Thursday, September 15, 2011

Visitor

Overnight rain, like castanets beating a rhythm, lulls me to sleep. By morning, when the mist lifts briefly, the high peaks are frosted white. The aspens, still green a few days ago, rapidly turn golden. Cold paints the understory of the forest in shades of russet, sienna and umber. At midday, three young bucks stroll into the garden to munch on the delphiniums. Each fall, when hunting season approaches, deer seem to know to come closer to the house. Do their mothers somehow transmit this knowledge before they head out on their own? I walk onto the back deck with my camera. Two of my visitors amble away, but the third stands his ground. I intend to snap a photo and then clap my hands to shoo him from the remaining blooms. But, his soft gaze and slowly twitching ears mesmerize. For a moment - two - we both stand in wonder. Finally, with a flick of his tail, he moves slowly away. I've enjoyed my gardens through the too-short summer. Now, I'll share the flowers with the forest creatures during the brief fall. The encroaching snow reminds us all of lengthy winter's steady approach. 

26 comments:

  1. what a beautiful creature. I'd share my delphiniums with him too. look at the fuzz on those antlers. it makes me sad to think that he could be felled by a hunter's bullet. but that's a fact of life, isn't it? your photos is a real treasure. happy day to you Barb.

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  2. lovely. the buck is so soft - just want to reach out and touch him. and your words were like poetry.

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  3. Absolutely beautiful Barb. Love this image. Had no idea you had a second blog but I love it and will stop by often. Carol

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  4. Don't you love those moments of exchange with deer. Wonderful photo!

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  5. I love that moment of communication between nature and human.

    This is a magnificent shot!

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  6. Incredible photo. Nice of you to share your flowers. I think he appreciates it.

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  7. Great job capturing the moment. I like the way you coexist with nature!

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  8. He is a beauty! I see his eyes and yours staring in contact.

    I love these kind of unexpected moments!

    Looks like ski season is on its way!

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  9. What a capture! I am glad you share your flowers with him.

    The same thing happens here. The turkey flocks move up into our yards during hunting season.

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  10. Wonderful photo, him standing between the forest and the flowers.

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  11. Oh, WOW! What a handsome guy and what a great shot! Love it!

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  12. You live in the most enchanted place, Barb! What beauty you see all around you, and the photos of wild life are magnificent! Someday I hope to visit those gorgeous heights of Colorado!

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  13. Fantastic cratures. We have a lot of them and I find them so endearing. Or maybe I should say endeering.

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  14. I've wondered that, too and can hear the mothers saying, "It's okay -- the good stuff is up closer..."

    We had a small herd almost up on our patio a few days ago...

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  15. Such a gorgeous animal. Lucky you to experience this special encounter.

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  16. Bold looking, for sure. And very handsome.

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  17. Love the velvety rack on this one, Barb. Must have been amazing to see him so close.

    Autumn is coming on strong here as well, but I imagine we will have some nice sunny days before winter comes knocking... :)

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  18. He's beautiful! Seems like summer is always the shortest season no matter where you are, but it literally is where you live. Thank you for sharing the joy you get from every day and every season.

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  19. Hi Barb,
    You and Wanda capture the most beautiful backyard creatures. It's the way they look at you just as you snap the photo. I guess that's why they call them "doe eyes." ~ so sweet and 'dear.'

    Your posts here at, "One Good Thing" are really special Barb. They would make a wonderful book ~ one Good Page to enjoy each day.

    When you wrote about the long winter, I smiled. I just went through 1,000 photos choosing the ones to develop {Snapfish had an incredible one cent sale that I caught the night before it ended!} I found a folder called "Snow Day." After a hot summer, it's easy to forget how high the snow banks were last winter!

    Wishing you a nice long autumn ~
    *and many good things to come*
    ~Maria

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  20. That buck is gorgeous. I've often wondered the same thing about their tendency to come near the house during hunting season or if a mountain lion is in the neighborhood. It seems that the lions are more afraid of us than the deer - which the deer use to their advantage.

    Your prose is beautiful. I feel as if I was there with you.

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  21. Such a sweet face Barb, I'd probably have invited him in for tea! LOL!!
    As usual it sounds so beautiful there even with winter swiftly approaching. I can always tell by your eloquent descriptions!!
    Love Di ♥

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  22. Wat beautiful prose-poetry! And what a beautiful subject!

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  23. Excellent portrait of this beautiful animal.

    Regards and best wishes

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  24. Magnificent creature and what an absolute blessing to have him (and his family) visit and spend a while with you. Well captured!

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  25. Polowanie udane - śliczne zdjecie. Pozdrawiam

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Your comments are always one good thing for me!