.
The face he makes when you put out broccoli…
.
.
But he clearly wanted carrots.
.
.
🤣
.
.
Our resident raccoon happily eats alongside the skunks. Although usually at a safe distance.
.
.
But when he’s having a drink and little mister stinky is also thirsty?
.
.
The better part of valor is to relinquish the water dish.
.
.
And stay upwind of the stink hole.
🤣
.
Woodchucks and skunks abound at Casa River, but trash pandas come and go in irregular intervals.
.
.
We’ll see them for a week or two and then they’ll disappear.
.
.
This week brought a nice chubby fellow.
.
.
Raccoons are fun to watch. They have very expressive faces and extremely dexterous paws.
.
.
They also love water. So much, I have to provide a nightly bowl or they tip over my birdbath which still has the cracks and chips from last year’s visitors.
.
.
Cute.
.
.
But occasionally destructive.
.
.
No matter.
.
.
We welcome them all.
.
.
Do they stink?
.
.
Occasionally.
.
.
Is it an awful smell?
.
.
Most definitely.
.
.
But look at those little stinkers.
You have to admit they’re cute as well.
This video was taken as I was on my way out to spread their nightly snack on the ground under the bird feeders. Skunks have bad eyesight and not very good hearing so I got quite close before he realized I was there.
Pardon the wobbly section, I was trying to spread food and film at the same time.
.
.
🦨💕🦨
.
.
A walk around the gardens finds astilbe.
.
.
In light pink and dark.
.
.
Blanket flower.
.
.
And bee balm.
.
.
In similar shades and different places.
.
.
Day lilies are popping.
.
.
.
As is the Russian sage and some dianthus.
.
.
Then there’s this…
.
.
Which is pretty but unknown… as I can’t remember its name.
.
.
Marguerite daisies in front of the baby barn.
.
.
And some candy cane dianthus to finish.
😊
Note – these pics were taken a few weeks ago when our lawn was still green. Sadly, we’re browning and crunchy now from lack of rain.
.
.
When we were at Ocean Point in East Boothbay the other night we saw something unusual.
.
.
Can you see it?
.
.
It’s a rainbow.
.
.
But it was vertical.
.
.
How weird is that?
.
.
We had a thunderstorm roll in recently…. and when that happens?
.
.
We head out to the Barn Mahal porch to enjoy the show.
.
.
More often than not this involves freshly tapped beer.
.
.
Unless the CO2 cartridge runs out without us knowing, making the (admittedly almost empty) kegs untappable.
😩
.
.
Hard blackberry lemonade in a frosted glass to the rescue.
.
.
With Momma Red in the distance, keeping a close eye on us.
.
.
When it’s hot and humid we flip on the air conditioning, but the outdoor critters aren’t so lucky. They have to find relief in other ways.
.
.
The red squirrel?
.
.
She sploots.
.
.
Yes, autocorrect… that is the correct spelling.
.
.
Splooting:
Most commonly used by dogs and squirrels. Flattening their belly against a cold surface (like tile or hardwood) helps them regulate body temperature.
.
.
This little lady was in full sploot for half an hour.
.
.
Right on top of the layer of sparrow poo and stray seeds the birds insist on eating on the deck railing.
🥴
.
.
I love peony season.
.
.
Brilliant pops of pink brighten my day.
.
.
The scent is heavenly.
.
.
And they make wonderful bouquets.
.
.
Shame the blooms don’t last longer though.
.
.
In other news, the Red B*tch has discovered the new kitchen landing storm door is a perfect place to tease His Lordship.
.
.
Poor Dudley.
.
.
And poor me for missing what was surely a rollicking good time.
🤣
.
.
After a few months of no stinky visitors, they’re back.
.
.
Skunks.
.
.
Including this almost completely white fellow.
.
.
Above him on the feeders?
.
.
The right and wrong way squirrels.
.
.
One guess who’s wrong.
.
.
Skunks show up early in the morning before the sun is high.
.
.
And early evening right after it’s gone down.
Looks like they even christened the unofficial Mayor of Bath.
.
.
Poor Larry.
😰
.
.
The little chuck was back on the kitchen landing yesterday….
.
.
Scampering around, having a grand old time.
.
.
His Lordship on the other hand….
.
.
Was not enjoying it nearly as much.
.
.
Since we replaced the storm door and he can see right outside at cat eye level?
.
.
The critters are driving him mad.
.
.
I swear they do it on purpose.
🤣
.
River's world..... 