Showing posts with label deer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deer. Show all posts
Monday, November 1, 2010
Friday, August 15, 2008
A Country Morning
Oops, she finally notices that she is being watched.
She's outta here....
There are two youngsters.
They stop to check out their surroundings before leaping the fence and disappearing into the woods.
The kittens entertained us by racing around the house with Cort.
The heat is on early today, supposed to reach a high of 105. We closed the windows and turned on fans by 9:00 am.
Tristan spied two young deer in the front yard. He has heard me moan and groan about the flowers being destroyed by the deer and he was ready to find Cort and send those deer on their way. But I held him back, 'let's just watch them for a bit', they were only nibbling grass not flowers. I do think they were the twin fawns that would visit daily with their mama back in February when we first moved in. We had fewer fences then, no dog, no flowers and we enjoyed daily deer visits.
I grabbed my camera,we slipped out on the front porch and enjoyed their presence for a few minutes until they noticed that they had 'company'.
I wish they didn't enjoy geraniums and roses so very much.........
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Construction and Destruction
When I married Jerry, I got a new husband and a bunch of cool new friends. Today 4 of those friends came up from the city to spend the day at our new house. They came to enjoy some hard work in the country. Chain saws, fire, demolition and a fence raising. A good time was had by all.
A weird thing happened soon after they arrived. Jerry and G. were already running the chain saw in the pasture. I was preparing to show the others around when we were aware of a fawn caught in the fence. It was 'Little Buck-a-roo'. He was struggling and crying and making his situation worse. If you have never heard a fawn crying, all I can say is that it is heart breaking.
We ran up to help him out, I grabbed his head and neck, M. grabbed the hind quarters, we got him free of fence, lifted him out, set him down, and he sped away to find his mamma; who had apparently abandoned her frantic youngster. About 10 minutes later, the weirdness began; my throat was constricting, I began wheezing, my face ran with tears and snot, my corneas filled like water balloons, and my face was red hot. Suddenly I recalled the fall incident (read Oct. 15, 2007) when I handled a fawn and had an awful allergic reaction. Immediately I headed in to find drugs, take a shower and change clothes. I suffered for several hours. Odd. Fawns are the only animal I have this severe allergy to. The friends were thrilled to have participated in a real life and death fawn rescue!
The plan for the day was to horse-proof the pasture. Horses, having tiny pea-size brains, tend to injure themselves easily and escape the safety of their confines. We needed to repair and rebuild fence, remove brush and lower tree limbs, and rid the pasture of a couple of ricketty old pens and junk.
The weather was perfect for working out of doors. Every one pitched in, worked hard and we accomplished a bunch. The chain saw provided several large burn piles and lots of good wood for the wood shed. The fence lines are clear of brush. This property is so beautiful and looks even better cleaned up.
The fence posts are straightened and strengthened. The wire is raised and tightened. We want to be wildlife friendly (mice NOT included). Jerry and I came up with a soution to the deer delemma. At the established deer trails through the fences, we will remove the woven wire and have wooden post and rails, we want to prevent the deer getting caught in the higher-stronger fences and getting hurt.
In the middle of the pasture area is a pig pen. An old rotten wood shelter covering a deep pig wallow hole, fence posts rotting out, patched together fencing, piles of assorted junk & wood, and what pig home would be complete without the old bathtub as a water tank. M. was glad to be on the tearing down and burning detail. He did a fine job. It's a guy thing.
T. was a careful fire watcher and made sure all was well. There was no wind and the earth was damp, a good burn day.
The pig sty is gone. All that remains is a pile of ashes, a hole to be filled and a piece of sheet metal to haul away.
This building is Jerry's vision, he sees a Bunkhouse fit for visitors. I see..... well probably the same thing you do.
The end of a satisfying day. Great weather, hard work, and super-duper friends.
A weird thing happened soon after they arrived. Jerry and G. were already running the chain saw in the pasture. I was preparing to show the others around when we were aware of a fawn caught in the fence. It was 'Little Buck-a-roo'. He was struggling and crying and making his situation worse. If you have never heard a fawn crying, all I can say is that it is heart breaking.
We ran up to help him out, I grabbed his head and neck, M. grabbed the hind quarters, we got him free of fence, lifted him out, set him down, and he sped away to find his mamma; who had apparently abandoned her frantic youngster. About 10 minutes later, the weirdness began; my throat was constricting, I began wheezing, my face ran with tears and snot, my corneas filled like water balloons, and my face was red hot. Suddenly I recalled the fall incident (read Oct. 15, 2007) when I handled a fawn and had an awful allergic reaction. Immediately I headed in to find drugs, take a shower and change clothes. I suffered for several hours. Odd. Fawns are the only animal I have this severe allergy to. The friends were thrilled to have participated in a real life and death fawn rescue!
The plan for the day was to horse-proof the pasture. Horses, having tiny pea-size brains, tend to injure themselves easily and escape the safety of their confines. We needed to repair and rebuild fence, remove brush and lower tree limbs, and rid the pasture of a couple of ricketty old pens and junk.
The weather was perfect for working out of doors. Every one pitched in, worked hard and we accomplished a bunch. The chain saw provided several large burn piles and lots of good wood for the wood shed. The fence lines are clear of brush. This property is so beautiful and looks even better cleaned up.
The fence posts are straightened and strengthened. The wire is raised and tightened. We want to be wildlife friendly (mice NOT included). Jerry and I came up with a soution to the deer delemma. At the established deer trails through the fences, we will remove the woven wire and have wooden post and rails, we want to prevent the deer getting caught in the higher-stronger fences and getting hurt.
In the middle of the pasture area is a pig pen. An old rotten wood shelter covering a deep pig wallow hole, fence posts rotting out, patched together fencing, piles of assorted junk & wood, and what pig home would be complete without the old bathtub as a water tank. M. was glad to be on the tearing down and burning detail. He did a fine job. It's a guy thing.
T. was a careful fire watcher and made sure all was well. There was no wind and the earth was damp, a good burn day.
The pig sty is gone. All that remains is a pile of ashes, a hole to be filled and a piece of sheet metal to haul away.
This building is Jerry's vision, he sees a Bunkhouse fit for visitors. I see..... well probably the same thing you do.
The end of a satisfying day. Great weather, hard work, and super-duper friends.Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Deer and Mice
I almost went skiing today. Almost.... I planned to go for a half-day afternoon, there's less ice on Hwy 50 later in the day. I invited Jerry along but he is working on some big transformer deal. I put my chains in the car, checked my oil, filled my windshield washer reservoir, filled up with gas, and then headed to my storage unit where the majority of my material goods are, and have been for almost a year now. I was confident that I would find everything I needed for a day on the slopes. I found my bag of gloves, hats and goggles; I found my bag of ski pants and coats; I found my skiis and poles....I found hiking boots, mud boots, cowboy boots and shoes... NO SKI BOOTS though. They are probably in a box at the bottom of a stack of stuff in the far corner I can't get to. I was bummed, I looked long enough that I didn't have time to just go up and rent boots, the ski resort closes at 4 p.m. I loaded up a few assorted boxes of kitchen goods and headed home.
The rest of the day was spent scrubbing the huge pantry that came with this place. I love a big pantry. I washed walls, disinfected shelves, cut and laid shelf paper. Looks good. After dinner I went back to admire the clean pantry and found little mouse deposits on my clean shelves. I haven't had mice in a few years. I hate mouse poop, alot. The mice will have to go. Everything not in a can or glass jar will be put in tupperware. I still have not finished cleaning all of the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen, it is overwhelming. So far no mouse droppings in the kitchen.
I made a yummy pot of chili today. I am enjoying this big open kitchen. The painter is almost done with the bedrooms. Then we will clean carpets and start moving in our furniture. We are still sleeping on the floor in front of the wood stove. Rustic and primitive... I want a bed!
So, as I am scrubbing in the pantry, Jerry is at the kitchen table working, wheeling-dealing, with 2 computers and his phone going. I catch him turned around watching out the window an awful lot! We live in a deer playground! He calls me into the kitchen as he takes a picture of this little guy who just walked up to the window and peeked in.
He is just peeking in, checking out his new 2-legged neighbors.
"LITTLE BUCK-A-ROO"
Little Buck-A-Roo and his mama decided to skip out to the pasture and since I'd had my fill of scrubbing shelves for the day, I followed. Our upper pasture is wooded and there were deer all over the place, I played hide & seek with them until late dusk when they scattered. Several of the deer are a bit lame, I wonder if they are snagging where we are repairing fences they've torn down, I hope not.
So that's my day here in the country, where deer play in the woods and mice play in the pantry.
The rest of the day was spent scrubbing the huge pantry that came with this place. I love a big pantry. I washed walls, disinfected shelves, cut and laid shelf paper. Looks good. After dinner I went back to admire the clean pantry and found little mouse deposits on my clean shelves. I haven't had mice in a few years. I hate mouse poop, alot. The mice will have to go. Everything not in a can or glass jar will be put in tupperware. I still have not finished cleaning all of the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen, it is overwhelming. So far no mouse droppings in the kitchen.
I made a yummy pot of chili today. I am enjoying this big open kitchen. The painter is almost done with the bedrooms. Then we will clean carpets and start moving in our furniture. We are still sleeping on the floor in front of the wood stove. Rustic and primitive... I want a bed!
So, as I am scrubbing in the pantry, Jerry is at the kitchen table working, wheeling-dealing, with 2 computers and his phone going. I catch him turned around watching out the window an awful lot! We live in a deer playground! He calls me into the kitchen as he takes a picture of this little guy who just walked up to the window and peeked in.
He is just peeking in, checking out his new 2-legged neighbors.
"LITTLE BUCK-A-ROO"Little Buck-A-Roo and his mama decided to skip out to the pasture and since I'd had my fill of scrubbing shelves for the day, I followed. Our upper pasture is wooded and there were deer all over the place, I played hide & seek with them until late dusk when they scattered. Several of the deer are a bit lame, I wonder if they are snagging where we are repairing fences they've torn down, I hope not.
So that's my day here in the country, where deer play in the woods and mice play in the pantry.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Fun Fun Fun
Thanks Mom and Dad!
This is what you got us for Christmas, the BitterRoot Mts. in Montana (Jerry has been there, I haven't yet). We both fell in love with this picture at the Home Show a few weeks ago, so you bought it for us. It looks great on the logs, the picture is over 3 feet long, perfect on a nice big wall in our great room. Thanks again!
The Bitterroot Mountains, in Montana -on our wall- in the Sierras, in California.
Next: I am going to share with you a most exciting day in our lives as new home owners.
Get ready!
There are 45 cabinets and drawers in the kitchen.... plenty of space for his,hers,and ours.
The wood is all greasy, grimy, dirty and gross.
The above is a BEFORE picture.
This is what you got us for Christmas, the BitterRoot Mts. in Montana (Jerry has been there, I haven't yet). We both fell in love with this picture at the Home Show a few weeks ago, so you bought it for us. It looks great on the logs, the picture is over 3 feet long, perfect on a nice big wall in our great room. Thanks again!
The Bitterroot Mountains, in Montana -on our wall- in the Sierras, in California.Next: I am going to share with you a most exciting day in our lives as new home owners.
Get ready!
There are 45 cabinets and drawers in the kitchen.... plenty of space for his,hers,and ours.The wood is all greasy, grimy, dirty and gross.
The above is a BEFORE picture.
Look how shiny and clean and how it just gleams in this AFTER photo. I only have 30 more to go. I have recruited friends to come over for a 'party' Monday. heh-heh-heh......
After working outdoors in the cold and rain all day, fixing fence with Gene, Jerry comes in and decides to climb 20 feet to the ceiling and do some cleaning too. The top row of wood is dirty and sooty from the wood stove. We convinced Jerry to come back down after a bit. He forgets he had a heart attack only 2 months ago.
No day is complete at the Log Cabin without a bit of deer watching. We can sit at the kitchen table and watch the deer browse; here a doe and her twins feed next to the pasture that they will soon be sharing with a few horses.
I stood (no wooden rocking chairs yet) on the front porch at dusk watching these five. They appear to be permanent residents and don't seem to mind us moving in. There are 3 more we often see and today the guys saw a few big bucks in the back corner of the upper pasture. I hope you don't get tired of my 'wild-life' photography, I'm just getting started. Maybe a few bear or cougar later......
Dinner is finished, darkness has fallen-along with buckets of rain-, and the fire is blazing.
I'm thinking we should put on some music and practice my two-step while we have this wide open dance hall floor with no furniture. My close friends and family are shocked to read that previous sentence. Yes it is true. That cowboy has somehow, somewhere along the way, got me two-stepping.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
