Category Archives: Uncategorized

His Lordship is a bit of a weirdo.

May 28, 2023 Rivergirl 23 Comments

The weather is getting warmer, the grass is getting greener, and Lord Dudley Mountcatten wants to go out for a walk every afternoon.

Not to say that he actually wants to walk on the grass. No. His Lordship will do almost anything to avoid that. Nearly three acres of groomed lawn… and the wee beast sits on the concrete cover for the septic tank. WTH?

He’s a very delicate walker.

Hiding in the iris, hoping a bird will land nearby.

Get lost mom. You’re blowing my cover.

Face planting in the grass.

I have no idea, don’t ask.

Giving the pear tree a good once over, but no attempt at climbing today.

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Just because it’s purple…

May 27, 2023 Rivergirl 6 Comments

My husband likes this new restaurant called the White Duck. I’m not sure why as every time we’ve been there the food has been mediocre at best.

The cocktails? Not much better.

This trip the lavender margarita sounded interesting.

And though it was a pretty purple… it tasted more like the sugar shaker ran amok than lavender. Sickeningly sweet which is not what I want in a cocktail. Sadly the cup of clam chowder wasn’t any better. Thin, watery, full of potatoes with very few clams. Boo to that.

I hate when the cocktail list is just phoning it in.

The husband ordered the supposedly home made baked mac and cheese. I make this at home and never think to call it a meal. Theirs was dry as a bone with virtually no flavor. Boo to that as well.

I stuck with the pub burger because it’s one of the few things they do correctly here. Charbroiled, perfectly cooked with melted cheddar, bacon and served on a brioche bun. With a cold Down East hard cider of course.

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Random backyard nature and some soup.

May 27, 2023 Rivergirl 22 Comments

Now that the apple tree (I didn’t plant but grows better than those I do) is spreading it’s branches we have more squirrels coming to visit our feeders.

We have a wide open backyard and they prefer tree cover for safety. Like this hefty momma hanging out on the garden bed border.

What a chonk!

This my friend, is the perfect bowl of chowder. Found at the Freeport Cafe, an unassuming little place on Route 1.

Thick, rich, creamy and loaded with clammy goodness. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Driving along Maine’s back roads you never have to wonder where the rednecks live.

They tend to leave their calling card.

Smaller than the pileated, but still pretty.

He’s called the Red Bellied Woodpecker. Though I never have figured out why.

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Apple-y ever after.

May 26, 2023 Rivergirl 14 Comments

I swear I don’t think it’s possible for our little front yard crab apple tree to have any more blossoms.

Okay, maybe it’s not so little.

But it’s small compared to the giant old apple trees in the backyard.

People walk by and compliment us on it every year at this time.

She’s a real beauty!

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Let’s play.

May 26, 2023 Rivergirl 35 Comments

You don’t have to, but you should.

Good grief, there are so many I don’t know where to start…

I shall try to limit myself to 5.

1. Avatar.

I don’t see the appeal, never did. And if you love it, please don’t try to change my mind. I don’t care how much money they spent on the “Let’s add water!” sequel, I’m not watching that either.

2. Dumb and Dumber.

The title says it all.

3. Twilight.

Do not get me started on this ridiculous teenage vampire crap. If you’re over 13 and enjoyed these badly written and acted films? We can no longer be friends.

4. I’ll probably piss some people off with this one, but Back To The Future. Marty McFly? Sorry, no to all 3.

5. With a slight exception for Deadpool (because it’s snarky) and maybe Venom (because let’s face it I’d watch Tom Hardy mop his kitchen floor) the never ending parade of super hero, Marvel, DC Universe, multi verse whatever movies. Enough already. Every time I want to go to a movie, they’re all that’s playing. It’s time to move on.

So how about you?

What popular movies do you dislike….

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Apple of my eye.

May 25, 2023 Rivergirl 21 Comments

If you’re a loyal reader you’ll remember we had a massive wind storm two years ago that did serious damage to our beloved ancient backyard apple trees. We had a professional arborist in to trim and prune them back and last year they were barren. No blooms, no apples.

But this year?

Ooh baby.

They are positively bursting.

And if you’re wondering how big they are?

That’s the Barn Mahal for scale.

I wish WordPress had smell-o-vision because trust me… it’s glorious.

My little ~~you never planted me but I grew well anyway~~ crabapple is starting to spread out, but is lagging behind in bloom time.

Now I just need to fill my new rock bordered bed with perennials for a burst of summer color.

🙂

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Motivational posters and still more pickles.

May 25, 2023 Rivergirl 24 Comments

I have a few Facebook friends who share nothing but motivational posters.

No family photos. No vacation albums. No silly animal videos.

Just these.

Most of them are pretty.

Some of them are cute.

Okay, you got me. That one makes perfect sense.

And while I’m sure my friends mean well spreading their words of wisdom, I’ve never been a motivational/self help type of girl. I don’t read the books, I don’t cross stitch the sayings on pillows.

My idea of good advice runs more along these lines.

Kind of the anti motivational motivation.

It’s just how I roll.

And in case you were wondering? My pickle algorithm is alive and well.

No, they’re not.

Trust me on this.

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It’s been a long time coming….

May 24, 2023 Rivergirl 18 Comments

It was a long and nearly snowless winter.

Spring was late and with no snow to melt, extremely dry.

One lousy April shower and May took its sweet time showing us some flowers. Heck, we even had frost last week.

But finally….

The lilacs are popping.

Which means vases of that heavenly scent are scattered throughout the house.

And while a little scraggly…

The expensive dark cherry tree we planted last year is hanging on.

The blooms are gorgeous.

So my fingers are crossed it grows big and strong.

In front of the barn?

The choke cherry tree is in blossom. The fruit is inedible and sometimes poisonous, but the delicate spring blooms are sweet.

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Rest In Peace Uncle Donny.

May 24, 2023 Rivergirl 40 Comments

We were told my husband’s cousin would call us. We thought it would be to lift the ridiculous no family visitors ban he’d implemented at Uncle Donny’s bedside .. but we were wrong.

When he finally did call and leave a message?

It was to tell us his father had passed.

Uncle Donny.

When we lived in North Carolina he would visit once or twice a year. Our cat Bubba instantly adopted him.

He was a Vietnam vet with over 20 years in the Air Force. An honest and decent man.

Seen here with his sister, my husband’s mother.

If you needed money to pay your rent? Uncle Donny.

If you needed someone to help you move? Uncle Donny.

If your child needed school clothes, a car, college tuition? Uncle Donny.

He was a lovable goofball with a big generous heart.

Though I hold him personally responsible for my spouse’s addiction to yard saling and filling our cellar with crap, I also have fond memories of trolling flea markets with him and enjoying his childlike glee when he would find a “treasure”.