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Borrego Springs, CA

Friday, May 9, 2014

Let the battle begin!

Since it was another chilly rainy day today, I decided to drive to Fargo, ND, to satisfy my yearning for a couple of food items I haven’t had in six months.  First stop was the Bread Smith store to pick up a few loaves of their hearty hearth baked breads.  I chose the French Peasant Bread and the Buttertop White Bread,  but then a new item called my name.  It’s called Chocolate Babka.  Toasted, I think it will be a delicious breakfast bread.  I’m going to test it out tomorrow.

Long time readers may remember that I found Carol Widman’s Candy Company last summer.  You know I had to stop to get a pound of dark chocolate covered sponge candy.  It will probably be another month before I head back to Fargo because the Bread Smith store sets up a booth at the Detroit Lakes Farmers Market each Saturday, and that starts next weekend.  There’s always a long line at their booth, and that’s where I originally found them.  They’ll be making their Liberty Bread by then, and I’ll be getting some.  It’s a tasty loaf with blueberries and cranberries mixed in.  I do enjoy a good loaf of bread.

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By the time I got back to the rig, the rain had blown away and Emma and I were able to sit outside.  It was still chilly, but mostly due to the 30 mph northerly winds.  As you can see, Emma is right at home again at Tamarac, but she’s also on constant vigilance.

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You never know when some marauding mammal might appear.  As I’ve said before, Emma pretty much ignores birds unless it’s a turkey vulture, but anything with four legs brings her right to attention.

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The fun begins.  It’s thirteen lined ground squirrels vs. Emma.  They’re sizing each other up for another season of battle.  They are pretty wily characters, and usually win the skirmishes, but it sure adds some spice to Emma’s world.

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As the sun peaked out from behind the scattered clouds, there was something different to the right of the patio that caught my eye.  It appeared to be a big round ball about 40’ up in one of the deciduous trees.  Can you see it?

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It was a big porcupine taking a late afternoon siesta.  I wondered if this was the same porcupine that favored one of the pine trees in my front yard here last year.  Up in the trees is a good place for this guy.  I sure don’t want Emma doing battle with this mammal.

If it’s sunny and not raining in the morning, Emma and I will be off to reacquaint ourselves with the rest of the refuge.  I do like it here.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

29 comments:

  1. It does look like a beautiful place to live for the summer.

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  2. Those breads sound wonderful. Looks like you will enjoy the next few months. And being reunited with your sponge candy .... well that is icing on the cake

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  3. Keep that critter away from Emma! But she will have fun with the squirrels. Katie's the same way, lots of birds come and go, but then she'll bark and be very alert, looking out the window, and sure enough - either a squirrel or a rabbit. :)

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  4. GREAT picture of Emma and good eye on the porcupine. You always seem to have something wonderful in each of your days including that yummy sounding bread.

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  5. Jack pays attention to no other animals, now. When in Yellowstone he (a little younger) decided that he would scare bison and elk away by barking. Not a great idea, Jackie. :) I pulled in my driveway the other day and the outside cat next door happened to be stalking what looked to be a mouse or a little chipmunk. I know these things go on in nature, but the cat caught it and played with it. It was running around erratically but then the cat wasn't paying much attention so I thought I might be able to save the poor little thing or at least give it a humane death, but unfortunately the cat noticed my slow approach and grabbed it and ran. I probably cooked its goose although I'm sure it was already hurt. I have seen it with birds in its mouth. The objection I have is that this is a neighborhood where animals should not be allowed to run loose. I warned the owner about coyotes and that they've taken several cats according to the news. He just shook his head and said she's an outside cat. I suggested that since she had a home that maybe he could put a bell on her since she had a food source (him), but no reaction. I don't dare put bird feeders out because I'd endanger the birds. Irresponsible in my mind. Okay, off my soapbox. For some reason I can now comment directly on your site. I don't know what changed!

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    Replies
    1. If you do a web search on the number of birds killed each year by cats you might be astonished. Maybe not, I was! Very sad.

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    2. Oh my that prickly porky better stay up in that tree and away from doggie noses!

      ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
      Karen and Steve
      (Blog) RVing: The USA Is Our Big Backyard
      http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com
      ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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  6. Emma is such a cutie! Sounds like your back in your happy spot....I want to try all that bread! We move on to MI in the morning, hope we find such great fun!

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  7. Good to read you made it safely to your destination, and, already purchased some of that sponge candy.

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  8. Judy, it sounds like you are where you need to be! That is wonderful in itself. Enjoy your days there.
    I have to admit, I have a new addition: Bays, Sourdough Muffins! Who would have thought. I am not the bread lover in the family, but I sure love these!

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  9. wow. . .Emma looks beautiful in that position. . .very majestic. . .

    I love homemade bread too. . .wish I didn't, but I do. . .so now I'm thinking that Liberty Loaf sounds really great!

    Have I fallen off your blog reading list? I miss your comments. . .

    I know you are going to have a great summer. . .

    Janice
    http://readytogofulltimerving.blogspot.com/

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  10. That Liberty bread sounds delicious! Glad you got some of the chocolate covered sponge candy, it sounds like a great treat.

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  11. Good luck with your battling that pound of dark chocolate sponge candy. Somehow, I just know you'll win the battle... :cD

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  12. Now that you've arrived at your destination you can sleep soundly knowing that Emma is protecting you from that rowdy herd of ground squirrels.

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  13. What a beautiful picture of Emma and what a great guard doggie she is.
    I never knew porcupines climbed trees!

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  14. Seems its not been that long since I visited your blog. Wow - from TX to ND in no time at all.

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  15. That Chocolate Babka bread sure sounds good for breakfast - healthy too, I'll bet.

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  16. Emma might win the ground squirrel battle, but she'd come out a loser with the porky. Looks like you've found your groove .... bread, birds and beasts..... pure heaven!

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  17. Now here we are on a diet and you are talking about chocolate bread--not nice Judy!! i wish Emma luck in her ground squirrel battle!

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  18. Mr. Prickle needs to stay clear of Emma. Those nasty barbs are a boon to dogs...and a trip to the nearest Vet..

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  19. The Liberty Bread sounds delicious.

    I didn't know porcupines slept in trees. Another lesson I learned from reading your blog.

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  20. The last time I noticed a blob in a tree it was a bobcat!!!

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  21. Getting caught up! and me too ~ with the bread. I love getting fresh baked bread by little bakeries ~ especially at farmer's markets.

    Emma looks majestic and glad you made it safe and sound back to Tamarac … hiss on ticks ~ duck tape? no kidding.

    And you went through Paris, Texas… HAhaa… fun following you backwards… AND correct pronunciation is … puh cahn … I liked Natchitoches too. cute little town

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  22. I didn't realize porcupines climbed up into the trees. The only porcupine I have ever seen in my life was the morning i left Tamarac last year. As I pulled up alongside it, I saw it's quills ready to strike - it looked scary even being in the safety of my car. I am going to enjoy your posts from Tamarac even more, now that I've been there. Wish I could visit again.

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  23. So cool to have a porcupine in your front yard! All your bread talk reminded me it's been waayy too long I did some baking myself. I definately see a Liberty bread in my near future. Sounds delicious, as does the Chocolate Babka!

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  24. Do you ever have to worry about a coyote etc attacking Emma while she is outside?

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  25. Great photos again!!! Emma is so gorgeous. Looks like my Sammy and oh..would Sam love seeing a line up of Squirrels!!! And the bread sounds fantastic!!! Toasted with jam. Yum!!!

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  26. Emma on point another great photo. We are going to have to try sponge candy sometime.

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  27. I''ve got the Bread Smith added to my theoretical trip through Fargo. We'll be driving through there in August in 2015 or 2016 on our way to Glacier NP!

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