Some of you have seen—and heard—me feed the deer. I thought others might wonder about it, and here are some photos captured by my trail camera in late February. As you can see, I’m quite the fashion trendsetter! If you want a closer view, (although I can’t imagine why you would), I think you can click an individual image. BTW, I love my white shrimp boots! They are a bit too large but are perfect for slipping on when I head down to the meadow!
I didn’t walk yesterday (Tuesday). I felt fine, but it was rainy and cool, and I decided to take a day off. Instead, I spent an hour or more working on what was, I’m sure, my very best blog post ever. And then I somehow managed to delete it and save only the very first part! I’ve reconstructed it as best I can remember. Maybe I should have walked after all. Today’s weather is about the same, but I will be walking later!
I wonder what I missed by not walking yesterday. Monday I found this tiny dead Ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus) in the road. At first I wondered how someone could have run over it, since there is very little vehicle traffic on our road these days, and these are nocturnal snakes. Looking more closely, I decided that some other critter must have killed it.
Before the latest return to winter (when we were setting record high temperatures), the butterflies were out in force, even some that usually aren’t around until the summer. Mostly they are too quick for me, but this Common Gray moth (Anavitrinella pampinaria) had been attracted to the porch light the previous night, and perhaps the warmer weather had made this Sleepy Duskywing butterfly (Erynnis brizo) drowsy. The tiny Grapevine Epimenis moth (Psychomorpha epimenis) was resting, too. The Eastern Comma butterflies (Polygonia comma) flutter away when I approach, and the numerous Falcate Orangetips (Anthocharis midea) are much too swift for me, as you can see in the video.
As I noted in my last post, the warm weather had brought out the flies, as well as the butterflies. I discovered that several deer were fighting the heat and the flies by resting in the cool damp bottom of the ravine on the side of the meadow. Of course, they come out to eat!
And now the sun is starting to come out, too. I have to take my garbage and recycling to the landfill before I walk, so I’ll leave you with this for now.
And this bonus, if you’ve read this far!
P.S. It’s hard to record while cupping your hands around your mouth!
I hope this post finds you and yours in good health. It’s hard to know what the future will bring, but it should bring another post from me before too long. Keep safe and stay well!
This photo of Bambi was taken the morning after my last post; it was a sunny day, but cold. Since then—until today—the highs have been mostly in the mid- to high 50s. This morning it snowed again and will likely not get much above 40°, but the sun is out and most of the snow is gone.
These are the regulars. Some of them approach me as I walk (carefully) down to the meadow, and I toss apple pieces to each one, near and far. Bambi and his mom will walk right up and beg for a slice. Of course I oblige! Most of them gather around as I pour corn into the first pan, although the ones who are lower in rank or more skittish wait until I move on. After they finish one pan, they run 
and they often walk right past the house on their way to and from the meadow.
The sun’s out now, and the only snow I can see is in the shadows on the north-facing slope. The deer are starting to gather, and the bird feeders need filling. The forecast calls for a couple more days in the 40s, then back into the high 50s and 60s. We’ll have to wait to see when spring will come to stay.
French Broad Hollow Ramble 