A Buck For An Apple

This young buck was helping himself to some fresh fallen apples - the early bird gets the worm, am I right?

The interesting thing is that this tree is in a residential neighborhood with the nearest wooded area some 200-300 yards away, so dare I say he was being awful bold.

It was late morning too, which I thought was odd for this dude to be so far away from cover, especially with cars passing by, neighbors out puttering in their yard and people, some with dogs, walking by.

Suppose being hungry and having a hanker’n for fresh apples takes precedence and worth the risk. 

I’m Look’n At You!

On my walk this morning I “spotted” this doe staring me down! She was maybe 15’ from me at the edge of the walking path where the overgrowth is thick.

I stopped and slowly backed up as I reached for my phone/camera and she didn’t move a muscle. She stayed stoic and continued to stare me down -

Giving me the old “whatcha look’n at bruh” stare -

It was at that point that I had a pretty good idea why she stayed still and didn’t bolt. And my suspicions were confirmed when I got a better angle -

A protective momma and her fawn!

Had she been alone I’m sure she would have bolted long before I saw her but instead she stayed to protect her baby.

This is why you put your phone away, no ear buds, music or podcasts! Just listening and taking in the sights and sounds all around you.

Absolutely adorable. Priceless really!

#Blessed

Dos Fawns

I “spotted” these two adorable fawns this morning and immediately banged a u-ey, so I could takes these pics and watch them frolicking -

They seemed awfully big to still be sporting their spots but what do I know.

They were adorable and fun to watch regardless how spotted or old they may have been.

A Baptist??

This lone doe crossed Old Tusculum road right in front of me on Tuesday afternoon.

She didn’t seem to be in a hurry and did not looked skittish or rushed. She took her time crossing, stopped on the lawn and calmly looked around before slowly walking up the hill towards the church. All this in what looked like a residential neighborhood-

Perhaps, she was going to confession?

“Deer” I Post Another Deer Sighting

Sitting and enjoying a delicious iced coffee this afternoon and looked who decided to stroll on by. Fortunately, they were unaware of my presence, so went about their foraging unbothered. Lucky me -

“Butt” nothing - 

The three milled about nearby for some 20 minutes. It was cool to have them so close and be able to watch them without being disturbed.

Here’s a short video I took, click the link - Tusculum University Deer

Seems to be a deer day today!

The Herd

There was a herd of deer visiting this morning. I counted 9 in all, with two bucks in the mix and proudly showing their velvet covered antlers -

A couple came up from the pond area, while the others came out of the overgrowth along the 11e fence line. Many were frolicking, running and jumping, and chasing one another -

They eventually ran off towards the back end of the property -

The most I’d seen visiting prior was 4, so I was very surprised to see 9. They looked at home.

See What I “Spotted”!

You need to look closely, as it’s the only pic I was able to take -

This little’n was running smack dab down the center of Bailey Bridge Road (Rt.353) in Chuckey yesterday afternoon, I kid you not!

I came around a bend in the road and was shocked to see this youngster running towards me! I was caught off guard but stopped and reached for my phone but seems this spooked it and off into the woods it went. Fortunately, there wasn’t any other vehicles coming in either direction.

Adorable baby fawn, still spotted. Guessing it was scared and looking for its mother.

A Little Privacy Please

I spied this deer 🦌 peering into the house last evening, right through the sliding glass door! Geesh, how bout minding your own business dear (see what I did here 🤣)…

I was too slow on the camera draw. She ran off as I was trying to get closer to the window, you know to take that perfect pic, alas.

However, my brother was sitting in the living room and in a perfect spot with a perfect view . He was super quick on the camera draw and snapped this rather coolio pic.

A Visiting Quartet

We had 4 visitors this morning!

They were on guard but not too skittish and seemed relaxed, as they slowly poked around and nibbled here and there.  They lingered for a while, then slowly worked their way out of site, over the hill -

No gardens or flowers for them to raid today; so today they were welcomed guests.

Deer Deer Eveywhere

The below pics are not that good, apologies, but I tried.

While making my way to our farm the other afternoon I witnessed a herd of deer all running in a pseudo line across an open field.  It was difficult to count them with the tree line between them and me while also trying to keep my car from driving off the narrow, winding road and into a ditch but I'm guessing there were about 15 of them! 

The bevy were all running parallel to me and the road, all had their tails held high and all were more trotting at a steady pace versus running as if scared.

Unfortunately the pics didn't capture all the deer, even the ones it did they're hard to see -

It was quite a cool sight to seem them all running together like they were and out in the open field.

The open farmland and fields, cow, horses and deer all make my back road drives so special!

A Brisk Walk Today!

Despite it being a frigid 24 degrees today, I bundled up, braved the elements and got in a 2.7 mile walk this afternoon at the university -

I was so preoccupied when I first arrived, getting myself bundled up from the wind, that I failed to noticed these four ladies next to the pathway. By the time I got my gloves off and pulled my phone from my back pocket and unlocked it they were turning and runing off -

Displaying their namesake "white-tailed" tails as they pranced off, across the road and up the steep embankment towards the railroad tracks they went -

With all the open spaces and farmland available in this area, these girls seem to enjoy the city life of JC.

I've Got A Nibbler Visiting...

Although, gardening season is coming to an end and just about over, I do still have pepper and tomato plants alive and plugging away.

The tomato plants are all but gone and the plants look pathetic but they still have green and reddish fruit a com'n.  The pepper plants are still looking good and are loaded with peppers.  However, this year was a frustrating one for my peppers - in years past I would leave some of the bigger green peppers alone to let them turn red.  This year, as they were in the midst of turning, most began to rot from the bottom up and sadly those went into the compost instead of my freezer. This was a weird gardening season here in New England overall, so I'll chalk it up to that.

What's happening now, and although I've not seen it or them myself, there is clear evidence that the deer are sneaking in my yard and eating the ends of both my pepper and tomato plants, see below -

You don't need to be Daniel Boone or some Indian tracker to see the signs beyond the missing plant ends!

Here are a couple examples -

At this time of the year I would prefer they stick to eating the perennials that are starting to die off.  This way there will be less Fall clean up work for me to do.

Speaking about deer, here is what I believe is a mother and daughter deer that I spotted while out on my delivery route the other afternoon -

Mother with daughter having just walked into the golden rod to the right -

Although, I'm not seeing them in my yard, I have been seeing them when out driving more often lately.  I suspect they know the colder weather is a coming, so they're bolder on their pursuit to bulk up as they forage in preparation.

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the below pic -

This piece of property is a tree farm according to a sign at the end of their long driveway.  A quiet peaceful area, which I'm guessing is why this doe was out and about without a concern in the early afternoon -

Although, I sat and watched her for a couple minutes, she stayed there in the roadway unfazed by my presence. I was hoping to see some littles pop out and join her but I was in the last hour of delivering my route, so off I went.

Another beautiful day! Here's another similar find the critter from a week earlier but in a different location on the other side of town.  This looked like a loan young'n just slowly walking about without a care in the world.  This area is where the exclusive homes are, so plenty of open space and relatively quiet from what I've seen -

It's always nice to see these critters out and about, especially when they're NOT in my yard eating my plants.

What The Buck!

Peeked out my kitchen window yesterday morning and saw the rear end of a dear making it's way into the property behind me, just behind my old chicken coop.  So, I darted and grabbed my Canon camera and was able to get only one picture taken, see above.  *Apologies for the yucky background of this pic...

Turns out it was a buck, see his antlers?!  Which might explain why he seemed to be in somewhat of a hurry and not interested in slowing or stopping, rather he was headed somewhere.  After all, we're in the midst of deer mating season here in Massachusetts, so I'm guessing his focus was on one thing and one thing only.

Off into the brush and wetlands he went.

Well, Good Morning To You Both!

Early morning weekend walks are the best!

Getting up and out before all the assholes start to stir, so peaceful.

Plus, if you put your phone away and actually take in the walk, you just might start noticing things that you'd otherwise walk right past.  Like these two taking in the warmth of the morning sun.

Gosh, my iPhone 12 camera takes terrible pictures.  It's also possible, ever so slightly, that it's the camera operator that has the issues...

Serenity Now!

Early Saturday morning walks are the best!

So quiet and peaceful, if you can get it in early before all the assholes wake and start venturing out.

If you pay attention and look around, take a break from and get you heads out from your silly phones, there's so much to see.

I wasn't quick enough with my camera to get a picture of all 5 deer, just this one brave doe who stood her ground as I rooted in my pocket for my cell.

Cargo Beep Beep...

 

I learned that the above Franklin police report motor vehicle crash involved a pick up truck and a deer AND it took place in the street in front of my house!

I was prolly in bed.  Yup, 10:15PM is past my bedtime these days. I don't believe sirens were used and I did not hear the impact. However, my neighbor did and went out to investigate.

It was a young kid driving a new pick up truck that he had recently purchased and claimed the deer ran out in front of him.  The deer, a big doe, was hurt pretty bad and was took a while to expire.

Cold I know but one less deer that will be foraging in my gardens.

Early Morning Frolic

I haven't seen them in quite some time but of course that doesn't mean they're not out there, as this picture shows.  My security camera captured these two does at 2:14AM this morning 1/6, nibbling on what's left of my Ladies Mantle plant.  Also, seeing that they're visiting at 2AM would explain why I don't see them as often, as in bed and sound asleep at this time.

I suspect they can sense that a snow storm is coming and looking to bulk up as much as they can ahead of time.

The Cupboards Are Bare...

Caught this 5AM Thanksgiving day visitor on my surveillance camera.

There are three I see all the time and at all times of the night and day.

They're hanging out at the wrong house if they hope to find plants to eat.  All my fall clean up and flower bed clean up has been completed, and everything has been put to bed for the winter.  I have plenty of neighbors who do little to no fall clean up and can only image there is plenty to eat in their beds.  Just wish these tick carrying pests would move on.

Nap Time!

Naturally, Trixie has to go outside to do her business and she's really good at letting me know when it's time. Per usual, she likes to wait until I'm settled and comfy, then she comes to let me know it's time, UGH!  Listen, at the end of the day, as annoying as that might be, I'm thankful that she let's me know versus having an accident inside!

As I always do, after dark I flip the spot light on, step onto the back deck and do a quick survey as Trixie makes her way down the stairs. I like to check and make sure there's no trouble outside waiting for her.  I'm also in the habit of looking for garden raiders.

Last night, this youngster was taking a break!  She was content to have plopped herself down and curled up in the middle of my side yard.  Right out in the open too.  This was around 7PMish.  Pretty cool!

This picture was taken around 10:30PM, several hours later.  Still there but she had just stood up and was stirring -

Not too far away were the adults.  I'm sure they were keeping a close eye on things as junior was taking a break - 

I've seen this group on and off all summer long.  During the summer I'll chase them off but now with gardening season over I leave them be.  These pics are proof they're around but there is also quite a bit of deer dropping all over the front yard too, another indication.  I suspect they're out there chowing on all the acorns being dropped.