.
We have a plethora of birds who visit our feeders.
.
Flocks of starlings that devour suet and peanut nuggets in mere hours.
.
.
We have cardinals and gold finches and rose breasted grosbeaks, orioles and sparrows and mourning doves.
.
.
We also have a duck.
.
.
A female mallard to be more precise, who comes early morning and late afternoon.
.
.
I often wonder what the other birds think of her.
.
.
And if they wonder why her bath is on the ground.
😉
.
.
A walk around the property to see what’s popping.
.
.
Daisies. They’re such happy little flowers, I always smile when I see them bloom. Which is why… after seeing how well this one performed… I went back to the nursery for more. See the monster plant to the left threatening to swallow the bloomer whole? That’s a daisy as well, but clearly not the same variety.
.
.
Bee balm, in bright pink instead of the traditional red. I think the bees are confused.
.
.
Day lilies.
.
.
I planted this flowering bush when we first moved in over 20 years ago and damned if I can remember what it’s called.
.
.
The blooms are positively fuzzy.
.
.
More day lilies.
.
.
They’re such low maintenance things it’s hard not to plant them everywhere.
.
.
😊
.
.
It was a relatively cool evening…. and even though I won’t be comfortably perspiration free until the mercury drops and the snow falls…. the husband and I headed out to the Barn Mahal porch for an adult beverage.
.
.
I chose one of the local Wisconsin beers our neighbor brought back from her trip. And while the can was artfully decorated with birds in flight, the Central Waters brewing company’s mango wheat tasted nothing like mangoes and was a tad disappointing.
.
.
But the baby chuckers were on the move and we enjoyed their evening antics.
.
.
I believe there were five in this year’s litter…
.
.
Though it could be six because they’re everywhere you look.
.
.
With some of them head and shoulders above their siblings.
.
.
😊
.
.
I haven’t had a chance to make these yet, but they sound perfect for summer…
.
.
The life of a Maine lobsterman is hard… and often lonely. As evidenced by this picture taken of my husband’s nephew.
.
.
I had to smile at this news item.
.
.
What do you want to bet that chuck wasn’t injured, just craving a beer?
And speaking of chucks…
.
.
Thankfully this one is still too short to nibble on my day lilies.
.
.
How wonderful is this? Free bouquets.
I love my town.
.
.
Though we have not yet driven on our beautiful new driveway, we are walking on it.
Or rather, we humans are walking on it. Lord Dudley Mountcatten remains skeptical.
.
.
Taking him out for a walk has meant strolling around the house on the grass and then watching him plant himself on the kitchen landing.
.
.
Where he sits and stares.
Until yesterday…
.
.
When he finally decided to investigate.
.
.
Momma chuck was watching from the barn porch…
.
.
As his Royal highness took to the tar.
.
.
Not yet a fan of the new black expanse, His Lordship returned to the backyard and his favorite woodchuck burrow.
.
.
This is a tunnel that runs under our bedroom bay window and I wish I was quicker with the camera because a baby chuck stuck his head out, spotted Dudley and let out a true whistle pig screech.
.
.
As far as kitty entertainment goes, squealing woodchuck beats new driveway any old day.
.
.
We’ve been having a stretch of extremely (for Maine) hot and humid weather.
.
.
And when it’s this oppressive, I always worry if our resident critters can find water.
.
.
No doubt they can…
.
.
But I feel better if I make the search a bit easier.
.
.
😊
.
.
Now that the peonies have faded it’s time for the day lilies to shine.
.
.
As with all other perennials it’s a shame their blooms don’t last longer.
.
.
We have them in other places around the property but this is the biggest batch.
.
.
Such pretty faces.
.
.
But gone too soon.
.
.
I’m greedy and want more than a day.
.
.
😊
.
.
Momma chuck is a good mother and protective of her brood.
.
.
I’ve seen her chase off a fox, a deer and a turkey.
.
.
Every evening the littles gather to nibble under the bird feeders.
.
.
And momma is right there keeping a close watch on the surrounding area.
.
.
Mess with momma at your peril.
.
.
You have been warned.
.
.
😳
.
.
A few photos from our drive up the coast the other day.
.
.
Daylilies were blooming everywhere. Small batches in front of homes and large clumps growing riotously in fields.
.
.
This was parked alongside someone’s garage. It takes model building to a whole new level.
.
.
A lavender farm.
.
.
Belfast harbor.
.
.
Some serious rock.
.
.
The (famous around these parts) Penobscot Narrows Bridge.
.
.
It definitely makes you feel small.
.
.
And always makes me appreciate engineers.
.
.
.
It’s hard being a woodchuck.
.
.
And if it’s not bad enough you have to battle your siblings for the daily buffet…
.
.
Now you have to fight off a squadron of starlings when you’re trying to steal the fox food.
.
.
Lots of little beaks make short work of the pile.
.
.
Life is tough.
.
.
River's world..... 