Feb 11 2008
deer & chickens
The last couple of weeks have been really cold, well really cold for around here. Even though I grew up further north & should be use to these temps, I am so ready for winter to end already… Around here winter just seems drab & grey to me. We might get snow for a day or two, but then it melts. So I have a hard time finding the beauty in winter, although I am trying. Saturday though was a tiny bit warmer so Ben suggested that we get outside for a bit & take some photos. We headed to a local park that really is more prairie than anything else and walked around, stopping to take photos…
We were both wishing we had actually seen some wildlife on this walk when I glanced towards a field and realized there were deer out there, a herd (?) of 6 deer to be exact! As quickly as possible I switched to the telephoto lens (that is actually technically Ben’s, but he lets me use it:) & traipsed through the mud that minutes earlier I had contemplated walking through for another photo & decided it wasn’t worth it. It was worth it for these shots though as I have never seen so many deer in my life, and it was the first time I have ever seen a buck or a fawn (there were actually a couple of fawns)…
Of course, this city girl had to ask her husband if the buck was dangerous & if he would come after me if I got too close :) (Apparently I am also afraid of chickens, see below for this story.)
Such a wonderful sight & so worth braving the cold for a little bit to get to see this and have a chance to photograph it…
Now the chicken story… On our way home from the park, we took a drive to the fabric store to see if I could find some linen (I am all out & so is the fabric store!). Driving through a neighborhood we spotted in the middle of the city 3 chickens! I guess they must have gotten out of someone’s yard or something? (Is it even legal to keep chickens in the city?) Anyways they seemed perfectly happy to just wander around the sidewalk and I had to jump out of the car to get a couple of photos because it isn’t everyday you see chickens wandering down a sidewalk. The funny part is that when one of them headed towards me, I went running for the car & jumped back inside very quickly! :)
Of course the slightly warmer temps only lasted about a day and now it is back to really cold again:) I am definitely looking forward to summer - warmer temps and longer daylight hours sound lovely right now!
Just lovely. It reminds me that I need to get out and take photos of something other than quilts and knitting. I love the prairie grass and chicken photos.
I am so glad that you braved the cold and mud to capture those photos. Catching a glimpse of wildlife is always such a gift, and to see a buck is quite impressive. They usually are so elusive.
Your chicken story is hilarious cuz anyone who knows you knows that that is SO you!! I wouldn’t change you, it gives you character.
Your chicken story reminds me of another. *grin* We had a rooster living near our house for a while when I was younger, and one day when my brother went outside to feed our puppy the rooster decided to give chase. He kept my brother running laps around our house for a full five minutes before my sister decided to help him out. It wasn’t much help, really, since the rooster went after her as well. I’ve never seen my my mother laugh so hard in all her life as she did watching those two hightailing it with a rooster hot on their heels.
Temperatures are in the single digits here, but I’ll send warm thoughts your way.
beautiful pictures!
Great photos!
If you are looking for linen, check out: http://www.graylinelinen.com/category_s/35.htm
I have bought their “Judy” linen. They also have free shipping for online orders and I think it even comes FedEx or UPS. And if you have questions on their colors (hard to see online), you can call them. Just don’t place your order on the phone.
spring can’t come soon enough for me either!
and I am afraid of chickens, too.
chickens are just fine in U. Not sure about C. We know a bunch of U chicken people. Usually, they are not loose, though. :-)
YOUR photos rock! My hubby laughed about the buck story! Course he is an avid deer hunter and we have deer in our back yard all the time!
fantastic pictures! how amazing to be up close to deer like that. they’re such beautiful creatures.
deer frighten me too! i mean, a little. we moved from an area that backed into a county park - deer everywhere all the time. our yard, etc. but once, we were at the playground and quite a few came running out of the woods, through the playground to get to the “other side” - if you will - more woods. scared the heck out of me because they were frightened and were just running wildly. i could only envision trampled kids. ahh - no one was hurt. but from then on, i was soooo careful on our nature walks.
now chickens. i can handle. ;)
lovely photos!
I had a coworker who was terrified of birds, unfortunately our office was near an area with wild turkeys. These turkeys would occasionaly roam into our parking lot. She would have people escort her to her car to protect her from the vicious animals.
I love the second photo by the way.
That blue sky is so gorgeous! And I’m definitely with you on the cold–I’ve had enough.
LOL Somehow I don’t thing the chicken was after you :)
i love the deer and chicken photos! we have a family of deer that live in a thicket in our yard…they come out to feed and are almost tame…so lovely.
Wonderful pictures!
the pics are stunning! i am ready to kiss winter goodbye.
Those are some love photos!
It must have been very impressive seeing so many deer!
Beautiful photos, I just did a post on cows and lizards. lol!
I really like the colors in the second picture. The tinted corners add a nice touch.
oooh field photography is my favorite! i love love love this post! i just posted some of my own photography! you should check it out when you get a chance! in the meantime i will be checking your blog… its a new favorite! :)