All posts by Rivergirl

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Things there are no explanation for.

July 23, 2020 Rivergirl 34 Comments

The grill cover that came with our new grill.

Mind you, it’s custom made for this particular grill so it’s not a matter of fit.

So why on earth would a cover, that’s ostensibly used to protect the metal from the elements, have an opening of netted mesh where the metal controls are located?

Why?

2. Mexican toilet paper.

I live in Maine, which is as far as you can get from Mexico and still be in the United States….

So why were these the only brands available on the grocery store shelf this week?

Why?

3. Why is there a squirrel on top of my bicycle in the garage?

If your answer is “You don’t ride it, so why shouldn’t he?” that’s technically correct, but doesn’t explain how he got in the garage or why he wouldn’t rather use that special car wash broom attachment my husband had to have but never used instead. He had to walk past 2 dirty cars to find the bicycle…. and that’s just rude.

Why?

4. Why is there coffee all over my kitchen cabinets?

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Not the lower cabinets mind you, where I could understand a little spillage…. but the upper. Did Micheal J. Fox sneak in for a cuppa while I wasn’t looking? Was the husband gettin’ jiggy with it while I was in the shower?

I don’t drink coffee, so no. I didn’t catch a glimpse of a bare chested Jason Momoa on the television and have a muscle spasm.

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Photo for reference purposes only.

Really.

And to think it only took me an hour to choose that particular shot. 😈

So…. why?

If you can explain any of these unexplainable circumstances, I’d be most grateful.

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Don’t look now…..

July 22, 2020 Rivergirl 10 Comments

But there’s a woodchuck right behind you.

The deer was oblivious for quite a while.

But when she finally did realize it….

The interspecies communication did not go well.

Chuck – 1.

Deer – 0.

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CSA and grocery store horrors.

July 22, 2020 Rivergirl 13 Comments

This week’s offering from our CSA was a little lean on our end because there were a lot of things we don’t eat and elected to let our neighbor take.

Cilantro, bok choi, kale, turnips, spigarello, fennel, and kohlrabi? We passed.

But the chard was rainbow colored…

So there is that.

And in the continuing saga of bizarre grocery items found on my local shelves…..

Every possible mutation of pasta imaginable are still being pushed.

As is the ever present (and still disgusting) kale.

Delicious? I doubt it.

Crazy good? Not possible.

Stop the insanity and put kale back where it belongs…. in a rabbit’s colon. Other than the trash can, that’s the only proper place.

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Thankfully there was one sane product line of which I took full advantage.

Let the grilling begin.

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We celebrated a most remarkable life.

July 21, 2020 Rivergirl 8 Comments

On Sunday morning we drove up the coast of Maine to say goodbye to a very special man.

The kind of man you meet once in a lifetime.

A humble man so good, so kind hearted and so generous of spirit… his celebration of life had to be held in an airplane hangar.

Was it because he was a pilot?

Maybe, but more likely it was because he touched so many lives no other space was large enough to hold the mourners.

A lifeline to the Islands

I stood in 90+ temperatures (pressed against a wall and wearing a mask) for over 2 hours. I listened to emotionally wrought eulogies…. and saw grown men openly weep when they tried to speak of what Kevin meant to them.

The outpouring of love and respect was almost physical. You could feel it, in the air and in your heart.

When the service was over and four planes from the airline he started, nurtured and bled for flew over in the missing man formation?

Spontaneous applause and not a dry eye in sight.

Fair skies and tailwinds Mr. Waters….

The world will be a lesser place without you in it.

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Fog

July 21, 2020 Rivergirl 22 Comments

Fog is such an ethereal thing…. and for me, it’s usually hard to capture a good photograph.

But the other evening I looked out our front door….

And the strangest low lying patch of fog had enveloped our farming neighbors.

We had none at our house across the street.

But theirs was impressive.

And as the sun started to set…..

The colors began to change.

Orange and yellow fog.

A beautiful sight.

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Project finale.

July 20, 2020 Rivergirl 17 Comments

Railing installation on the last section of deck required measuring.

So much measuring.

I figured 16 balustrades, at 5 1/2 inches apart.

Which the husband started to implement and then chose to ignore.

Why did he change the spacing?

I have no idea.

But he continued on his path.

And shockingly, something was off.

There he is with the little level again.

Silly man, didn’t he learn anything from the baby barn?

When he reached the end? He had too much room to leave it open, but not enough room to evenly space a rail.

So he jammed one in anyway, because at that point he didn’t care.

I did, but managed to swallow my criticism. It was done, and looked a damn sight better than it used to.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

I’m pleased with it, as long as I don’t focus on symmetry.

It’s a cleaner, more modern look.

But now I can’t decide if the white lattice panel should stay or go.

Guess that can wait till I restain the deck.

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Country living perks.

July 20, 2020 Rivergirl 17 Comments

We live in a rural area of Maine…. and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Peace and quiet.

Visiting wildlife.

And beautiful scenery.

Some days more than others…

Living across the road from an organic vegetable farm has it’s benefits.

And fresh veggies aren’t the half of it.

Right now, the poppies are in bloom.

Glorious, riotous bloom.

And I’m enjoying every minute of it.

I mean really….

How can you not?

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Holy crap!

July 19, 2020 Rivergirl 33 Comments

Yes.

I’m literally going to talk about crap…. and you’re going to wonder why you ever started following me in the first place.

Piles of crap have suddenly begun showing up on our front lawn.

Same spot, by the kitchen door, every morning, totaling 4 piles.

Sorry, I can’t.

Weird as it sounds, we’ve lived here for 18 years and have never had a dog leave a deposit. Ever!

It’s too big for woodchuck or fox. And it’s not skunk. They leave a trail of small black poo nuggets on the driveway.

We have started seeing raccoons late at night, and they do make the rounds.

But I’m thinking coyotes might be setting us up as a rural rest stop.

So if any of my readers are expert scat identifiers?

Now would be the time to weigh in.

*Poop Update – since writing this the other day.

The count is up to 5 piles, and since it rained…. closer examination of contents was possible.

(Still with me? You really are loyal readers!)

Seeds.

I think we can safely rule out coyote now.

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Sometimes I feel like I’m just phoning it in.

July 19, 2020 Rivergirl 19 Comments

There’s nothing like the internet to make you feel inadequate.

And while I consider myself a relatively good cook, photos of the latest trend in baking shared by a friend are making me doubt my commitment.

Because, to be honest….

This type of magic never occurs in my kitchen.

I can’t even blame it on not having the time…

Because that’s something I have plenty of right now.

So all I can say is …. stop.

Stop making the rest of us look like slackers.

Asshole.

Now you’re just showing off.

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Randomness.

July 18, 2020 Rivergirl 11 Comments

We’ve been busy with other things outside, but I’m still managing to keep Amazon afloat during the pandemic.

And if you’re dying to read the new Hunger Games book? Don’t bother, it was rather disappointing. And while I’d given up on Stephen King… this new collection of short stories has my late BIL in it again, thinly disguised but still recognizable to those who knew him. He and Stephen went to school together.

And no, I won’t tell you which character. I’m evil that way.