.
Admit it. You have nothing better to do right now…
.
.
Seeing that our yard/property is covered in flowers instead of vegetables and the pear tree, apple trees, and blueberry bushes aren’t ready to harvest yet ….
I’m going to have to go with woodchuck.
.
.
Kidding!
( But with all the fruit I feed them, they’d probably be sweet. )
So what’s on your dinner table tonight?
.
.
This week at the Casa River gardens…
.
.
Pink Astible. Guaranteed woodchuck proof, they hate it.
.
.
A new hot pink bee balm I just planted. Dark red and purple are common, this one is as bright as a peony.
.
.
My little rose is hanging in, but not quite as full as previous years. Fertilizer is on the shopping list.
.
.
The geraniums are wonderful this year. Our local nursery is about to have a half price sale. This could be dangerous.
.
.
A line of Stella Doro day lilies. Smaller than other varieties but still a nice burst of color.
.
.
You never know what combination of critters will show up at the nightly Casa River buffet.
.
.
Last evening?
.
.
It was a skunk and a fox.
.
.
Happily observing Covid protocols and dining six feet apart.
.
.
Remember when I posted this mind blowing fact a while back?
.
.
Upside down guitars! You can’t unsee that.
So now…. continuing in that vein of astonishment, I bring you Kentucky Fried Chicken.
.
.
Colonel Sanders has a tiny hangman’s body! Why did I never see that?
And speaking of never seeing –
This popped up on my FB feed recently.
.
.
And while I pride myself on being the queen of double entendre, I admit it took me a few moments to visualize this one.
How about you? Do you see it….
😈
.
.
If you’re tired of woodchuck photos feel free to skip this post. I’m sure I’ll have something equally as ridiculous tomorrow.
.
.
Can I get an awww?
.
.
So much cuteness I can hardly stand it.
.
.
The little guys sure do enjoy their buffet.
.
.
As evidenced by the little junior bellies they’re beginning to sport.
🤣
.
.
While Lord Dudley Mountcatten prefers watching squirrels and birds, the abundance of baby woodchucks scampering around the royal landscape can be perplexing. He spots them, but then they scurry into a hole.
.
.
Usually this hole, which is really more of a tunnel dug under a burning bush after we removed a dead cedar.
.
.
His Lordship is a patient soul and knows they’ll pop their heads up sooner or later.
.
.
Catching them? Well that’s a whole other issue.
.
.
After he sees one, he searches everywhere.
.
.
Sorry buddy. I don’t think they’re in there…
.
.
Warning- disturbing, graphic images of a dead animal ahead.
*
*
*
Still here? Okay then…
I woke up the other morning and thought I saw something strange on the front lawn. Still in my pajamas, I asked the husband to investigate. He came back inside with a strange look and a reticence to tell me what he’d found. After much shuffling of feet and stalling.. he told me Momma woodchuck had been killed.
I couldn’t believe it. She’s a tough old lady and I literally watched her chase off a fox last year.
Much as I didn’t want to, I had to see for myself.
.
.
Poor thing.
.
.
Something… coyote? fisher?… had ripped it apart. But as awful as it was, I told my husband the good news. It wasn’t momma chuck.
He thought I was nuts and proceeded to deal with the corpse. He said I couldn’t possibly tell one woodchuck from another … but I knew.
And a few hours later?
.
.
Momma chuck and her baby enjoying some leftover deer grain.
Silly man. He should never doubt my ability to identify the critters I feed.
❤️
.
.
Baby woodchucks are starting to explore the back deck.
.
.
And have quickly figured out it’s a nice place to sit in the sun.
.
.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten assured me this beats watching Animal Planet on tv hands paws down.
.
.
Baby whistle pigs are fast, and fun to watch scampering around the deck.
.
.
His Lordship agrees .
.
.
.
Remember the little baby woodchuck who loved our house so much he hugged the kitchen porch?
.
.
Well now he’s moved out back to the deck.
.
.
He happily hangs out in the sun and surveys the back lawn.
.
.
And to show his appreciation?
.
.
Another hug.
❤️
.
.
Fair warning – our baby chuckers are on the move and there will be a plethora of photographs in the near future.
.
.
I just can’t get enough of their little paws.
.
.
The siblings stick closely together.
.
.
Though the occasional squabble over prime fruit and veg does occur.
.
.
This is the runt of the litter.
.
.
And it must be hard when the buffet is bigger than you.
.
.
But damn, he’s a cute little bugger.
.
River's world..... 