Critter Corners and Such

 

This is Nattie.  

He belongs to my sisters, and, in addition to his beauty, he's very sociable. 

He loves to join in on conversations, rubbing legs and making his presence or absence known. 

Yesterday afternoon it was the latter.  

Nattie had left the gab session next to Barbara and Laurie's barn. 

We found him in my car.  I'd left the door open, so he climbed in, checked out the car and then rejoined us as we visited. 

Below:  since I don't have horses around, my apple peelings go out on the stumps, and within a few hours, they're gone. 

This visitor cleaned them all up as a solo visitor to the stumps.  

Later, when the Lovestead trio came by, no apple peelings!  

I'm sure they'll catch some with the next batch of peelings. 

In addition to apple peelings, I've been scattering a few sunflower seeds on the stumps. 

If you leave, something will come. 

In this case, twas the squirrels. 

I have apple treats from Co Op over at Roxane's for the horses.  

Lily had already gobbled down a handful and since I didn't have any more to give her, she stuck her tongue out. 

While visiting with my sister Laurie yesterday afternoon, I looked over to the south and saw one deer. 

Then, I saw a second, and then I noticed two more, which blended in with the blah colors so much they were hard to spot. 

Some of the deer started racing around, and then, seemingly out of nowhere came the big rack with a buck under it. 

He walked around checking out the scene for a minute or two and then headed back to the woods. 

In the midst of our conversation and observation, we saw at least eight deer.  

We did not realize there was a second buck, but my camera did. 

It was a fun interlude as we visited. 

Gather round, my children.  

Let's eat, and so they did, all 'cept one or two. 

It was a cute scene at my sisters' neighbors' place. 

I try to move ever so slowly when I see the deer in the lawn, always hoping to get a little closer with the camera. 

The deer will have none of that.  Just as I think I can take another step or two, they wheel around, stick their tails in the air and leave. 

This one went to the edge of the woods and moseyed around, always watching me and hoping I'll leave so they can come back for another bite. 

Yesterday while driving home from my sisters' farm, I noticed that one of the neighbors up the road has an impressive Christmas light display in her yard.  

I know people don't like us to rush Christmas, but when it comes to colorful outdoor lights twinkling in the darkness, I can't help myself.  

Today I ordered a string of solar lights to drape over the fence boards seen in the photo above. 

It should be here tomorrow. 

That means we can look out our south windows and enjoy the magical colors, and I'll never apologize for loving Christmas lights any time of year. 

Still, when darkness prevails, colored lights lift our moods. 

Turkeys are a rather common sight in the county.  Now, they're more noticeable than ever cuz all the babies have grown into adulthood.  

There's a spot in our area where turkeys abound, and yesterday they seemed to be abounding in numbers like I'd never seen before. 

The photo shows just a small portion of yesterday's population on the road, the ditches, the yards and the woods. 

They hang out with deer and if you ever need a turkey-deer fix, it's available any time, any day. 

Part of Bill's wood pile for the winter.  

He putters away all year, sawing and moving and splitting and piling.  

This year he's enjoying splitting more than ever thanks to his wood splitter which requires much less muscle than an axe does. 

We usually tough out the cold until Thanksgiving, using the forced-air thermostats. 

After Thanksgiving, the wood stove will provide more than enough warmth along with the exercise of bringing in the wood. 

That's when a kettle of water on top of the stove will be kept full to combat the dry air.  

I'm still peeling.  

This was yesterday's batch.  I have yet to cook it up into applesauce.  

I also brought home some pie crusts and will fill them with sliced apples, sugar, a little flour and cinnamon.  

I'll also make up some crumble to sprinkle over the top, and, if all goes well, we'll have some homemade apple pies.

Yum! 

Still, some flowers are growing and refusing to go into hibernation.  

I love it. 

Happy Friday. 

Enjoy your day and, of course, whatever critters come to visit your house.