.
We like our cute little black and white visitors…
.
.
They’re great for the garden, keeping bug and rodent populations down.
.
.
But occasionally they rumble.
.
.
And when the tail goes up?
.
.
The air is not exactly perfumed.
🤢
.
.
Our snow has melted but I had these kicking around the photo files and thought I’d share.
.
.
Squirrelly sentries.
.
.
I know there are people who dislike them, but we welcome our harmless grays.
.
.
They’re acrobatic and quite entertaining.
.
.
Mornings have been beautiful of late.
.
.
With lovely sunrises …
.
.
And colorful skies.
.
.
😊
.
.
Our gray squirrels are quite acrobatic and during a recent snow storm… when I brought in all the bird feeders except the one from which they have trouble stealing… this little guy went above and beyond for a snack.
I’m guessing he has six pack abs under that fur.
.
.
He fell quite a few times, but finally found a stable perch.
.
.
In other wildlife news, our first chuck of the season arrived.
.
.
In the middle of the storm with nothing to nibble but fallen seed.
.
.
Poor chuck.
.
.
I doubt that was the meal he dreamt about all winter.
.
.
Our weirdo resident buck never lost his antlers this winter.
.
.
And in all the decades we’ve been hosting backyard deer, that’s never happened.
.
.
Makes me wonder why…
.
.
And hope nothing is wrong.
.
.
It looks rather painful.
.
.
They stomp at us all the time.
I’ve spoken deer for years…
😉
.
.
Because it was such a rare occurrence…
.
.
And he was just too beautiful.
.
.
❤️
.
.
He knew we were there, watching and taking pictures.
.
.
But didn’t seem to mind.
.
.
Of course we weren’t the only ones looking.
.
.
And after a wonderful ten minutes or so…
.
.
He swooped for a mouse…
.
.
But came up empty handed.
Or should that be empty taloned…?
.
.
Looking out the kitchen window while doing dishes last week… I saw an owl.
.
.
We hardly ever spot them so I was tickled to get a photograph, even if it was only of his back.
Then… about 10 minutes later?
.
.
There he was!
.
.
A beautiful barred owl perched on our back deck railing.
.
.
Sitting pretty and letting me snap some much better pics.
.
.
He didn’t even mind the deer showing up for dinner.
.
.
My husband and I were like little kids at the zoo and clicked photos like mad.
.
.
He was so beautiful!
.
.
❤️🩷❤️
.
.
Percy the opossum has become a daily visitor, cleaning up spilled seed under the bird feeders.
.
,
We also caught him on the kitchen landing during a snow dusting.
.
.
The garage door was open…
.
.
But he headed for the barn instead.
.
.
Mrs. Cardinal in the garage gutter.
,
.
Our buck still hasn’t lost his rack…
.
.
Which makes me wonder if he ever will.
.
.
Strolls with Lord Dudley Mountcatten are severely short in the winter.
.
.
As His Royal Highness does not enjoy the cold, wind, snow….
.
.
Or having wet feet.
.
.
Deer, heading back to the woods.
.
.
Fog in winter is elusive and not always easy to photograph.
.
.
But I managed a few quick shots of the farm across the street early last week.
.
.
.
.
Early morning moon set.
.
.
In the middle of a snow storm?
.
.
Deer, looking for the food we don’t put out in inclement weather because if it gets wet? It’s ruined.
.
.
Didn’t stop the herd from lining up in position to search.
.
.
Even the buck looked up at us through the windows as if to say, what gives?
.
.
Sorry guys.
Come back tomorrow…
.
.
No words required.
Just enjoy the view…
.
.
.
.
.
❤️
.
River's world..... 