Happy Swelter Day, er I mean Happy Monday. Today I, the majestic Floof is bringing you a special public announcement. Call…I can help you get the compensation you so richly deserve. Speaking of what I deserve, I gotta dash to file a writ of habeas corpus on a bag of chicken jerky my own Mum is not dispensing fast enough. The nerve! Harrumph.
Have a super Monday and stay as cool as you can. Our forecast calls for 98ĀŗF (36C) so we were out even earlier than our normal early morning constitutional since it was almost 70F at dawn. Gonna be a scorcher so we’re hunkering down with AC, lots of treats any plenty of cold fresh water. Stay safe and well hydrated.
Greetings from the Ranch, mates. Wilson here, joining our friends from the Adventures of the LLB Gang. Be sure to click on the link to see what else was shared in this week’s Nature Friday blog hop. It’s been a busy week for us that started out wet (more on that below) and we managed to receive a couple of small wet showers too. Otherwise, it was hot, as in triple digit hot. Yesterday was July’s full moon, known as the “Buck Moon,” so named as male deer (bucks) begin growing new antlers. July’s full moon is also known by other names such as Thunder Moon, Hay Moon, or Salmon Moon, depending on the various cultural associations with the month of July. Mum can’t help but wonder if the full moon period might explain some of the severe and extreme weather that’s been happening all over too. Just last night after consecutive days of very hot temps, our neighborhood received a shower that may have weakened the tree across the street enough that a large branch came crashing down last night on our poor neighbor’s car.
[Not my photo]As you can imagine, Mum was pleased about the wet, but as you can tell by my expression below, it wasn’t as appreciated by me. I hate baths and this week my mum drew the short straw to get me ready to visit with staff and patients at Lutheran rather than the groomer. I don’t understand why Mum doesn’t seem to realize I don’t like baths. I mean, it’s written all over my face! And for the record, I wasn’t even that dirty.
Ugh, another bath!Here I am getting blow dried. Mum uses the ear hoodie but I still let her know how I felt about it anyway.Here I am in all my glorious floofness, ready to go visit peeps.
The Mum: Oh come on, House Pony-it wasn’t that bad. But in order to get treats and attention from all your nurse friends, patients and visitors, the hospital requires each dog to receive a bath before visiting them.
Wilson: That may be the rule, but I still don’t like it. Although now that you mentioned it, everyone must have picked up on the abuse I suffered because there were LOTS of treats being dispensed and many “atta boy” ear rubs.
The Mum:Ā Yes, I did notice that. I also noticed you tend to forget what you’re supposed to be doing and get a tad unfocused. Maybe next time don’t be such a pill in the tub and you can make folks happy and be well rewarded for it, eh?
Wilson: I’ll keep that in mind the next time, Mum. For starters, I sure did like meeting all the EMT’s buzzing around the Emergency Room. They know right where my ears like being rubbed.
The Mum: Well enough about all your abuse hard work, what kind of nature photos do you have to share with us?
Wilson: Well, I’m glad you asked, I’ve noticed the hydrangeas around the neighborhood are in full bloom. Boy, are they ever pretty, even if they don’t have much of a scent.
The Mum: Oh look, they have floofy heads like you do!
Wilson: By jolly, you know, you’re right, Mum. I hadn’t thought it until now. I’ll bet they really enjoyed the shower we received. I know you were practically giddy and raced outside to protect your fig plant. The rain came down hard fr several minutes and small hailstones also fell and I know how much you’ve been babying that guy.
The Mum: Well, it has a couple of baby figs growing that I didn’t want to lose, so yeah, I ran outside and moved it under the covered patio. It rained a little bit yesterday as well. Certainly not as hard but I’m sure that plant loved every nourishing drop of rain. You can water three, four times a day in the heat but a few drops of rain will give it everything it desires. It was as if overnight, new leaves emerged on it. You know I think I need to give it a name. Got any ideas on what to name it?
Wilson: Hmmm, how about Bob? He kinda looks like a Bob. {excited butt wiggling}
The Mum: Okay, Bob it is then. Well that’s about it from us. Wilson, Bob and I hope you all have a good weekend. We are sending our thoughts and prayers to the folks in New Mexico and Texas after horrific flooding took placeĀ this week. Mother Nature is definitely on a rampage this summer but we still urge everyone to get outside to enjoy some of it. But be safe, will ya?
Wilson: Yes, please be safe and enjoy all the beauty nature shares with us this time of year. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to chase a squirrel or two.
The Mum: Wilson! Knock it off. Just tell folks to have a wonderful weekend.
Wilson: {sighing} Fine. Have a good weekend and if you just happen to see a squir…
The Mum:Ā W-I-L-S-O-N!!! Enough with the squirrels. If you don’t behave, I’m going to have to put you in time out with NO TREATS. You got that, lad?
It’s the Monday after all hell broke loose this weekend. Wilson here…what is IT about you American chaps that you enjoy setting off fireworks…for days on end.Ā Ugh, I’m completely exhausted after listening to boomers for the past three days and while I don’t get as terrified as many dogs and cats do, I still hate them. If I had any say, I’d ban all the noisy ones. Life is ruff enough-we don’t need things to be more stressful. Anyway, let’s start the week out with a smile. Mum was saying how she could use an acupuncture session to relieve some tension in her neck but I told her to stay away from Ed telling her that she probably wouldn’t find his treatments very restorative or relaxing. Aren’t I a good boy for warning her? I hope she appreciates me for looking out for her.
We hope your week is relaxing after the holiday weekend. Happy Monday!
Well, here we are on another Friday where we join our pals from Adventures of the LLB Gang for their weekly blog hop. Please hop on over at the link to see what others have posted.
Today is July 4th in the US (well, technically it’s July 4th everywhere but it is a big deal holiday here in the US…but I digress). Wilson here. We were out walking in the early morning hours yesterday and came upon a new inflatable {insert rolling eyes here} at a house we walk past every day. I swear they must have a couple dozen of these things. May I should peek through the fence posts to see if there’s a huge shed to store them all. All I can say is “PSST.” Even if I posed nicely in front of them. I personally think they’re weird. But to each his own, eh?
The weather continues to be ungodly hot, as in pizza oven hot. Very dry with super low humidity so I’m guessing our friends in the Midwest and East Coast likely don’t have much sympathy for us. Enough of my kvetching…let’s get this show started, shall we? Oh Mumm…
The Mum: Good morning, House Pony. I see you decided to use the latest inflatable we saw yesterday to open our post. I’m just blown away by the number of inflatables that family has. All the holidays and even some special occasions-it’s hard to comprehend all of them.
Wilson: It’s a mystery for sure, but let’s stop talking about thoseĀ fools guys and instead, share some of the beautiful flowers I found this week.
The Mum: O-kay. What do you have to start out today’s post? Got anything special you want to share?
Wilson: Well, I’m rather chuffed about a couple of today’s flowers that are rather unusual. Like this Greater Masterwort that our neighbor recently planted. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. And listen to some of the attributes this plant has. First, it’s a perennial with an erect and glabrous stem, with little branches but few leaves. The small flowers are typically greenish-white with reddish shades. They typically flower from June through September, and they’re native to southern Europe. It’s been in the British Isles since the 16th century. Apparently it’s quite common in mountain meadows and grasslands, in forests and clearings, and close to streams, anywhere the altitude is above sea level. It likes partial shade apparently with moist conditions so we both know it likely wouldn’t survive in our garden.
The Mum: Is that some sort of a dig at me because I avoid plants that need a lot of supplemental watering like the plague?
Wilson: Umm, nope, there’s nothing subtle about it, Mum. You only plant flowers that will withstand very arid conditions once they’ve established themselves. Now here’s a plant that will work well for you in our garden…Gaillardia,Ā commonly known as blanket flower or Indian blanket is a native wildflower to North and South America where they often naturalize in prairies, plains and open areas. Named after Ā MaĆ®tre Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th-century French magistrate who was quite an enthusiastic botanist. They’re a cheerful lot, aren’t they?
The Mum: I do like those and am always amused when they suddenly appear in the garden without my planting them. Those little globe seed heads are chock full of potential new plants and they remind me of dandelions in that their ability to readily propagate around the neighborhood are quite remarkable.
Wilson: Their flowers kind of remind me of these orangey Rudbeckia, commonly called Black Eyed Susan’s. It’s another member of the Asteraceae family. These native North America perennials bloom from mid through late summer and are sometimes called coneflowers. They are deer and rabbit resistant. They grow in both damp woodlands and dry prairies, indicating they are most adaptable. They’re perfect for you, Mum.
The Mum:Ā Yes, I do like them, and they have a range of colors from yellow and orange flowers as well as some varieties that bloom in multiple colors with dark brown or black centers. There are even some that come in red, bronze and even bi-colored shades.
Wilson: They’re a very good looking plant.But so are these, Mum. Anemones enjoy a nice shady spot in a woodland garden and come in multiple colors.
The Mum:Ā Those are really beautiful. And I like this red Monarda you found. ‘Bee balm’ is quite popular with butterflies and other pollinators. This specimen was beginning to get a little past its prime but the color was still so striking, I couldn’t resist taking a pic of it.
Wilson: And finally I found some blooming bellflowers on our walk earlier this week. Look how pretty it is. “Campanula” is considered another wildflower and can be found across the Northern Hemisphere, the Mediterranean, and its range even extends into mountains in tropical regions of Asia and Africa. A delicate perennial with graceful, slender stems, usually in clusters, rising in height from 4-15 in. The stems can be weak which causes the thing to bend over. Its rounded leaves wither early while the narrow, stem leaves remain. Blue-violet bell-shaped flowers hang singly or in clusters. Those bell-shaped flowers are borne in loose clusters at the tips and may come in a variety of colors from pale pink and light blue to deep violet-blue and pure white.
The Mum:Ā This was quite the find since I’ve only ever seen the purple/blue variety around the neighborhood. I loved the pale pink/white and will have to look for one at a garden center for future inclusion in our garden.
Wilson: Finally, because I know you love Swallowtail butterflies so much, here’s another one that followed us along our early morningĀ walk. He sure was beautiful, Mum and looked so cool flitting around on the summer breeze.
The Mum: You’re right, I do like watching them. They seem to take all your worries away. Well that’s it for us this week. We hope you all have a terrific weekend. Stay cool (if that’s possible) and stay hydrated. And above all, have a safe holiday.
Welcome to the last Friday of Hell month, aka arrival of summer-often referred to as the month of June. And boy did she arrive with a major league chip on her shoulder. Hey, what did I do to deserve this hellscape? Wilson here and I just don’t understand. I’m a good boy (most of the time) and I haven’t turned my Mum into a kite for ages. Yet for some reason apparently Mother Nature is quite P.O’d and she’s taking it out on us floofs. Well guess there’s no easy answer as to her motives, so I guess we’ll just joint our mates from Adventures of the LLB Gang and share some of the nature we found this week. Make sure you click on their link to see what others have shared.
This week we’re going to feature some garden insects from around the garden so if bugs creep you out, you may want to rejoin us on Monday.
The Mum: Hello House Pony, so you’re hankering to share some bugs today, eh?
Wilson: Sure, Mum. I’ve got some real doozies and beauties. Let’s start with the pretty ones first. The Swallowtail butterflies have been visiting our garden. They kind of meander and flit from one flower to the next. I sure enjoy keeping an eye on them.
The Mum: You were a very good boy around the butterflies…now if only you wouldn’t try to eat the bees and wasps who have been noshing on the lavender that’s in bloom.
Wilson: In my defense, that bee started it. Can I help it that he just happened to fly into my jaws of death mouth yesterday?
The Mom: You were lucky not have been stung.
Wilson: I was too fast for him. But boy, he sure tasted funky. Did you notice how quickly I shook him out of my mouth?
The Mum:Ā And then ate him? Yes, I sure did. You were very fortunate. A sting in a dog’s mouth can be very painful-your whole jaw could have swelled up.
Wilson: Mum you worry too much. I got this. It seems my saliva doesn’t just make for amazing mousse on your head…it apparently drowned that buzzing guy.
The Mum:Ā {eyes rolling} All I’m saying is, some day you’re not going to be as lucky. Best to avoid the buzzing bugs. Especially if they look anything like this prehistoric monster. It looked like something from Jurassic Park.
Wilson: {shivers} You’re so right, Mum. That thing totally creeped me out. I discovered it was likely some sort of parasitic wasp. That extremely long ovipositor is what she uses to deposit her eggs in or on either a host body or piece of rotted wood. Despite looking doggone terrifying, that ovipositor does not deliver a sting like typical wasps. Why didn’t you step on it? Now I’m constantly going to be looking out for the bloody thing until I get distracted by a squirrel or other critter, that is. We’ve had a lot of bunnies visiting lately but they don’t bother me like the tree rats do.
The Mum:Ā Sadly I was so blown away by it by, that I didn’t think about stepping on it and It flew away after posing for a photo.
Wilson: I hope it flew to another city and stays away from our neighborhood! Ick…I just can’t un-see that monster. But I was rather keen on checking out the ladybugs that are appearing on the lupines. They’re so Disney-nice looking and don’t look prehistoric like that parasitic wasp. Notice how it was perfectly centered in the leaf cluster as if she was trying to imitate stamin.
The Mum: Don’t be fooled. Ladybugs (as they are called in North America and ladybirds In the UK) are actually beetles who are quite carnivorous predators. They are characterized by domed backs with flat undersides and conspicuous aposematic (warning) colours and patterns, e.g red with black spots, which are used to warn potential predators that they taste toxic. They can gorge themselves on aphids and scale insects and are often used as a natural deterrent to agricultural pests. In other words, they’re like biological control agents.
Wilson: Gosh, I had no idea they were so ferocious. Well I’m just grateful you have some help controlling those aphids. There are more than enough them to give those ladybugs a right proper belly ache for over-indulging.
The Mum: Speaking of predators, how about this Wheel Bug. I found this guy hanging out on some mulch. He was so striking so you can imagine my surprise to discover he was a type of ‘assassin bug’ when I looked him up. You just never can tell what kind of critters are lurking about the garden. Another predatory bug, these use their beak-like mouthparts to pierce their prey, then inject a powerful mix of enzymes which is lethal and begin to digest their prey much like spiders do. It’s a good thing I didn’t try to pick him up since they have a nasty bite that can hurt like the dickens for a few days.
Wilson: Crikey…I’m going to have nightmares tonight thinking about all these predator bugs. We better find some pretty flowers or I’ll be a basket case.
The Mum: You worry too much, House Pony. We’ll just have to look for more flowers so we don’t disrupt your beauty sleep or give you PTSD about predator bugs. Let’s wrap this up with something that is lovely to look at and is currently in bloom. Yum…I just love English lavender and this Lavandula Angustifolia-Hidcote variety is definitely swoon worthy. Does that make you feel better, sweet boy?
Wilson: Ahhh…I could sniff that stuff all day. It’s totally divine and ultra relaxing. Thanks, Mum. ‘Course I don’t really need anything to help me relax as I’m pretty good freelancing.
The Mum: {smiling} Presuming nature hasn’t deep fried you to a crisp, we hope you are able to check out all the beautiful and remarkable sights Nature provides. We’ll be checking out the Denver Dog Fair this weekend and hope your weekend is beyond excellent.
Welcome to Monday. Today is the 174th day of 2025…can you believe we’re nearly half way through the year. {head shaking} Where does the time go? Today is also {ironically} National Hydration Day, National Pecan Sandies Day, National Pink Day, and, the best one of all…Pink Flamingo Day in case you’re looking for something out of the ordinary to celebrate.
After a blistering weekend, Wilson says he’s not celebrating anything unless it’s well under 80F (26C). He has his own coping mechanism for dealing with the heat-act coquettish and wait for Mr. DeMille to call. We’re expecting a break in the heat starting later today with a chance of rain.
Today’s smile is in honor of Pink Flamingo Day. We hope your Monday is simply ‘flockin fabulous!’
Welcome to the Summer of Hades, 2025 edition. Bloody hell…who turned the blinking heat up?? We are under a heat advisory for the next few days. Good thing my fur coat was groomed last week but I’m still panting up a storm to cool myself down and Mum is sweating like a pig. Neither of us do well in heat and I have to make sure she stays well hydrated. Heck, we both have to stay well hydrated since unlike many areas of the country, ours is what’s known as ‘a dry heat.’ I don’t give a squirrel’s patootie, the bottom line is it’s been ungodly hot.
Wilson here. For those who need a bit of inspiration in the “this too shall pass” category, there are ‘only’ 94 days until autumn arrives. You can count on us keeping track of that number as it goes down. I know there are many of you enjoy summer and extol the virtues of extra sunlight to which I say, “Bollocks-you can have it!”
The Mum: Wilson!! Easy with the language, buddy!
Wilson: Whaaat? I’m just stating facts, Mum. It’s miserable out there. {grumbling} Bloody Summer Equinox…you can have it.
The Mum: My goodness…you’re sure getting very worked up. We’re going to have to soldier up, do the best we can and hope this heat dome breaks up. It’ll mean our walks will likely be starting at oh-dark-thirty…i.e. 5:00 AM. I’m yawning just thinking about the uncivilized hour.
Wilson: I’ll be ready, Mum. So let’s get started with this week’s slices of nature…it’s all about trees. We’re joining our friends from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Be sure to click on the link to see what others have shared. Before the heat set in on us, the mornings were heavenly perfumed by the scent of all the Littleleaf Lindens that are in bloom across our neighborhood right now. Their fragrance is absolutely intoxicating. Don’t the flowers look like Lily of the Valley?
American Linden Tree-a grand shade tree
The Mom: It’s one of my absolute favorite trees. I inhale deeply on our walks enjoying that fabulous fragrance once they start blooming.
Wilson: It’s a lovely tree, Mum but what about the Popcorn tree?
The Mum: Popcorn tree? Oh, you must mean the Catalpa tree which is also in bloom.
Wilson: I dunno, Mum…it looks like popcorn all over the sidewalk to me.
The Mum: Yeah, it does rather look like popcorn on the sidewalk. Catalpa trees are kind of messy but they’re great shade trees and those blooms are beautiful when you look closely. Just make sure you don’t look too closely, you might inhale a bee!
Wilson: They sure are messy trees. All those orchid-like blooms all over the sidewalk and then those long, cigar shaped seed pods will start falling, from autumn through winter. The blooms and seed pods from the large specimen across the street always manage to land in our yard in addition to our own. Remind me why you planted it?
The Mum: When the city made me take down the Silver Maple, they said they’d replace it with another shade tree. I applied for a Honey Locust which they did plant, but for some reason, they threw in a Catalpa as well as an Oak tree. Lots of leaves, flowers and acorns to deal with. The squirrels don’t seem to mind. They seem to love all the trees that are messy. Me, not as much.
Wilson: Hey, I try to do my part keeping the squirrels at bay. I can’t help it if you don’t want me chasing them..
The Mum: Well they tend to run out in the street and you’re all too eager to follow them. There’s been another flowering tree that’s currently in bloom and it’s also a beauty..
Wilson: That’s right, Mum. It’s a Japanese Tree Lilac. Those creamy white flowers fill the morning air with a luscious scent. This is a modestly small tree but seems to do well in Colorado. We’re starting to see and more of them around the neighborhood.
The Mum: It’s a real beauty for sure. But what about that fabulous cherry tree we walk past every day? It ripened earlier than any of the other cherry trees in the neighborhood. The owner even said if we could reach the fruit at the top, it was ours.
Wilson: Well I’d have been up for it but don’t think you could have reached the top fruit without a ladder and then we’d have to carry a bucket with us then wash and pitt them once we got home. You told me you did that once and it was pretty much an all day project.
The Mum: Yup, it sure was. Pitting was the pits-no pun intended. But the jam sure was yummy. I might consider making peach jam later in the summer but cherries are a lot of work and we’ve been pretty busy with hospital visits and rescue work.
Wilson: Speaking of busy, there was the rescue picnic over the past weekend. We were unable to attend but it sure looked like a fun event. Lok at all those sheepies! And we managed to raise about as much as we raised last year for the rescue. Everybody had a good time even if it was somewhat warm.
The Mum: Yeah, maybe next year we can attend and you can run around in a beautiful setting with loads of other sheepdogs.
Wilson: Oh that would be so posh, Mum. I do hope I can attend.
The Mum: Well we’ll see. Well, that’s it for this edition of nature. We hope you all have a lovely weekend and we pray everyone stays safe and hydrated this weekend and especially don’t overdo it. But if you’re out, please try to savor the wonders of Nature.
Wilson: Meanwhile I’ll be wondering why Nature has to be so doggone difficult and likely making plans to visit Yellowstone National Park and lying near the air conditioner vent. We hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Or in my case, that glow is from sweat. It was a hot weekend…just warning all you folks who continue to receive so much rain…trust me…summer is coming. Last week was super hectic and busy and we’re still recovering after a few days of hospital visits among other commitments. Wilson the Dogtor, was a big hit and now we’re hoping this week will be easy-does-it as this post visit nap shows how hard he worked. He was a good boy, brought loads of smiles to all he met and left everything he had at the hospital.
Wait…what…isn’t today a Tuesday? So what kind of sorcery is this where we post something on a Tuesday, you ask? Well today is a most special day. It’s Norman’s second heavenly birthday and simultaneously it’s World Pet Memorial Day so we just couldn’t not post today.
According to the National Day Calendar, every second Tuesday in June is designated as a day where pet owners can remember their precious fur angels. The fact that it falls on his actual birthday made it seem all the more poignant in preparing a post. Today’s celebration is also an opportunity for people to do something kind for those who have recently lost their beloved pet.
Norman’s legacy continues to surface at some of the most unexpected times. Last week, Wilson and I needed to attend a meeting at Lutheran and were greeted by a group of staff in the coffee shop who squealed “ooh, it’s Norman!” and came running up to us. There was a bit of a sharp stab to my heart but I smiled and noted that the floof now on the end of my leash was actually Wilson and let them know that Norman had passed. They were saddened to learn about Norman but luckily Wilson distracted them with a nice butt wiggle along with his own way of gaining attention that encouraged them to focus on the current floof. Obviously it wasn’t as simple for me but I was grateful they remembered my big guy and I was happy they fawned over the new guy. I thanked them for welcoming Wilson and then we headed on to our meeting. But Norman continued to occupy space in my heart and recalled some of the more memorable visits we shared. He was so beloved in the short few years that he brought joy to everyone at Lutheran. I know people are enjoying Wilson’s presence as he’s stepped nicely into the role that was paved by the extra-special therapy dog before him. I continue to hope Wilson brings as many smiles and joy to staff and patients as his predecessor did but I know the love affair with the sheepdogs all began with Norman being one of the most mellow and sweetest dogs to ever grace the hospital’s program.
Happy heavenly birthday, sweet boy. Sure do miss you, big fella. You’ll always occupy a special place in my heart. Love ya.
Greetings from the Ranch, mates. Wilson here, joining our friends from the 
It’s the Monday after all hell broke loose this weekend. Wilson here…what is IT about you American chaps that you enjoy setting off fireworks…for days on end.Ā Ugh, I’m completely exhausted after listening to boomers for the past three days and while I don’t get as terrified as many dogs and cats do, I still hate them. If I had any say, I’d ban all the noisy ones. Life is ruff enough-we don’t need things to be more stressful. Anyway, let’s start the week out with a smile. Mum was saying how she could use an acupuncture session to relieve some tension in her neck but I told her to stay away from Ed telling her that she probably wouldn’t find his treatments very restorative or relaxing. Aren’t I a good boy for warning her? I hope she appreciates me for looking out for her.
Welcome to the last Friday of Hell month, aka arrival of summer-often referred to as the month of June. And boy did she arrive with a major league chip on her shoulder. Hey, what did I do to deserve this hellscape? Wilson here and I just don’t understand. I’m a good boy (most of the time) and I haven’t turned my Mum into a kite for ages. Yet for some reason apparently Mother Nature is quite P.O’d and she’s taking it out on us floofs. Well guess there’s no easy answer as to her motives, so I guess we’ll just joint our mates from 
Live, bark, love! š¾
Welcome to the Summer of Hades, 2025 edition. Bloody hell…who turned the blinking heat up?? We are under a heat advisory for the next few days. Good thing my fur coat was groomed last week but I’m still panting up a storm to cool myself down and Mum is sweating like a pig. Neither of us do well in heat and I have to make sure she stays well hydrated. Heck, we both have to stay well hydrated since unlike many areas of the country, ours is what’s known as ‘a dry heat.’ I don’t give a squirrel’s patootie, the bottom line is it’s been ungodly hot.
Live, love, bark! š¾