Raspberry Breakfast

She looked at ease in the garden, as if she belonged there, relishing her raspberry breakfast...

...checking to make sure she hadn't missed anything.

The small raised garden is west of the house, just a few yards below the deck off the kitchen. 

Don built it years ago out of railroad ties, and over time, it has had many productive seasons. 

This isn't one of them. At least, not for us.

Seeing a deer in the garden was not a surprise, but it seemed rather bold of her to be there in broad daylight.

I stepped out on the deck, and she paused mid-bite and looked up at me, as if to say,

"Just whose garden do you think this is, anyway?"

You know, she might have had a point, which raises the age old question:

Does a garden belong to the one who plants it,

or the one who harvests it?

Linking with Saturday's Critters

Evening Encounter

The last couple of evenings, Mama raccoon has brought out her kits.

 

Last night, they were minding their own business (that is, eating)...

...when two of them suddenly scrambled up a nearby tree.

Their anxiety came from the appearance of a doe, 

and they peered back timidly from the side of the tree as if to say, "Is it safe?"

Deciding to risk it, they sidled back down, but after a few tense moments, the raccoon family retreated to the woods.

"Was it something I said?"

Linking with Saturday's Critters

Early Rounds

At the close of a summer day, the sky holds its breath as a bright golden ball hangs on the rim of the horizon, waiting to drop into the net. Hummingbirds are making their final attack on the feeders, and deer and raccoons are waiting for the cover of night to raid the garden. I can live with giving up the beans and some tomato and cucumber greens, but if they mess with the cantaloupes, there's gonna be war.

Mama Raccoon made her rounds early last night, before the light had faded. As she sipped from the birdbath, climbed the stairs to the deck, and vacuumed up the remains of the bird seed, she appeared to be on familiar territory.

 More than likely, she has a nursery tucked into a nearby treetop. If she'll bring the kits by for a visit, a few greens and some sunflower seeds will be a small price to pay.

Linking with Saturday's Critters
and Skywatch Friday

Baby Blues

Bluebirds have fledged their young and lately, the little ones have found a cool spot in the birdbath.

Now here's a happy surprise. Who would expect to find a worm here? 

Young bluejays are out, too. This one watches intently for it's parent.

Anybody hungry? 

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

First Fawn

There's a new resident of the fields and forests of Ozark County, and at our place, it's the first fawn of the year. We saw it a week ago, on what was probably its first day on the planet, a tiny thing with spindly legs, sticking to its mother like a teenager to her cellphone.

In one week, it's grown a lot and gained a little independence...

...and a lot of curiosity. Every blade of grass is a wonder to the small creature. 

Come to think of it, every blade of grass is a wonder.

This spotted adventurer can change direction in a hurry when its mother signals "dinner time".

It flies like an arrow out of a bow...

...back to its mother's side.

Life is good.

Note: In the images with 2 fawns, they are not twins, but blended photos of the same fawn.

Linking with Saturday's Critters