Tag Archives: nature

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Autumn leaves and antiques.

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Another beautiful fall day called for another scenic drive.

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I’m sorry, but autumn in New England is hard to beat.

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The air is crisp and the trees give us a splendid tableau of color.

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It also means the last gasp of yard sales and antique store sales that my husband can’t drive by. This particular shop had auxiliary rooms made out of tractor trailer boxes and were filled with vintage horrors.

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Ack!

😱

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Wow.

Please note the base table of this lamp lights up as well.

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Inside, my husband combed the shelves for treasure but thankfully came out empty handed.

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I’d much rather view foliage.

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Statue of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain at Bowdoin College. Hero of Gettysburg, he taught rhetoric and modern languages as a professor and later served as the college’s president. His home is across the street.

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Squirrel gymnastics.

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It’s been squirrel central at Casa River lately.

Our beef feeder pole is out in the open, and with our resident hawk patrolling the skies we usually only have a single squirrel show up to nosh.

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Seven is a record.

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But after something scared the others away one brave little guy took advantage.

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I know people hate squirrels because they eat the bird seed, but we’re equal opportunity feeders here and all critters are welcome.

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I enjoy watching their gymnastic performances.

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Rats with bushy tails?

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Maybe.

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But they’re still sweeties.

💕.

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An autumn day.

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A weekend in Maine in the fall calls for a scenic drive to enjoy the glorious foliage, so that’s what we did.

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Stumbling on a covered bridge was a happy surprise.

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On our travels, the husband saw a sign for an antique tractor show and craft fair at a local farm so we detoured there.

Not our best idea.

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Yes, there was a farm.

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And yes there were some old tractors.

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Some in use.

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And while there were two miniature horses…

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And a “dining room” with the worst fried dough I’ve ever had…

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(Hard as a rock, crunchy and tasteless)

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The “craft show” consisted of fresh vegetables, a few tables of American flag boards, patriotic signs and multiple tables of right wing propaganda. There were candidates handing out pamphlets and political ephemera, trying their best to swell the MAGA base.

These are just not our people y’all. And while I respect their right to be there, I have to admit I wasn’t expecting to be arguing about restricting voting rights and ICE roundups at a craft show.

My husband is a veteran of a certain age. He has grey hair and wears a Marine Corps hat. That’s usually all it takes for people to assume he loves the Mango Monarch … which couldn’t be further from the truth.

They kept trying to draw him into discussion but my guy just brushed them off and didn’t engage, other than to make it clear where he stood.

Color me surprised.

We departed soon after and got back on the road…

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Where the husband found a barn sale.

And can you see what’s in his hands?

Another wooden ruler.

🥴

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Which called for a cocktail and some nibbles.

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And more scenic beauty.

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Deer me.

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We have a few nice bucks visiting this fall.

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Sometimes with a companion skunk.

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As long as stinky doesn’t get too close the buck doesn’t seem to mind.

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It’s hunting season so I’m always worried about these guys, even though our property and our neighbors is posted.

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A deer’s home range is usually one square mile and while our neighbor’s properties on both sides are 4 times bigger than ours… that still leaves us about 600 acres short of a safe from bullets zone.

😥

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Trash pandas and friends.

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The skunks beat the fox.

Now the raccoons are beating the skunks.

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It’s first come first serve at River’s critter buffet.

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Though the deer are lucky… as no one else wants their grain.

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Three deer and three raccoons.

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All are welcome.

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But I really enjoy watching these little devils tussle and push each other out of the way for the best spots.

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❤️

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Muted color, but still a nice drive.

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We drove west to Fryeburg the other day for the last fair of the agricultural season.

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It’s always a gorgeous drive this time of year…

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But due to the ongoing lack of rain and drought conditions the leaves weren’t nearly as bright.

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Patches of color, yes.

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But the trees have been stressed this year.

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They started turning early and in much more muted shades.

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Disappointing.

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But still scenic.

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😊

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Midnight… birds?

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Our night time visitors include deer, fox, opossums, skunks and raccoons. I put out a bowl of water and critter specific food but they all nibble the bird seed that spills on the ground.

All of them except this fellow.

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Who prefers his straight from the source.

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You wouldn’t think his chunky little butt could shimmy up that pole, but he climbs it with ease.

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https://youtu.be/FL8DFR3lok4?feature=shared

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Of course coming down isn’t quite as smooth.

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🤣

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Pardon the photo quality, I was taking pics through the window and the kitchen light was throwing reflections.

And why isn’t WP letting me embed videos anymore? That’s annoying.

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Random

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Autumn is right around the bend.

Do I know this because the leaves are turning and the temperatures are dropping? Yes, but there’s also a less subtle sign of fall.

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Pumpkin spiced everything. Cereal, coffee, cookies… you name it, they spice it. Even the nuts aren’t safe.

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The next two photos were taken by a friend on the island where I spent my teenage years.

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Sunsets there are pretty special.

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Ours was nice that night, but not nearly as dramatic.

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Has anyone ever tried these tricks?

Because I fail to see how ice cubes are going to deodorize a stinky disposal.

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In a world where there’s entirely too much hatred and prejudice, Maine is welcoming some new neighbors.

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And finally, 61.

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I was 61.

😳

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Last chuck standing and a feline doppelgänger.

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We’re down to one single woodchuck now.

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Momma and the other 3 siblings have departed the pattern…

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But this little guy knows a good thing when he sees (and eats) it.

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😊

Saw this the other day and had to do a double take.

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And while it’s absolutely true, I had to wonder if it also looks like anyone we know….?

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❤️

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