Tag Archives: backyard

Uncategorized

Miscellaneous Maine

18 Comments

.

You never know what summer in my state will bring. Last year it was hot and dry, this year we’ve had rain every other day. July was brutally hot and humid but most of August has been pleasant.

The other morning?

.

.

It was downright brisk, which I love… but by noon it was almost 85 degrees, which I don’t. They say if you don’t like the weather in Maine wait a minute. Or in this case 6 hours.

Have you ever had a Facebook memory make you cry? Mine did today when it reminded me we lost our beloved Huffington 11 years ago.

.

.

He was run over by a speeding car in front of our house and I swear I still haven’t gotten over it. I know you shouldn’t have favorite children or pets, but this little guy was special and is still very much missed.

.

.

Talk about overkill.

.

.

I like boats as much as the next girl, but this offends every New England frugal sensibility I have.

.

.

Random backyard woodchuck shots…

.

.

Because I can.

❤️

.

Uncategorized

It’s weird, but it works.

13 Comments

.

I’ve been battling bees on my hummingbird feeders for a while now. Once they find a sugar source, they’re hard to get rid of… but I think I’ve found a solution.

.

.

Mint leaves.

.

.

Bees hate the smell and hummingbirds can’t smell at all so it’s the perfect deterrent.

.

.

If I can get the hummers used to the new leafy attachments.

.

.

They kept buzzing around, not sure what to make of it.

.

.

I didn’t think it would be a big deal. They drink nectar from flowers and flowers have leaves.

.

.

A few brave souls have made peace with it so I’m hoping the rest will soon.

The bees?

Gone!

👍

.

Uncategorized

It’s Dudley’s fault.

26 Comments

.

I took Lord Dudley Mountcatten out for a walk the other day.

.

.

Or rather, I tried to… as all he wanted to do was sit.

.

.

Granted we’d just had rain and things were a little wet, as proved by this photo of our newly completed deck I lined up and photographed.

.

.

As this was happening, His Lordship spotted a woodchuck in the day lilies and it started squealing.

.

.

I pivoted, climbed to the second step, took a picture and then the Tasmanian Devil I had at the end of the leash decided to wind around my legs and make a dash at the chuck. This resulted in me stumbling off the steps, getting wrapped up in the leash and falling butt first in the flowers.

.

.

See the large depression to the left? That was me and my ever expanding posterior.

I’m not sure who scared off the woodchuck, but I’m guessing it was the sight of my giant behind coming straight at him that made him beat feet.

No worries. I picked myself up, dug around the bushes for my phone and went inside where all was well.

Until I woke up the next day with intense pain on the right side of my bad knee.

.

.

Something’s torn or strained or pulled because walking is painful and flexing my ankle makes me grimace.

As you can see, Lord Dudley was completely unharmed.

🥴

.

Uncategorized

Hum-azing .

27 Comments

.

In all the years we’ve fed hummingbirds… 17 years in North Carolina and 21 years here…. we have never had more than two on a feeder at a time.

Ever.

They’re territorial little buggers and don’t usually tolerate companions when feeding. So when I snapped a picture of three hummers on the nectar together last week, I was thrilled and thought I’d seen something special.

And then yesterday I saw this…

.

.

I have no idea why… but we are currently in the middle of a hummingbird population explosion.

Every day there’s a literal flock of the little darlings buzzing around our deck.

.

.

I didn’t manage to capture a photo of the six, but I did get a few of these 5… which for me was an absolute delight.

.

.

I don’t know what we’re doing right.. but I’m going to try and keep doing it.

👍

.

Uncategorized

Random bits.

28 Comments

.

I’ve always loved bugs and insects, the bigger and weirder the better. My father used to swear he found a new variety in the garden every year and I believe it’s true. Their diversity is amazing.

That being said, you know I was thrilled when I found this little beauty in my flower bed the other day.

.

.

Now that’s a spider!

.

.

Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this product’s Amazon pricing?

🥴

.

.

I think we’re down to four woodchucks now.

.

.

I haven’t seen six together for quite a while so I’m guessing momma finally booted some of their big butts out of the burrow.

.

.

Damn.

I wish they’d had these when I was young and in love with dinosaurs.

.

Uncategorized

Up close and personal.

11 Comments

.

The other day my husband went to the woodshed to pull out his garden cart and came back in the house shortly after.

“I think one of your woodchucks is hurt” he said.

That made me drop what I was doing and rush out back to find this:

.

.

Junior, momma chuck’s full grown offspring from last year.. the one who never left the nest, was wedged in between the cart, some wood and a few landscaping bricks.

Or was he?

I knelt down, spoke softly and determined he wasn’t stuck… just scared.

.

.

We backed off, hid around the corner and waited for 10 minutes but he wouldn’t move.

Wanting to get on with his chores the husband slowly pulled the cart out of the shed and bam!

Junior was off like a shot to hide under the deck.

Not hurt, just antisocial.

.

Uncategorized

Hummingbird wars.

15 Comments

.

We have two hummingbird nectar feeders on our back deck. (Sugar and water only please. Don’t buy that packet with the awful red dye. Use red glass feeders instead.)

2023 has been a banner year for hummers and I don’t think we’ve ever seen this many at one time. But with high numbers come battles, because while they’re beautiful … they’re also quite territorial.

.

.

The minute one sits down to feed, another arrives to chase it off.

.

.

Please appreciate the fact I had to take 20 photos to get these two of the little jewels in flight. Those little suckers are quick.

Here’s a short video of a male and a female. They drank together for a short while.

.

.

And if that wasn’t amazing enough?

.

.

Three hummers. Happily feeding together…

.

.

That’s never happened before.

❤️

.