’t help it if they jump out in front of me and startle us both, can I?

Elsa: Just focus on sheep, pal, okay and leave the squirrels and rabbits to the hunting dogs. Or better yet, just learn to ignore them. Does that work for ya?

Wilson: Umm, I’ll try. But can’t make any promises.

Elsa: Well, If wishes were horses, beggars would ride, I say. What else you got, House Pony?

Wilson: Well, you know how Mum has been battling the nasty wasps that keep hanging around our solar fountain. Well it’s been good practice because she’s trained her eyes to find bees on milkweed as well as that beautiful globe thistle that’s currently blooming.

Milkweed

Globe Thistle

Wilson: I’ve been trying to catch bees as well but Mum has managed to deter my laser like moves here as well. Sometimes, she takes the fun out of our walks.

Elsa: Oh lord. You’re gonna get stung and then maybe you’ll learn to leave them alone. They’re the kind of pollinators we like in the garden…like those pretty Swallowtail butterflies.

Wilson: You mean they bite? Crikey…maybe I should rethink biting them.

Elsa: What else you got, dude? Something I hope that doesn’t involve turning Mom into a kite or provides you with a tiny snack.

Wilson: Oooh, did you say snack? Mum’s potted cherry tomatoes are beginning to ripen. She told me under no circumstances was I to go near them. Luckily they don’t really appeal to me so I’ve been good not trying to nosh on them.

Cherry tomato

Elsa: Mom was so excited to see that little spot of reddish goodness. I think she even drooled a little. She babies her potted tomato plants and works hard to keep the neighborhood critters who shall remain nameless away from them. I think she said they cost about $20 a pound after it’s all said and done. Still, she enjoys them saying there’s nothing half as tasty at the grocery store.

Wilson: Well that’s everything I have for this week, Ninja. I guess we’re gonna be spending a lot of time in the cool comfort of the house which means lots of naps. I don’t know about you, but I’m okay with that.

Wilson & Elsa

Elsa: Naps? Oh yeah, put me down for lots of naps in air conditioned bliss. Whatever you do for the weekend, we hope you stay hydrated and enjoy catching slices of Mother Nature early before she gets a head of hot steam going. Have a great weekend!

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾