Last Sunday, June 27th, I woke up to Oscar and Lollipop gently scratching the door to our bedroom. It was just after 7:00 a.m. and I could not imagine why the dogs let me sleep an hour later than usual. But, just that one extra hour of sleep had me refreshed and ready for the … More Born in a Barn
Each spring I wonder about the logic behind cardinal birds building nests in the low shrubs and dwarf trees growing in and around our yard. Many times, the nests are robbed of eggs by snakes or squirrels, and sometimes even the hatchlings are preyed upon before their eyes open or feathers emerge. And far too often, I … More An Empty Nest
Wednesday evening found me in a rush to clean up dinner dishes so that I could run over to our neighbor’s backyard to check on Daisy. When I observed her earlier that morning, her udder appeared to be slightly larger than it had been over the past several days. I also noticed her resting a good bit the day prior, so I had … More Born In A Storm
In early October, I began to see signs of the rut beginning in our part of the woodlands. Where the usual deer sighting had been limited to does and fawns (mostly Daisy and her little herd), it became quite common to observe a few very young bucks roaming the area just below the slope. Often, a low grunting noise … More Lost In The Chaos of the Rut
August finally brought the scorching hot weather we are familiar with this time of year. I suppose we should be thankful that the heat held off longer than usual, as it made for a fairly comfortable summer with ample moisture. But now the grass is burning up and there is very little mowing to do. The tomatoes … More Following Spirit
I fretted something fierce the week before FD and I headed to New York City. It was our first real vacation in seven years. I wanted everything to be done here on our ten acres so that on our return we would not have so much to deal with. FD’s sister from Dallas, Sissy Jo, offered … More Catching Up After Vacation
Lately, FD and I have spotted Daisy’s rival doe “friend”, Scarlet, feeding at the base of the slope. Just yesterday, we found her and her doe fawn from last year nibbling on corn and eating deer chow from the feeders below. Scarlet is still very pregnant and I would not be surprised if she has … More A Case Of Mistaken Identity…
From the time Daisy deer delivered her twins in early June, it was evident her mothering instinct was strong and going full-throttle. For the first couple of weeks before giving birth, and for roughly a month after giving birth, a deer mother will patrol and protect her birthing territory with vigilance. Daisy was no exception … More What I Imagine To Be A Brave Fight
Two years ago, when I took on raising Daisy, an orphaned deer, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I discovered this sweet, little baby deer wandering around down below our slope one morning in late May of 2011. After observing the fawn from a distance for two days, being worried … More Being a Deer Mother… Daisy’s Turn
Yesterday morning, and again this morning, FD and I were awakened by the rumble of thunder and a downpour of rain. For the past two weeks, Oklahoma has seen more than its share of volatile weather. Tornadoes, hail, and flooding have wreaked havoc in most regions of the state. As another bolt of lightning flashed, … More Two Thunderstorms Bring Two Little Miracles!
Day by Day the Farm Girl Way... 