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Baby woodchucks are starting to explore the back deck.
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And have quickly figured out it’s a nice place to sit in the sun.
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten assured me this beats watching Animal Planet on tv hands paws down.
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Baby whistle pigs are fast, and fun to watch scampering around the deck.
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His Lordship agrees .
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If you remember from a previous post, I’m highly susceptible to the dreaded brown tail moth rash. Seriously, if there’s one of those little bastards in my neighborhood, my town or even my county… it will find me and make me pay.
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Their hairs are microscopic and if you come in contact? You’ll know it within a few hours. Which is what happened to me after weeding my perennial bed the other day, even though I wore gloves and made a point to avoid brushing up against the tree.
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My knee…
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And arm a few hours after showering. I had the rash on my legs, my back, my stomach, my arms and especially my right knee. That section of flesh was positively on fire with uncontrollable itching… and by the next day?
* warning – if you’re eating while reading this, you might want to skip the next picture *
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My right knee looked like Mount Vesuvius, and not in a good way. Failing to understand why this particular body part suffered such an extreme reaction, I examined the pillow I was crouching on and sure enough… I had squished a moth to death on the right side and ground his toxic hairs deep into my epidermis.
Life has not really been worth living this week, and if you happen to have any extra rough grade sandpaper lying around… feel free to send it my way so I can rip off what’s left of my skin.
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Now that we had my longed for pallet of stones, it was time to attack the garden of weeden .
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Since the damage to my knee, I try to avoid anything that has to be done in a crouched or kneeling position but I’d put this off for two years and if pain was the price I had to pay for a new perennial bed? So be it.
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An hour and a half in, I was sore.
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Two and a half hours in I was popping Tylenol and Motrin like Jelly Bellies.
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At the end of the day my knee was creaking like the front door of a haunted house, but it was done. A 10 x 20 patch of virgin soil, ready for a stone border and planting.
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Remember the little baby woodchuck who loved our house so much he hugged the kitchen porch?
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Well now he’s moved out back to the deck.
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He happily hangs out in the sun and surveys the back lawn.
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And to show his appreciation?
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Another hug.
❤️
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Fair warning – our baby chuckers are on the move and there will be a plethora of photographs in the near future.
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I just can’t get enough of their little paws.
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The siblings stick closely together.
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Though the occasional squabble over prime fruit and veg does occur.
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This is the runt of the litter.
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And it must be hard when the buffet is bigger than you.
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But damn, he’s a cute little bugger.
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My favorite flower is in full bloom.
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It’s peony time!
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For a bright burst of color you really can’t beat them.
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And the fragrance? Heavenly….
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They also make a nice backdrop for pictures of his lordship.
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Being an animal lover, my eye is always drawn to stories and articles in which they feature.
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My girlfriend caught Covid in the first wave. It was a really bad time for her but thankfully she didn’t need to be hospitalized. She is however suffering many long Covid effects. Brain fog, hair thinning and worst of all … loss of taste and smell. It’s been almost two years and still nothing. She says the only flavor that breaks through is salt. Can you imagine only tasting salt for two years? I’m crossing my fingers for the hamsters.
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Shame I can’t talk the husband into it. He’s a pretty boy…
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This made my heart smile. Every store/business should adopt a shelter dog!
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A random chicken is loose in our town. I shall update the post if he struts by our house.
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Baby woodchucks are everywhere I look lately, including our kitchen porch. I was about to open the door yesterday when I spotted this little fellow.
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He scampered around for a bit and then settled in to rest.
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Before I knew it?
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The little guy was showing me just how much he loved living at Casa River.
If that’s not cute, I don’t know what is.
❤️
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It’s hard to get an accurate baby woodchuck count as they’re rarely all together.
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Four.
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Five.
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6.
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If you look closely there are actually 7. We’ve never had that many babies at one time …. and now I know why momma chuck always looks so annoyed.
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Babies are cute…
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But can also be a nuisance when you’re trying to eat dinner.
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It’s that time of year again.
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Rhubarb time. When everyone who grows the noxious plant tries desperately to pawn it off on unsuspecting strangers. This rarely works, but if you’re visiting Maine in June, be warned.
Our small town has a wonderfully inventive food bank and is supported by many of our organic farmers. You never know what they’ll whip up next.
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Lots of items are advertised for free around these parts.
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No free turtle? I’ll pass.
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Believe me when I say you don’t want this fellow nibbling on your toes.
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River's world..... 