And the winner is…

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 52 Comments

ContestThank you to everyone who left a comment on Monday’s post for the bandana drawing. Sam here. Because Elsa sort of hinted she was rather amenable to bribery, mom made her sit out the actual drawing and only let her snoopervise from a distance. I, on the other hand, thoroughly read each of the comments before picking a winner. Drum roll please….

And the winner is…

Sue and her pups, Shadow and Ducky at In My Heart Forever. Woof-woof! Congratulations, your reversible bandana is on its way. We think those pumpkins will look smashing on either one of you.

Shadow & Ducky

We had a lot of fun with this contest, and mom is thinking she’d like to do another one soon. This time we’ll be sure to include a prize that our kitty fur-iends can enjoy. Mom was sorry she neglected to include something for them this time. And she says I’m the Knucklehead?

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Almost Wordless Wednesday ~ October 24, 2018

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 61 Comments

Sam & ER nurses

Sam drew a bit of a crowd yesterday in the ER Dept. Two more doctors and another nurse joined the group right after this photo was taken. Dang, if only he liked people, although this might actually qualify as a harem in some books.

Happy mid-week. We’re back at West Pines today hopefully bringing more happiness.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

…and we’re off

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 34 Comments

Greetings, poodle fans. Sam here. I’m off to the hospital for he next couple of days but wanted to make sure you saw our post yesterday and commented to be entered into our first contest. I’m personally snoopervising the contest to make sure my Ninja sister doesn’t have a heavy paw on the scale of fairness when we pick a winner for the reversible Halloween bandana. Contest closed tomorrow so hurry and go here to leave a comment. Best of luck!

Nurse Sam

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Monday Musings ~ A new title

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 60 Comments

Last week you may recall that the Management met with the Ranch Hands to discuss safety protocols. While I’m sure the status quo will return in no time making winter walks dicey again at some point, I’m happy to report they have been on their best paws during our walks. No assassination attempts have occurred but then again maybe it’s because the weather warmed up and gloves haven’t been needed in the balancing act of leashes, filled poop bags, squirrel alert, etc. We’ll continue to keep our fingers crossed.

K9 ShopThat said, Management has been offered and accepted a(nother) new role around the Ranch. Some of you already were aware that we recently launched an e-shop and several of you have already purchased products from our K9 shop for which we are grateful. In case you haven’t checked it out, I hope you’ll consider swinging by as new items are being added all the time as we gear up for the ‘howliday’ season. The Ranch Hands decided the new title was a good idea and promptly dubbed me the Ranch’s CEO/Pet-trepeneur. Like all good companies, when you want to make someone feel good without giving them a raise, what do you do? You give them a new title.

So what does a Pet-trepeneur do exactly? I’m still learning the ropes of the new position but the Ranch Hands say I’m supposed to create products, try to maintain the website(dear Lord), advertise and market our little corner of the ‘Net and of course, handle customer service. The dogs tell me that last part includes baking organic, healthy dog treats like we used but I’m waiting for a marketing analysis report to come back. Yeah, that’s the ticket…marketing analysis. LOL


So to launch the e-shop properly and as my first official act as the new CEO/Pet-trepeneur of the Ranch, the dogs thought we should offer a contest just in time for Halloween; one of our reversible bandanas. This particular bandana comes in two sizes, regular and small. How can you win one of these reversible 100% cotton bandanas? Leave a comment and the official Prize Committee will choose a winner. Who’s on the Prize Committee, you ask? One Knucklehead and one Ninja. We’ll do this all very scientifically (till I can figure out the Rafflecopter plugin – oh boy, another digital cluster) going old school by printing each comment and having their busy-body noses decide sniff out a winner. Should be interesting so leave us a comment to be entered into our first official give-away. Sam and Elsa said they will accept bribes but rest assured, I put the kibosh on that. Knuckleheads! Good luck, ‘effuryone.’

P.S. We’ve added a few Howliday items  and will hopefully add more this week. Just 63 sleeps till Christmas. Don’t mean to rush to it before Halloween, but they’ll be here before you know it.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Flower Friday ~ October 19, 2018

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 35 Comments

My goodness, what a difference a week makes in the garden. Early this week we experienced the first snowstorm at the Ranch. Nearly 4 inches of the fluffy white stuff fell which, in and of itself, did not kill everything in the garden. But the two nights of frost at the beginning of the week pretty much made many trees dropped their leaves let alone, had flowers pretty much gave up the ghost and say,  “I’m outa here.”

Lest you think the mountain high desert otherwise known as Denver is without any autumnal beauty, you’d be mistaken. Colorado is well-known for its bright golden Aspens but there are other plants with bright foliage color more associated with Eastern US landscapes. Native to Northeast Asia, Japan and central China, right now one such plant is taking center stage. Dwarf Burning Bush is often thought of as an invasive species, especially east of the Mississippi due to more than adequate rainfall which makes for easy seed dispersal and naturalization. With Colorado’s general lack of water, invasiveness isn’t much of an issue. Eastern US State Extensions bureaus however often suggest eradication. Widely available throughout the US and it is especially popular here in the Centennial State.

Dwarf Burning Bush (which isn’t all that dwarf actually) requires moderate water, full sun, and ample room to grow. Pruning is not necessary and flowers are mostly  inconspicuous to non-existent. They are most noted for their show-stopping flame red color in autumn.

We hope this week’s entry in Rosy and her brothers’ blog hop provides you with an appreciation for all things autumnal. Have a great weekend. We hope you have warm and sunny conditions like we plan to enjoy. After teens and low twenty’s early in the week, no doubt there will be some leisure strolling through crunchy leaves in near 70’s temperatures. Whatever you do, we hope your weekend is pawsome.

Flower Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Horrible Bosses on Wordy Wednesday

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 64 Comments

Over the past weekend it seemed apparent I needed some serious comedy after a weekend hospital visit to rejuvenate so I spent some time cruising through the On Demand list of comedic claptrap and came across Horrible Bosses (2011) with Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis. No, I did not watch much of the Bronco game…remember I said comedic, not horribly tragic (could there be a worse team in football right now?). This fun release is 106 minutes of pretty mindless silliness that made me smile at some of the lines. Having worked for my own version of a Horrible Boss back in the day, I began to wonder if I was being a horrible boss to the Ranch hands after handing out today’s safety memo at our morning ‘Editor’s meeting.’Elsa & Sam ~ editor's meeting

~ SAFETY MEMO ~

To:            All Ranch Hands
FROM:     Resident  Horrible Boss Management
Date:         October 17, 2018

It has come to the attention of management that adherence to promulgated safety concerns are being ignored. Safety of management on daily walks is paramount to the continually providing of benefits (meals, treats, romps in the snow, endless patience on potty breaks during winter weather, etc.). See New Rules and Poodle Rules for specifics.

Henceforth it would be most appreciated if (a) Sam, you didn’t walk in front of management on walks and (b) Elsa, you would not walk behind management’s back to get back into simpatico balance while Sam executes his “let’s cut in front of management” move, simultaneously.

The weather has gotten significantly cooler and gloves are now the accoutrement du jour for walks, please note it will take time getting used to holding two leashes, two poop bags, while keeping everything upright without slipping on wet leaves (or worse) with gloves. No doubt management will make the necessary adjustments with time and practice but your cooperation during the transition would be appreciated.

Please contact Management if you have any concerns or questions. Remember the door is always open to the bathroom since personal boundaries were abandoned years ago. Thank you.

Signed,
The Ranch Manager

What do you think the odds are that the Ranch hands will think I’m a horrible boss and do you think there’s any chance they’ll comply with the latest safety request? Yeah, I thought the same thing. Maybe I should remind them that I’m not a dentist.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Monday Musings ~ October 15, 2018

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 37 Comments

Hey sports fan…it’s me, Sam. Did you know this is National Veterinary Technician Week? First celebrated in 1993, the third week of October each year honors the heroes in animal care — vet techs. Yes it’s true that I act kind terrified a little scared whenever a tech takes my temperature (but, um…excuse me…how’d you feel if I jammed a cold tube up your…well you know). But you gotta admit, I still wag my tail every time you come into the exam room.

Truth is, I have a personal interest in hoping all Vet Techs have a good week. Mom’s granddaughter in Hawaii is a vet tech and works at a pet hospital in Kona. Like all techs, our Hailey does all kinds of work including taking pertinent background info before the vet comes in and talks with the client about their pet. She handles all the basic questions, cleans kennels, restrains animals, draws blood and gives certain injections and vaccines as permitted by statute. She helps take X-rays and ultrasounds and monitors sedation procedures. She also runs blood work after a draw.  

A vet tech’s duties often encompasses far more work depending on the vet for whom they work. It’s probably easier to list the things they can’t do. Vet techs are not permitted to diagnose, perform surgery or prescribe medication.

Veterinary technicians typically work with vets in private practices, hospitals, research labs, and zoos. These days they are an important part of the professional veterinary team, but that hasn’t always been the case. The first “animal technician” program was created back in the 1960s, before then, veterinarians hired students or office workers to do much of the basic work and routine tasks. As the field of animal health became more complex, a need arose for a well-educated staff that could take on greater responsibilities and duties developed.

Even my weirdo Ninja sister loves our Hailey girl. This week we salute you and all vet techs and applaud the terrific job you perform. Have a great week, dear Hailey. We love and miss you and are so proud of all you’ve accomplished.

Miss Hailey with the Ninja

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Flower Friday ~ October 12, 2018

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 56 Comments

Autumn splendorAutumn has definitely arrived in the Mile High. Cooler temperatures and even a trace of snow seen here earlier this week have made things seem somewhat seasonal but there hasn’t been a whole lot of color change in leaves with a couple of exceptions from a few maples and ash trees. I suspect the summer drought and long stretches of extreme temperatures took their toll on the internal clocks of the trees in the neighborhood. One exception is the tree shown here, taken yesterday in downtown Denver. But this dearth of autumnal  color doesn’t mean things aren’t looking somewhat seasonal. The plumbago still has a few flowers but now the mahogany-hued leaves are beginning to show.

What else is blooming in the autumn garden? Oh course, there are the ubiquitous mums and asters but what I’m enjoying now are the ornamental cabbage making for some beautiful texture in the Sedum bed (which is also turning gloriously mahogany). Normally I prefer the cream variegated version of ornamental cabbage but alas, was too late at the greenhouse and only managed to grab the only two remaining offerings [Note to self, make autumn purchases sooner instead of later].

Today will be sunny with temps back in the 60’s so it’ll be a great day to leisurely stroll around the neighborhood taking in all Mother Nature has to offer in city gardens.

The weekend is upon us so I’ll leave you with something totally smile worthy from yesterday’s downtown excursion. While waiting to join a former colleague for lunch, I spied a street busker in full regalia playing tunes on his bagpipes along the 16th Street Mall in front of the Federal Reserve building. Just across the street blaring on patio speakers was a hip-hop tune at a brew pub. Can you say musical incongruent?

Nothing really surprises me anymore but I did find the alley scene below beyond the usual weirdness. It must have struck a chord with the rest of the lunch crowd along the mall because a queue had formed and you had to ‘wait your turn’ in order to get close enough to photograph. I almost miss working downtown for seeing odd and peculiar stuff like this. Almost.

Have a great Friday and an even better weekend. We’ve been asked to ‘pawticipate’ at a hospital event tomorrow to bring a little joy to ER nurses so I’m guessing smiles and fun will be in abundance.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Birthday Monday ~ October 8, 2018

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 84 Comments

Yesterday was a big day around the Ranch. We had a little celebration going on for our favorite Knucklehead who officially became a ‘teenager.’ That’s right, Sam turned 13 yesterday and celebrated like all ‘teens’ do, with a more active social media presence. If you missed his pics, you can see them here on Instagram. Then there were Greenies. Lots of Greenies.

He and I took a walk over to our neighborhood pup shop “Taj Mutt Hal” for his birthday treat and then hung out for a bit in Highlands Square letting him  be the center of attraction at the shops. It was nice spending time alone with him without a certain little Ninja trying to bogart his spotlight.  I guess in dog years, Sam would be around 79 which is probably why he’s been asking when his Social Security check will arrive. 

Elsa did get in on the afternoon celebration and offered her ‘design’ skills to rearrange a favorite toy I made for her last year. Unlike his sister, Sam doesn’t mind appendages. I think she’s been texting our favorite pair of Weimaraners for tips on how to make confetti. She’s a novice compared to the “Overlook Twins” but can sub in at any time if you have a deconstruction project. Having already eviscerated the one arm, perhaps she decided it needed to be balanced. At least she’s not a Picasso-type designer, right? Any have odds on how long the legs will stay intact now?

At any rate, both pups enjoyed a few extra treats yesterday and we managed to get some training time in using them.

“Wait” is a hard lesson to learn when chicken treats are used

Hope you had a great weekend. It sure seemed to have gone by extra quickly for us. For those of you who acknowledge it, have a Happy Columbus Day. We’ll use this day to reflect on the plight of indigenous people while waiting for mail that won’t arrive until tomorrow. Enjoy a short work week presuming you have today off.

Live, love, bark! 🐾