Ten Seconds

There will be plenty of people counting down the seconds to the new year tonight. 

Since I hope to be sound asleep by then, here's my own countdown a little early--

10 of my favorite animal sightings of 2016:

10. Fox Kit

Little Foxes

9. Wood Duck

Woody in the Tree

8. Eastern Chipmunk

Generation Z

7. White-tailed Fawn

Once in a Lifetime

6. Eastern Wild Turkey

Trapped

5. Raccoon

Co-inhabitants

4. Monarch Chrysalis

Morning Metamorphosis 

3.White-tailed Buck

Morning Fog

2. Male Cardinal

Mountain Lion Hollow

1. Golden Retriever, Barley

Co-inhabitants

Happy New Year!

Linking with Saturday's Critters

Dog Day Evening

It's the end of a long summer evening, 

just before the last drop of light has been squeezed out of the day.  

The warm, moist air, stirred by a slight eastern breeze, 

is alive with sparkling fireflies and the music of the night: 

a whip-poor-will chanting its name, 

cricket frogs croaking from the pond, 

and over it all, the pervasive sound of the dog day cicada. 

The crescent moon is in its first quarter, 

and in the distance, the last fireworks of the 4th of July weekend 

add their glow to the night.

Earlier, I watched twin fawns follow their mother through a hole in the fence 

and into the woods.  

The second little creature paused and, 

as if it could feel my eyes on it, 

turned and looked at me before slipping out of sight.

July is off to a good start.

Morning Encounter

Barley and I walked early this morning, before full light.  As we walked up the hill on the country road near ours, we heard the snorts of startled deer in the woods, then saw some movement, and in a flash, 2 does had crossed the road very close to us.  Following them was the tiniest fawn, who ran by, a little slower, not more than one yard from where Barley and I stood.  It ran to the edge of the road, and paused in the high weeds, where it turned and looked back at us.  Barley started to walk toward the fawn, but I called to him softly and he stopped where he was.  The 2 of them just stood and looked at each other for a few minutes, then the fawn ran off to join its mama.  I imagine both Barley and the fawn are having interesting dreams tonight.  I know I will. 

  

What happened to your spots?