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This is Lord Dudley Mountcatten surveying his domain.
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Here’s Lord Dudley Mountcatten noticing an interloper in his domain.
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten’s reaction was priceless.
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After some closer inspection?
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And a positive baby woodchuck identification…
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten was clueless.
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And looked back at me as if to say, “What am I supposed to do with that?”
🤣
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While driving in Portland the other day we saw some very large egrets by the shore.
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And when I say large?
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I mean large.
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Not sure who sculpted them or why.
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But it was an interesting sight.
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Day lilies are popping.
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And they’re such a great burst of color…
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I wish they were at least week lilies.
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Here today.
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Gone tomorrow.
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Good thing there are a plethora of buds.
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😊
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Nothing earth shattering, just a woodchuck family having a nosh.
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Carrots and broccoli are their favorites.
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And they make short work of it.
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Momma had five children…
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But we rarely see them all together anymore.
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten is not happy with the constant remodeling noise, but his curiosity gene is strong enough to warrant a quick exploration of the project when my husband takes a break.
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Checking out the missing siding.
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Walking balance beam.
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Attacking a clamp.
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And looking in the window he usually looks out are all on the menu.
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As is using the new pea gravel for a litter box.
Though we probably won’t share that part with my husband.
😉
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Let’s take a walk around the garden, shall we….
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Candy cane dianthus.
Almost good enough to eat.
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A tri color pot of begonias on the kitchen porch.
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A red astilbe, clashing with the barn red barn.
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Pink astible out back.
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I love the blooms on these flowers. They’re delightfully weird.
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I can’t remember what kind of daisies these are, but they’re doing well and no one is eating them… so I really don’t care.
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Purple bee balm.
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A fabulous magenta shade.
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Something purple.
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Something red.
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And something wonderful the woodchucks nibbled down to a nub shortly after I took the picture.
😩
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Weeee!
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Bye bye flat and awful industrial grade dusty rose horror the previous owners laid….
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Welcome soft, plush, hella expensive but worth it Karastan Instinctive Flair Renoir Bisque.
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Seriously, until you walk on this barefoot you can’t begin to know what I’m talking about. It’s smooth and silky and sheer perfection.
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The installers were here for 6 hours, working nonstop… and they did a really nice job.
So nice, my husband took them out to the man cave/Barn Mahal for a cold beer.
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And then proceeded to show them all his treasures.
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They were a captive audience.
🤣
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We discovered a new restaurant last week that is definitely going on our ‘must return’ list.
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Located in downtown Augusta, Maine’s capital… but nowhere near most attractive city.
There’s been a rejuvenation movement in the old section of town for the past few years. New businesses remodeling old buildings, fresh plantings… and most importantly, whimsically painted sturgeon.
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Otto’s was indeed by the river.
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And if it hadn’t been so hot we might have sat outside.
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This is a fun and quirky place.
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And though the main dining room was closed for lunch, we had no trouble bellying up to the bar.
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One fabulous summer sangria in…
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We were enjoying the vibe and chatting with the owner’s sister who was mixing drinks.
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Before long the owner came over with menus, and seeing that my husband was drinking beer… asked him if he wanted this little bit of ale that was just poured. They only have bottles and cans, nothing on tap… he said it was just the extra that would otherwise be tossed.
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Never one to turn down free beer, my spouse took a large swig… and almost threw up.
Turns out it was the olive juice the bartender was using for dirty martinis
Omg. I’m sorry… but I laughed.
I laughed hard.
The poor owner was beside himself apologizing and felt terrible. He was worried we’d leave a bad review and never come back.
To be continued…
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Bowls are for eating.
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But if you’re a woodchuck in our backyard….
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They’re also for sitting.
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And there’s a lot of that happening lately.
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🤣
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Have I mentioned the baby woodchucks like the deer grain?
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They really like it.
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So much so .. they sit in the bowl and repel all foreign invaders.
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The pickle algorithm is right. I don’t believe that’s refreshing at all.
Blech!
🤢
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Are you as tired of seeing AI artwork passed off as real photography as I am?
There’s something about the quality of it that’s very telling.
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I like fruit art as much as the next girl, but come on. No one is that good.
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And come on…
That’s not even close to believable.
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Mark – this is for you.
Please order and report back.
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I dare you to beat our backyard sunrise.
❤️
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River's world..... 