Good Friday morning and welcome to another edition of Nature Friday where we join our pals Rosy and Sunny from LLB in Our Backyard. Remember to click on the link to see pics from others. We got a late start today after a lovely shower last evening. We both slept so well that we were a bit lazy this morning.
Elsa: {Yawn…stretch} Yo, Mom, thanks for letting me sleep in this morning. This walking at oh-dark-thirty is for the birds. Wait…what am I saying…even the birds aren’t out when we take our morning walk.
The Mom: That’s pretty accurate. As we’re moving faster and faster toward the official arrival of autumn (for those keeping track, it arrives in just a week), the days are not nearly as sunny at that time of the day and no doubt contributed to our sleeping in this morning.
Elsa: Probably but then again, I know you didn’t really have a plan for today’s post anyway. Is that what’s called procrastination?
The Mom: Umm, erm…well, uh…maybe. Things have been rather hectic…
Elsa: Hectic? Just admit it, Mom…you just put it off. You should have worked on our post yesterday but noooo, you had to run errands all day. Come on, just admit it.
The Mom: {stuttering} I, er, wait…I’m not going to deny I had some commitments yesterday that took up most of the day, but even when I got home, I just wasn’t up for composing anything. Can’t a blogging mom take a break?
Elsa: Sheesh, a girl just can’t get good help. If I had thumbs, you’d likely be fired but alright…I’ll give you a pass this one time, but let’s not make a habit of it, okay?
The Mom: {clearing her throat while rolling her eyes} I’ll do my best.
Elsa: Well, so waddu got today? I don’t recall you taking a lot of photos this week?
The Mom: You’re right, I really didn’t so today’s offerings are a bit on the slim side.
Elsa: Slim?? They’re practically non-existent. For being so busy this week, you didn’t get a lot done on the photo-taking part, now did you?
The Mom: Well, it’s that time of year where things aren’t blooming all that much unless you consider the fully in-bloom Plumbago.
Elsa: Looks like the Hummingbird moth is still hanging around.
The Mom: You’re so right; those beautiful blue blossoms must be pretty tasty; I’ve seen some of the Painted Ladies noshing on them as well but those hummers are really particularly fascinating to watch.
Elsa: You may think they’re fascinating to watch but I can tell you for a fact, they aren’t very tasty. In fact, I can absolutely testify they are quite bitter.
The Mom: Silly girl, you’re not supposed to eat them.
Elsa: I thought it was a windup toy, not some foul tasting thing that flits around.
The Mom: {giggling} Oh Elsa…maybe next time you’ll listen and pay attention to me.
Elsa: It’s not funny. Those things are just gross. You know what they say…paybacks are a…
The Mom: {interrupting} Now, now…let’s not get all worked up. Pollinators are our friends.
Elsa: Maybe your friend, but definitely not mine. I prefer more protein in my friends. And they usually have 4 feet.
The Mom: Yeah, we need to have a chat about that. You can’t be chasing protein on the run all the time.
Elsa: Ehh, a girl has to get her nutrition where she can find it. You know what I mean?
The Mom: You don’t say. So what was the motivation for this latest infraction?
Elsa: Umm…fiber, yeah, that’s the ticket-fiber…I needed some fiber.
The Mom: Fiber? Oh for heaven’s sake. You eat more vegetables than I do! What are you talking about?
Elsa: {Erm, stammer…} Uh, I was bored?
The Mom: Harumph! Can’t believe you ate my Av’s coaster!
Elsa: You’d have preferred it if I ate one of the other local team coasters?
The Mom: No-absolutely not!! You’re not supposed to eat any coasters. Period.
Elsa: Sheesh, calm down. So how about you share something else instead of being fixated on coasters…which I might add, have nothing to do with Mother Nature.
The Mom: {steaming now} Ahem…fine. How about this oddly shaped Pfitzer Juniper bush? Kind of looks like a hot-cross bun, doesn’t it?
Elsa: {head shaking} That was deliberate? Seems like just another example of how weird you uprights are.
The Mom: Weird…you think we’re weird? Who circles 87 times before pooping? Huh?
Elsa: {flustered} Umm, moving along. Remember that unusual cloud formation we saw yesterday morning? You drug me around an entire block to try to get a pic without power lines in it. When we first saw it, it was a perfect “X” but then by the time we came back from around the block, it had changed. Still it was kind of cool.
The Mom: Yeah, it struck me as pretty unusual. Just goes to show it pays to look around when you’re outside-you’ll never know what you’ll find.
Elsa: All I know, is I had to walk an entire block to satisfy your fascinating with those clouds. Next time, let’s walk an extra block to follow trash pandas or foxes or something actually cool like that.
The Mom: Extra steps never hurt anyone.
Elsa: Said the person who drags me out in the dark of night to chase clouds. Ok, I see how it goes.
The Mom: So what did you think about this leaf we came across this morning? A reminder that leaves are about to change and is just around the corner.
Elsa: True enough. I noticed the leaves were most green last week when you went up to Golden. Clear Creek Trail and Park neat sight.
The Mom: Non changing leaves for sure, but the light had that golden glow about it. Haha…golden light in Golden, Colorado. You see what I did there?
Elsa: {ugh} Don’t quit your day job, Mom. You might think that was clever, but I can assure you, it’s lame.
The Mom: Jeez, so harsh! Anyway, hopefully this next week there will be more to offer. I’ll be heading up to the mountains to attend the wedding of my nephew and it’ll be a few days of celebration with the entire family.
Elsa: Celebration? What about tomorrow’s celebration. It’s my 7th Gotcha Day! That means I’m at least 9 years old, maybe older. Can I have a rager of a party? How about a keg? It isn’t everyday a puppy mill survivor and epileptic dogster gets an opportunity to have a blow out party.
The Mom: Keg? Umm, let’s just stick with a quiet day of celebrating, shall we?
Elsa: So long as there are treats. Plenty of treats. Got it?!
The Mom: Fine, treats galore and some extra special attention. We hope our readers have a great day and an even better weekend. Don’t forget to check out nature in your ‘Hood.
Elsa: Right you are, Mom. I’m all in. And I hope there are some roaming critters to help me celebrate my Gotcha Day while we’re at it. Paws crossed.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
It’s too doggone hot to be outside lingering over flowers or critters. Mom said the Dogs Days of Summer have their grip on at least 180 million in the US and countless others across the world. This is about all I can do during the day after my morning walk at dawn when it’s relatively comfortable to be outside.
The festival stage featured numerous groups entertaining the crowds throughout the weekend.
Although Mum’s lineage is mostly German, we happily (ok, maybe ‘happily’ is a bit of an exaggeration, let’s just say we generally tolerate and by we, I mean me) participate in the ‘wearing of the green’ for St. Patrick’s Day for her sake. Of course, that means she has to work über fast when trying to capture Elsa in costume. We all know that Elsa never likes to participate in photo sessions but Mum has gotten quick with the shutter after years of countless bloopers with Elsa.
For a hot minute, I thought that Spring had arrived on Wednesday. It was a lovely day in the low 70’sºF and about as glorious a day as you’ll find. Then Winter stepped in with a cruel way to remind us that Springtime in the Rockies is not for the faint of heart. In other words, it snowed {shiver}. Not much mind you, but enough to keep the coats, gloves and hats close at hand.
On the plus side, Mum noticed the blue hyacinths were coming up as their lovely blue shade contrasted nicely against the snow and dried leaves. On a walk late yesterday afternoon after most of the snow had melted, she noticed some Spring bulbs that have nice southern exposure. Mum was excited at the thought of these tulips blooming soon which, if she remembers correctly, are red and very cheery looking. They are much farther along than any of the bulbs in our garden since they are warmed by that nice sunny spot while ours tend to be somewhat shaded by large trees.
Hey everyone, it’s me, Elsa, your world renown blog correspondent and gorgeous Ninja dog model, sharing some sights from around our neighborhood this week. But first, do you consider yourself superstitious when it comes to Friday the 13th?
