Doe a deer and young bucks too

It's the season of bucks in full velvet and does with fawns. Our meadow is a haven for deer (and bears and moose and rabbits and foxes and coyotes). There is one doe who returns each year to have her fawns in the safety of the willows on our meadow. She chooses the same spot every year and this year, much to our delight (and her's too no doubt) she successfully raised two fawns. We saw them for the first time yesterday ~ as the doe and her two little ones emerged from the willows and followed Mum across the meadow to the back edge and off into the forest. We've also seen 3 young bucks in the last few weeks. This one appeared from out of the mist very early one morning last week. We don't often see them inside the fence that surrounds our home but this little guy found his way in and seemed just as surprised as we were. He didn't stay long ~ just long enough to pose for these pictures. Earlier this month we watched a couple of other young bucks make their way down the trail across the creek. Ah yes .... It's a magical place to live in every season. We count our blessings and keep our camera handy!

Summertime on the Meadow

July. Warmer days and almost always cool nights. We awoke to a hard frost the other morning. Some years ago, we gave up trying too grow much in the way of outdoor crops for just this reason. For now we rely on our greenhouse to grow our fresh summer greens. And there is always Strawberry Spinach! Requiring no greenhouse or careful tending; it grows wild and in abundance around our place. Bonus. Strawberry Spinach is also known as Beet berry, Miniature dwarf bearded iris or Strawberry Sticks. It's an annual (considered an heirloom seed) that is rich in vitamin A, B2, C and D.

Our almost 2 miles of zigzag stacked log fence is complete!!

Oh, What a feat! So pretty, and practical too.

Welcome ... to our new front gate.

These are the days (and nights) of beautiful summer skies and photo 'ops' at every turn. Here are a few more of David's recent sky pics.

These little guys are always entertaining . . .

We have way too many photos of them ~ but their antics are hard to resist. Do you know the story about how Chipmunk Got his Stripes? In a nutshell; Black Bear brags that he can do anything. When Brown Squirrel challenges him to tell the sun not to come up, Bear gives the command. All night the animals wait anxiously. When the sun does come up, Brown Squirrel, forgetting his mother’s advice, ridicules Black Bear. Bear pulls his sharp claws down the squirrel’s back. Although the scratches heal, the stripes remain. And other things we talk about out here on the meadow :] We are constantly on the quest for better, greener ways to build and to live lightly on the planet. Michael Reynolds shares so many good and innovative ideas; if you're thinking about reducing your footprint, you'll want to visit Earthship. Even if it's not your dream home. Till next time. . .

Wild Roses and a little dog departs

Late June ~ our roadsides and paths are lined with shimmering aspen and wild roses in bloom. We said farewell recently to our beloved four legged companion; Kali. Our dear and faithful friend of 14 years. Afraid of nothing she was, and as sweet and delightful as a little dog can be. The day we said goodbye, a mourning dove dropped by.

One of my favourite Kali pics; following along after David as the three of us went for a walk on a wet spring day. Always wanting to stand on her own four paws she routinely declined any offer of a lift over the rough patches.

In her golden years we called her 'Sugar Lips'. Thank You ~ for sharing your time with us Little One !

Hummingbird Heaven on the Meadow

The forest around the meadow. The aspens leafing out.

Hummingbirds at the kitchen window.

We still have frost most mornings and had a bit of a snow flurry yesterday. We're enjoying lovely cool spring weather with equal parts of sunshine, wind, and rain. We have three hummingbird feeders at the kitchen windows. Each feeder is out of view of the other two. We've counted seventy to ninety hummingbirds gathered at feeding time. It's a spectacular sight and one we look forward to each year.

Our hummingbirds love this lilac bush. They use it for perching & resting, and waiting their turn at the feeders and use the branches for cleaning their beaks.

One little fellow settling in for a beak clean . . .

All done. and Lift Off.

Last year this lilac didn't bloom. Hard to say if it'll bloom this year but it doesn't really matter ~ these tiny, beautiful creatures are decoration enough.

Till later. From hummingbird heaven