Deer!

We’ve lived here, in a fairly rural part of central Massachusetts, for thirteen years. Once, in the heart of summer, our land thick and lush with green, I was working outside and heard a rustling, snapping sound off in the distance, near our stone wall. It was late afternoon, the sun golden. In a slight opening in the foliage, in full sun, I saw the head, shoulders and antlers of a deer. He was magnificent. By the time I registered his presence and sucked in my breath, he leapt over the stone wall and disappeared into the woods. That was the only time I have actually seen a deer on our property.

Late this afternoon, Chuck glanced out our bedroom window and spoke in a stage whisper: “Lee! Deer!” (When I saw his face and caught his sight-line out the window, I knew he hadn’t said: “Lee, dear!”) Sure enough there was a female White Tail Deer in our driveway, in front of the lilac bushes. Chuck’s eyes resolved more slight movement before mine did, as he spotted four more does! He quickly got the camera and I snapped as many pictures as I could. Nature and natural selection have made these creatures nearly invisible in this landscape. These unretouched photos were taken through our old multi-paned windows (with white mullions and muntins), through the storm window, which was covered in raindrops!
That said, enjoy!





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