.
Our snow melted for a while this month and it made a nice background for portraits of our resident buck.
.
.
He’s a big fella with a nice size and shape.
.
.
Though his rack is a little squirrelly.
.
.
It’s hard to tell if he’s an 8 or 9 pointer as his angles are all over the place.
.
.
But I love his little white striped feet.
.
.
And his smile of course.
We can all use more of those these days.
😊
.
.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten can sleep anywhere at anytime.
.
.
Even sitting up straight in the sun.
He really was sound asleep and tumbled onto the couch shortly after the picture was taken… losing all that hard won feline dignity in the process.
.
.
As promised –
This isn’t the actual feathered roach clip photo I’d been searching for, but it’s from the same Halloween party circa 1981. By the time this was taken I’d lost the headband and tomahawk, but the clips are still there.
🤣
.
.
We have one little visiting opossum.
.
.
It’s so cold, and his fur is just thin hairs.
.
.
I never understand how they can survive Maine winters, but they do.
And speaking of winter…
.
.
This is our immediate future.
With the local news using some pretty technical meteorological terms…
.
.
Major fluff!
❄️❄️❄️
.
.
We have a nice big buck who thankfully survived hunting season this year.
.
.
His rack is a little strange, but he’s a big impressive boy.
.
.
When he comes to feed, his harem backs off.
.
.
And he’ll chase off the youngsters until he eats his fill
.
.
In the deer world, size does matter.
😉
.
.
I love watching our backyard squirrels.
.
.
Like this poor fellow in the middle who was late to the show and missed a spot in the prime feeders.
.
.
He tried to share space in the larger feeder on the left, but was immediately kicked out by his brethren.
.
.
So an attempt was made on the covered feeder at the end.
And may I just say those are some impressive abs? To heck with a six pack, this boy has a 12.
.
.
The lid is solid metal, too heavy for the poor squirrel to shift.
.
.
And the bottom lip way is too small for the squirrel to perch.
A valiant attempt, but he ended up back on the ground scrounging for fallen seed.
Better luck next time little guy.
😊
.
.
Reading, with cat.
.
.
It’s cute, but not always easy.
And speaking of cats…
.
.
I’m wearing my fair share of battle armor myself and should probably eat healthier.
And speaking of eating healthier, I found this recipe…
.
.
A good for you snack.
And speaking of that…
.
.
I never knew this.
.
.
And am glad I’ve only ever fed our squirrels raw nuts.
.
.
And speaking of squirrels…
.
.
They’ve been driving His Lordship crazy.
.
.
Knowing he can’t reach them…
.
.
They’ve been mercilessly cavorting on our deck providing hours of free kitty entertainment… as well as frustration.
.
.
😊
.
.
We’ve had some super bright moons this month which makes for better backyard deer photos.
.
.
Until said deer spots you through the window and runs.
.
.
It’s amazing how much they play, running, roughhousing and even kicking each other.
.
.
Maybe it was a full moon influence.
.
.
And no, we don’t live on Tatooine…
It’s just a triple moon reflection on the window.
😉
.
.
Our backyard herd is growing.
.
.
We started with two, then five…
.
.
Now there are ten, sometimes eleven.
.
.
*Note to self- buy more deer grain*
😊
.
.
I had a birthday recently.
But now that I’ve entered my 6th decade? I can’t say I celebrate like I used to.
Though my sweet husband tries.
.
.
A lovely flower arrangement was delivered late morning.
.
.
And he insisted on driving an hour and a half north to a restaurant we tried once and liked.
.
.
The place had erected bubble tents for segregated seating during Covid and because they were so popular, they’re still in use.
.
.
Cute… but when it’s 11 degrees and starting to snow?
.
.
I prefer indoor dining.
.
.
My spiced pear cranberry mule?
Perfect. It tasted just like Christmas.
.
.
And though I devoured some excellent crab cakes before I thought to photograph them, I did get a shot of the husband’s
CIDER-BRAISED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
Cinnamon Crème Fraîche with Crisp Kale…
Just as he ruined the decorative swirl.
.
.
My
CAJUN SHRIMP PASTA
Roasted Sweet Corn, Sweet & Spicy Peppers, Garlic-Parmesan Cream Sauce, Pappardelle Pasta, Micro Cilantro, Lime….
Was spicy and fantastic after I requested they leave off the cilantro.
.
.
The husband chose a
SOLSTICE HALIBUT
Lemon Quinoa, Warm Squash Confit, Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes, Meyer Lemon Marmalade, Beurre Blanc, Pea Tendrils….
Though I have no idea why since he hates quinoa and didn’t eat the tendrils. That left him with a piece of fish and a half a cherry tomato… for $46.
.
.
The sky on the drive home was photo worthy.
.
.
And our backyard buddies greeted us upon return, so I’ll call it a good day.
Even though…
.
🥴
.
.
It’s that time of year!
.
.
Temperatures have dropped and the ground is covered in snow.
.
.
The deer are back…
.
.
And they’re hungry.
.
.
Such beauties.
.
.
We love them.
.
.
❤️
.
.
The temperatures are dropping in Maine and our backyard visitors are feeling it.
.
.
They’re also probably feeling like they’re being watched…
.
.
Because they are.
Quite regularly.
.
.
I saw this and thought, damn. Our raccoons are total slackers.
.
.
Seriously, all ours do is eat and poo… and occasionally knock over the bird bath.
.
.
We don’t have kids, so I’d better get to work on our trash pandas.
.
.
Sunrise…
With cat.
.
.
Squirrel, defying gravity.
.
.
Yes, you.
.
.
Our one little opossum, who only shows up at night.
.
River's world..... 