I’m trying to figure out just how many of my little groundhog friends are hanging around the property. There is one, I know, that lives on my neighbor’s property. I see him running back home occasionally.
There’s Henry, of course.
Then there are these two:
The young scamp on the right and an older groundhog on the left. The older one reminds me of Henry, but that’s not Henry’s coloring. Is it his wife, Henrietta? I think these guys are the same two who were playing together the other day.
Then there’s this guy:
We’ve named him Nigel.
Then there are the bunnies and the birds and some creature who got in our trash can the other day.
Whoopi Goldberg saw the show yesterday afternoon. She’s a close friend of one of the cast members. Don got the chance to chat with her and he really loved her. She said, as so many, many others have said, that the show she saw had absolutely no resemblance to the show the NY Times reviewer described. We all know that, but it’s nice to hear it confirmed by Whoopie. And then she said “F**k the critics!”
The exact same words I’ve used many times. I may put it on a T-shirt.
The hydrangeas are getting bigger by the day. Soon there will be fluffy white blossoms everywhere.
The catalpa in bloom. It’s very, very breezy today, so I’m thinking a lot of those blossoms will be on the ground by the end of the day.
Mowing is on the docket for today. And some weeding. And some reading. And some biscuits, which I made yesterday.
Happy Thursday.
Oooh, look at all that green! Your groundhogs are such nice neighbors. We have bunnies and deer, both of whom are quite destructive at times, unfortunately. Just yesterday the bird bath was tipped and I’m blaming the deer for that. Figure the robins and gold finches don’t have the oomph to accomplish that feat. Recently, as I stood with my mug looking out a back window, a raccoon went lumbering by. And we also have a fox who regularly visits our garden.
You’d never know we live in a residential neighborhood. Not far from us, fields and woods where I used to walk are now being developed and I feel sorry for these creatures who are losing their homes to yet more houses. I catch occasional clips of The View and I agree – Whoopie seems such a “real” person.
I always say “They were here first!”
Please may I buy a T shirt ? I agree with Whoopi
Love your names for the groundhogs too
Siobhan
Thanks, Siobhan!
Maybe Whoopie will talk about the lack of brains the critics have on The View! I wish they could just move the show to a different theatre. Is that even possible? This really does have my knickers in a knot!
Have fun in your garden, even if it is weeding!
All theaters are usually booked by this point, unfortunately.
I’ve always liked Whoopie! I’m glad she got to see it and they got to see her and hear her honest and educated comments. (That tee shirt would be a winner with me, as well.)
Oh, Nigel! What a face! That is one beautiful portrait of him, too.
Mr. Wizard calls me “ever the editor”, so I apologize. But since you posted about her, I had to look up the spelling of her name—Whoopi Goldberg. I was wrong, too. Several of your commenters were right. Smart bunch.
I think that was spell check or whatever. I went back and corrected it.
He is a beauty!
great photos of the groundhogs. love their names, too.
your gardens and lawn looks so beautiful, claudia … all your hard work pays off. i know the rains and wind knock down blossoms, but the trade-off is all that lush greenery!
hope you get plenty of time to just sit and be. are you feeling better – other than allergies? hope so and that the rain cleans the air to make them settle down.
i’m in for that t-shirt … and know a great graphic designer who could help!
happy thursday.
kathy in iowa
Feeling better, but allergies are raging!
I knew Whoopie was a smart lady!
Love your creatures….I saw you named one Nigel? How fitting. Our resident cranes…I do share them with neighbors…lost their two young ones. Then, the female was no where to be found for two days. The mister was over at our place, apparently looking for her…he looked so lost. He came within 5 ft. of me, I was gardening at the time. It kind of unnerved me a tad. So I withdrew into the house, came around front, and took a short video of him. He was so regal, strutting in the slow meandering walk they have. The next day he found her…he was squawking up a storm…he was so happy! I feel very fortunate to have lived here for so long…surrounded by nature. Just to be able to have some of these encounters is a wonder. I know you feel the same way…we can see that in your pictures.
Your hydrangea looks ready to burst. Enjoy your day!
I’m so sorry they lost their babies. So sad. I’m glad, however, that dad found his mate!
Your surroundings are serene and you’ve made them absolutely beautiful. It’s like you’re living in the middle of a park. It will be the perfect place for Don to decompress. Home!
What an amazing shot you got of Nigel; I didn’t know a thing about groundhogs til you started posting about them. Your nice lawn (grassy) at the edge of woods is just the thing they love. I’d read that they likely have several burrows and, in winter, they hibernate like a bear. And that they like to eat clover. It’s nice that your little family of them are doing nothing to bother you because you’ve provided safer haven than if they were down nearer to the road with killer automobiles whizzing past. Is fun seeing your photos of them!
Groundhogs are vegetarians, Vicki. Another reason I like them!
We’ve used Whoopie’s quote many times, usually when we see a movie that we loved and the critics hated. Often, I just want to be entertained and not educated by some obtuse and murky drama. I am hoping for a successful fix for ETM.
I’m glad you are enjoying and sheltering the groundhog clan. We are serious gardeners, and the likes of Henry and Nigel are not welcome in our yard. Nor are squirrels and racoons, who eat my strawberries and make bird-feeding impossible. Oh, to find a balance and peace with the wildlife.
I’m a serious gardener, too!
Henry and Nigel eat grass and weeds. I never see them in the garden, nor have they ever eaten anything there. Bunnies? Yes. Deer, too. But not groundhogs.
I love the little guys in the pictures! they are happy and feeling safe.
and…
I have never really understood the need for critics in these later times.
surely people tell other people when something is good or bad.
everyone who’s ever been in business for themselves know that it’s
‘word of mouth’ that counts. it can make you or break you!
why does some high hatted ‘self declared expert’ have to chime in?
it just doesn’t make sense.
much like the college electorate. we’re not on horseback now… with most of the population out in the boonies. why do others HAVE TO represent us?
whether telling us what play to see on Broadway or for whom to cast our vote???
it’s simply stupid.
I agree. No critics necessary and the Electoral College should be long gone by now.
LOL! til your reply didn’t realize I’d put the dyslexic spin on it!
maybe some of us ‘do’ need them! LOL.
xoxo
I love to see all the wildlife in your yard. We haven’t seen many deer this year at all. I did see a turtle the other day. Birds are still around.
Glad Whoopi had good things to say and I agree about the critics!!
I see deer, but not a whole lot on our property. But they may be crossing through in the pre-dawn hours.
Love what tammy j said. Critics and the Electorate College ~ both obsolete and not necessary! And Whoopie summed it all up perfectly.
Great pictures! Your Hydrangeas are ahead of mine in the budding stage. Ours are big, but the buds are just beginning to set on. I lost several of my perennials over this past ghastly winter. We have been told it was the 15 days of below zero in Jan with no snow cover that did it. Now we have 90’s coming for the next several days. Lots of watering ahead!!
I think about you when I walk through the yard and hope you are feeling better. Was it allergies? I know you pace yourself with mowing. A rest on your pretty porch every bit, along with some good ice water or tea helps, I am sure. Hope your Thursday was good.
I’m so sorry you lost plants. Yes, having no snow cover would make it that much more lethal for plants. It’s hot and windy here today, so I may have to water twice. We actually NEED rain. Yesterday was a spritzing and that was it.
Allergies this year have been the worst I can remember. They’ve knocked me down and out a couple of times now.
Your little creatures are adorable. We have trouble with the cats,racoons and squirrels and sometimes the birds getting into the garbage. Glad you are feeling better. Take it easy with the outdoor chores.
Marilyn
Those pesky garbage can divers!
Great photos of the groundhogs. I can’t seem to get any decent ones of ours.
I did just see 4 new bunnies that I had not seen before.
Things are definitely moving around outside.
New bunnies! Perfect.