I had to share this photo with you, taken last week in the late afternoon when the sun floods the den. I hadn’t yet acquired my newest putz house, so it’s missing from the photo.
There’s been no sun lately! Yesterday it rained all day. Today it will rain all day. Tonight, the rain will turn to snow and we’ll get about an inch or so. Much of the snow already on the ground has disappeared in all the rain.
It’s been a tough couple of days around here. Sunday, as we were returning home, we saw four deer that had been hit by cars. Two of them were near our house – one of those two, just down the road, was a young deer, perhaps one of the four young deer that are frequently on our property. Then on Sunday night, we heard a noise outside but didn’t realize until the next morning that someone had hit an adult deer right in front of our house. That driver never stopped, never checked on the deer. Don had to move it off the road. He, of course, was trying to keep it from me because he knew how upset I would be but I happened to look out so I saw it happening.
You know how I feel about this. It makes me sick to my stomach. Hunting season ended on Sunday and all I heard that morning and every morning for two weeks was the sound of rifles being fired.
People driving too fast down our road. People seemingly not caring about the carnage they have created, not caring about the loss of life. I’m still reeling a bit from all of it. Don was quite shaken by it, as well.
I know that it is sometimes unavoidable, but 95% of the time it is. Staying within the speed limit gives one time to react.
I hope things calm down. I’ve never seen two deer hit in one day on this stretch of road.
Don has to head into the city today and I’ve got some work to do here. We continue to love the Christmas tree and the lights that gleam all day long. The tree seems to make our cottage even more of a haven, even more beautiful and welcoming. We’re grateful for the Christmas season. And thankful for our life here in our little cottage.
I pray for the safety of everyone – human and animal – during this holiday season.
Happy Tuesday.
Hi Claudia. I feel as you do when I see an animal, whether a chippy or deer in or on the side of the road. Everyone seems to be in such a danged hurry on our dirt roads. There have been many deer deaths lately, more so than in the summer. Our dirt road is very twisty and hilly and even though I drive slowly (old lady driver), one just ran out of the woods and bumped my front end, but did run away uphill. Sometimes it is unavoidable, but when I see one in the road, I know there are a couple more behind it so I just stop and let them be on their way. They are lovely creatures and torment my gardens but everything has to eat. I’ve stopped feeding them due to the fleas and ticks around my pup, but they still can be seen next to our house. When you live in the country you must realize we share their space with all Gods creatures. Lovely photo too!
I do the same. I stop and wait to make sure there are no other deer ready to cross. Thanks, Penny.
I love that photo….it just presents as….vintage!
We live at the edge of the city. You have to take a narrow 2 lane road to get to the county road. On that 2 lane road is a small forested area, and just at the edge the other day were a group of 6-7 deer, happily feeding on the cut down corn field. I was so thankful they made it through the hunting season unharmed. And just a few days ago…..I saw a buck in our backyard! I’ve never seen a buck before…so I know he made it through as well. I am sorry yours did not fare as well. Don did well trying to keep it from you.
I know it’s upsetting, but, try and enjoy your day! ;)
We had a buck hanging around our yard last year. It was magnificent! Thanks, Donna
oh, sadness for the deer and you, don and others who must see and deal with such accidents and pain (much of which could be prevented, as you said) and anger at anyone who can seemingly-blithely drive off after knowingly hit an animal or a person… i pray for that safety, too.
thanks to don for helping that deer, showing respect to it and trying to shield it from you.
maybe this story will bring a chuckle … ? my sister and i were driving home from hearing a great concert up in wisconsin (thanks to the bodeans! hello, chris k from wisconsin!). it was late, but we were wide awake and chose to drive a while to shorten the trip back the next day. it was about 11:00 pm, we were on a small, windy road and we started seeing deer. lots and lots of deer, two or three at a time every mile or so. we sure didn’t want to hit any of them so i kept honking the horn to let them know we were there (of course they already knew that, but we just wanted to improve everyone’s chances) . went on for about an hour … seeing all the deer and all the honking. with apologies to anyone up there that the honking woke up, i have never seen so many deer and that late at night.
oh! my sister was waiting to pick me up for church one morning this past fall, heard a noise and “felt something” behind her as she sat in her car by the curb. it was six grown deer running down the street and up onto the lawn where i live … and she was quick and fortunate to get a couple photos. maybe it’s not so incredible since i live two blocks from a large park and heavily wooded area … but it was very unexpected to see six of them and about 9:30 in the morning!
okay …
hope you are having a nice day, puttering (putzing? couldn’t help myself) around, reading and relaxing.
kathy in iowa
Hello, kathy in iowa!! ♡ And I HAVE heard of the Bodeans!!
Hunting season just ended here, too. The numbers were really down. And the numbers we see in the fields and on the sides of the roads have really increased. My husband was talking with one of the car repair guys in town a couple of weeks ago and he said they cannot keep up with the damaged vehicles they have coming in daily. They are back-logged. I guess it is what happens as we continue to encroach on where the wildlife live… it is, indeed, very sad.
It is terrible cold here today. Wind chills in the -0’s. ugh. But the sun is shining, so there is that!!
hej, chris k from wisconsin!
very sad about all that pain/loss of life and damage. agree about the encroachment … sad about that, too.
trust you are enjoying that sunshine and are well-prepared for the wind and those super-cold temperatures. stay safe!
we had what i thought looked like a blizzard yesterday, but it was a squall (claudia … glad you were right about that!). my boss just said another one is on the edge of town right now. looks pretty, but am not into it.
have you heard the bodeans play? they’re originally from your state and play great music … some real rockers as well as very pretty, slower songs (heard it described as “folk music with energy” … haha). hearing the bodeans play over the past 30 years, i recommend them!!
happy tuesday!
kathy in iowa
I would have done the same thing! We often honk to make sure they see us.
Thanks, Kathy.
Someone hit and. killed a deer in my front yard once. It was heartbreaking. They didn’t stop. The police came and had it removed. xo Laura
I called the county yesterday afternoon and this morning. No one has picked it up yet. I can’t bear to look at it. Thanks, Laura.
First, very interesting photo; is this a mirror and the windmill painting is reflected in it from an opposite wall?
Second and most of all, I am so sorry you’ve had to go thru this about the deer. I have no idea what it is to live on a country road or out ‘in the country’ to where this sort of thing happens. I live in a river valley surrounded by hills, mountains and canyons but the deer only come down into the lower hills when there’s drought and wildfire so it’s only the rarest of sightings for me. I really only know deer from books and movies, and that’s the truth. To me, they are such delicate, graceful, beautiful creatures. Part of an exquisite pastoral scene. I don’t understand why someone would kill them with a gun and I don’t understand why someone would run them over with a car and not do something about it. Have they no conscience?
I suppose were the driver a less-strong person than Don (to be able to lift/pull on the creature), they just couldn’t do anything once the tragedy occurs but it’s when you wish there was a road sign or something that said, if you hit a deer, call (Animal Control?) at this 24-hr phone line (but what if it’s 3am, and in snow and rain; would anybody really come out, although it seems a deer on the ground, in the middle of a road would be a driving/traffic hazard which needed immediate attention); sigh.
How awful for you and Don. I shudder to think if the deer weren’t killed instantaneously and instead lay there dying in pain. What then afterward? Do you then have such a number to call, to have the deer removed; it’s left to you and the neighbors for a resolution? Here, where we’re more urban, there are more police on the roads, so they probably coordinate with Animal Services when they see an injured/dead animal on their patrols. I doubt you have that sort of scenario where you are; again, sigh. Maybe this is a price for living rural, but it’s a very high price to pay. My heart hurts for you today.
I pray for peace in your soul over this momentary loss and grief, Claudia (momentary but not meaning you won’t get over it for a long time, because you won’t, and it’s hard); condolences to you and Don for having to be the innocent bystanders (along with the deer).
It’s a disturbing mental image, but you were wise to share it with us, your understanding readers/cyber friends. Get out some of the pain; try to free your brain somewhat. Always helps to talk it out or write it down when trying to wrestle with something like this. Maybe if you plow thru some paperwork and other projects today, it can help distract.
Again, I’m so sorry for what you’ve had happen. You don’t need this at any time, but especially not at Christmas. You need the sun to come out for a little while; maybe soon.
No, that’s a painting, with the reflection from the window showing.
I once sat with a dying fawn that had been by a driver in front of my house – a driver who stopped to make sure her car was okay, but couldn’t walk 5 feet to check on the fawn. I saw it about an hour later and called every agency I could to try to get help. No one could get there quickly. I was alone, couldn’t lift it by myself. I tried to comfort that beautiful baby. I must have stayed with it for 2 hours. Then I watched it die. I was heartbroken for this baby who didn’t even have a chance to live a long life.
I called the county. They will send someone to remove the body. But they didn’t come today and he/she is still there. They haven’t removed the body of the young deer that is just up the road, either. They’ll come. The man said he’s had over 10 calls about dead deer on Sunday. He said it was the end of hunting season on Sunday and the deer ‘were on the move.’ I’m not sure what that means.
I had someone Direct message me on IG and tell me off for caring so much about the deer. She implied that I should care about people (as if I don’t) and she was unbelievably rude. I don’t understand people like that and I sure don’t want them following me on IG, so I blocked her.
Good for you; block away. Heartless, some people. Who needs ’em.
It has bothered me off and on all day that you’ve had to witness and endure this loss of wildlife, literally in your own front yard. It made me remember when I hit a cat with my car when I was in my early 20s and I didn’t know what to do, had never had anything like that happen. I was on my way to work and driving too fast on city streets (I was late). I was crying uncontrollably for the cat and what I did, when I got to the office just a couple of blocks away, and the office manager, a more mature woman by far than myself, knew to call the local animal control officer and, fortunately, our small town had a good one back then, it was during his work hours, he was on the job, he was nearby, and he removed the cat within the half hour. On my lunch hour, I went to the nearest house and an elderly lady answered the door. I told her I’d hit a cat in front of her house; was it hers. She wasn’t sure whose cat it was when I described it. To this day, I drive on this very street, 40 years later, and I instinctively slow down to a crawl; I can’t help myself…because I can never forget what I did. He was a big, healthy cat; someone’s pet; I know he was. Had I been driving the speed limit or slower, he might have lived.
My brother, also in his late teens or early 20s, hit a dog; it was about 1am near a school and a closed-for-the-night grocery store; some houses nearby, but he was hesitant to disturb anybody by knocking on someone’s door at that hour. All the houses were dark. No cell phones then; he didn’t know what to do. There weren’t 24-hr pet rescue/clinics in our area in those years (animal ER); we still having nothing like that in our actual (small) town (limited resources; at this writing, we don’t even have an animal control officer, and haven’t had, for at least a year; the police get the job, and they really don’t have enough officers for those tasks). Anyway, my brother stayed with the dog til it died, as you did with the fawn; helpless. You don’t just ‘get over’ something like that. I’m telling you, I thought the experience of it was going to destroy my young brother. We were raised with dogs and cats as family members. These things happen. Wildlife and domestic pets on the loose are no match for the lethal weapon which is a vehicle. But it’s heartbreaking.
I discussed all this with my husband today as I often do with your posts and he said his parents were driving to see him at Christmas when he temporarily was working a job in Iowa; they were crossing states like Nebraska/Kansas, etc. (I think they lived in Wyoming at the time. It’s all pre-me.) Lots of farm country. Open spaces. His mother was helping with rotating the driver’s shift and, in the dead of night, hit a black calf in the black night who was running across the black asphalt; she just didn’t see him until it was too late. She was inconsolable; a shaking mess.
My husband hit a dog, also late at night coming home from a work gig when we lived in Houston, but he couldn’t find the dog afterward. There was evidence with the van that he’d definitely hit the dog and it was wounded. He spent an hour or more looking for the dog with a flashlight (I was so worried, I knew he was on his way home, then he never arrived; again, no cell phones then; I didn’t know WHAT had happened to my husband and was getting somewhat frantic; it wasn’t even safe for him at that hour of night [seedy part of the city]), but he never found the dog; his intent was to carry it, if he could, to an urgent care center for pets; we knew where one was located which was open ’round the clock. Boy did it bother him. I don’t think he slept a wink that night. He drove the route again, early the next day, with eyes open to see anything, any clues; anything he could do to help. When anything like this ever comes up now, he always remembers hitting that poor dog. It was a large-breed dog. We always hoped it somehow survived. My husband is a massive dog lover.
I just read an online article today that there’s a country music star of whom I have no knowledge but I guess he’s popular and has some sort of game-animal and otherwise-animal/maybe farm-animal preserve where the animals are protected and there’s a petting ‘zoo’ aspect of it; I just scanned the article and didn’t retain a lot of the info; on the run earlier today. But apparently this country singer had a prize, rare stag on the property and his farm manager found that the stag had been shot from someone who was out on an adjacent, I assume public road; left the stag for dead in his own compound. Again, who would do such a thing on someone else’s private, likely fenced-in land? I hope they find out who did it and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. Unfortunately, the laws on this sort of thing are murky state to state. But if anything, the stag was someone else’s ‘property’. You ‘damage’ someone else’s property, you shouldn’t get away with it.
You are right to care, Claudia. I know you are just crushed. Try to not go anywhere in the car until the deceased deer are removed, if you can. (I feel badly for the people who have the job of having to deal with the road kill; they must need some kind of mechanical lift/heavy equipment.) Just stay inside in the bad weather; work on your doll houses; listen to some soft music. Make cloud biscuits. Distract yourself with a movie. Or drive out from your property in the opposite direction; don’t expose yourself to the carnage any more than you have to. Maybe things will be better tomorrow.
You and Don are in my prayers tonight. Hold each other close. These are traumatic events. Maybe some people would question the word ‘trauma’ but it was certainly a trauma for the deer and it’s certainly been a trauma for you. Would be for me, too.
Well, I had to go out yesterday, so I saw the deer. And I had to walk down to the mailbox, and saw that poor thing again. I just tried to ‘steel’ myself beforehand. And then I said a little prayer up that the deer was at peace. Thank you for your kind and understanding comment, Vicki. It brought tears to my eyes. xo
Oh, gosh, on the one hand, I was hoping you could avoid the awful scene. On the other hand, it helped you to get out and get away for a little while; do something soothing, like antiquing/shopping.
It was nice you said the prayer for the deer; I like to think its soul was freed to prance in new meadows the moment it died.
I don’t know if it’s been ‘romanticized’ or fictionalized in movies or books, but it seems Native Americans, including the indigenous peoples of Alaska, who had/have to hunt for their subsistence, would/will say a prayer of thanks for the creature who gave its life, of which nothing will go to waste but instead be thoughtfully/carefully/fully utilized. And I know the idea of a hunt is abhorrent to you and to me, but at least when I’ve read about this or seen a documentary on TV, I’m glad to hear of/see the respect for the animal.
I wish I lived in a world where animals had rights; and, in some aspects, society has evolved over the past decades to protect them in ways very much needed, but we have a long, long way to go on the laws and penalties. To me, it doesn’t matter if it’s a domestic pet, farm animal or wildlife…perhaps they don’t have human logic, but they can feel things we do, physically and emotionally. They have brains. They have the same fragile bodies we do. Their time here is limited, as is ours. We are connected.
Bless the beasts and children…
I am behind in my reading by a few days. Due to a plumbing problem that caused a flood of historical proportions.
I hit a deer once, or maybe it hit me. I never saw it come out of the woods. I didn’t see it until bounced off the hood of my car. By the time I had stopped it was already back in the woods.
My son got hit by a deer, and he dialed 911. They told him to pull over when it was safe to do so. He was only 18, and very upset. He called us next. We arrived at the same time a sheriff’s deputy did. My son was creeping along the shoulder of the highway. His air bag had gone off, but when the deer came through the windshield to lay across the dash the bag was flattened. When asked why he didn’t just stop instead of creeping along he told us he was afraid that stopping would cause the deer more harm when it landed on the pavement. I’m not sure how far he would have gone if we hadn’t arrived just then . Probably all the way home.
I tell you these stories Claudia, only to show that sometimes a driver is hit by the deer.
Daytime or pitch black of night, driving 20 mph or 60, being ever vigilant it can happen.
My state doesn’t pick up the animals. There are just too many. Not all deer of course. As unpleasant as this will sound to you, and I don’t mean to offend, the roadside animals do fulfill a purpose by providing food for many birds. Including eagles and hawks and wolves.
I am sorry you had this horrible experience. You just can’t un-see things.
Of course I know that drivers are sometimes injured in these accidents. But, that being said, the vast majority of deaths and injuries happen to the deer. If everyone was more careful and used deer whistles on their cars, I think there would be less of these tragedies.
Thanks so much, Trudy.
I hate seeing deer on the side of the road, knowing well they may not have been killed on impact and suffered. I worry every time I’m on a country road, especially at dusk or evening that one will dash in front of me. I’m so sorry you have had to see (and hear) this. I hope their end was quick.
I love the houses on your jade. The light is perfect.
I hope so, too. Thanks, Jeanie.
We live right by the State Park, so there’s lots of deer around here, too. I am so glad hunting season is finally over because I hated hearing all those gun shots from the park. Sickened me. Both my mom and Tim have hit deer – the deer jumping out in front of their cars from the roadside – and they both had their cars totaled. With my mom, it was on the expressway as she was traveling home from KY. With Tim, it was the road right around the corner from us right next to the State Park. In both cases, they have no idea what happened to the deer. They must’ve run off because they weren’t at the accident scene. I thank God that both my mom and Tim weren’t seriously hurt after those accidents, though Tim did have to go to the ER for a gash on his forehead.
I’m glad they weren’t injured, Melanie. Thank you.
So sad about the deer. The deer are such beautiful animals. Too many drivers are careless and speed too much. Glad that the rain and snow will not be too much. My cousin in Prescott Arizona received 7 inches of snow last week. I love your Putz houses. We have quite a few,but some are not in good condition. Enjoy your tree.
Marilyn
Some of mine are a little battered, as well, Marilyn. Thank you!
We have a lot of deer die on our roads here also. It upsets me each time I see it. I try not to look but pray that other animals are safe as they live so close to roads now. Hugs!
I say a little prayer each time I see a deer near the road and tell the deer not to cross the road. Thanks, Linda.
My god Claudia that is horrible!! I’ve never seen more than one poor deer hit, let alone the number of creatures you’ve had to witness in just the past few days. That it happens at all is awful and that it had to happen around your peaceful magic Mockingbird Hill is just unbelievable. My heart goes out to you. It’s a hard world and we work hard to make places of warmth and safety for ourselves and our loved ones as much as we can. The animals that cross our property feel like ours in a way that isn’t proprietary but inclusive–we don’t hunt and neither do our close neighbors so there is relative safety here among our woods. I ask them when I see them to please not cross the road. I guess my mom read me Bambi too many times when I was an impressionable kid. Take care of your tender heart.
We feel the same way about the animals that live on our property. We share that space, especially as we have encroached on their territory. I do the same thing – ask them not to cross the road. Thank you, Nora.
the picture in my mind of you sitting there with the wounded fawn until it died brought tears to my eyes. it’s why we love you. your gentle touch and soothing voice surely made its last moments bearable. bless you darling bean.
the deer are feeling panic. the shots. never knowing which way to run but to run for your life.
I’m glad the season is over. and yet hunters will tell you they cull the herds and keep them healthy. still it is such a violent practice throughout our land. it’s horrible to live through in areas of wildlife for sure.
and the woman on your IG … why are some people so hard? just because you care for animals doesn’t mean you don’t care for people! good grief. how ignorant. she is just one rotten apple!
try to enjoy your day.
I love the picture of the McCoy pottery and the tiny houses. just beautiful. xoxo
You’re right. They’re feeling panic. Thankfully, hunting season is over. I hope their panic eases.
I don’t believe any hunter who says they cull the herds to keep them healthy. It’s simply the way they justify their need to kill an innocent creature. I heard that argument when I was a kid – also the argument that they are doing them a favor because they might starve to death over the winter. Like they care.
Thank you so much for your comment, Tammy. It honestly made me cry, and in a good way. xoxo
xoxo
Call your local or state representative. Maybe your road needs a few more reminder signs?
Every road here needs signs. You’d have to place them every ten feet to make a difference. There are school bus signs, warning signs, and no one slows down. My neighbor’s dog was also hit in front of our house. Thanks, Leanne.
On a lighter note, I love how your pottery display brings out the green on the charming little houses. Can you tell us more about Putz houses and their history? I am just now hearing about them. Thanks!
I wrote about their history on Monday, Emily. If you visit that post, you’ll be able to read what I’ve been able to find out about them. Thanks!
Ah, somehow I missed that! Thanks! The Putz houses and the little sheep are precious. (The Tuesday and Monday posts came in the same email. I clicked to read the Tuesday post on the blog, not realizing there were two posts. Just adding that info in case someone else missed it too.)
I checked into it. They went out together because I posted just a bit too late on Monday and it didn’t get out in that day’s email. Thanks, Emily.