Farewell my dear Sam

After a wonderful week-long visit with my sister Samantha and her daughter Ella, they flew home this morning. The house has been very quiet all day. =) 


Nate and Ella loved having each other's company...most of the time! 

We had lots of good sister time. Made me realize just how much I miss all my family! 

Our crazy deer

My garden would be flourishing, if it were not for the beautiful doe who thinks I planted it just for her enjoyment. At least she has provided us with some entertainment in return. 


Whenever I saw her out in the back yard, I would let Lexi out to chase her off. The other day they disappeared over the hill into the woods as usual. Then, a few minutes later, Lexi comes tearing back out of the woods, tail between her legs, with the triumphant deer right behind her. The doe even struck out at Lexi with her forelegs! Lexi ran to me for help and the deer came within about 20 feet of me (and Nate and Evelyn) before she stopped. Then she stood there for a long time. I ran inside, grabbed my camera, and she was still standing there. 


So I took some pictures! 

She even stamped her feet at us. 

As she was walking away, I noticed her milk bag. Since I've never had the opportunity to study a deer up this close before, I don't know if this is the normal size or if she is nursing. If she had babies hidden in the woods that would certainly account for her odd behaviour. 

Isn't she pretty? 

Final stare-down

This entire time Nate, who had been the first one to spot her out the window, was dying to run up and hug the deer. He now says, "dee, dee" fluently!

Later in the morning, I was outside again with the children and Lexi and the deer suddenly appeared in the yard! She was so quiet that she snuck up on us and scared me! Lexi and her ran around the yard again for a while, alternating who was chasing who. I called the neighbors over to watch. 


Then in the evening, while we had some other neighbors over for dinner, the doe was out in the yard again. Brett (and the neighbors) wanted to see this first-hand, so we let Lexi out and took this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6iXRIuMOsM

It is not as funny as what happened in the morning, but still quite amusing.