Eva in the pyramid
Our house was built in the deer's natural habitat in
a remote rural area. Well worn deer trails cut
through the property's abundant pine and sage. The
oldest deer we've met (we call her Mama Rose) walked
rig ht up to us when we first arrive d, sniffing and
looking us over. We live in the middle of their
foraging route, and so it seems okay to sometimes
give them a few organic almonds out of our hands.
That's what we had on us when we first met Mama Rose
, and the habit's stuck. Rose and her kin obviously
think the yard belongs to them as much as anyone
else, and they are just taking advantage of the
wealth of natural foods growing everywhere. They
especially like clover flowers, but it's amazing to
see the variety of tasty flowers, leaves, twigs,
nuts and berries they'll eat. They stay away from
herbs and herbal flowers, but on occasion we've seen
young deer eating the sweet medicinal berries of the
Juniper tree.
Food is of course a major concern, but we also think
they visit because they like our company. Often we
see deer we don't know nibbling in the yard, but
nearly every day some or many of Rose's extended
family come by. All of the deer are likely to lay
down on the grass and hang out, whether we know them
well or not. Many of them know us personally, and
while often running into the yard to greet us with
their quiet enthusiasm, they will also swiftly shy
away from strangers.
Although notoriously skittish, able to leap meters
in the air in an instant when startled, a few deer
we know, most notably Eva and her kids, will let us
touch them as if we were family, letting us scratch
them or pick something out of their fur. Eva even
enjoys a hearty backrub! We've certainly learned a
lot about how to act around them so as not to
disturb them. We think they appreciate our efforts
in fitting into their neighborhood.
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Freddy with his first big antlers
Marlins
in the back yard with nine deer from Mama Rose's family
Mama Rose, the matriarch, she taught us the way of the deer,
in winter 2005 she disappeared, passing her throne onto Lisa
Lisa explaining the situation to Rasa
two women sharing a secret
Rasa with Eva and her kids
Freddy eating clover flowers
Rasa explaining the situation to Rosie
Lisa and Eva looking up to the balcony
young Ram with Marlins
young Ram
she doesn't care about the legs or the plastic rat - after
the photographer leaves she'll eat one of those pumpkins by
the tree
 
Rasa giving Charlotte a third eye massage
(when he was very young we thought this guy was female,
but when his velvet antler brow first began to appear, and
we realized our mistake,
we decided to leave him as a buck named Charlotte )
Lisa ringing the front door bell with her nose
could be any afternoon
Mama Rose on the balcony
Young Ram practices the nose ritual with Rasa
well, come right in . . .
young Ram
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