.
Baby woodchucks are on the move.
.
.
I spotted three.
.
.
Make that four.
.
.
And they’re cute as a button.
.
.
I’m not sure if they’re actually living under the barn this year, or momma just brings them in for a nosh now and then.
.
.
But I enjoy watching the little devils munch either way.
.
.
While I enjoy a good Hendrix riff as much as the next girl, the purple I’m talking about is of a different variety.
.
.
Irises!
.
.
Japanese Iris to be exact.
.
.
They’re smaller and easier to deal with than their larger cousins.
.
.
But still put on a lovely show.
.
.
These pictures were taken a few weeks ago, before Maine started its horrible drought and heat wave. Things were still green, instead of the crunchy brown they are now. It’s amazing how fast the change can come. Today’s temperature?
.
.
91 and feels like 104…. at 9:00am!! Unheard of in my state. Our two window a/c units are working overtime and barely keeping up. Even His Lordship is feeling it….
.
.
Which is why I put him on an ice pack.
When I tried to remove it?
.
.
I got the look.
😳
.
.
Our resident mallard is really into his food.
.
.
And yes, I meant that literally.
.
.
The rival males still show up now and then.
.
.
But our female has made her choice and they end up wandering around aimlessly…. as single men are apt to do.
.
.
Standoffs with the woodchuck are still a thing.
.
.
And the male mallard is showing some battle scars on his breast.
.
.
But this day they were victorious…. and took a load off next to the spoils.
.
.
Disturbing duck facts added for dramatic ending.
You’re welcome.
.
.
Our pair of visiting mallards is so cute. The male follows the female around the yard like a lost puppy and sits patiently while she nibbles.
.
.
But then….
.
.
Two rival males arrived.
.
.
He chased them, he flew at them, he put his head down and charged them but nothing worked.
.
.
They just kept moving closer.
.
.
Right after I took this picture he went full ninja duck on their ass and finally drove them off. The Mrs? She was not impressed and simply kept eating.
.
.
The bowl of deer grain is popular, with everyone but the deer for whom it is intended.
.
.
Our resident woodchuck, (named Chuck because we’re creative that way) loves it…
.
.
But so do our new friends the ducks.
.
.
It’s first come first serve at Casa River, and no matter how much posturing and maneuvering the waterfowl did…
.
.
Chuck reigned supreme.
.
.
And even barked at them when they got too close. I’ve been known to do the same around my margaritas, so I don’t judge.
.
.
A few weeks ago the waterfowl landed.
.
.
A pair of mallards who have since taken up semi residence.
.
.
They come to nibble under the bird feeders and have discovered that deer grain and fox food is tasty as well.
.
.
We wake to the sound of quacking, and when a thunder storm rumbled by the other day? They flew in and took shelter.
❤️
.
.
Night time visitors continue to surprise us when we walk back from the barn.
.
.
And while surprising us is no big deal? Surprising them can be.
🤢
.
.
A friend of my husband’s gifted him this Red Sox clock. He loved it and immediately hung it on the man cave wall. I on the other hand, realized it’s outdated. It says “7 time World Champions” when the number is currently 9. The reason for the gift is now apparent, at least to me.
.
.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten? He couldn’t care less.
.
.
Behold the wonder I found at the package store. Margarita wine! Taste test and review to follow..
.
.
Our neighbors have all the luck. They get an exotic bird with iridescent plumage….we get a red squirrel bitch with sharp teeth.
😡
.
.
We have a raccoon who visits nightly. And while he’s a cute, pudgy old fellow… he’s extremely destructive when it comes to our birds feeders. Every morning we wake up to one or two on the ground, often in pieces. A month ago I started taking them down at dusk and putting them in the garage overnight. When I went to bed early last week and forgot? The husband got lazy and left them on the kitchen porch.
.
.
Not a good idea.
.
.
Not at all good.
.
.
And damned if she doesn’t look like she just gave birth.
.
.
We’ve sealed up every hole we could find, but that won’t stop her.
.
.
She’ll just chew through another wall.
.
.
How can something so small can be so destructive?
.
.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten spotted her from the window and was very interested.
.
.
Which might be just the incentive I need to allow him to go outside.
😈
.
Last year we had a mother woodchuck and five babies.
.
.
So far this year I’ve only seen one. One with what appears to be ripped abs…
A woodchuck 6 pack. Who knew?
.
.
He (she?) seemed to know exactly where the buffet was laid….
.
.
So maybe this is last year’s baby all grown up.
.
.
River's world..... 