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The little nibblers are on the move and nibbling everything.
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They love carrots and lettuce and broccoli and apples.
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They also love our back deck.
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Unfortunately they love it a little too much.
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How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
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Too much!
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🥴
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I’ve been cat sitting for our neighbors this week.
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They live one door over and down behind us near the river. They’re also the neighbors who had their driveway redone the same time we did. It’s an absolute joy to ride down there now.
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Pia greets me at the door upon arrival. She never used to, but has come realize I am the bringer of food when mom is away… so I am tolerated now.
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And even allowed to pet her on occasion.
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As long as the food bowls remain full that is.
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As in boo…
I was not impressed.
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I saw these weirdos in the fruit department of our local grocery and knew I had to try them.
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Called pineberries, they’re really just a pale pink variant of strawberry but I figured they’d look nice on the fruit platter I make every weekend for healthy munching in the man cave.
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Sorry to say I detected no hints of pineapple, pear or apricot.
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They’re basically a harder anemic strawberry. So while they did add an interesting aesthetic… I doubt I’ll be buying them again.
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The baby chucks are growing and feeling their oats.
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Feeding time at the backyard buffet sees it’s fair share of squabbles these days.
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Carrots and apples are clearly worth fighting for.
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The little devils may wreak havoc in my flower beds… but I have to admit they’re fun to watch.
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Case in point…. the husband keeps his old garden cart in our woodshed.
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And the other day when I was out back weeding, I heard noises coming from that direction.
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Chucks.
They’re everywhere.
P. S. … did you notice my fabulous astilbe, aka false goat’s beard?
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It doesn’t look like a goat, but it sure loved all those dark rainy days.
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We spent a nice evening with some friends recently. Drinks and appetizers were shared outside in the garden.
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Which is where we met Dave.
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Dave lives on the property and hides his peanuts in dead trees.
Can you see him?
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Dave is an extremely spoiled chipmunk and quite well fed.
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He’s so well fed he came out of hibernation almost a month later than the other chippies because his larder was well stocked.
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Dave had no problem begging in front of company.
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Shy he’s not.
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And he does love his peanuts.
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🙂
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When it’s a wet and rainy afternoon you’re apt to find us in the man cave/Barn Mahal.
Sometimes alcohol is present.
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I’m blaming the Jack Abbeys blood orange wheat for that Scrabble tile arrangement.
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Red Sox game? Check.
Pizza? Check.
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Sweet Thai chili wings and more beer?
Double check.
Life is good.
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Looking out the window back at the garage, we saw a baby chuck perched on the woodshed’s extra room doorstep.
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They’ve completely taken over this little storage area and have dug such a big tunnel the door neither opens nor shuts. Good thing there’s nothing in there we need to retrieve…
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Sometimes you just have to eat lunch at a diner and in our neck of the woods the A1 is a good choice.
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Walking into the original 1946 Worcester car #790 is like stepping back in time.
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In amazing shape for it’s age, the wood is polished..
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And the chrome is shining.
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Even the pass through hole to the kitchen is sparkling.
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For a diner, the menu is wide and varied.
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And my massive turkey club on homemade toast with hand cut fries did not disappoint.
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Guy Fieri featured this place on his show Diners, Drive Ins and Dives and it even made it into a cartoon.
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If you’re ever in Gardiner, Maine stop by. I promise you won’t leave hungry…
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The baby woodchucks are growing and seem to be everywhere at once.
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One little guy likes to grab a carrot slice and eat it in privacy on the stone wall.
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Which I must admit makes for some cute pictures.
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Our momma fox is coming earlier than usual now and usually shows up by 4:00pm.
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Chances are her babies are running her ragged and she appreciates the easy source of food.
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Poor momma.
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She’s so tired she eats lying down.
❤️
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Let’s start with my candy cane dianthus.
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It may not taste like peppermint, but it always puts on a show.
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My lovely line of what once were bushy, thick and healthy marigolds has been nibbled to shreds. Don’t listen to gardeners who tell you nothing will eat them. The woodchucks are dining al fresco as we speak.
I realize I haven’t done an update on my husband’s sister lately. There’s never anything good to report, but life goes on.
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Here’s a sad picture… my husband cutting up the food his sister won’t eat at the nursing home. Hard to believe she’s the younger sibling of the two. There’s no good news here, she’s terminal and hanging on even though she doesn’t want to. Her breathing is labored and painful and yet she tries to bum cigarettes from nurses and other patients. We visit once or twice a week and try to be cheerful but making conversation with someone who’s every other sentence is about wanting to die is heartbreaking. It’s such a sad situation and at this point, though I hate to admit it… her passing will almost be a blessing.
On a happier note I bring you squirrel splooting.
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Yes, that’s what it’s called when squirrels lay flat on their bellies to cool off.
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In other news our local pub has a bartender who experiments with alcohol infusions. I’m happy to say the strawberry mint rum was a winner and makes a fabulous mojito.
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I should know, I had three… alongside some wonderful warm pretzel bites with beer cheese.
👍
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And the pickles keep on comin’.
There seems to be no end to revolting alternate uses for pickles. Read on, but be warned … you may lose your appetite.
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I would not.
I will not.
And you can’t make me.
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That’s simply not kosher.
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Mother of God… why?
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It’s Texas.
Enough said.
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Oh… the horror!
🤢
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River's world..... 