Look who’s back.

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We didn’t have much snow this winter so our spring isn’t as wet as it usually is. No snow means no melt which means no big backyard puddles for our annual visiting pair of ducks to splash.

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But here they are.

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Mr and Mrs Mallard checking out the fallen bird seed under the feeders.

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No water meant they didn’t stay long, but it was nice to see them again.

❤️

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Let’s play.

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You don’t have to, but where’s the fun in that?

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I don’t drink coffee, so that’s easy to give up.

Sugar? I could pull my sweet tooth if I had to.

Pasta? That would be hard, but okay.

Cheese? I’m not sure life would be worth living, but if I have to choose…

I’m going to cling to my bread.

The crusty French loaves, the sourdough, the potato rolls, the honey wheat, the brioche, the cornbread, the biscuits, the pumpernickel!

Give me a pound of butter and a knife? I’m good.

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Yes. That could be me.

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How about you…

What couldn’t you give up?

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Creative baking.

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Do you like to bake cookies?

Chocolate chip? Oatmeal raisin? Snickerdoodles?

In Portugal they’ll do you one better.

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Or worse depending on your point of view.

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Nothing says festive like rows of penis garland.

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Edible penis prayers? If that doesn’t get you to church nothing will.

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Because when you think of Christianity… aren’t phalluses the first thing that comes to mind?

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Underground pecker pastry.

Black market todger trading.

Ah, Portugal. Clinging to their John Thomases for centuries.

🤣

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They really don’t succ.

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I used to have various pots of succulents scattered around the Barn Mahal/man cave. Mainly because no room I inhabit can be plantless but also due to their relatively carefree nature. Sadly I’m not out there as often as I used to be and though the husband still has friends in to play pool, he never thinks to water them… so with the heat pump sucking every drop of moisture out of the air all winter? A lot of them died.

After retrieving their carcasses, I did something I thought I’d never do.

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Yup.

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I bought a bunch of fakes.

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And I have to say, I’m rather impressed.

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While it goes against my gardening grain to resort to artificial, we have to close the blinds in the summer to avoid drying out and cracking the leather chairs as well as trying to prevent the a/c from running non stop so the real ones spent most of their time in the dark.

Enter the fake succulents.

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And though I really hate to admit it? Fake succulents don’t actually suck.

Who knew?

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I did manage to keep my jade plant alive and healthy so thankfully it’s not all plastic fantastic in there.

And speaking of dead things? I did a little recon in the beer fridge and found some dip that expired the beginning of March and creamer that died in January.

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Old junk isn’t the only thing my husband refuses to throw out.

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Random nonsense.

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I love when I read a book about a character that loves to read books.

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I’ll take recommendations where I can get ‘em … so I searched for this one on Amazon.

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Needless to say I did not choose the hardcover option.

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I have no explanation for why there is suddenly a stuffed possum hovering over our local pub’s bar. But I’ll be happy to share a pint if he ever climbs down.

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No reason.

Just made me laugh.

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Did you know there’s a Facebook group for wombat lovers? Neither did I… but say hello to its newest member.

👍

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Brunch at the Pig

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One of my favorite watering holes serves brunch on Sunday morning… which we’ve never tried because the husband has a standing date for pool in the man cave with a friend. But last weekend the friend couldn’t make it – so up to the The Blind Pig we went.

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And what better way to start brunch than with a flight of Mimosas?

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Since it was Maine Maple Sunday.. an annual celebration of tapping trees and sap houses… all the cocktails that day featured the sweet treat.

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Warning: Consumption of alcohol also impairs your ability to complete a sentence.

As you know my husband never liked the food at the Pig until a recent visit changed his mind. On this day the owners sat next to us at the bar and told us they’d just hired a new cook and had hopes for higher quality meals.

Ever the optimist and always searching for a good batch, I ordered their biscuits and gravy with home fries.

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While the sausage and gravy were alright, the biscuit was like a brick and the home fries were overcooked and greasy. ( Please note the mini strawberry rhubarb margarita. I received it free after telling the bartender the one I had on our last visit was too sweet. Free drinks? I love this place… even if the food is hit or miss)

I didn’t have a chance to photograph the husband’s meal because he sent it back too quickly. His eggs were cold, the dark toast he requested looked like it never saw heat and the homemade hash was a revolting mess of tough ham, hard sweet potato and some unidentified green. Disappointing to say the least.

Looks like it will be a while before I get him back there.

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A sure sign of spring.

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Temperatures are rising, the snow has melted and we’re seeing a bit of green grass.

But the surest sign of spring at Casa River is this:

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Our first woodchuck sighting!

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We’ve had a momma raise her young under our barn for the past 6 years or so and always wonder if they’ll be back.

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Of course laying out some carrot slices helps.

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Welcome back spring!

😌

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News you can’t use.

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Because there’s no limit to the crazy.

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Et tu Cookie?

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Girl Scout cookie extortion? That seems a little too on point.

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Do my male readers have any wisdom to impart on this subject?

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How huge?

8.7 million tons and the size of a shopping mall huge.

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Our beach could literally be clean at 8 a.m. and three to four hours later a giant mat of sargassum the size of a mall will come in like the blob, like a Stephen King movie,” said Tom Mahady, city of Boynton Beach (Florida) Ocean Rescue chief. “It’s not pleasant for swimmers.”

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I keep reading about this and hope my Florida friends will share some first hand photos when it arrives. Just remember to wear a gas mask, it’s pretty stinky.

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Okay climate change deniers… shit just got real.

😳

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