Weary With Worry

Friday night began with an excellent meal shared with two of our dear friends whom we haven't seen in a few months though emails were passed back and forth. The good husband and I enjoy good company, good food and good wine! Who doesn't? I began the meal with my favorite cocktail, a chocolate martini which could easily be gulped quickly as it tastes like chocolate milk! (almost) The dinner was excellent and a good time was had by all. On the way home, we were chatting as usual about nothing and then I shrieked!

Close to our entrance was a doe seemingly dead in the middle of our side of the road. The bad husband refused to stop after we turned in so I could check on her. Through his many protests, he reminded me what Itty Bitty's vet bill was, but that made no sense to me whatsoever. I can't take a deer to the vet! I wanted desperately to see which deer had been hit. If she was suffering then we could end her life for her. Her body looked perfect, no blood, no mangling of parts; she just seemed to be sleeping. Fiery frustration built up inside me. Was I being over dramatic? Was I asking too much just to see her? I sat there worrying if that was one of Brownie's girls while the gate was being unlocked. I made up my mind to go to the house, get the huge flashlight, kick off my heels, throw my barn shoes on and get back out there, with or without him and without changing clothes. The good husband drove me back and pulled into the bottom of the neighbors wide driveway while sputtering threats that I was going to get run over.

I ran to her. She was still. Stupid cars kept interrupting so I had to step back into the weeds to avoid bringing life to his incessant worrying. Finally I was able to check her pulse. I felt under her neck. I felt a quiet but weak beat. Was she alive? I picked up her neck and her head flopped to the left. A small puddle of blood was underneath. I felt of her belly. It looked swollen but there was no kicking or any movement of any kind. I gently pulled her out of the road and positioned her body neatly in the weeds. A kind lady stopped and asked if she could help. I looked up and just mumbled a word or two. She waited a few seconds and then slowly drove away. I kept feeling the doe's body, hoping she was just in shock and would get up. I was in shock. This had just happened. She was still warm and we had been gone for quite awhile and she was not there when we left. It was pitch black out and I couldn't tell who she was, though she wasn't dark like Brownie but she was small. Brownie turns out small deer. I would have to wait all day and hope that Brownie and her crew would show up for corn in the evening.

Saturday morning was busy as we had a commitment but I elected to squeeze in a call to the precious people who sold us some acreage last year that connected to the farm. They are old and sick and live in Tennessee. He had colon cancer and she has Padgett's disease. I haven't talked with them for a long while, and left a message last week. No more procrastinating. It was a sad conversation as I learned that Bill now has thyroid cancer and her pain is worsening. Poor things. My eyes were already swollen from the night before and the tears that flowed with Ann wouldn't matter. I now have two more lovely people to add to my prayer list. I don't know why I am so fond of them, but there is something about those two that causes me to truly care for them.

The evening finally came after a day of shopping for flowers, working in the yard, changing the barn window box flowers, weeding, and mulching. I am still not done! Alas, the deer began to show but I only saw little Cocoa and Nub near the barn. Uh oh, that was not good; they never feed by themselves. I gave them corn. I brought the horses in and kept watch for other deer and finally six showed. BB was not there but while that was not good, all the girls were fine! Yippee! Brownie seemed tired and rested while chewing her cud. BB finally showed up and I saw three Longtails skip down the hill wanting to sample that good corn! Mama Longtail is huge and her twin boy has antlers already splitting on each side. While I still wonder who that doe was and hope that her death was swift, I am thankful that my Brownie's Brood remains fine and all is well on the farm!

Flower Power

Take a look at these beauties! The roses are doing very well in their second year. Got them from Kmart last year. The irises are spectacular. My purple flower section is flourishing. Love these purple and white 'tunies. Hopefully in a couple of months the brick wall will be covered with morning glories. The peonies are popping out and the flower basket I got in April loved the special 'juice' that I blogged about earlier. Waiting for my tiny blueberries to grow...the dogs have crushed the smaller plants..bad dogs! The rhodies are still covered with varying shades of pink and so far the two little pear trees look healthy. The snaps dislike the window box at the barn so I need to 'redo' and replant. Other than that, come summer there should be some spectacular color. Can't wait!

No Brownie Babies Yet

I was blessed with Brownie and her 'Brood' making their appearance a little earlier than usual! The lighting was perfect to get some great close-ups. They all looked healthy. I didn't see any limping and that bot fly wasn't on Brave One's leg anymore. The little ones faces are changing so fast. Thankfully they are visiting on a more regular basis but I still do not see all those other deer who fed in the winter. I did see Bandit and Bossy's Boy the other night and Runt hiding in the woods with her twins during the day but that is it; the other 20 have chosen to remain secluded. I pray all of my deer stay safe and sound from those stray dogs and no little fawns are attacked. So far, so good!

Little Cocoa and Brownie

Brownie's Brood!

Bossy with her Big Belly and Little Nub

Looks like Brave One (she resembles Brownie alot)
Shy One (she is lighter than her sister Brave One)
Pretty Brownie Shy One Brownie Carrying Twins

BB (Bossy's 2008 boy)

Several Sunday Surprises

Sundays are supposed to be days of rest. Today began a bit chilly unlike the scorchers we had earlier in the week. I turned the horses out, completed the barn chores, and brought the Sunday paper in so the good husband could enjoy his morning ritual. The rain brought out several beautiful floral surprises! A lone pink iris that has not bloomed since we owned the farm has opened up. The yellow irises now dominate Hazel's bulb garden and my peonies have blossomed. So pretty!

I intended on blogging but then the dogs began to bark. The barks were urgent 'Mom, there are humans close to the house!' type of barks. Strong and consistant. I let Coty out immediately, slipped on my shoes, got the camera, put the long lens in place and walked briskly in the back yard, up the hill and hid in the woods. Probably someone hunting turkeys although the turkeys have left long ago due to those two dogs that run the deer. My good canines continued to bark but with less frequency. They stayed still and I stayed still. I heard nothing. No twigs snapping, no voices. The birds did not sing up the hill though they were chirping below me. All was quiet for several minutes. The brush was thick, the thorns stood ready to stab me with their painful points and poison ivy was everywhere. I prayed no ticks would find a home on my body. The dogs began to bark again and then I heard the voices. I simply yelled firmly (with no menace) to get out of my woods and that they were trespassing. Twice. The voices sounded young. I couldn't head straight up to where they were in the clothes that I had on without tearing my skin so I took the 'secret path' up this incline I call Cardiac Hill. It is brutal. Huge massive rocks support the hill and on top it goes straight down on the right side. I heard an adult male giving kids directions as to where to go. I saw them and tried to capture them with the long lens but missed as I neglected to turn on the 'sports' mode. I chastised myself as I was nearing the top for not being in better shape. In plain view an adult man and a teenage boy were carrying neatly coiled heavy ropes on their shoulders. I was behind them only within a few feet. They were oblivious of me. I simply watched and listened for about three minutes. They were planning to repel down those cliffs. The three youngsters were below. The girl wore a red jacket. When they began slipping the ropes off, I quietly said 'whoa, don't do that'. They turned and were surprised I was so close. I explained that I owned the land and did not want anyone on it, especially near those cliffs where someone could get hurt. The man insisted he did not see my signs. I noticed the boy had a knife. As usual millions of thoughts ran through my mind, but I refused to listen to them, remained calm and engaged the man in a conversation about his black dually deisel Dodge. I complimented 'Brittany' for reaching the top first and joked with the thin kid who stopped to rest. That spurred the heavier kid to come in second place. I showed them a better way to get out of the woods so they would not get scratched and off they went, hopefully never to return again.

I chose a different way down the hill and alarmed a deer despite my verbal assurances that it was I. She continued to snort which caused me to 'wonder had they come back'? The dogs would tell me. My question is, if they were repelling, then why were they over near the house? Why did they stop talking when the dogs were barking? Hmmmm. We all met at the rocks close to the same time. The steepness and heavy brush slowed me down which was proof that they were not near the rocks. The dogs were pointed in a different direction. Sundays are supposed to be for relaxing but I am very thankful that all was well and ended well. Now, I can pick some blooms, make an arrangement and still have time to get on that treadmill and workout!