It’s hard to believe that it’s been so long since my last post. A lot has happened. The beautiful autumn leaves have fallen and now cover the ground with a brown carpet. The meadow got its annual big mow. Deer hunting season came and went. Thanksgiving, too (with no turkeys missing). We’ve had hard freezes with lows below 20 and record-high temperatures in the 70s. Daylight Saving Time ended, and the days are much shorter. Christmas Day has come, but the season will last a few a few more days. It’s almost 2022; I continue to ramble almost daily, and life goes on.
The colors in the trees persisted into early November, although many had turned brown by the middle of the month. Most of the trees have lost their foliage now, but the American Beech trees still cling to their golden leaves. The predominate browns and grays in the woods are peppered with the greens of pine trees, and a few hollies, hemlocks, and cedars (including this one that I moved from Alabama when it was two feet tall!).
The rut, and hunting and breeding seasons have left changes in the herd and the individuals in it. Most of the little bucks from 2020 (Friendly, Flopsy, Muley, Fork et al.) quit showing up in mid-November; sometimes I would see them sparring before they left. (The photo is from the trail camera.) Curly stayed around for a while. One day he showed up with a broken antler; as I understand it, the loss will not hurt him since it’s after the velvet stage. I saw him again yesterday, so I know he’s ok so far. (This is an interesting article on antler growth.) I never saw the magnificent buck from last year, but a large buck did visit. Based on his behavior when I talked (and sang) to him, I believe it was V-Boy, one of the young bucks from a few years ago. He didn’t run off and seemed to look at me as though he recognized me. (I think I saw him yesterday afternoon, too.)
The does and 2021 fawns continue to visit daily, although I haven’t seen Fuzzy, one of my long-time favorites, for a while. (I’m still hoping she will show up.) When the deer hear me put out the birdfeeders in the morning, they amble down the path or run down the ridge across the road. A few of them often wait outside the basement door (sometimes impatiently!); they know I’ll give them apple pieces. 🙂 Often I will see one or two in the meadow in the afternoon; by the time I get the corn and apples in the bucket and go down, it seems that the meadow is full of deer! Sometimes after I put corn in the pans and toss apple pieces, a few of the young ones will follow me in hope of getting more. (And they usually do.)
The turkeys often come, too. I love watching them fly in from their roosts in the pine trees up the hill in the mornings but usually am not quick enough to catch them in a video.
The muchachos are enjoying the Christmas tree and have, for the most part, left the decorations alone (although I decided it was best not to tempt them by decorating the mantel). Cisco helped me wrap gifts, but Pancho decided he prefers hanging out under the tree. (I think he’ll miss it when it’s gone.)
We’ve had some beautiful dawns and dusks recently.
I’ve had many lovely and peaceful rambles this year; here’s hoping that 2022 brings us all peace, good health, and patience. See you next year!
French Broad Hollow Ramble 