Category: Weather

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 ~ September 27, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 52 Comments

ElsaWelcome to the last Friday of September. It’s been yet another week of record-breaking temps and they are expected to continue for at least the next ten days. Oh joy. And for the record, it was 93ºF (33ºC) yesterday. If you think those temps are above average, you’d be right-in fact approximately 18ºF above average. We’re now up to 63 days of above 90ºF temps. Elsa here, along with the House Pony who is headed for his third visit at Lutheran later this morning. Mom thought getting him cleaned up was pretty much like steer wrestling and vowed to never do it at home again nor would she groom both of us on the same day. I tried to tell her I was good without the trim but would she listen? No. So I say, you get what you reap. Sore back, tough noogies. She mopped up puddles and hair for a good hour. It was pretty awful.  Anywho, let’s get this party started.

Wilson: Hello mates. As always we’re joining our friends from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what others posted. This week we’re showing off photos from our recent trip to Southern Colorado to visit Mum’s Dad and her sister who also came for a visit. While it’s been hotter than bloody blue blazes, there was one day of pleasant temps with a nice shower at Grandpa’s. Things were noticeably green and we even saw a spot of snow on one of the peaks on the Wet Mountains to the southwest.

Snow on Wet Mountains

Elsa: Boy that snow sure looks inviting though I imagine in January or February, we’ll be singing a much different tune.

Wilson: No doubt. But that was nothing. Here we were headed back from our early morning walk when all of a sudden, we ran into these guys on the hill. Mom said she’s never seen deer in the nearly 40 years of visiting. Antelope yes, but never deer. I wasn’t quite sure just what to make of those creatures with those impressive antlers.

Deer

Elsa: They sure didn’t waste a lot of time waiting around for introductions. They boogied up that hill and were gone in a flash. I’m still surprised Mom managed to capture a few shots on her cell even if they aren’t great images. It was chilly that morning (43ºF/6ºC) and Mom’s fingers were kind of cold but she managed to whip out her cell phone lickety split. I, for one, was most impressed. I noticed you sure were gawping at them.

Wilson: Like Mum, I’d never seen anything like that. Usually we just chew the fat with the horse across the street from Grandpa’s house. They come a-running whenever we drop by. This time though, I didn’t bark at them. Mum seemed chuffed about that.

Horses

Elsa: Of course she was pleased. Nobody wants to be woken up at oh-dark-thirty in the morning by a bunch of hooved ninnies. You forget how much that distinctive bark of yours carries. That sound resembles two pots being clanged together and known as ‘pot-casse.’ It’s often what some people  dislike about sheepdogs.

Wilson: I. beg. your. pardon. We need to have a large voice when protecting sheep or kids.

Elsa: I can guarantee that people don’t want to hear your version of security protection early in the morning. Beside your voice, what else you got to share, dude?

Wilson: On the day it rained at Grandpa’s house, the sniffs were something else. I was in olfactory nirvana, I tell you. It was Mum’s keen eyes that kept me from checking this rattlesnake skin more closely. She closely checked it out but wouldn’t let me near it. She can be such a killjoy at times.

Snake skin

Elsa: {shudder} I’m with Mom; no reason to get close to those things. You know they’re poisonous, right?

Wilson: {gulp} Poisonous, you say? Umm, good thing we continued down the road. Besides, I had to check on something. And this time I got lucky.

Antelope bones

Elsa: I know you said you just wanted to ‘decorate’ our front garden since it’s Halloween season but eww, ick. Too sunbleached for my taste buds. Besides, I doubt you know how to decorate. For Halloween or any other holiday.

Wilson: Oh little one…you cut me to the quick.

Elsa: Oh please…you grabbed that section of the spine because you thought you could get away with it. I’m not stupid, you know. Mom is on to your chicanery and you blew us both away when you dropped it when she gave the command. We figured you’d try to hang on until she pried it from the jaws of death. She’s still blown away that you dropped it immediately. Why I’ll never know, but you sure impressed her. Usually she whines about how stubborn you are.

Wilson: How many times do I have to say it…I am not stubborn, I’m a sheepdog.

Elsa: Whatever lets you sleep, House Pony but the rest of us know.

Wilson: {miffed} I daresay, you’ve gone and hurt my feelings. Guess I’ll just wander on the prairie and contemplate the complexities of life on the open range.

Pueblo West vistas

Elsa: {eyes rolling} Ha…if only you’d go wandering. {changing topics} So the neighborhood is beginning to look a bit tacky, between all the political yard signs competing with loads of Halloween decorations popping up. I heard you growled at certain elements at this house.

Wilson: That’s not true. I just had this weird feeling I was being watched.

Wilson - Halloween

Elsa: Once again you have ever so deftly demonstrated you are an oaf and a complete moron.

Wilson: Umm…thank you? Anyway, we’re going to feature one Halloween scene each week just to show everyone how gah-gah folks from our neighborhood are when it comes to decorating for Halloween.

Elsa: Judging from the early signs, we should have plenty from which to choose. Time to wrap us this week’s post, bucko.

Wilson: Right, before closing, we want to let everyone know we’re thinking of all who has been impacted by Hurricane Helene. Stay safe.

Sending prayers

Elsa: It’s heartbreaking. Here in the West we’re ever so parched while the East is getting hammered. Mother Nature is super cranky.

Wilson: Ay, that she is. We hope everyone has a nice weekend and takes time to search for the beauty nature provides us every day, whenever we look for it. We are hoping to do some leaf peeping in the high country to escape the heat. How about your plans?

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ September 13, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 58 Comments

Elsa in the PlumbagoHiya, everyone. Welcome to Nature Friday where we’re joining our furry friends from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on their link to see what others have shared.  While it may be Nature Friday, it’s also  Friday the 13th [cue the creepy music for the superstitious]. Elsa here to explain a little of what all this Friday the 13th superstitious falderal about before we share a few slices of nature from our neighborhood?

Well…Friday the 13th has been thought to be an unlucky day ever since Norse times.  One explanation suggested the reason of the number 13 being unlucky as the ill-fated dinner party of 12 Norse gods in Valhalla. The trickster god known as Loki (who had not been invited), arrived as the 13th guest. He tricked the blind Höðr, son of Odin, to shoot Balder with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. The myth goes on…with Balder’s death, Earth became dark. As the whole Earth mourned, the number 13 began to be viewed as an unlucky day. It might be easy to see why this caused everyone to go gah-gah crazy about the number  and consider it unlucky. It sure was for Balder.

The unlucky nature of Friday the 13th also has roots in Christianity with the arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307, by officers of King Philip IV of France as the origin of the Friday the 13th superstition, but the origins are murky. There are also connections to Hispanic and Greek culture as well and I could go on but then we’d never get to the nature part of this post so let’s just leave it there. Whether you believe that Friday the 13th is unlucky, I got a post to write, so do you own thing, ‘kay? Just don’t walk under any ladders or let a black cat cross your path today and you should be fine. With apologies to cats…sheesh, doesn’t seem right to  discriminate against black cats…but here we are. So, House Pony…waddu got for us today?

Wilson: A bonny day to you, little one. Well I thought today might be a bit different…

Elsa: [interrupting] Different-how so? Do you mean we won’t add to the already 61 days 90ºF and above this summer? Well hallelujah…

Wilson: What I meant was we’re not showcasing flowers today, but instead taking a look at vegetable gardens from around the neighborhood.

Elsa: Wha..wait a minute-that sounds lame.

Wilson: Au contraire, sister. Nature is everywhere when you look around…I just thought we could look at something a little different. Just have an open mind, would you?

Elsa: Hey, it’s your parade. I just call ’em like I see it.

Wilson: Well tell me you don’t see beauty in these garden images? Note to readers, that’s not rain drops but supplemental watering on some of those plants. We have kind of forgotten what rain looks like in our area. Sigh.

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Elsa: Well…maybe…okay, I guess I see your point. But there’s nothing there that I’d eat.

Wilson: Now, now…as you like to remind me, not everything in life is about eating. Egad, I can’t believe I’m saying that but think of it as a good thing to expand your horizons, Ninja. Besides, you don’t eat flowers either.

Elsa: Who’d have thought you’d be so philosophical? I mean, who’d have thought you, of all people, would be so reflective. I’m impressed.

Wilson: Excuse me, I’m a sheepdog, not a ‘people’. There’s more to me than just being a pretty face.

Elsa: You can say that again…

Wilson: I resemble that remark!

Elsa: You would. Got anything else?

Wilson: Ahem…as a matter of fact I do. You know how Mum likes garden art. Well when she was off celebrating her birthday earlier this week with our Auntie Cheryl, they were sitting in Cheryl’s backyard and Mum spied this little fella. Isn’t he just as cute as a sheep can be?

Yard art sheep

Elsa: Umm, only you’d think a sheep was cute. I’d have to inspect and sniff it in person before I went there.

Wilson: Balderdash! I haven’t sniffed it but still think that little fella is adorably cute.

Elsa: To each his own, I guess.

Wilson: That’s what makes art so interesting. Mum also found this picnic area for squirrels yesterday. I was naturally appalled….I mean, setting up a picnic table for tree rats is, is {stammering} just all wrong!

Picnic table

Elsa: Oh I dunno, maybe we should think of it as more for birds than squirrels. Reframing that thought makes it more palatable. I can’t believe anyone would seriously entertain accommodating squirrels. I mean, I just can’t.

Wilson: I know just what you mean. But then Mum found this little drinking fountain of love and I softened my thoughts, if you can believe that.

Heart shaped drinking fountain

Elsa: It’s a nice touch to end this week’s post. Although I wasn’t a fan of the idea of showcasing vegetable gardens, you ‘done good,’ Land Hippo. Well done.

Wilson: Why thank you…glad you enjoyed something different for a change. I know how you struggle with anything that’s not part of your deeply ingrained routine, so I appreciate it. Well, sister…you have anything on your agenda this weekend?

Elsa: Beyond the normal, nope. While today is hosting a nice cool front moving through the region, it’s back to adding to the 90ºF list for the next few days before more autumn-like temps start in earnest. I think there’s a Oktoberfest festival near the Farmer’s Market this weekend, so maybe Mom will swing by to check it out. Having been to the real Oktoberfest in Munich, she’s not expecting much but it’ll be something. Whatever you do, we hope you enjoy your weekend omp-pah-pahs as you take in all the beauty Nature offers. Prost!

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! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ March 1, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 54 Comments

It’s time for another Nature Friday post. Holy canine…it may be the first of March already but it won’t stop us from joining our pals at Adventures of the LLB Gang. Be sure to click on the highlighted link to see what other posts were shared.

Elsa on sofaElsa: 🎶 humming and singing 🎶  Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo…here comes the sun, 🎶 and…oh, Hiya. It’s me, Elsa…just chillaxing on the sofa this morning…

Wilson: {interrupting} Blimey, how come you are allowed to get up on the sofa and Mum always makes me get down?

Elsa: It’s simple, dog breath, I. am. me. and I’m a Ninja. I think they’re called special rights and I was grandfathered in. You’re just the new guy. You have to earn those privileges though I’m certain that ain’t happening any time soon…not only are you the new guy but you’re a gigantic, new guy. There are different rules for the likes of you.

Wilson: I say, that doesn’t seem fair at all. I’m gonna go ask Mum for a clarification. {gallops into other room hollering} Oh Mum…how come Elsa gets to get up on the sofa and I don’t?

The Mom: ELSA!!  Get down…NOW! You’re not supposed to be (a) jumping up while you’re still recovering and (b) you’re not supposed to get up on the furniture. Period.

Elsa: Wait, I’m not supposed to get up on the furniture? When did that rule go into effect.

The Mom: Remember, I’m trying to train Wilson from getting up on the furniture and decided it was better to make the sofa and my bed off limits to both of you.

Elsa: Well that’s just dumb. I never agreed to that and besides, I’m feeling pretty good recovery wise so there’s no need to not let me get up on the sofa.

The Mom: Beg to differ missy; I’m the boss. The current rule in place is that no dog shall be allowed on the furniture.

Elsa: {grumbling} Well color me unhappy about that rule. {turning toward Wilson} Way to go spoiling things, blabbermouth.

Wilson: W-h-a-t?? I just asked for clarification with the hope of fairness.

Elsa: Considering I am recovering because of you, I might add, I should be allowed special privileges. Way to put the kibosh on my freedoms, fur ball. Harrumph!

Wilson: {contrite} Sorry, didn’t mean to get you in trouble. So shall we soldier on and share some views of Mother Nature from around our neighborhood? I say…we’ve experienced the gamut of weather and nature this week.

Elsa: No kidding. First there was the Snow Moon…Mom of course was too lazy didn’t grab her big camera [in fairness, the battery needed to be charged so I’ll forgive her this time] and she used her cell phone as it was setting early in the morning. This was the best she could do given the limitations of the phone camera and tall trees blocking our view.

Snow moon

Wilson: I contemplated howling at it but then thought better of it. Mum keeps telling me I’m not supposed to bark in the house and I’m working hard on learning better self-control behavior now that I’ve found my voice.

Elsa: Apart from the blaring decibels, you’re not a wolf, new guy.

Wilson:  Well there is that too. And as the new guy, can I just say the weather around here sure does a lot of vacillating. One minute it’s lovely and warm and the next it’s snowy and cold. The ducks didn’t seem to mind but let’s just say I prefer it less wet and chilly.

Snowy pond

Elsa: Jeez, you’re such a wuss! It’s bracing and refreshing.

Elsa in snow

Wilson: {Shivering} To each his own, eh? But the day after the snow squall, Mum and I noticed elements of spring trying to emerge. We saw more blooming bulbs. These little lovelies were quite colorful and I for one, love their stripes.

Crocuses

Elsa: Those are crocuses. They’re often the first of the spring bulbs to bloom. Here’s a solid purple version and a pic with  another daffodil and crocus.

Crocuses

Daffodil & crocuses

Wilson: I say, those are quite grand! They didn’t seem to be any worse for the wear after yet another snow storm arrived. It seems like every other day that white stuff falls around here.

Snow

Elsa: Boy do you have a lot to learn about gardening in the Mile High City. If you don’t like the weather, just wait ten minutes. Snow doesn’t seem to bother these guys-I’ve seen them completely buried and yet they’ll still bloom. Look at these reticulated irises and the first of the baby blue grape hyacinths. Mom loves them both and always shouts when she catches first glimpses of those hyacinths.

Wilson: I know! We were just returning from a long walk when she caught sight of something blue and tiny before we got to the gate. I was worried by those squeals and thought I had to protect her.

Irises

Grape hyacinths

Elsa: She was likely more worried that your gigantic ‘hooves’ would squash them. You do tend to plow through stuff rather unceremoniously.

Wilson: I beg your pardon…I’m as delicate stepping about as any sheepdog.

Elsa: I rest my case, Big Foot.

Wilson: {disappointed at the criticism} I might be large but I do have feelings and now you’ve gone and hurt them.

Elsa: Oh please…you’re a big oaf…own it dude.

Wilson: I’m sure I’ll recover…with the proper treat to console my bruised feelings.

Elsa: {eyes rolling} Oh brother. Never fear, the treats will continue to flow your way, for whatever reason. Especially when you go to Grandpa’s house next week. I swear the whole family spoils you rotten. I don’t get it.

Wilson: What’s not to get, I’m a handsome bloke who loves people and they love me.

Elsa: Hmm, is that so? I’m a bit selective although I really do love people. I just make them earn my attention without having to flaunt it.

Wilson: Trust me on this, sister…you catch more flies with a wiggly bum and soft puppy eyes. I mean not many people can resist this face.

Wilson

Elsa: {eyes rolling at the shameless pose} If you say so. We hope you have a great weekend and hope Nature delivers more early signs of spring. Make sure you get outside to enjoy it and have a great weekend.

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

 

MLK Monday ~ January 15, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 68 Comments

MLK

Today is Martin Luther King Day where it’s a legal holiday in the U.S. As I searched for an inspiring quote, I came across this one and it seemed particularly appropriate.

Even if it’s MLK Day where we honor the civil right leader, we still need to start the day out with a smile, or in this case a couple of smiles since I couldn’t decide on just one.

With the Arctic blast coming from our friends in the Northern Hemisphere (hey Canada, I thought we were allies), today’s smiles seemed to fit the bill about getting through it and moving forward. Today’s high will likely be zero; if we’re real lucky, we might reach 1-2ºF (-16º or -17ºC). But we’re not the only ones shivering. Things could be worse, I just heard the forecast for Iowa. Thank you baby Jesus that today is not primary ballot day.

Monday smile

The cold weather around here brings the sarcastic out in some of us which may mean everyone from Colorado to New England could easily be saying something like this.

Monday Smile

Not only was it cold this morning on the first potty run, it was also beginning to snow. Sigh. Can’t wait until tomorrow where we may actually reach freezing. Now where are those flip-flops?

Whatever you do today to commemorate MLK, we hope you do it safely and with positive intention like Dr. King. Hang in there, the countdown clock toward tulip season has begun and there’s only 64 days until Spring officially arrives. Thought you could use something to look forward to while you’re shivering, shoveling and swearing. Happy Monday. Stay safe and keep smiling, peeps.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ January 12, 2024

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 87 Comments

ElsaHowdy troops, guess who. It is I, intrepid blogger coming to you after a pretty wild week. Elsa here, joining our friends from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Make sure you click on the link to see what others shared.

So early last week the weather was pretty doggone amazing. We did receive as spot of snow and then Mom spied some creeping phlox that were blooming on one of our walks. Flowering  phlox in early January? What kind of sorcery is this? Guess this just shows what high altitude sunshine is capable of doing. It’s not a beauty shot, but COME ON…plants blooming in January…you gotta admit, that’s really something.

Flowers, Creeping phlox

The next day after some of the snow melted, Mom noticed her strawberry plant was green and colorful. Again…more plant black magic. Mom was almost ready to break out the flip flops but then she remembered The National Western Stock Show begins January 6 and that always seems to bring much colder temperatures, so I convinced her to cool her jets. Notice the little white granules? The snow didn’t last very long as warmer temperatures returned. The forecast looked good at this point.

Strawberry plant

Apparently Nature and the universe were conspiring together. Mom got a call about whether or not she could make a trip to Missouri. Some of you even guessed what that was all about but let me set the stage for those of you who don’t know how crazy Mom reacts when she receives ‘those’ kinds of calls.

Since my brother Norman crossed the Rainbow Bridge last June, Mom has been very sad. You may recall that she’s part of a dedicated group of folks who were starting their own OES Rescue after the old one shut down but between the state agency that governs rescues and bureaucratic rules, the  certification process has been slow going. We’re still waiting for approval but [hopefully] are getting closer to operating. Mom did find a few individual dogs through other rescues including a couple who were even in our metro area but she kept coming up short so she decided may fostering might put her closer to her goal of getting another OES.

Enter the Red River Old English Sheepdog Rescue (RRR), a rescue whose adoption and rescue area includes parts of the Southern Plains where the Red River of the South is located. States they generally serve are New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. They received a call from the family of a Missouri breeder saying they had seven AKC registered sheepdogs they needed to surrender. Turns out that the breeder had tragically passed away recently and the surviving family realized they could not manage the estate, take care of nine dogs, and assorted livestock. The 20-yr. old son said he would keep two of the dogs, and surrender the other five females and two males to rescue. RRR does not transport and their network of fosters take care of dogs until they are adopted out but they would need to be picked up from the tiny rural town about 50 miles south of Kansas City, Missouri. Mom checked the weather report and initially it seemed doable, so she agreed.

Mother Nature must have been listening eavesdropping on that call and decided to do a little update to the forecast and decided that a little snow was needed just to make things interesting. Mom’s good friend, my Auntie Cheryl said she ride with us and we took off early Friday morning. In good conditions, it’s over 9 hours away. The hope was that they would arrive before the flakes began.

Yeah…the best laid plans and all that nonsense. Snow started coming down halfway through Kansas but it wasn’t accumulating and the highway was clear. Yet. It would, once we turned off I-70 when the sun went down. Mom absolutely hates driving in the dark, especially on roads she’d never been on before so the last four and a half hours were the white-knuckle variety. I’m not sure what that is but I could tell my Mom was pretty stressed. Auntie Cheryl made sure I was comfortable and provided top flight co-pilot support. After nearly 12 hours, we rolled into the hotel parking lot. All three of us were exhausted and we all fell asleep after feeding me, administering my meds and then we all settled in for the night.

The next morning, Mom took me for a short walk around the area. It was cold and grey but at least not snowing. Hallelujah! I found a very cool clump of trees with this funky green stuff on the bark. It didn’t smell like squirrels or bunnies but it fascinated me so much, I kept forgetting to pee. I just couldn’t figure out what it was.

Tree barkMom said it was lichen but…whatever. It was quite fascinating. And then she spied something bright yellow in the grass. Holy cow…a tiny dandelion. In freakin’ January!

Dandelion

Well, I’ll be! That seemed surreal, but nothing like what greeted us when we went to the breeder’s farm. We arrived at the appointed time and were greeting by seven boisterous sheepdogs along with various uprights who were picking up their fosters. It was pretty chaotic. Mom knocked on the door and not one of the dogs barked, but greeted her like she was their best friend. Clearly these dogs were very socialized and had been very much loved even if they were all in rough shape coat-wise. They went through the rescue’s procedure of picking the dog each foster would take with them. Before you know it, this monster appeared in the back of our SUV.

Sam, the OES

He’s not much to look at because he (like all the dogs) were dirty and extremely matted. But he seemed polite, even if he was extra ginormous. Mom thought he weighed around 100 lbs. For a minute I wasn’t sure they were gonna be able to get him in the back, but he seemed nice enough and laid down. He never once uttered a peep then, or on the trip home. We departed as another storm was forecast along the way home and we wanted to get the heck out of Dodge, erm Missouri.

As we drove home, we noticed snow drifts about 3 ft. tall on the side of the road but Mom didn’t stop to photograph them. We were all tired and wanted to get to Colorado as early as possible where we know the highway. The drive home was ‘only’ a little over 8 hours long. Mom said she was never gonna drive almost 1,500 miles in a 24 hour period again, no matter how cute a dog was.

Kansas and Missouri were interesting and it would have been nice to take more pictures of the scenery but judging from the news reports, we got out of town just in time before Winter Storm Finn slammed into the region. Another storm along with an Arctic cold front are arriving now…and as Mom says…of course it is, it’s National Western Stock Show week where the weather always turns icy cold and brutal. The weekend’s highs may reach single digits. Highs, people! Brrr.

Sam, the OES

There he is after a much needed bath. Egad that boy had some serious stank on him. She and Auntie Cheryl worked for hours removing the worst of the mats but he will need to be shaved down. This boy was named ‘Sam’ and as you can probably guess, that name won’t work for Mom. It reminded her too much of my knuckleheaded brother. She hasn’t decided on a name yet, there’s too much we have to do to get this boy settled so we’ll likely wait until things get ticked off our long list. Sam was screened by the vet, microchipped, vaccinated and tested negative for heartworm (yay). Now begins the process of integrating him into life around the Ranch without his sheepdog pack. He’s seems sweet and is quite the butt wiggler, but he and I have had ‘discussions‘ about the pecking order. He thinks Mom is his but we have to agree to disagree on that topic. He seems afraid of the hustle and bustle of the city, cars wig him out but he walks fairly well on a leash. Good thing too, he’s huge-bigger than Norman. And strong. Mom’s gonna be building some muscles. Now if we can just get him to stop enjoying some of the creature comforts around the Ranch. At least Mom needs to figure out how to get him to sleep the other side of the bed. For me, he just better not try to take over this blog! Mom’s on her own and you can bet your sweet bippy I’m going to remind her of that. Afterall it was her idea to bring this muppet home.

Sam, the OES

Have you ever fostered a dog? How’d it go? Do you have any tips for my Mom. She seems completely ‘over her skis’ despite her best intentions.

To all you Midwest peeps, do dandelions normally bloom in January?! Have a great weekend and try to stay warm and dry. For the next few days you might want to view Nature from the comfort of your cozy sofa but do keep your eyes open-you just never know what you’ll see. Have a great weekend.

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ December 29, 2023

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 52 Comments

Welcome to the last Friday of 2023. In many ways, we’re glad to see the end of the year, in other ways, it’s impact firmly holds in place by some of the sadder moments we endured. Either way, 2024 is ready to enter the scene with a fresh clean slate for us, ready or not. As always we’re joining our pals, Rosy and Sunny for their Nature Friday blog. Click on the link to see what other have shared.

ElsaElsa: Well Mom, I don’t know about you, but I’m still tuckered out after Santa Paws managed to drop by despite what Nature delivered. She sure was in a bad mood this past week. But we made it to the end of the year so I guess there’s that. Guess we showed her, huh?

Memes

Elsa: {continuing} What began as a forecasted blizzard on Christmas Eve was nothing compared to the one you experienced back in 1982, was it, Mom?

The Mom: Exactly, it didn’t snow as much as back then, but the 50-65 mph winds that came with this storm didn’t exactly make me want to try to drive in it after spending the holiday  with my Dad and family in southeastern Colorado. We stayed a few days longer until the system moved out of the state. After checking the forecast and seeing the mess out there with traffic around Monument Hill (that so called ‘mountain’ pass between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs, elevation 7,352 feet (2,241 m), I decided my cargo, (i.e. you) was just way too precious to risk getting into an accident. Besides, just sitting in traffic with hundreds of other cars didn’t seem like a great way to spend the day after all the warm fuzzies and fun we enjoyed over Christmas with the family. Here’s a traffic cam image we found showing the northbound lane backed up on I-25 after an accident. Miles and miles of cars, just sitting there once the storm began to clear out.

I-25 blizzard

Elsa: Yeah, it was hard enough just going outside to sniff and potty, between the windy conditions and cold, I kept losing track of what I was supposed to do. Hey, did you realize that snow enhances bunny trail scents? That part was awesome but kind of distracted me somewhat.

The Mom: Yeah, don’t remind me about your 4:30 AM wakeup call to go outside on Christmas Eve in the dark and then you deciding it would be a good idea to sniff around a while for heaven only knows what.

Elsa: Heh, heh…so you weren’t too appreciative of my Goldilocks imitation? {in a sing songy voice} “This spot is too hard, this spot is too soft, this spot is…”)

The Mom: {interrupting} Please. don’t. remind. me. I was hoping you’d quickly do your thing so we could get back inside since I hadn’t put my gloves on and was rather surprised you dallied so long sniffing around thereby forgetting what you were supposed to do.

Elsa: Maybe that’ll teach you for trimming my furs…still you should know by now, pottying is a serious endeavor for me. It has to be just the right place in order for me to move ahead and get straight down to business.

The Mom: I’m keenly aware of how you…ahem…shall we just say, are a bit ‘discerning’ as to where you ‘go.’

Elsa: Just because where you go may not be as important; it is for us dogs, since ours had lots of info for everyone who follows and read our pawprints. So if you’d be so kind as to lighten up, I’d be grateful.

The Mom: Umm, remember that you’re a poodle, not a Bloodhound and your name is NOT Sherlock Bones.

Elsa: Pfft, as if that matters. And for the record, my nose is as good as ANY hound, blood or otherwise.

The Mom: I see we’re going to wrap up the end of the year once again with agreeing to disagree. Which, when you think about it, is like every year I suppose.

Elsa: Yeah…well, it’s not a problem for me-so you’d might want  to adopt a similar approach, it might help lower your blood pressure…just chill out, Mom. Besides, you only took one nature photo this week to share, although it was an ok one, all things considered. I do like how the sunrise pointed to Rudolph on the flag.

The Mom: Just so everyone knows, you weren’t all that keen on wanting to wander around outside while the wind was blowing snow sideways. It sure beat the images we found off the ‘Net regarding the storm {shiver}. Besides, Pikes Peak and all the other nearby landmarks were completely covered in thick cloud cover, and walks searching for critters or wide open landscapes were out of the question, what with the windchill and all. I think everyone, uprights and wildlife alike,  hunkered down where they lived. Even the donkeys were huddled together in their barn and I could barely see them anyway. Check out these videos showing coverage from a Denver news station as well as one from a Colorado Springs station (with apologies for the ads, sheesh do news stations ever post anything these days without ads that seem to last longer than their stories?). The reporter from the Springs station might be looking for a TV series because he goes on for a long time reading updates from viewers, going on for about 10 minutes yet the ice was real.

https://www.9news.com/embeds/video/responsive/73-c1806c76-2711-456a-8c2b-ca6314002eb1/iframe

Elsa: Mmm…you got me there. Let’s end this year with lots of gratitude for all our readers and wishing them a pawsome New Year. We hope 2024 will be bright, prosperous and filled with much happiness.

The Mom: Nicely put, Ninja. May your New Year be a wondrous adventure shared with friends and family and especially filled with loads of snuggles, cuddles or purrs with your fur baby(ies).

Elsa: Happy New Year. Don’t forget to check out what Nature offers-you just never know when you’ll see something nicely highlighted. Stay warm.

Christmas sunrise

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday

Nature Friday ~ November 3, 2023

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 58 Comments

Welcome to the first Friday of November. My goodness, any idea as to how in the dog did we got to November already? As always we’re joining our friends from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Make sure you click on the link to see what else was shared.

The Mom: Yoo-hoo, oh Elsa…time to share pics from this week for Nature Friday.

Elsa

Elsa: Nope, not coming out. I’m still recovering from the humiliation I suffered from wearing that ridiculous Halloween outfit.

The Mom: Aww come on, everyone thought you were cute.

Elsa: Cute?? Baby ducks are cute! I am a Ninja.

The Mom: Ahh sweetie, I’m sorry if you’re feeling bad about your Halloween photo. I was super proud of you for posing so nicely. You did well, Ninja.

Elsa: Of course I did well. Remember, I’m a total professional.

The Mom: And professionals don’t pout. They lift their head, put their big girl pants on and get back to doing what they are extra good at.

Elsa: Nope, I told you already…I’m not doing it.

The Mom: {begging while pulling out the extra high value treats from the cupboard} Please? For me? {crinkling the package}

Elsa: Oh man, you don’t play fair, do you? You know I can’t resist those dehydrated fish skins. They are so addictive and I absolutely love them. Ok, but you better keep ’em flowing if you expect me to share this week’s nature looks from around the ‘Hood. Got it, Kemosabe?

The Mom: Deal! So other than Halloween, what have you been up to this week?

Elsa: Well, there was that 6 inches of white stuff that hit us over the weekend. That was kind of an adventure. And then there was the cold that followed. But I gotta admit, I’ve been having a blast eating my weight in snow on our walks.

Elsa eating snow

The Mom: Yeah, you have been obsessed with chewing snow along our walks. What’s up with that?

Elsa: IMy new job-I’m on water quality control recognisance. Denver Water contacted me to check it out for dogs everywhere in the metro area.

The Mom: Uh-huh…sure. I don’t think that’s a real job.

Elsa: It is for me. I can’t let snow that’s built up next to sidewalks go un-tasted. Plus, I’m keeping hydrated-very important for us canine ninjas.

The Mom: {eyes rolling} Maybe we ought to move along. So what would you like to feature this week?

Elsa: Well, let’s go with the obvious. Like I said, it snowed about 6 inches of white stuff but then it also added about 87 inches of green stuff.

The Mom: Don’t remind me. The Silver Maple and the Catalpa trees didn’t appreciate the weather and kinda went crazy shedding leaves.

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Elsa: Thanks for raking them up from the sidewalk…you know how much I despise walking on them…although I noticed they aren’t crunchy, but they are gross and mushy. Still…no bueno in my books.

The Mom: I agree, they stick to my shoes and your paws and we both end up dragging them into the house. Definitely no bueno. Vacuuming every 12 minutes is not my idea of fun and games.

Elsa: You’ll get no argument from me on vacuuming. That noisy beast scares me.

The Mom: And then as if on cue, the wind came up and dropped another ton. I need to figure out what to do with them in the interim since it’ll be next week before the city will collect leaves for the compost project. Sigh.

Elsa: Ugh. Don’t tell me things like that. I’ll worry my pretty little head off.

The Mom: Oh no, don’t do that. It’s just that it is that time of year where leaves fall; we just have to accept this part of Mother Nature.

Elsa: {boo…hiss} I vote no.

The Mom: Sadly, it won’t make a difference on that kind of vote.

Elsa: Harumph…so much for democracy.

The Mom: {shaking her head} Oh sweetie…what else you got?

Elsa: Well I was thinking we should share pics of those funky critters we encountered. I still can’t believe why some uprights put this kind of stuff in their gardens!

The Mom: The first one really cracked me up. Everyone around here has jumped on the Colorado Buffaloes bandwagon and their notorious Coach Prime…aka Deion Sanders. Lo and behold when I walked over to the Post Office, I came across this new sculpture. It took me a second to realize it’s a buffalo! Interesting metal work, don’t you think?

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Elsa: Hmm, not sure I get it but this just goes to show art is in the eyes of the beholder. I was pleased to see you were brave enough to walk up the stairs to photograph that giraffe but glad you captured it quickly. That guard dog was none too pleased with us scoping out his giraffe. Speaking of giraffe, isn’t that the one we saw through the trees back in August? You can see that post here.

The Mom: Good memory, Ninja. Yes, it was obscured through all the brush but I decided to get closer now that most of the leaves have fallen. I really do like that piece. So unusual.

Elsa: Well as long as I don’t have to give that guard dog a piece of my mind, I guess it’s ok. Sheesh, not very hospitable was he? You should have let me teach him some manners.

The Mom: Umm, no..that’s fine. Besides, he was just protecting his giraffe. That’s his job and you wouldn’t want to deprive him of his job, now would you?

Elsa: {pondering for a moment} Yeah, you’re probably right but I was ready to go Rocky on his butt. Nobody talks to my Mom like that and gets away with it.

The Mom: Aww, aren’t you sweet? So I went back to Sloan’s Lake a couple of days ago to see how things looked after last week. All the gold and reddish colored trees have dropped their leaves but the cattails were kind of interesting. I also noticed the squirrels and birds should get nice & chonky this month with pumpkins and fruit setting on trees.

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Elsa: Mt. Evans in the distant with the snow was kinda cool. Too bad you couldn’t get a better angle from the hill. It was much prettier than this pic lets on.

The Mom: Sometimes you just gotta go with what you can get. Still, it was a pretty morning looking west from the lake instead of toward downtown.

Elsa: Well that’s it from me. So…got anything cooking for the weekend? I think we’re just gonna chill (though it will be nice around here for a few days). Whatever you do, we hope you get outside and check out what Nature’s got going on. We realize it’s that time of year where things get busy as folks gear up for the holidays, but trust me…it’d be good to look around and see the beauty out there. Have a ‘wagnificent’ weekend.

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ October 27, 2023

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 51 Comments

Elsa

Well, well, well…lo and behold…it’s  Friday. Elsa here, your intrepid blogging queen with another episode of Nature Friday where we join our New Mexico pals, Rosy and Sunny from LLB in Our Backyard. Don’t forget to click on the link to see what else has been shared.

Elsa: It’s been one of those beautiful autumn weeks with mild temps, blue-bird and cloudless skies and then Nature sent out a memo now that autumn isn’t going to last forever and to get your affairs in order. All our walks have been punctuated with the sound of psst as sprinkling systems were getting shut down.

The Mom:  Right. Last night’s freeze was a rather rude awakening, wasn’t it?

Elsa: Sheesh…rude doesn’t begin to cover it. Even with my luxurious furs, I can tell you straight up that I won’t mind wearing a coat on the morning walk. And the forecast of 1-3″ of white stuff for the weekend with highs in the 30’s…yikes! Oh sure the changing leaves have been terrific, at least the trees received and actually read the memo that ‘things be a-changing,’ but what’s up with all the roses in bloom right now? Oh sure, I expect mums to be blooming this time of year, but what the dog are the roses doing by giving nature the middle thorn and blooming all over the place?

The Mom: {interrupting} Excuse me…middle thorn??

Elsa: Yes, I was being metaphorical.

The Mom: Well, let’s not be quite as crudely metaphorical in the future okay, kiddo?

Elsa: There you go again, harshing on my mellow. As I was saying before you crushed my flow, there have been ooodles of leaves that have turned and started their annual drop although these looked like apple slices to me.

Leaves

The Mom: Yeah, wasn’t it fun to walk through them? Crunch, crunch, crunch {squealing with delight}.

Elsa: Umm, yeah, no. You may enjoy that crunching but I’m barefooted, or did you forget?

The Mom: Oops, I hadn’t really thought about it from that perspective. Sorry..

Elsa: Well I will concede the ash trees have been pretty amazing-they always are but I still don’t like to walk on their fallen leaves.

Ash tree

The Mom: Considering how bizarre the autumn weather has been, the ash trees really have been pretty colorful. Too many of the maples and elms have just turned brown around the edges and will, no doubt be on the ground once the snow arrives. I noticed this spruce tree where fallen leaves ‘decorated’ the boughs like it was some sort of Christmas tree all dressed up. I’d never seen a leaf garland like that before.

Spruce tree and leaves

Elsa: Nice, but did you get a good look at that ornamental plum we passed by? I almost needed sunglasses it was so bright and colorful. The light was just amazing.

Plum tree

The Mom: Yes, I stopped dead in my tracks because of that beautiful color.

Elsa:  Trust me, I did notice that. There I was happily sniffing through the leaves and {imitating screeching brakes} you just froze. You know our walks are for my olfactory pleasure not for your visual delight.

The Mom: Oh, excuse me. I just got caught up in the moment. Sorry.

Elsa: Ok, just this time. So can you explain why all the roses are going bonkers blooming? For a summer flower, I guess these guys decided to go down in a blaze of beauty. I sure hope Miss Rosy likes these babies.

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The Mom: They sure caught my eye too. But nothing like what I saw in the dog run. I saw these weird, swirly tracks in the dirt and couldn’t for the life of me, figure out what or who left them, and then I found the source. A big worm made them. I moved him back toward where he started out because he was quite a bit away from the initial swirls for that picture, before relocating him permanently.

Elsa: I think he was stoned or worse, high-neither one of us could make any sense out of his path or those swirls. Then again, maybe he just was trying to stay dry after a light shower we received but I’m no worm expert. I’m glad you ended up gently placing him in the front garden to hide in the mulch-maybe he’ll do some aerating before the cold/snow gets him. I think I’m going to name him Jake. Yup, Jake, the Snake…er, worm.

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The Mom: I have my paws crossed for him too. You’ve named him, I see. Oh brother.

Elsa: Doesn’t everyone deserve a name? I mean you named the mouse that lives in the compost bin.

The Mom: {stuttering} Er, umm, well okay, maybe we’ll keep our eyes open for ‘Jake’ in the future.

Elsa: Thought you’d see it my way. So I noticed you were going through the box that houses the dog costumes and hats. I know Halloween is next week. You weren’t thinking of dressing me up now, were you?

The Mom: Umm, me? Uh, probably not.

Elsa: Yeah…I heard you giggling as you found some of the stuff you used to dress up Norman and Sam. Please, I beg of you…don’t do it. No self-respecting poodle wants to be dressed up like that. I’ll be the laughing stock of Blogville and I’ll look ridiculous and be totally humiliated.

The Mom: {innocently whistling while looking the other way} Umm, I’ll think about it.

Elsa: Mom, please, I’m begging you {making sad puppy dog eyes…desperately pleading}. People will think I’m a sell-out.

The Mom: You worry too much. {changing the subject} So…got any plans for the weekend, Ninja?

Elsa: With the snow and temps in the 30’s? Umm, yeah, lots of cozy naps while this storm blows over. I’m no ordinary fool. Throw in couple of toys for a good old fashioned chew-fest and I’ll be good.

Elsa

The Mom: Well whatever you do, we both hope you manage to enjoy whatever Nature has in store for your region. Make it a great weekend.

Elsa: Yeah, what Mom said.

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾