I had the sweetest moment with our deer the other day. I sat right on the edge of our sidewalk with my camera and just quietly sat with them and photographed them for about 45 minutes. I'm so incredibly happy that the new babies are now a part of the big guys and get to come eat with everyone. There are two babies that I'm certain of, but I think I spotted two more out in the field the other day. One of the babies from last season who is almost a full grown adult now comes so close to me. It was about 1-2 feet away eating. If there were not so many other personalities in the mix now I'm sure they would be eating out of my hand by now. But our heard has grown so much, usually having around 17 deer at one time, that when one gets spooked the others do too. And there are always deer in the mix who haven't gotten to know us, so it's a daily process to see them all mix together. Some days they are are cool and mellow and then others they are all fighting and kicking each other. The kick the shit out of each other too, it's crazy! But my heart is soooooooo overjoyed at having babies in our yard. There is nothing sweeter than a baby deer.
DEER FRIENDS
A little update on our deer friends. The babies have now joined in on the feeding. Just a few weeks ago their mamas kept them on the sidelines in the woods, but now they are letting them come hang with the big guys. They are so sweet. At first they were pretty timid and would run easily but now they are some of the first to run up and don't get spooked as easily. There were just two babies that came around but now there are three! I don't think my excitement of seeing the babies will ever go away. I hope they grow up to be our friends.
And of course with this many deer, in the Texas heat, there is bound to be some tension. I caught a few fights on my camera, but that one above tops them all so I'll just share that one. And we got our first male in the yard below! Look how stunning he is. He doesn't come around regularly, usually its just the females. He was pretty shy, but we've seen him a few times now. I just love his fuzzy antlers.
Last week I almost got one of the adult mamas to eat out of my hand. She ate next to me for about 10 minutes within 1-2 feet distance. It was so amazing. One day... it will happen!
And OMG!!! The best thing happened the other day but I wasn't able to photograph it, but when we walked outside to leave one afternoon I looked over and one of the baby deer was laying inside my teepee!!! It got spooked so I only saw it for a split second but it was the sweetest thing ever! I had told them that they were more than welcome to use the teepee, but didn't really expect to ever see on of them in it, much less a baby!!!!
DEER MEDICINE
These sweet guys are my new buddies. Weve been hanging out in the yard together for the past two weeks. This day, one of them (the first one to hang around) came and ate about 4 feet away from me for about 10 minutes. It was such an amazing thing. She has been hanging around our house for a while, actually a few years I think. She likes to play with Violet along the fence in the backyard. The last few weeks she has decided she is not afraid of us much at all. I'm working my up to getting her to eat out of my hand... I think she is so beautiful.
Deer has always been a part of my animal medicine that shows up. I have always felt a fondness to them, a connection in spirit. This past week it has shown up very heavily. From these beautiful guys befriending us, to more amazing encounters. On the way home from town the other day we came across two magestic Fallow deer, which I had never seen in person before. I was so taken by their presence and beauty. The picture below is this beautiful creature. Then one day when I was working out on my eliptical, looking out the window, I spotted two baby deer frolicking in the field together! And then the evening after seeing the Fallow deer, we heard Violet barking in the backyard and went outside to see what she was barking at, and there was a baby deer curled up next to our fence. I got to see it within a foot close, and its big beautiful blue eyes with long eyelashes and little spots all over. It was the sweetest split moment ever. Before I was able to take a photo it got up and ran off, but I will never forget that moment. So sweet and tender and full of magic and charm. I can't stop thinking about it. I wanted to cuddle it so bad, ha ha!
