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Every morning for the past week I’ve woken up to honking. Not inner city traffic and pissed off commuters, but honking all the same.
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Canada geese are on their way north, and the river behind our house is a veritable goose super highway. No need for an alarm clock when these fellows are overhead…. they’re loud!
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Large groups and small, for the first hour after dawn the sky is full of travelers.
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A raucous and sure sign spring is on the way.
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❤️
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When the herd shows up early, before we’ve put out the nightly snack?
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Raiding the bird feeders is the next best thing.
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And if you’ve ever wondered why they’re called white tailed deer?
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That’s why.
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Hey lady…. it’s time for dinner.
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Saturday afternoon, the deer and the snow showed up at the same time.
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Our two little bowls of sweet grain don’t last long with a herd of 13 and there’s always a good deal of jostling for position. This includes outright kicking.
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It’s hard to tell, but our buck has finally lost part of his rack.
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And as the alpha male he usually gets a bowl to himself.
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For your viewing pleasure, deer tv.
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And we’re blending..
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This time of year deer camouflage comes in handy.
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Of course our backyard is covered in snow one day and melts the next, so what do they know?
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But they enjoyed the green grass while it was here.
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Our big boy was back the other day.
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He’s the son of the truly impressive 14 point buck that lived here for many years.
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Junior has a weird antler pattern this year and is standing at 9.
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Though the fact he still even has his rack in early March is bizarre.
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He currently leads a harem of 7 does and 5 youngsters. Big boy has been busy.
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The son of our previously in residence big buck seems to have taken over the old guy’s backyard territory.
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He’s a nice looking fellow and brings his herd of 8 to munch every night.
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Four does and four young’ uns jostle for bowl position while the big guy always claims his own.
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Yes.
I’m talking about you.
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Three grey squirrels were braving the elements for a nosh during our last snow storm.
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This fellow was first to the tray feeder, scrambling up the pole and settling in to munch.
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Squirrel number two had a harder time with the slippery pole….
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But after a few comical attempts… made it to the tray of treats.
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Squirrel #1 was not happy to share and a major scuffle broke out, but it was over quickly and a truce was called.
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All was well until squirrel #3 showed up.
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He climbed the pole 4 times and was booted off in no uncertain terms.
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Two is company… and apparently three is one squirrel too many.
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Like it isn’t bad enough we haven’t travelled anywhere since Christmas 2019.
As if I don’t miss the annual large trip and three smaller vacations we used to take every year.
Because Covid hasn’t made life as sedentary and boring as possible? Facebook has to twist the knife in a little deeper with their constant “memories” feature.
On this day three years ago you were happy!
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On this day three years ago you were exploring Sedona Arizona!
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On this day three years ago you had no idea life would soon come to a screeching halt!
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So cut it out Facebook!
I don’t need to be reminded how much I loved traveling… I realize it every time we treat walking over to the man cave/Barn Mahal like a weekend getaway.
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I totally saw a yacht at sea.
How pathetic is that?
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I sampled heavily at the distillery while my other half was busy talking.
I sampled lightly and drank heartily at the Whippletree winery.
And now, I was ready for a late lunch. But sadly, late lunch wasn’t ready for me because every single restaurant we tried in North Conway New Hampshire on a Saturday afternoon in December was filled to bursting. Damn those hungry Christmas shoppers!
Wasting a good hour hopping from place to place to no avail, we said to hell with it and drove.
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Through the White Mountains and over to Mount Washington.
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The closer we got the darker it became, and we arrived at the Notch Grill in the Glen House just as flurries started to fall.
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Thankfully they weren’t crowded and we settled in.
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Hibiscus rose margarita …
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With a view isn’t a bad way to end the day.
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Crispy pork pot stickers with Thai ginger dipping sauce to share…
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Followed by pan seared duck breast with apple rosemary jam, roasted fingerling potatoes and squash rings for me… baked haddock in white wine and buttered crumbs with mashed potatoes and carrots for the hubs.
It was all delicious and we were too full for dessert.
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I was also too full to sit and watch a slightly out of date Christmas program on the bar television.
Andy Williams?
Ho. Ho. Hum….
🥴
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Christmas cards started rolling in right after Thanksgiving.
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Lovingly selected and filled with handwritten sentiments of holiday cheer from friends and family scattered across the country, continent and globe.
For some of the cards we receive, it’s the only time of year we’re in contact with the sender. An annual what’s up! and long distance wave.
In an era of instant digital communication, I look forward to this tradition of old school well wishes.
And then, there are these:
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I can hear your snorts of annoyance… but please, a moment.
While I’d love to receive a current picture of you and your family in a Christmas card, I’m not a fan of the photo card in general.
Preprinted holiday greetings with no explanation of whose grandchild is who, why you’re embracing an iguana in a tropical rain forest or who the strange man with the lightning bolt tattoos hovering in the background might be. There’s no handwritten note, no unique flourished signature and Hell, a lot of people even print out their address labels.
You can hate me, but I find them impersonal.
*Disclaimer- to each his own and if you’ve included me on your list and sent me a photo card? I sincerely appreciate the thought and would rather receive one of them than nothing… it’s just my opinion*
So as you curse me for being rude and ungrateful, imagine this –
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Me. Chained to the table for days, hand cramping from writing and addressing cards and envelopes, A through H completed and rubber banded… hoping I can still my flex my fingers by Christmas Day.
🥴
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River's world..... 