Deer in the woods

Paddy and Scruffy humored me today as I tried a dual leash today. But we scarcely noticed the walk to the park as we hurried along. Once we arrived we glanced about to see who was there and whether we had time to venture down the dirt road.

The pink sky colored the wispy clouds. It was still a bit cooler in the park. And I wondered if there was any chance for deer today.

The pups investigated a spot along the road where the grass is beated down. I suspect it is a place the deer cross from the woods to the road and on to the meadows. I cannot imagine what else could cause that much disarray in the weeds. Even a bunch of kids would not cause that kind of flattening of foliage.

We headed down the road to check a few stray wafer ash saplings on the way to the far meadow and, looking up, spied a buck at the end of the road. He stood - majestic and motionless - watching us as we closed in on the opening to the field. Then he called a warning and disappeared in the woods.

No other deer were in the meadow when we arrived. Forewarned, they moved faster than we did and must have headed beyond the meadow towards the wooded area bordering the old golf course.

Pleased at our short, but fruitful hunt, we headed back down the road towards the rest of our day.

We had moved maybe fifty feet down the road we were surprised by a loud snorted warning on our right. More deer were hidden in the woods, invisible to us, but close enough to startle us with that cautionary signal.

The wild honesuckle with its tiny, delicate flower has suddenly appeared blooming along the road.

How much would we miss if we did not venture forth every day, if we did not watch for those small changes around us?

It is wonder. It is delight.