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Morning brings the baby chucks in a group.
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They squabble a bit now and then but as long as the apples and carrots are plentiful they usually munch side by side.
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Momma has been leaving them alone more often now.
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It won’t be long before she boots them out of the den altogether.
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While I’m usually not a recipe poster, my husband raved about this one after the first bite… and he’s not a man for random compliments. I’ve been cooking for him for 38 years and while I’m no Julia Child, I can hold my own in the kitchen. But when I find a quick and easy recipe? I have to share.
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This works just as well with haddock, as long as the pieces are thick.
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Spoiled cat? No. What gave you that idea…
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Proof positive there is something worse than dishwater beer.
🤢
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Work began on the perennial bed stone border recently… though not without incident.
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The existing bed measured 10×20… and when I first discussed the project with my husband I told him I wanted to expand it by at least 4 feet due to the apple tree that took up residence a decade ago. He heard me, but clearly didn’t care.
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Because when I looked outside the other day and saw him staking off level lines at the edge of the dirt… I said something.
Big mistake.
Huge.
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He heatedly explained the stone needed to be laid on flat earth and if I wanted him to do it, they would be laid inside the bed border. Period. End of discussion. Numerous hours of anger to follow.
Ladies? Never doubt the existence of male menopausal mood swings. They’re real.
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His way means I lose a good foot on every side, making my garden bed 4 foot smaller instead of larger. Not what I wanted. Not what I’d planned.
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But apparently what I’m getting.
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It’s hard to argue when I’m clearly not the one doing the majority of work. And I’m sure it will be lovely when completed…
But it would be nice if just once, we could come to an agreement without acrimony.
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I have a large collection of vintage vinyl albums. It used to number close to 800, but I made the mistake of storing a large portion of them in my MIL’s attic years ago between moves and a leaky roof cut my collection in half. Today, after culling… it’s slightly over 350, and though they’ve been housed in plastic crates for the past 20 years, I recently decided they should be relocated to the man cave in vintage wooden beer or whiskey crates.
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Did I mention my albums are organized alphabetically?
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The Dewar’s scotch crate that I liberated from the husband’s stash (because if he’s not going to give it to the pub, he can give it to me) has A-B.
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When I pick up a few replacements here and there at flea markets?
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Adjustments must be made.
Pickwick Ale?
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C, D, E and F.
Those were the only two alcohol related crates my husband had in his crap treasure filled cellar, so I guess I’ll have to go antique shopping for G through Z.
😉
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The husband and I dropped by a favorite haunt last week.
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The cocktails are always stellar. Blood orange gin fizz? Yes, please.
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Garlic Parmesan wings? Don’t mind if I do.
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Cucumber cooler?
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Good enough to have two, one before my meal.
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And one with my fish and chips. But it was the bar patrons on either side of us who were really interesting.
On the left? A doctor of infectious diseases who worked alongside Anthony Fauci for 5 years.
On the right? A man who put a plastic top with a straw on his glass of Jameson because he has a tendency to spill after two.
You just never know.
🤣
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten is an odd bird. His latest quirk is stealing a few sips of my husband’s coffee in the morning.
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I thought he was attracted to the cream, but pouring him a bowl of that of his own earned me nothing but a turned up nose.
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This is his favorite hosta. Every time we go for a walk he’s determined to find something to chase in there.
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The cat knows how to chill, no doubt.
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Until the dreaded vacuum is turned on. Then the ears go back and he beats feet to hide under the bed and dream of vengeance.
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The visiting pair of mallard ducks hasn’t been spotted at Casa River for a few weeks now… so I figured it was getting too dry and they’d moved on.
Until the other day when I was out mowing the front lawn and saw this:
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Momma duck and 13 babies!
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She sashayed across the lawn and headed right for the road … in front of an oncoming car which had me ditching the mower and running into the street waving my arms like a crazy person.
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She tried crossing three times and three times I had to stop traffic only to have her duck ( pun intended ) back on the lawn.
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Fourth time was vehicle free.
Momma and babies made it safely across.
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Have you seen the new yellow watermelons at the grocery store?
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I had to try one… and to be honest I wasn’t that impressed. The texture was a little strange and I don’t think it was nearly as sweet as the red.
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No wonder it always looks like dolphins are having fun. They’re high.
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I’ve had this houseplant on a window shelf for years. I can’t remember the name, but it’s always been a small steady presence…until this month when it decided to grow long tentacles and turn into an alien. If I disappear from WordPress suddenly? You’ll know why.
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Don’t think raccoons are accomplished acrobats? I beg to differ.
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We’re dry in Maine. Unusually dry for this time of year. As in parts of our lawn are crunching and half the state is in drought conditions. Me? I’m still dragging 300 feet of hose out to the back 40 to keep our new trees alive. It seems we just can’t win when it comes to picking a time to plant.
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Whaaat! Not my ice cream.
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Whew. Only Floridian ice cream.
Sorry Florida..
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All kinds of critters are showing up for the evening buffet at Casa River.
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Some of them a tad more odiferous than others.
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I wish it was still legal in Maine to de-scent a skunk and have one for a pet. A friend of mine did that back in the day and the little fluff ball was wonderful. Affectionate, playful and litter box trained. More than I can say for some of my friend’s husbands now that I think about it.
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Baby chucks are always the first to pounce. Carrots, apples, lettuce, melon and blueberries? Love them.
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Spinach, celery and strawberries? Won’t touch them.
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We have one young lone deer showing up for grain a few times a week.
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We probably won’t see the herd back until fall.
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Admit it. You have nothing better to do right now…
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Seeing that our yard/property is covered in flowers instead of vegetables and the pear tree, apple trees, and blueberry bushes aren’t ready to harvest yet ….
I’m going to have to go with woodchuck.
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Kidding!
( But with all the fruit I feed them, they’d probably be sweet. )
So what’s on your dinner table tonight?
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River's world..... 