We have had a groundhog living in our yard for a few years.  He used to live in a hole, waaaaaay across the pond at the edge of the woods, pretty far from the house:

We would see him over there nibbling on clover, occasionally standing up on his hind legs to look around.  Really cute, actually.  To me.  To Paul, not cute; a nuisance.

This year, much to Paul’s dismay, the groundhog packed up and moved residence to our shed:

More accurately, under our shed.  Much closer to the house, and my garden.  Still cute, eating clover, standing up on hind legs to look around.  But now, really more of a nuisance as we have no idea what’s happening under the shed and what he has done to the foundation of the shed.

Front door:

Back door:

So, the nuisance factor has increased and there was talk of a bb gun  (which, I have since been informed, will bounce right off a groundhog) or a trap.

Then, Paul saw this:

Do you know how hard it is to get a picture through a screen door when you are in a hurry?  It is a bobcat.  Very excited and interested, prowling around the shed, sticking it’s head into the front door of the groundhog’s new home.  Then he went away.  The groundhog came out and did his usual cute eating of the clover and standing up on hind legs to look around.  But, then there was me, talking out the window to him, telling him to stick close to home or else something would eat him.

We haven’t seen the groundhog in days.  I know. I feel bad, too.

But hey!  Look over there!  There’s more knitting!

I started the Swallowtail Lace Shawl (free pattern!), in the hopes of teaching a more advanced lace knitting class.  What you are looking at is the pinned-out piece I have started, and it is the top middle of the shawl (what would lay at the back of your neck).  There is a pretty lily-of-the-valley border, which includes knitting nupps.  Nupps, in the past, have been my nemesis.  So, stay tuned for that.

Then, I got totally distracted by Fractal Danger a new pattern by Martina Behm, whom I love.  I’ve made several of her patterns….

Brickless:

Lintilla:

Hitchhiker:

and Heaven and Space:

And now there is a new one, which I might have to start pretty soon.  Even though I have three other shawls started.  And I need to start the mittens if they are going to be done in time to submit to the fair.

Ok, did I distract you from thinking about the groundhog and his fate?

No? Here is something else then. I’ve got a pepper:

And a tomato:

If that doesn’t do it, I don’t know what will.