Evening Visitors

 

The past couple of weeks the neighbors have been visiting and munching down the weeds and grass.  A small herd of deer roams the area and lately they have taken up evening residence next door or across the road.  They browse across the highway and over the empty field along the road.

I get up to go to the other room and looking out the window there they are.  They see me, ears perk and eyes focus on me through the window.  20-50 feet away they stand peering at the human in the window.  I stare back at them, tap on the window, ears twitch.  Soon they are back to grazing.

The fields here get no attention through the summer and grow wild, making for some nice grass and weeds for the deer to munch on.  The buck usually stays pretty low key yet he attracts lots of attention for the trophy hunters. They roar the streets of town, generally unbothered.  Loose dogs are dealt with promptly.

To the south is a ranch and the rancher brings his cattle in for the winter.  The hay put out for the cattle attracts the deer as well as the cows. 

The winter the roads and streets of the town are their home.  There are shelter spots they can bed down in and have good browse near by.

In the summer they wander the woods of the creek.  The creek is also their water.  Not sure how big of range they cover but would guess it is over 5 square miles. 

They are fun to watch at night and the next morning there are their hoof prints in front of the house and they leave bit of fertilizer behind.   Only problem is, they do much on my trees so I have to put a fence around the smaller trees.  Otherwise I just watch and occasionally take the camera out.   

Snow Day

 

Today is the day, the blizzard is here.  The day many farmers and ranchers have been hoping for.  Snow makes for hazards but for the land it is nourishment.   It has been so dry that the water is dusty. 

So take a few and punch out a few keys on the keyboard and write something about something.

I have been writing some stories for the local tourism people to post on their website about the ghost towns in the area.  In the process I have found a variety of old and interesting things.   Mostly old machinery and buildings.  Other day I was visiting with a rancher whose grandfather had operated a post office out of his ranch house in the early 1900’s. 

Hanging on their wall was a relic from Mabel’s time of the barb wire network.  Two short rings was Esther's, a long ring n a short was Mildred’s, two shorts and one long ring was Evelyn’s and any one else that wanted to listen in.  Party line central it was.  News of the neighborhood was broadcast far and wide over the barb wire.

Wonder if the kids today could operate something so primitive.  They would probably ask how to boot it up.

During my journeys into the out back I have some interesting companions, watchers.  Hunting season is still on so they are a bit skittish. 

Have been lucky to find a few ghosts here and there.  The knock at the door, opening and closing, footsteps over the floor.  Check on the door and it locked, no one is in the house.  Then there is frank, he hangs in the side room.  It is amazing some of the stories that people have about their unseen room mates.

Look closely, there is a shadow in the front window and there have been reports of lights in there at night.

Always did enjoy the stories of Caspar. 

Well the ground has turned white where the snow can collect.  The wind is blowing the rest down Texas way.

Rodeo Time

 

The Ranch Rodeo and Bronc Riding was this past weekend.  Got out there for a part of it.

First round was in the evening, second day was afternoon….. Temps went over the century mark…… lots of drinking….. well ya….. water and…. hehe.

 

Not all the riders had a good grip.

Hope you had a good weekend and  may the Lord bless your week.

The Life of the Wild

 

Deer are plentiful in the evening and fun to look at  as they browse on the grasses.  They also a desired by predators and they make an evening meal for numerous critters.  They also become road kill when they get close to the highways and try to cross.

They are a curious animal, standing there staring at the two legged creature snapping pictures.  They are also mesmerized by headlights at night and blinded.   A combination that is very deadly.  There is a stretch of highway west of here that I see a dead one along side the road almost weekly.  The herd lives on though, it is but part of the process.

 

Quietly they munch away on their evening meal. glancing back at the stranger.  Life and death wages on in the wild.  Where it comes from, when will it happen….. is but s moment of fear that flies into adversity.

Being atop of the food chain it is a fear I know not.  My cognitive reasoning carries me through dangerous moments.  A separation that carries very little understanding.

 

May God be your companion this week.