I moved my dad’s first attempt at painting in oils to this wall. Just to the right is the entrance to the downstairs bathroom. I like it here. I well remember that red vase which was always on the 3 shelf built-in bookcase in our living room. I think I remember him painting it, but I can’t be sure if that’s a reliable memory. (He made that frame, as well.)
Thank you for your compassionate and kind comments on yesterday’s post. Neither of us could conceive of ignoring an animal in pain, or leaving it on a dark road to be hit again and again by motorists who drive too fast and wouldn’t see it in time. Taking some sort of action is a must. I called the County yesterday to tell them about the body. Unfortunately, I’ve had to include their number in my contact list on my phone. Between last year and this year, I’ve had to call them several times.
I’m very proud of my husband.
Today, we’re just going to hang out at home. I’m going to continue reading Jane Eyre and work on the dollhouse. Don’s practicing his guitar. It’s been a tiring and emotional week for various reasons and we just need to chill.
We’re both hoping that the arrival of Monday will get us back on track. Maybe we’ll finally know what day of the week it is!
By the way, I changed the name of The Cabin to the The Lake House. The inside looks like a cabin but the outside doesn’t. So as Don and I were sitting on the sofa last night talking about the dollhouses, I came up with the new name.
Happy Sunday.
Bravo to you and Don for comforting the deer. As an aside, when someone behaves in a terrible way, you often hear them referred to as an “animal.” I always correct that by saying “no, they’re human” – often a very ugly word! The human who hit the deer and went on his/her merry way hopefully has severe damage to their car. Karma.
Exactly! Thank you, Chris.
Was the vase your dad painted cranberry glass by any chance? It looks similar to one my mom had at one time. Though, I do not know where it went. The painting is lovely…that’s a perfect spot to display it! ;)
I don’t know. I was quite young at the time and just thought of it as the red bud vase! Thanks, Donna!
hope today is easier. your plans sound lovely.
been thinking about the deer and accidents on your road …
sorry it’s been needed, but glad you have some phone numbers in your phone to call for just such sad situations … especially for evenings and weekends.
do you have city/county leaders that could be contacted and petitioned to push for slower speed limits, more lighting and warning signs, penalties for driving away from car-animal accidents, etc.? are you allowed to put a sign in your yard reminding drivers about deer in the area? are there animal welfare organizations (aspca, veterinarians, etc.) that could help promote safer driving, use of deer whistles, remind people of what to do if they hit an animal …? or a tv station to do a story on driver/deer safety and things like that? do you have like-minded neighbors who could help?
just a couple thoughts from someone who cares.
take care of your kind hearts.
kathy in iowa
ps … the name “the lake house” sounds lovely, too.
The speed limit is lower where it happened. We live on a country road, therefore there are no street lights. Really, it’s too overwhelming. We live in a very large county with thousands of deer – most of the county is rural. I could put a sign on my lawn, but this driver was coming from the other direction. Thanks, Kathy.
maybe a two-sided sign that says something like “caution – deer crossing”? am sure to spotlight any yard sign could get costly, but i know there is glow-in-the-dark paint on the market.
no pressure intended, though, claudia. just another thought from someone else who loves animals and hates what some deer and you and don have had to go through!
kathy in iowa
I so appreciate your suggestions, Kathy. I’ve written to a woman in local government to find out how to petition for a sign from the County.
oops … meant to tell you that your father’s painting does not look like a first attempt. it is lovely and you found a great place for it.
kathy in iowa
Thank you!
Love your Dad’s painting! He looks like he’s been painting forever. Pretty spot for it…
He was very talented. He stopped painting for years and then he started again and one of his first paintings was of our cottage. He was in his eighties, so his hand wasn’t as steady, but they’re still lovely. Thanks, Priscilla.
I hope today is a restorative day. I was so exhausted and emotional yesterday I ached from head to toe. I slept a long time and feel better. Sleep is an amazing healer, Love the name change for the cabin to The Lake House, that really is perfect. Hugs!
I know it’s been hard. Did you move your mom into Assisted Living yesterday? Sending you a big hug.
No she is refusing to move. Things are not going well.
Oh no! I’m so sorry my friend. Much love to you.
Hope you and Don have a relaxing Sunday. The painting is lovely. Enjoy your Sunday.
Marilyn
Thank you, Marilyn!
Can you make a pitch to the County for larger or more ‘watch for deer’ signs? Send them a written letter, like a paper letter. Outline everything that’s occurred and how it impacts you and the neighbors. Hope they don’t round-file it. Get yourself heard; shake somebody’s tree with the County. This could continue to be disturbing and otherwise change your feeling about where you live; so, action is good. Change is better. Maybe several neighbors could sign the letter for emphasis. Actually, you could send your letter with a return receipt/signature required (I think they call it certified) so that ‘officials’ can’t say they didn’t get your letter. This is a thing you could do at the post office when you go pick up your mail; just little cards you stick on your envelope and cost is nominal. Gives you proof of receipt.
After all, despite the awful, awful loss of deer life, this is a road hazard if you want to look at it coldly; shouldn’t the County be concerned about the auto accidents, unless they’re not getting reports of them because people don’t want to admit they hit and killed a deer? Aren’t they expending equipment and ‘man’-hours for road-kill cleanup, i.e. this is costing them money? Perhaps you don’t have the monthly City Council meetings when residents of the community can get floor time and speak up; is there anything like that, though, with your County? Some kind of monthly meetings where input from homeowners/residents is welcomed?
I just know that even in my own small (dysfunctional) town, when enough humans got killed at certain intersections, change eventually (things come slowly) occurred. Certain crosswalks got mega signage/lights; I can think, sadly, of three crosswalks (one in which a baby in a stroller was killed; I’ll never forget it; an elderly driver with the sun in her eyes and, frankly-fairly, a decent-good person). A side road became a four-way stop instead of a two-way. One person killed in a high-impact collision there had been a friend of my cousin’s. How much death til a change?
There’s vulnerability here. The deer in their natural environment are at risk from cars. Cars are at risk of crashing due to the deer (human injury/death, too; I remember reading of a driver who tried to take evasive action and not hit a deer, flipped the vehicle and died). It’s complicated.
After you posted and I read you yesterday, I couldn’t stop thinking of the innocent deer in such a critical state, raising its head but unable to move. Somebody going ‘way too fast in one of those huge Suburban-style SUVs (I absolutely HATE those monster vehicles) hit our dog when she was on an extender leash (a long story I’ve told before I don’t want to repeat) and it was the same thing. She yelped/screamed once, fell, my husband carried her to the lawn (was very near home in a quiet neighborhood where this should never have happened), she kept trying to raise her head, then expired within about a half hour while we were frantically trying to get help (vet office closed, no other veterinarian in town, etc. [we’re not a big-service or full-service community and we’re at minimum 15 minutes away from one that is]). It was my dog and your deer all over again. Two young animal lives lost, due to negligent human drivers who should have been driving slower and more alertly to the environment/locale. Again, it makes your heart splinter.
I just think what you said about taking some kind of action will be empowering and useful. If you have a small newspaper in your county, even if it’s more of a gossipy-folksy ‘rag’ rather than one of major international headlines (I have something similar) write a Letter to The Editor; let other people read what you have to say in print (a lot of people still subscribe to a paper-newspaper). There are probably many people as concerned as you are; your letter could grab some attention.
Make your own LARGE sign to put out nearer to the road but maybe on your own property, yet visible (paint it white for night vision, maybe black lettering that even a color-blind person could make out); make it sturdy, nail it to a wood post you can sink in the ground so that weather doesn’t topple it: “SLOW DOWN. MANY DEER CROSSING ROAD IN IMMEDIATE AREA.”
I don’t know what else to say and of what could be practical. It upsets me.
It upsets me too. Thank you for all the suggestions, Vicki.
I love seeing your Dad’s painting. I did the same at the lake — a sunflower field. It’s not that it’s fabulous but it was his.
Yes, I can see why you are proud of Don. I think we all are.
He just keeps getting better, Jeanie!