2010 Snake Count Update

So far for 2010, there has been two confirmed visuals of snakes on our property. One in February inside the garage underneath the recycling bin and one last Sunday AM on the front porch when I went to get the morning paper. The one in the garage was introduced to my shovel and the one on the front porch accidentally met the botttom of my flip-flop.

She Is Back

Sitting in the TV room tonight around 8:00ish. Still light outside, but starting to get dark. See something small and tan dart across the backyard. Rush to the window and it was her, our friend the little baby deer. She sprinted by the swingset and back into the right corner of the yard into the woods. Went to the tree line to see her, but to no avail. Through out some lettuce along the tree line and plugged in the spotlight. Hopefully she gets some lettuce and I can spot her tonight with the light.

Travis Did Not Do To Do List (Update)

Stike one thing off the list. Well kinda off. The swingset is about 1/2 way done. A Frame, two swings and Gondola is up. It is operational for swinging and in place in the backyard. Still needs to be placed in the proper spot in the backyard. Once that is decided, I then need to attach the slide to the right side of the A frame (it is built) and I need to attach the Teeter-Totter on the left side of the A Frame (not built, still in box). Plus after those two items get attached, I need to figure out how to anchor this thing into the ground, so when you actually swing on the thing, the threat of it tipping over no longer exists, as well as ideally I would like to frame it with some railroad logs and fill it with fake rubber mulch. So don't expect any updates soon that it is 100%, but will post a photo once the final product is installed.
*UPDATE* I looked at it closer tonight and it is already starting to rust!

Deer the Other Night

A quick, cool story. The other night we were sitting on the back patio for a drink when we heard some noises in the woods. Usually something is always rattling back there, but usually something small like a squirel. Being pitch black out, and not knowing what is back there in the nature perserve, it always sparks my curosity. Usually when I hear something like that, I grab our spotlight. So we got the spotlight, turned the thing on and starting shinning all through the trees and brush. Then I spotted two white eyes staring back at me. It was a small baby deer, about 10'-15' feet from the edge of our grass line and in a small clearing in the nature perserve. I have spotted several deer over the years and usually once they are spotted, or hear us make a noise, they dart off into the woods. Well this little guy (or girl) was different. I must have kept the light on them for a minute or so on and off and it just stood there and stared back right at me. I started to walk from the patio into the grass and not only didn't it run away, it sat down and settled into the small clearing in the perserve. So I got a little bit braver and walked all the way to the edge of the grass line and the little guy just sat there staring right back at me. It was pretty cool. Probably no more than 10'-15' away. I thought something must be wrong with this little guy. Where was it's mother? Usually when we see deer there are others, plus this looked like a new baby. It couldn't have been more that 75 pounds. So I walked back inside and looked for something to feed it, as I assumed something was wrong. Maybe it was sick? Mabye it was lost? We didn't have any carrots or apples, but I grabbed some lettuce. Don't know if deer eat lettuce, but what the heck. I walked back through the yard and still shined the light on the litte guy. Still sitting there and staring back at me. So I got brave and figured, let me get closer. So I started walking into the brush and literally got about 1/2 way, probably 5'-10' away from the little guy at this point in time. Don't think I have ever been that close to a deer in the wild. Tossed a piece of lettuce but didn't get close. Still just sitting there. Threw the other two pieces, got it a little closer, but this time scared him off. He got up and sprinted back into the woods. Went back a few minutes later looking for him with the spotlight, but didn't see him and my light was losing its power. The next day went out looking for the lettuce and it was gone, so hopefully he came back and had a snack. Hope to see him again soon!