As you well know, Canadian winters are long, cold, snowy and quite unappealing in many ways.
You may also know that this, our first winter up north is reported to be among the worst experienced in the area. I see this as both a plus and a minus. The minus part is obvious - read back to long, cold, snowy and quite unappealing.
Looking at the plus side though, I figure that if this is one of the worst we can expect, subsequent years ought to be a breeze! Also on the plus side, is sharing our space with what I believe are among the most beautiful creatures on the planet.
Yes, that's you with your beautiful eyes and inquisitive looks.
You with your elegant legs which stomp the ground in protest when I stand a bit too close, and which are ready to run at a moment's notice.
You with your mouths which look like they're smiling when chomping down on the apples we offer, and which so eagerly eat the feed we leave for you.
You who come running when you hear the food being scattered.
You who announce your presence with a wee snort when my back is turned.
You who listen so intently when I tell you how very beautiful you are.
You with your snorts and bluster and hoofing and stomping.
You - all of you are making this winter among the finest in at least this one way.
You've given me more than you've accepted.
Thank you, dear deer.
59 comments:
Nice valentine to the deer! They are so pretty!
They certainly are beautiful creatures.. it's wonderful you're feeding those in the know.
I like how you think.. your glass is half full!
They are beautiful both alive and for dinner.
I can never understand how people can kill them :)
Beware of the little raisins they leave behind. :) Otherwise watch where you step.
ha. cool. we have a family of them that live under the furit trees in my back yard....i let them have the leavings and they know they are safe...
Seeing them would make up for a lot of snow.
Very pretty deers!! Nice captures..
You and me both, Hilary!
Deer are my very, very favorite creatures, and have been since I can remember. They are such gentle creatures. We actually have a mom and twins that frequent our bird feeder at House #2. They began coming in the fall and continued right through the winter.
These are such beautiful photographs of them.
Happy day to you!
so very sweet! they appreciate all you're doing to help them, too!
Did you see the video of the labrador and the deer playing ball? I loved it! That deer was having the time of its life. :-)
You will see some of the same ones sometimes.
They ARE beautiful, as are your photos of them. I'm sure the treats you're giving them are much appreciated this winter.
Do you see Northern Lights there? I'm waiting for photos. :)
I do not believe it is wise to feed wild deer as I have seen the dangers for both man and animal in that scenario, but having written that, it is something we cannot avoid when winters are so harsh and animals in such hunger. They are majestic and you got some great photos.
You are really at home in this environment, and your pictures are so telling...
Your friends the deer are very beautiful. They have such soulful eyes.....enjoyed your plus of the winter time photos. Oma Linda
They are learning to trust you! What a wonderful relationship to have and your photos are amazing. You are blessed to live so close to nature.
Hilary, you always find the rose among the thorns.
Terrific photos.
It must be a real treat to have these visitors each day . They make an awesome photo opportunity.
Just magic. Our inner city views do not have such riches. Thanks.
Having guests like that visit regularly must shorten the winter.
You have the whole herd at the buffet! I usually only see deer in our yard in the fall. We're seeing Mama Moose more this winter. (and fox, of course) it almost looks like they're already molting.
Have you ever had the opportunity to pet one? I don't mean these deer, of course, as they're wild, but in a zoo or such? MY WIFE and I were quite amazed at how velvety the newly-sprouting antlers are. And warm, of course. For some reason, we always thought of them as cold, like dead bone, but they're living organs, of course.
I like your "Dear Deer" letter. :)
Great pictures! Deer visit my yard at various times of the year; especially in the fall. The most I've counted in the herd is 8. I grab my camera, but can't get the shots you have.
What delightful shots of the deer! How lucky you are to have them in your garden...
What a winter wonderland you live in and share with such fabulous creatures!
I think that a long, hard winter is so worth it to have this experience.
i love deer! thanks for this post my friend! what beautiful winter scenes...can't stop looking at them. lovely shots, but
that first one caught my eye. truly fabulous!
happy weekend!
big hugs~
the deer certainly seem to have acclimated to you quickly. perhaps the food you scatter had something to do with it. or maybe the previous owners also fed them. they are beautiful but I'm glad I don't have any here as they would eat all my gardens.
The deer are such beautiful creatures and you captured them so well. Just so you don't also attract bears with the feedings. That would be my only concern. :)
They are indeed lovely wild creatures. Thanks for sharing your sweet photos.
Excellent deer pics. I may steal your 'elegant legs' description. It's perfect.
Oh my! Beautiful deer pictures - looks just like Christmas is coming again!!
How lovely!
I bet they appreciate all the extra food you give them this winter. It is hard to come by in all this snow and bitter cold.
Think warm thoughts!
Lovely captures. They seem so undisturbed by the snow on their body. very good comments on them by you. :)
they have the most wonderful, soulful eyes
you're so lucky to have them come by and they're so lucky to have you as a neighbor
Isn't it true? I love watching them.
I snort right back at them! I don't want them too friendly!
(ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON!
Wonderful pictures, I can tell you are enjoying the new friends in your new home. Hugs!
"Thank you, dear deer.", ha, enjoyed this !.
Seriously, Hilary, these are the most beautiful deer pics I've ever seen.
I really, really enjoyed this post, words and pics.
Thank you, dear Hilary, and thank you dear deer.
Great livestock you've got there! Looking at least semi-domesticated. I'll bet they're having as much fun as you are.
Blessings and Bear hugs! Waiting for your Bear pictures.
They are beautiful! The ones that visit us never let me get close enough to snap a pic. However, I don't feed them so maybe that's why! Winter does have a few good things about it and your photography helps us remember that!
Glad to see you're making friends at your new house, Hilary.
xo jj
Nice to have such creatures visiting. Good luck to you and your endeavours.
Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.
It's funny that when we lived "in town", we had deer coming up to our front door hoping for some deer corn, but now that we're out in the country, I'm lucky to see a flash of a tail. I loved seeing them up close. Thanks for sharing yours with us! As a Texan, I'm still kind of giggling over "our first winter up north "...
Sweet gift to share. We haven't fed the deer in years since learning of hunters using the property next door. Love your pics.
I love the Deer, so good, so picturesque. Don't they look superb.
Great pics. Stay warm.
Another amazing trait is their ability to leap. When my daughter was small we were vacationing Upstate and were startled early one morning by deer leaping over a fence behind our cottage.
To me it was amazing...to a young child it was a wonderland.
i look out my window and i see snow but no deer .. not even a sparrow or a pigeon .. thank goodness i have you are dear enough share your dear deer, dear
They are really lovely animals and very photogenic! Of course it takes someone clever to snap them!
I think you just about summed up all the animals in my recently completed jigsaw. You are observant. No one else remarked about that!
Maggie x
Nuts in May
It is amazing how he can handle the cold. Even with all our coats on we get cold.
How very lovely.
Great photos--our snow is still deep and it is taking it's toll on the deer (and consequently the deer are taking their toll on our cedars).
Beautiful animals to watch and seem to appreciate your kindness. Thank you for the deer, dear.
My step mom has been telling me about the deer coming out of the woods looking for food around my childhood home. They've never really done that before. Makes me feel badly about complaining when I have a warm home to sleep in every night. And there you are, feeding them. You are a sweetie.
Hilary: These photos mirror what my Mom is reporting in her back yard in the Midwestern U.S. with Deer. Beautiful photos!
I dearly love this deer post. The are indeed most beautiful animals. I'm glad they are safe from the cars that endanger the deer around here, and I'm glad they have a friend in you.
Unexpected encounters are really special and humbling whenever a wild animal chooses to come close and say hello... beautiful*!*
Glorious shots! :-)
Greetings from London.
During such a cold winter, you are likely saving at least a few of them from dying. You're a gem, Hilary.
I confess that while I love to look at deer, I spent much time worried about Lyme Disease when we lived in rural Northern Virginia. (It was "Lyme central" there, and chronic Lyme is a widespread problem.) Now when I see deer, I think about Lyme which makes it less enjoyable for me. :(
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