Horny sturgeon.

July 16, 2023 Rivergirl 21 Comments

As we were leaving the A1 diner the other day we noticed a large group of people gathered on the bridge spanning the river next door.

It only took a moment of looking down to realize what they were all there to watch.

The sturgeon were spawning.

If you’ve never seen a sturgeon take my word for it, they’re a big strong fish.

As I was taking this video some young men were on the far bank fishing. Since the sturgeon are a protected species this is highly illegal and a woman on the bridge starts screaming at them to leave at the end of this clip. Keep an eye on the water, one of the sturgeon jumped near the end.

It was an interesting way to end the afternoon.

Uncategorized

Random backyard critters and some serious lupine.

July 15, 2023 Rivergirl 15 Comments

Just a few glimpses into our backyard.

Baby chucks are nibbling at an extremely rapid rate. But I’ve discovered they like broccoli stalks so I’m hoping I can keep their teeth busy for a while.

We had a cool and wet June so the Baltimore Orioles who usually take off for colder, more northern parts when it starts to heat up are still here.

And they’re devouring the oranges and grape jelly faster than I can replace them.

The young males fight and squabble over the best position… but they sure are pretty.

Cow!

I love that I can say this every time I step outside instead of having to wait for a road trip.

My husband informs me that my nomenclature is incorrect as this is technically a young bull. But squealing bull! doesn’t have the same resonance… so I am compromising with Mister Cow!

This earns an eye roll and a head shake which somehow makes it even more perfect.

😈

Here’s a giant field of lupine situated in an odd place.

Next to the local dump. Trash never looked so good…

Uncategorized

The Facebook police.

July 15, 2023 Rivergirl 42 Comments

My husband came home the other day long enough to grab my keys and take off again in my car. As his truck is in temporary garage prison waiting for the new driveway to set… this did not bode well.

As I suspected, he returned home with something we did not need.

Why did he buy a Lane cedar chest dated 1943?

Because it was $20 at a yard sale up the road….

And he had visions of reselling it for 6 times what he paid.

The fact that it was for sale at a low price because no one wants or uses Lane cedar chests anymore never crossed his mind.

Undeterred by my cynicism, he spent an hour polishing it and then loaded it back in my car with a small assortment of miscellaneous crap he thought he could sell at a flea market. Early the next morning he drove an hour and a half south, paid $20 to rent a table, sat in the heat until 3:00pm, and drove an hour and a half back home…. with the Lane cedar chest and the majority of his crap still in my car.

Ever hopeful, he bade me list his precious chest on Facebook marketplace for $120 … sure that the right buyer would snatch it up.

Alas… Facebook had other ideas.

What…?

The listing was pulled as it was in violation of a recalled product policy.

A recall from 1943?????

I have no idea what the Hell that was about and though I questioned FB, I don’t have an answer.

What I do have is an old moth proof piece of furniture in the back of my car.

Lucky me.

😠

Uncategorized

So this is what $20,000 looks like…. otherwise known as before and after.

July 14, 2023 Rivergirl 33 Comments

Before.

One long, dirty, noisy, and inconvenient process later….

After.

Pardon the little puddle. It’s been raining every day for a freakin’ month.

Before.

After.

Before.

After.

Before.

After.

It’s an amazing difference and I can’t wait to drive on it.

Since we had the crew replace the culvert as well, sod or grass seed will be in our future.

But the husband is currently battling with the state DOT to fill in the entire 300 feet of ditch which has been a nightmare since we moved in 20 years ago and doesn’t want to start fixing the lawn until he has a definitive answer.

The old driveway was a straight shot to the road but now we have a nice open curved entry and no immediate ditch to worry about driving into on dark nights.

We are pleased.

Uncategorized

Let’s play.

July 14, 2023 Rivergirl 22 Comments

You’re here.

You might as well…

That’s an easy one for me.

Books!

I’m an avid reader and start to twitch if my pile of unread material drops below a dozen.

I order so many books from Amazon I may be personally responsible for Jeff Bezos’s new yacht.

Our little local library can’t keep up with me and trying to buy books at thrift stores has me walking down the aisles shaking my head, ticking off titles and mumbling read it, read it, read it…..

Unlimited books?

That’s heaven on earth to me.

How about you…

What lifetime supply would you want?

Uncategorized

The A1.

July 13, 2023 Rivergirl 23 Comments

Sometimes you just have to eat lunch at a diner and in our neck of the woods the A1 is a good choice.

Walking into the original 1946 Worcester car #790 is like stepping back in time.

In amazing shape for it’s age, the wood is polished..

And the chrome is shining.

Even the pass through hole to the kitchen is sparkling.

For a diner, the menu is wide and varied.

And my massive turkey club on homemade toast with hand cut fries did not disappoint.

Guy Fieri featured this place on his show Diners, Drive Ins and Dives and it even made it into a cartoon.

If you’re ever in Gardiner, Maine stop by. I promise you won’t leave hungry…

Uncategorized

The driveway replacement finale.

July 13, 2023 Rivergirl 34 Comments

The back half of the driveway was done and paving moved to the front.

Which means the big machine was put into play. If you’ve never seen the process, it really is kind of fascinating.

Before long they were at the road end.

And the wheelbarrow brigade was back in action.

Fill, dump, spread.

Repeat.

When they’d made us a nice entrance…

The final smoothing commenced.

A little more on the edges…

And they were stringing the don’t drive on me for a week! sign.

Which surprised me because we were originally told to let it set for 3.

Either way, it looks good.

And a damn sight better than it did.

Before and after pics to come.

Uncategorized

And we’re paving….

July 12, 2023 Rivergirl 19 Comments

The day we’d been waiting for finally arrived .

A temporary mailbox had been installed…

The blockade was removed….

And paving commenced.

The crew pulled in at 7:30am with the big machine but a lot had to happen before they fired up that baby.

Spray painting for instance.

But when the dump truck with the hot tar arrived, things really kicked into high gear.

The bump out parking area was the first spot to be paved.

And I have to say … those laborers I photographed sitting down playing with their phones really earned their pay this day.

Time is of the essence when the tar is hot and they were positively trotting while dumping wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow full of the heavy stuff into place.

It’s a whole lotta work.

In front of the garage by the kitchen porch was next.

And I’m sure the crew thought the lady who lives here was nuts for running from window to window to take pictures of the progress.

A little portable packing and smoothing later, that section was done.

Uncategorized

A nibbler and a very chill fox.

July 12, 2023 Rivergirl 16 Comments

The baby woodchucks are growing and seem to be everywhere at once.

One little guy likes to grab a carrot slice and eat it in privacy on the stone wall.

Which I must admit makes for some cute pictures.

Our momma fox is coming earlier than usual now and usually shows up by 4:00pm.

Chances are her babies are running her ragged and she appreciates the easy source of food.

Poor momma.

She’s so tired she eats lying down.

❤️

Uncategorized

Driveway replacement inconveniences.

July 11, 2023 Rivergirl 21 Comments

As we wait for the smoothed dirt to dry on the newly torn up and backfilled driveway, a word about the inconveniences of this repair/replace project.

Ours cars now have to sit outside in the elements for the week it’s taking the crew to do the job and probably for 2-3 weeks after that. Forget the fact that Ethel, my Subaru, is a garage virgin and has never spent a night outside…. not being able to use the driveway means the only place we can pull into our property is way out here.