Monday, May 18, 2015

THE BUCKS STOP HERE!

A week or so ago, while sitting at my desk, I felt a sensation of being watched, looked out my riverview window, and saw a yearling buck standing in the small glade on the island directly across from the cottage. Then, three or for days later, I again felt the urge to check for watchers, glanced across the river, and again saw that same yearling buck standing in almost the exact same spot.

Only it wasn't the same deer. Looking closer, I realized there were two similar sized male whitetails, both of whom—for whatever reason—had felt compelled to pause in the same place, assume practically the same broadside stance, and gaze contemplatively my way. 

How do I know they're two different animals? Because the first one—the deer at the top of this post—is a buck with modest forks in his new, velvet-covered antlers. While the second deer sports only stubby spikes. In deer-hunter parlance, a forkhorn and a spikehorn.

Double click the images and compare for yourself.

The amazing thing to me is that both bucks choose to pause and look in my direction from the identical vantage point—standing almost in each other's hoofprints.

I guess the bucks really do stop there!



    

15 comments:

Moonmuser said...

Is the bottom buck somewhat shorter, or just standing a little farther away? Or what?

You must have thought you had gone outdoor writers heaven when getting that place of yours worked out....how exciting to look up and see them! So graceful...

You just couldn't pass (up) the buck!

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ - I so love your 'eye' for detail and your knowing of nature's blessings. Beautiful images and great wild life to be interested in you. :-) Not sure if you saw my facebook post but wanted yu to know:

Yesterday I experienced my FIRST in almost 11 years MS related fall!! I hit the ground hard and fast - my bad leg/foot kinda rolled over and gave out and down I went. Skipp came running to me as did my sister Nancy and her son Ethan. I had wondered if I could get up on my own if I ever fell and now I had the answer. I could not! It was quite a circus act to get me up and sitting on the bed - scary to say the least. The harsh reality of this disease overwhelmed mel. The fall and what it took to get me up was horrifying. I am feeling quite beat up today - my left arm and elbow are bruised and very hard to move, the left side of my lower back and hip are injured, both knees and my stomach muscles are sore. And there you have it!!
Thanks for reading this and if you dont want it on your blog just delete this section - I understand
Love Gail
peace.....

Kathie said...

Beautiful...love the story behind your photos.

Grizz………… said...

Moonmuser…

Neither. Look at the leaning sycamore. Notice it appears bigger in the top image, smaller in the bottom one. The sycamore tree did not shrink between deer. I simply failed to crop them to the exact same ratio. (Yes, I posted them as the same image size. Printed/posted image size is NOT the same as crop ratio size.) In simpler terms, I enlarged the top pix more.

The bottom image buck might actually be 6-8 inches CLOSER…closer being closer to the camera; 9-10 inches max, which would make it FARTHER from the tree. And it's, of course, also a whopping 4-5 feet to the left of the top image buck.

I'm not an expert yearling buck weight guesser, but i'd be surprised if there was much size difference between the two animals…and they'd be way smaller than you'd probably imagine. Possibly a little taller at their withers than your kitchen table, and under a hundred pounds in weight. About the size of a leggy goat. Ohio produces some of the biggest buck whitetails in the nation—all the beans and corn and similar good deer-appealing fodder—but this pair have lots of eating and growing yet to do before they reach such a stage.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I'm so very sorry to hear about your tumble—and I know it has really terrified and disheartened you, not to mention left you with soreness and pain and bruising. Right now you must be greatly distressed, second-guessing yourself, worried about the future and what it might hold.

Cry, rage, moan, but please—don't let this one moment define your future, or your belief in living and and loving and savoring every day to its fullest. This is not the end of the Gail I so admire…not even the beginning of the end. This was just a painful, surprising, frightening fall. An incident. Merely a single blip. Not a life-changer. A wealth of wonderful days yet await—don't allow one incident such as this to rob you of those joys and times.

You will be in my thoughts and prayers. And don't you ever worry another moment about me not wanting to post comments regarding such matters here on my blog.

You are a woman of great spirit and much courage; way better than MS…you are indomitable! I am honored to be your friend.

Grizz………… said...

Kathie…

Thank you. I'm glad you liked the piece.

Moonmuser said...

Thanks,,,I'll put that in my book of advice...looking forward to your next surprise of natures beauty!

Gail said...

Oh my Grizz - I so appreciate your encouragement nd compliments. Not only did I ready your words I heard you loud and strong and clear and amazing. Everything you said is true. This incident is just that, an incident. Time will heal. I am struggling to keep moving through the pain and to not let the fear of this in any way paralyze me. Each step, each blessing remembered is how I am fighting - allowing myself my due self pity but briefly - again, your words heard are such a gift and blessing and filled with hope, light and love.
Love Gail
peace.....

Scott said...

Looks like the "forkhorn" is a bit more robust, too.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I'm so glad—and relieved!—to read your comments today. Your incredible strength, attitude, and courage will triumph over anything MS ever throws your way.

When I was growing up, Mom and Dad occasionally visited small local church. The congregation was black, the gospel music was marvelous. My parents and the pastor and his wife were friends. The pastor's wife would always have me sit with her on the platform because she knew I loved music and was entranced to watch the piano and organ players. (I'm sure my own gospel/blues/etc. piano style was formed right there on that little church platform during those Sunday great musical services.)

Anyway, whenever I saw her—from my earliest childhood memories to thethe last time whe I was in my teens—that warm, wonderful, elegant lady always made a point to give me the same bit of advice: "Honeychile," she'd say, "you gots to always remember to keep on keepin' on! Listen to me now…" she'd make certain we were making direct soul-to-soul eye contact, "…you always gotta keep on keepin' on!"

Keep on keepin' on! Again and again, throughout the years. "Honeychile, remember, you gotta keep on keepin' on!" And you know what, Gail? That has become both my daily mantra and the cornerstone of my personal philosophy…particularly when it comes to dealing with health issues.

Life is tough: Keep on keepin' on!

I'm in pain, weak, hurting: Keep on keepin' on!

I'm discouraged, afraid, weary: Keep on keepin' on!

The road is just too long and too tough and I'm probably losing my way: Keep on keepin' on!

It may sound simplistic. But really, what else can you do? Either you give up or you keep on keepin' on! So the MS caused you to fall. Okay. Scream, snarl, weep, hold a brief pity-party, soak whatever injured body parts in epsom salts—then lick your wounds, get up…and keep on keepin' on!

Which sounds to me like exactly what you're doing!

Grizz………… said...

Scott…

Yup. I'd agree. And probably the older of the two, so you'd expect him to be a bit heavier. Haven't seen one come browsing along yet today, but I'm working at my desk, keeping an eye on the river and island beyond. Who know, I might see and photograph buck number three…possibly the 10-point patriarch.

Gail said...

....and with friends like you cheering me on I can
keep on keeping on' . Amen, and thanks

love to you always
Gail
peace......

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I'll see you keep on keepin' on if I have to get behind and push! :-)))

Gail said...

Hi - I love when you threaten me with a good time :-) wink-wink lol

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Yup…you're definitely feeling better. :-/