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Junior chuck is still here and momma still tolerates his presence even though she has a new batch of children.
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This is surprising and has never happened before.
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She usually kicks the kids to the curb as soon as they can fend for themselves.
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But Junior persists. Though like every adult child who lives in the basement, I’m sure he gets on her nerves now and then.
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It’s Japanese Iris season at Casa River and I couldn’t be happier.
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While I’ve never been a fan of the fleshy full size irises that always hump their monstrous rhizome roots out of the ground… I adore their smaller less arrogant cousins.
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Daintier, more delicate and frankly less look at me darling, aren’t I gawgous!… they’re a lovely pop of perennial purple.
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Number two rhododendron is now in full bloom though not nearly as full as it’s neighbor. Why this should be is a question that stumps gardeners everywhere. Same soil, same sun exposure yet one is always bigger and better. Personally I think Mother Nature just likes to keep us guessing.
And if you’re wondering what the woodchucks have been chewing this week ?
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The toothy little buggers are eating marigolds!.
Marigolds!
The plant so disgusting no one will eat them. I don’t even like the silly things but have been putting them in my pots on the barn porch simply for the woodchuck gag factor. I thought they’d be safe.
I was wrong.
Very wrong.
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My husband has a bad habit of leaving the little barn/shed doors open in the summer. He thinks he’s airing it out and cooling it off but in actuality all he’s doing is this:
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Giving momma and baby chucks another area to explore.
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And chew.
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They seem to enjoy it.
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Though if they start chewing tractor wires my husband may have to rethink this habit.
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When there’s a summer thunderstorm on the horizon? We head for the barn porch.
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And if it’s cocktail hour?
We add an adult beverage.
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This particular storm was disappointing as all the good rumbling stayed to the north…
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But the gentle rain brought our old friends the ducks to the backyard and they’re always fun to watch.
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I don’t know how long mallard ducks live but we’ve had this visiting pair for close to 4 years now.
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When there’s rain and puddles? They plop right down and make themselves at home.
❤️
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The baby nibblers are on the move and my flower beds are quaking in fear.
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For that matter so is my wallet.
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I thought the head count was four, then five..
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But yesterday I think I spotted six.
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It might be a very colorless summer at Casa River.
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First, I weeded the garden bed.
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Which…. when you’re old adjacent at 59 and have a blown knee… isn’t as much fun as it used to be.
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Then I sprinkled a container of shake and feed bloom booster.
And worked it into the soil with a blister boosting rake.
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Then I watered the soil and planted the few flowers the woodchucks left me.
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Three hours plus for a few measly perennials.
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$200 worth of flowers barely made a dent. That’s just wrong.
🥴
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It was bound to happen. Momma woodchuck found a safe home under our barn and she’s going to raise all her children there from now on.
Yesterday I spotted the first baby nibbler.
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I know they eat all my flowers, but damn it. They’re so stinking cute!
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There are four children this year and they’re just starting to venture out in the open.
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As long as mom is around that is.
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My garden is doomed.
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It almost happened.
It could have happened.
I wanted it to happen.
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But sadly, it didn’t happen.
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten spotted her.
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten stalked her.
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten tried…
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But the red squirrel menace was too quick and unfortunately still walks among us.
🥴
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It’s finally time to start planting some annuals around Casa River. It’s really only safe after Memorial Day as we had frosty nights right up until the end of May.
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A few geraniums.
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Some peachy begonias on the kitchen porch.
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A line of alternating marigolds.
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And it was back to the greenhouse for another trunkful. One can never have too many flowers.
My husband disagrees, but what does he know?
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A pizza. With pickles. And pickle flavored potato chips. Christ, it might as well have kale.
🤢
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I always thought I was one of those people who said – I’ll eat anything as long as it’s covered in chocolate.
Turns out I was wrong.
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Remember those $50 blueberry bushes we bought at the nursery?
Turns out they had the same ones at the grocery store for $25.
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The husband couldn’t resist.
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There are days when I prefer to soak myself in alcohol, but apples and watermelons work too.
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I passed on the meatloaf mountain. Bread and potatoes? That’s a bit much.
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Here’s the Junior chuck, just chillin’ on the deck landing.
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Probably still full from all those flowers he devoured.
😖
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