Home Alone

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It was hot out yesterday, with the air still and humid.  Not far from the house, at the base of an old oak tree, a sleeping fawn was curled into a tight ball. Don had discovered it before light, and where it lay, we could see it from the garage window.  It was a tiny one, the first we'd seen this year.

I watched the little creature as the sun rose in the sky 

and the shadows moved across the grass.

Its white spots moved up and down with the rhythm of its breathing.

Mid morning, it woke and sniffed its surroundings

before laying back down.

Barley is one of the gentlest souls around, 

and he was was curious enough to take a sniff...

but as soon as the little one raised its head, Barley backed away.  

The fawn woke again in the afternoon, stretched its legs,

then folded them up like an card table and returned to its nap.

We've often heard that it's not wise to intervene on behalf of a lone fawn, as the mothers normally leave them in a safe place and go about their business, but now its easier to see why people do that.  As far as we could tell, this little fawn was left alone just about ten hours, and we were wondering how it could stay hydrated on such a hot day.  Apparently their moisture requirements are much different than ours.

Finally, late in the afternoon, the mama doe came back.  

The thirsty little fawn drank its fill, then followed its mama into the woods. 

We love happy endings.

In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

Job 12:10






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Wary Visitors

When winter parcels out its light, deer appear at the fringes of the day. 

The sun's first rays warm their thick coats and turn their whiskers into strands of light.  

They browse nervously, snapping to attention at every hint of danger. 

One false sound, and, tails up, they flee to the cover of the woods. 

They come again at evening; 

their shadows lengthen and spread into the darkness that gives them shelter.




In His hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.
Job 12:10

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Finally, Fawns!

Of the seven does that frequent our surroundings, 

most of them were pregnant this year and have now dropped their fawns, 

but we've only caught glimpses of those small elusive creatures.  

Last week, late in the day, 

a tiny one made the mistake of getting in the way of the grownups' dinner.  

It was agile and quick, and stayed just out of reach of horns and hooves.

When it tired of the game, it found its mama, and they wandered off to the pond.

Last night, when the sun was low in the sky,

 one tiny spotted fawn appeared down the hill in the grass and Queen Anne's lace...  

... and browsed until its mother called.

Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?

Do you count the months till they bear?

Do you know the time they give birth?

They crouch down and bring forth their young;

their labor pains are ended.

Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds;

they leave and do not return.

Job 39:1-4