Teriffic Tuesdays

Two unusual animal interactions for you all to enjoy! --LKR

Frost and Snow Flurries!!!

Unbelievable, but on the 8th day of May, we were anticipating 1-3" of snow!!! Fortunately we only got flurries!!!

Unfortunately, frost hit our hostas..., but they should grow new leaves. I'm not sure which is worse, having the frost get to them, or the deer! --LKR

Cat & Deer Video

White Wisconsin Deer

This report was fascinating! I'd love to get the book "White Deer: Ghosts of the Forest"! Jeff Richter spent a decade photographing them, and John Bates did the research and writing. A larger population of white deer reside in the Boulder Junction, Wisconsin area where they were photographed for this book.

I've seen elsewhere that people claim that a true albino deer has pink eyes..., but there are many forms of albinism. Very interesting! --LKR

Not If, But When

They say not if, but when it happens. At least in some parts of the country, this is true. But it can happen almost anywhere in the United States, including heavily populated areas. It unfortunately (finally???) "happened" to us shortly before sunset, yesterday.

We were driving home from Wisconsin Rapids after a family reunion when suddenly, out of no where (as is usually the case), a deer ran out in front of us. Hubby started to break, but already a second doe had dashed out. This one we hit, but it was both a merciful and miraculous moment. Upon impact, my first thought was, "That's it?!!" We had barely even felt it!!!

After inspecting the van, we understood why. Hoof marks could be seen by the grill of our vehicle, and no where else. The doe's back legs were up in the air as she tried to leap to safety. When we hit her, she pivoted on her front legs and rolled out of harms way. Our son had then seen her get up and run away into the woods, for which were were all grateful. We gave thanks for the tender mercies of the Lord toward us and prayed for the little doe's recovery. No doubt she'll be sore for a while!

It's interesting: the day before, I had grabbed a freebie magazine called "Around the Kitchen". Timely advice about dealing with deer was on page 37 in their October issue. Here are some things to keep in mind:

1) Feeding times for deer are before and after sunrise.

2) Deer are also more active from sunset to midnight.

3) Bucks are more active October through December.

4) How fast you are driving can and will effect stopping time as well as the force of impact.

5) If you see one deer, expect to see more.

6) DON'T SWERVE!!! I think this is the hardest advice for anyone to take. Instead, honk your horn while you're breaking, but stay in your lane. To quote the article, "Serious crashes happen when drivers swerve to avoid a deer, only to hit other vehicles or lose control of their cars."

7) Everyone should be doing this anyway, but make sure you're wearing your seatbelt so you are not injured should you unfortunately hit a deer.

Some very good, timely advice, I thought. After we got back on the road, I shared what I had read with my children, one of whom will be getting her driver's permit in the very near future. I hope this will positively impact your life! --LKR

Leapin' Lilies!

We've had two of our butterfly gardens for three years, now, and they are looking fuller than ever--even with the bunnies and deer snacking on their stalks--and buds! Oh, and with the moles sometimes chowing down roots, too! --Oy!!!
You know, my once thriving patch of stinging nettle began dwindling, which baffled me. So I camped out in front of that patch and caught those little moles red handed! Well, stinging nettle is high in vitamin C..., but those were meant for our Milbert's Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, and Question Mark butterfly caterpillars, as well as for soups and stews for us in the place of spinach! But, like I said before, the gardens are finally filling in, in spite of things. Because we've moved around enough and have started many perennial gardens at each place, we've had the opportunity to observe and prove this saying is true:

1st year, sleep
2nd year, creep
3rd year, leapOur gardens have indeed leapt, to my delight!!!

Having had such a loooooong winter..., they are a much more treasured sight! --LKR

A Tick Trip

Hi, it's me, Mister Poochie!

Mom and I were out at Lowes Creek County Park, today. It was fun fun fun! As Mom pointed out, everything is coming back to life after a very long cold winter, it is. There were buds on trees and bushes, and plenty of green along some of the trails.

We saw a dragonfly, oh, and a mourning cloak butterfly! It took a liking to me and followed after us, it did! Mom said we were probably in its territory and was checking me out, it was.

On Ridgeline Trail, we saw a turkey, we did. It flew over the creek right toward us! I wanted to make nice to it, but Mom told me to "leave it", she did. I'm a good boy, so I left it, I did.

Mom decided to lead along a less traveled trail you need a machete to walk through during the summer months. This path follows along the water's edge before stopping at a bend in the winding creek. I got a nice long drink of cool cool water, I did, and splashed around. This was while Mom took pictures of what I thought were funny looking insects. I pulled her, and she pulled me. I need a longer leash, I do!

There were also lots and lots of deer tracks all over, there were. It must be a popular place for them to cross over to the other side, Mom said. I sniff sniff sniffed. No one I recognized, this time! I know many deer that come through our yard, I do--at least by scent!

Walking back to the trail we strayed from, Mom stopped to flick a tick from her shoulder. Then she looked down at her legs, she did. I did too, and uh oh! A steady stream of ticks was crawling up both her legs, they were! Quickly and calmly she flick flick flicked them off one by one. Through it all, she seemed strangely amused, she did, but that is Mom. I lost count after 30, I did. I would not want that many on me, oh no!

We went home and Mom started dinner, she did. Many times she stopped, plucked off, and drowned even more ticks. Mom later told Alpha she found a dozen more on her after we got home. Thankfully Mom only found two on me! --Mister Poochie

More Signs of Spring

Lovely crocus in greater numbers than the year before brighten the day!So far, the rabbits and deer have spared these tulips... !Mole and mice tunnels and holes are revealed after the snow and ice have melted.

Several of these little beetles were scurrying around on the ground throughout our yard. When I was younger, I used to love to play with them! Fess time: I still do!!!

A flock of geese flying up above. A raptor, probably a red-tailed hawk, was later flying around, too. Sandhill cranes also flew overhead, this afternoon! A few weeks ago when we were in Chicago, I saw a flock flying way up high as we were driving into the city.

This is the second hummer's nest in the three and a half years we've lived here that I've found in our low growing, fragrant mock orange bush. Mock orange is a super butterfly magnet in the spring, as are lilacs!

A very skinny robin in search of food among patches of snow.

--LKR

Oh, Deer, Oh, Deer, Oh Deer!

Aren't they sweet? I saw four of these deer, and my son William saw five. In the past, there have been at least five that congregate in the back of Salem Baptist Church which is right off of Clairemont Ave, a very busy road in Eau Claire, WI. They are regular attenders! --LKR

A Spotted Trio at Dusk

Right before dinner, this evening, a trio of deer were spotted in our neighbor's yard. We get them all the time, according to our neighbors, the telltale hoof marks seen throughout our yard, and disappearing vegetation!

Even though they come smack up to our house, we do not see deer that often. The largest part of our property--where they frequent the most--is on the north side where we only have one window. And, unfortunately, that's located in the laundry room, all the way down stairs!

Bow hunting season has already started in our neck of the woods. Admittedly, I do enjoy venison. It's the slogans like "Bambi must die" that bother my inner child. Deer--with tongues hanging out of their mouths--displayed on top of the same car or truck for days doesn't sit really well with me, either. My hubby, who grew up in WI, says these trophies are a normally expected--and accepted--sight, come fall.

Hunting wasn't really that big where I grew up in northern NJ. My first real exposure to it was when a neighbor my sister and I babysat for cautioned that if we wandered down into their basement with the kids, we might find some deer "parts". And, on our way to school, we could see deer skins hanging outside on the cloths line over their fence. My friends, sister, and I would cringe as we'd walk by.

These photos are my trophies so that Bambi can live! (I'm posting three so you'll know they're real, not those lifelike statues seen in people's yards that I get fooled by!) Hunting is not for the faint-of-heart! --LKR

A Walk in the Woods

When my family of five moved from Villa Park, IL almost three years ago, we all lamented leaving behind our beloved Prairie Path on which we spent many happy hours—and memories--walking. Shortly after moving to the south of Eau Claire, WI (technically in the town of Washington), the kids and I blissfully discovered the local’s entry into a magical wooded world that rivaled anything we had ever encountered this close to home.

With temps reaching into the high 80’s and low 90's this past week, I retreated onto these wooded trails of beautiful Lowes Creek County Park three times. Twice I was able to drag one of my three children along. For some reason unbeknownst to me, they now balk whenever they are asked if they’d care to join me on one of my treks.

With all honesty, I have to confess that when surrounded by nature, I tend to get absorbed by my surroundings. That said, I have to conclude that the hours which are mere minutes to me as each new bend on a path, rustle of leaves…, or damselfly beacons me to follow a bit further, deeper into their world, takes me farther from my children’s. It does not help that I bring a camera along!

The trip I made alone was the most enjoyable. It was quite incredible as I was totally awed at new vistas on a newly explored trail. A butterfly I had long sought after, a Baltimore checkerspot, suddenly flew past me, landing on the grass. It allowed me to get really close where I discovered that this black and orange winged beauty--with striking orange-tipped antennae--also had orange palpi, eyes, and legs!!!

Also encountered was a deer posing on a narrow path, a red spotted purple butterfly weaving through the canopy of trees above, and several wild columbine flowers that were still in bloom—something I’ll be able to share with my children through photos. --LKR

6/18/07