Tag Archives: photos

We interrupt your normally scheduled program…

 

So I hope you’ve been enjoying my White Mountain vacation series. I know I tend to go a little overboard with the pictures, but what can I say?

 

 

I’ll have you know it took me an entire week to wade through the 1704 shots I’d taken and distill it down to a reasonable essence.

Alright… yes.

The essence is going to run halfway through December, but just think how long it would have gone on if I hadn’t distilled.

 

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Sorry, that was harsh.

Khaled had me feeling a little street.

Anyhoo… the reason for this post?

Remember when I told you we were going to have to cram a few vacations in before the end of the year because the husband wasn’t retiring? Well, good news! We just finished vacation week number two and are probably on the road returning from Cape Cod as you read this.

 

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Yup.

That means another tsunami of photographs from our coastal Massachusetts adventures.

 

 

Nope.

Sorry, I can’t.

Hard to believe that in all the years I’ve lived in New England, I’ve never visited that region…. and though we’re going off season, I’m sure we had a blast. My plan was to hop the car ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard as well but we’ll play that by ear as I don’t know their winter schedule.

So sit back and enjoy the (virtual) ride.

 

 

Because you followed me, silly.

Now pay the price and enjoy the modern version of your 1950’s neighbor’s slide show.

 

 

 

White Mountains trip…. Day 1. The resort.

 

As you know, we use our timeshare when we travel. Some of the resorts we choose have been fabulous… some less so.

The Grand Summit Resort at Sunday River?

 

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From the outside? Not bad.

Good location, up a long driveway, past a babbling brook… nestled in the mountains.

 

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Technically it’s a ski resort, so yes…. there are ski slopes.

 

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Inside?

 

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Rustic decor, heavily ski-centric.

 

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With questionable carpet choices.

 

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Which did not improve when we made our way upstairs to our condo.

 

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Yeah.

This literally made my head swim every time I had to walk on it.

 

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See? It even made the camera dizzy.

The only good thing I can say about it is they are in the process of ripping it up. Though sadly, not soon enough for us.

While I usually book the larger 2 bedroom unit for extra space, an extra bathroom and a larger kitchen…. this was a last minute deal and I had to take a 1 bedroom. Never having been here before, I have to say I was not impressed.

 

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It was really small.

 

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And as basic as I’ve ever seen.

The “full”  kitchen? Not so full.

 

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It also went a little heavy on the moose theme.

While it was clean and the bed was comfortable…. the smoke alarm went off everytime we made toast, which must have endeared us to our neighbors since we’re up with the sun most days.  The shower head was so low the 5’8” husband hit his head every time he attempted to wash his hair, and the kitchen cabinet doors stuck to the frames like glue. If you managed to pull them open? The shelves wobbled.

 

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Thankfully we only slept and showered there because the noise from the heating unit would probably have caused me to drink a Drano cocktail had we stayed any longer.

Of course they did provide some stellar reading material on the coffee table….

 

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And a nice big tree in front of our balcony…

 

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With a stunning view of the 6 slot parking lot.  The slots everyone jockeys for because otherwise you’re hoofing it down the hill to the auxiliary lot.

 

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Yes… 6 spots up front. For a resort that has hundreds of condo units as well as a hotel and restaurant. Smart planning, that.

Oh well.

The restaurant was fun.

 

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Appropriately named Camp, it was modern rustic.

 

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And we enjoyed it.

Who doesn’t want to be lit by an upside down canoe?

 

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Tasty seasonal cocktails…

 

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And a light dinner later….

 

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We called an end to our first day.

 

 

 

 

 

Because everyone needs a drink.

 

Bird baths.

They’re not just for birds anymore….

 

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These little guys never used to drink here until an apple tree sprouted in my garden bed a few years ago.

 

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Now they’ve realized they can safely climb onto an overhanging branch and jump in.

Like I do…

 

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                         Actual photo of me last Saturday night.

 

Pardon the quality of these shots, but it was dark and I was shooting through a window.

 

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I’ve often wondered why the deer don’t stop to slake their thirst.

 

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Now, I have proof that they do.

 

 

 

 

 

More random critters.

 

The photo files need purging again so…

 

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Mother woodchuck and her last baby.

The other 3 have taken off for parts unknown.

 

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And I get the feeling this final child isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack.

 

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Someone needs to tell him we eat from the bowl, not sit in it.

 

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Or lie in it for that matter.

 

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Our beautiful buck is back.

 

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Which makes me nervous as it’s hunting season.

 

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Fingers crossed no one breaks up his family.

 

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This little devil was perched on the feeder bar waiting for an unsuspecting meal the other morning…

 

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I saw feathers on the lawn later in the day, so mission accomplished.

 

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The flies have been thick for the past few days and target the deer mercilessly.

 

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It’s my opinion this doe was sticking her tongue out at the flies…

And not the photographer.

Finally, who needs video games….

 

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When you’ve got real live angry birds right on the back lawn?

 

 

Some random photographs….

 

Because sometimes I want to share, and they just don’t rate a blog of their own.

 

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A few shots of my local area.

 

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I’m blessed to live in such a beautiful state.

 

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Top that for sunrise color. I dare ya!

As you’ve probably guessed by now, when we travel…. I take a lot of pictures. The husband is quite patient with me and usually pulls over when I point out the window, squeee! and yell pull over. He never wants to photograph anything, so I had to laugh a few weeks ago when he stopped along side something and asked me to take a picture of it for him.

I did….

 

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And am seriously hoping it doesn’t end up in our barn in the near future.

 

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This is not what you want to be following during a traffic jam on Route 1. I saw pink hippos in my dreams for many nights after that.

And finally…

Me.

 

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No makeup, just a smile…. and the realization that laying out in the sun this past summer has bleached my hair to the point where I now have dark roots without ever having dyed it.

What the Hell?

 

Random Bambi ….

 

If you haven’t guessed by now, I take a lot of pictures.

My life may not be fascinating…

But it’s damn sure well documented.

And what’s a blog for if not sharing random baby deer photos from earlier this summer?

 

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Not much to comment on.

 

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Just enjoy the sweetness…

 

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While I organize my photo files.

 

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And if you’re not into cute furry 4 legged babies?

 

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Then tune in again next time…

 

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When I’m sure to have more meaningless drivel.

 

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Window – 1. Bird – 0.

 

We live in the country with a large back yard…

 

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A field….

 

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and some woods.

 

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This leads to a lot of avian visitors.

Some of whom sadly commit suicide on our windows.

I wasn’t here when this particular bird went splat, but it did leave me a rather prominently placed clue in our bedroom.

 

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A perfect dead bird body print.

 

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Complete with wings.

 

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RIP little one.

 

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Mystery solved.

 

Remember a while ago I posted a picture of the sunflower seeds the chipmunk from Hell had planted in my petunias… and how they were growing?

 

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Well over the past few weeks they grew tall and budded, and then started disappearing. One by one… shredded, stripped of leaves, and gone.

I’ve seen a few grasshoppers, so I thought maybe that was the reason.

 

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How pathetic is that?

One lone stalk remained.

Then I woke up this morning and saw….

 

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A woodchuck…

 

 

 

On the table.

 

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That’s something I hadn’t seen before.

 

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First there was a little pole dancing….

 

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Then he got down to business.

 

 

 

So now I know why there won’t be any blooming sunflowers this season.

 

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He made short work of it and left me this…

 

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As well as this…

 

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Yes, I could have yelled and scared him off, but I admit … I laughed instead.

We’ve had woodchucks all year and they haven’t touched a single plant, shrub or flower. Which if you’ve ever had woodchucks, you know is highly unusual.

So I let the little devil have the sunflower.

The fact that he can even get his fat butt up on the table to begin with is comical and worth the price of a sunflower to view.

 

 

Too good not to share… the finale.

 

Crazy real estate agent’s photos part 3, and let’s start it off with a bang.

Or a boom as the case may be..

 

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There’s so much wrong with this I don’t even know where to start. Aside from the obvious WTF factor…. this guy looks like he’s getting ready to goose you. Why are his hands open wide? Why do you have to reach into his chest to flush? And considering what he must see everyday… why  the hell is he smiling?

 

 

Wow.

 

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Someone clearly had too much time… and acrylic paint… on their hands.

 

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Just your normal bathroom/dining room combo…

 

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And bathroom/kitchen combo….

 

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And bathroom/bedroom combo.

 

 

Porches.

 

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Not just for outside anymore.

 

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When you live in the city… but your wife really wants a cow.

 

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Because sun shade awnings are stylish anywhere.

 

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Proof positive there is such a thing as too much togetherness.

Truly.

 

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I’m not sure what’s more disturbing about this bizarre bathtub… the fact that it’s covered in carpet?

That it has 4 decorative poles?

Or that it appears to have an electric heater installed on the side?

 

 

 

I don’t know.

I really don’t.

A critter filled post.

 

Because my photo files are filled with critter pics.

 

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A wet fox.

 

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Two wet foxes.

 

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Okay, okay… moving on.

 

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Baby woodchuck.

 

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These pics are a month or two old, they’re not babies anymore.

 

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I can’t tell you exactly how old because my stupid camera’s date and time setting is broken and everything registers 1/1/1980.

Why? I have no frickin’ clue.

 

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Buck, on the field line.

 

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Doe, in the field.

 

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Wet skunk.

 

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Wet skunk and deer.

This next one is blurry, but how often do you get a shot of  a deer sticking her tongue out at a skunk?

 

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Skunk Rule #1?

Do not be rude to skunks.

They will make you pay… and the photographer’s house will stink for a week.

 

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More woodchucks….

 

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Eating apples.

 

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And woodchucks eating deer grain.

 

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More deer.

 

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And deer eating deer grain.

 

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More skunks.

 

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More foxes.

 

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Skunk and fox.

 

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Please remember Skunk Rule #1.

There is no Skunk Rule #2…. when the  tail goes up?

Run.

 

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More woodchucks.

I’d like to tell you that’s all the photos…. but it’s not even close.

That’s all for now though.