"I'll Be Back!"

I'll Be BACK!" Is what I heard last year when some masked bandits found it entertaining to sit at my sliding glass door, trying to shred the insect screen to gain passage into the great beyond. I'm sure it looked really inviting...So many things to get into. Even a pot of soil or two to dig through - bringing back memories of those DELICIOUS little grubs that are really tastey come that time of year. The light from the computer may have added a dimension of curiousity for the already curious characters. The raccoons aren't tiny anymore...I prophesy bunches of new babies in about a month. Hubby getting field camera's for me as Christmas gifts has given me some extra eyes to see what's passing by in the wee hours of the morning.

Scratch,Scratch,Scratch....

Now is that an itch, or is that somebody at my back door ? As I sat here at the computer pre-dawn. The rain had encouraged one of the four little raccoons to "Seek Shelter in a Sturdy Building." Namely my house. Turning on the light , making noise, and opening the door only scattered away the 3 not on the steps. The one that was perched on the steps persisted with his/her scratching. De ja vue - brought back memories of almost a year ago when a pair of raccoon children had the same thought. ------------------------------ To Be Continued ------------------------------ Here it is another day - way before sunrise ,4:00 A.M. to be exact...I hear some activity on the steps to the sliding glass door. Curiosity has me searching for the source of the "scratch,scratch,scratch" which seems overly loud to be coming from the outside. Turning on the kitchen light . I see a pointy nosed, black masked, four legged critter looking back. It was working furiously at the screen, which can no longer be considered a barrier to keep out the insects; it wasn't detered until I began shining a small flashlight beam into its eyes. Drove the first culprit away for a few minutes. Wasn't to long until more grating sounds could be heard. Yes, now the WHOLE crew, count them! 1-2-3-4 are trying to find a way in out of the wet... No success - time to be off to the next project ; ) Sure glad they lost interest .... But as Arnold Schwarzenegger would say "I'll Be BACK"...can be heard as they scurry off to get into mischeif somewhere else...

When will it cool off?

Oh the summer heat! When will it end? Sounds like relief will be on the way in a few days. Had to drop by to let you know about the activity happening around here. I have had to laugh several times about the antics of our 4 legged friends that roam the timber . Lets see...the deer fawns, does (as in deer moms ; ) ), and raccoons. Our twins here have showed their playful side as they grow up. One can be grazing while the other acts as though they are possessed. Jumping,jostling and kicking up their heels to instigate the"Tag You're It" reflex. Funny creatures they are...They exhibit behavior much like our human children when they interact with one another. Sunday morning as I sat looking out into the back yard I observed a doe feeding in a spot where we often see them visiting as of late. From another direction came a mother raccoon and trailing up behind her were four clones all in a line. The deer looked up to see what was coming her way....the mother raccoon looked up to see what was standing in front of them. It ended up the raccoon didn't want to get any closer to the deer so she did a u-turn into the timber and all of them waddled off to find more suitable hunting conditions. Sure, it would have been more fun for you to see yourself but this is the best I can do for you at the moment. Are you beginning to see any changes that might indicate fall is fast approaching? I have started to see the Cottonwood and Burning Bush leaves changing color... The oaks and hickories are beginning to shed some of this year's nut crop,the walnut trees seem to be filled with huge amounts of squirrel food as well. Some of you might already be aware but the acorn is used by more than squirrels as a source of food. The deer and turkey find them a tastey treat too. Boy ! It looks like this edition of Timber Life has gotten a bit longer than usual. Been away awhile and I'm in the sharing mood ; ) Time to send you off to find your own "neck of the woods"...

Bambi and a Half

A month ago I reported seeing a new fawn not many days old at first sighting.

July 4th , I was able to catch two little deer sauntering around with their mom in and around the front yard.

They had been enjoying a nibble at the honeysuckle shrub when I first decided to try to get their picture. Wouldn't you know it...I didn't move fast enough and my camera didn't want to take pictures when it was finally in position. You got it ! The first attempt at photographer was not a success. Patience my dear woman, P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E ....

It wan't very long of a wait for them to begin grazing on the grass in the front yard after making a full circle through the pasture, into the timber, and then to the front yard.

Certainly, they have found their way around. Loving the corn that is now tasseling and silking out. My the damage they can do. Lots of nitrogen though. Just what they are looking for in these summer months to feed babies , as well as bulk up for the fall and winter seasons.

No new squirrel babies to report yet.

Raccoon babies were seen one twilight trailing behind their mother. What a crew. No wonder ground dwelling birds sometimes have a hard time getting established since the eggs become food if not well hidden.

Goodness how this year is passing so quickly. Won't be to long until we start looking for the hunting licenses to try our hand once more at putting food into the freezer.

Until next month enjoy this weather. Get out the fishing pole, go on a picnic, sit in the shade, or on the front porch and watch the sunset. ; ) Take some time to watch nature going on around you. Have Fun !