Oh, deer.

Yesterday afternoon I looked up from my computer (it's in front of a big window) and spied a deer romping through the field in front of my house--and he was trotting along my walking trail! It looked like a young buck, and he was just goofing off, kicking his feet out to the side and having a great time. Then he disappeared into the woods. About 10 minutes later, he came back out, trotted along the trail toward the house and hopped into the woods at a different spot. Just like he owned the place. lol

But before that, early yesterday morning while on our way to the post office, we spotted a huge coyote about a half mile from the house. It was one of the biggest I've seen!

Said all that to say this: I walk every afternoon, just about dusk, when it's coolest. My trail circles our property and about a quarter of a mile of it leads right beside the woods. I've seen bobcats, deer, coyotes, foxes, and snakes here (and that's not counting all the little critters like rabbits, opposums, skunks, turtles, hawks, etc.). As I walked along, I suddenly came to the realization that I didn't even have so much as a stick with me! Guess I'd better start taking a walking stick or something just in case I need to scare anything away.

I'll be using all these experiences in essays or articles. Unless something gets me first.

Funny you mentioned that--we were talking yesterday about getting a new salt block to set out in the woods. They love those!

I love Howard.

He must be in the same club as Taffy, my little mixed breed pooch. I swear there's some sort of agreement between her and all the resident rabbits. They don't bother her when she naps on the porch and she won't chase them when they're standing right in front of her nose. lol

I'm serious--the rabbits don't even run when she's close to them! I think they know she's retired. After all, she is 13.

Come on down, Rose, and we'll walk that nature trail! Maybe Taffy and Howard can at least carry the sticks for us. lol

Joanne, speaking of being careful around the deer...a couple of years ago there was a terrible accident on the interstate. A deer leapt from an embankment and went through the windshield of a truck. The driver died after the deer's sharp hoof sliced his juglar vein! Just a freak accident, but a horrible thing to think about.

On a more pleasant note, I had a brief conversation with an American goldfinch this morning. He was sitting on a power line above my head and I whistled to him. He whistled back! I have no idea what we talked about, but it was nice.

Oh, that's right! How could I forget that? teehee

...goes away whistling something about janglers or some such...

Wow, reph, you're good! All you had to do was mention horse whisperer and one shows up.

Greetings, storygirl! Glad you stopped by. Horse babbling is perfectly acceptable in here.

Rose, one of my neighbors released his pet rabbits and we didn't know he had done it. For weeks we thought we were seeing things because we kept catching glimpses of white rabbits whenever we passed his place. Finally I got around to mentioning it to someone and they told me what he had done. Didn't seem like a real great idea to me, what with all the predators around here!

Wonder if the tame rabbits would breed with the wild rabbits?