The older I get, the more I find myself looking backward, rather than forward.
Remembering...
And, somehow, even harsh memories are softened with the warm glow of time.
While summers growing up found me essentially completely cut-off from everyone but immediate family, the days were full.
Daylight hours (after chores, of course) were most usually spent roaming the fields, pastures and woods of our little 80-acre farm.
Mostly the woods...
The woods I roam these days aren't the familiar woods of my youth but they still hold a measure of magic...and beautiful things.
Look closely...do you see him?
My peek-a-boo partner for the day.
A young albino buck....
See the velvet of his newly-sprouted antlers?
We played a good long while but I failed to get great photos...alas, he was much better at the game than I.
Beautiful things in humble places....
24 comments:
Oh my!!!!!!!! You've shown us albino deer previous years so guess when the produce they pass on the albino gene? Aren't albino deer supposed to be GOOD LUCK? Hope that is true for you dear one.
Wow, I've never seen one before. How cool is that! We had a buck for the first time ever last year living in our yard. I love the deer but not what they do to our plants. The other day they ate ever one of my lily of the valley plants. That has never happened before and it shocked me.
There's so much to see in the woods and fields. Many people would not have noticed your little albino buck and would have been the poorer for it.
You must have great luck because I was always told seeing an albino animal was good luck. I remember you showing us a white deer before. How cool to see another one and so close. Bob and I saw a doe with twin fawns last week, but not close up. Janice
Thank you! you've given me something pleasant to think about today.
Oh my goodness, that is magical! I can't imagine seeing one...I saw triplet fawns last week with their momma, but certainly nothing like this. You are so right...there are such small and simple things that are easily overlooked, but are so unique, special, amazing...any word will work, but are absolute magic in this rushabout world. I need to settle in and read your older posts...I think there's a spellbinding book or even movie waiting to be created. I will curl up and begin reading tonight.
I suppose as we grow older, there is more to look back on than what lies ahead ... so noticing the small beauties around us, especially in Nature, is essential for a rich life. Lovely post.🧹
How amazing and special to see the Albino deer again this year ! I love walking around the woods and seeing neat plants , weird mushrooms and listening to the birds . The bike path I walk on most every day has a stream & ponds I walk by , I see lots of cool things and animals.
I wonder sometimes about that backwards remembering thing as I age. Perhaps it is as Nancy commented. I mentally give grace to those who drove me crazy with it when I was young and they were not. Now I am one of them and as I read, not the only one. Your partner is pretty special as are his humble surroundings. Woods and wandering are some of the best things to remember. Betty
Mother Earth provides us with everything we need. If we slow down and take our time to engage with her we are so rewarded. Such a sweet encounter. I too find myself looking back more and more. Laterly I've even started collecting Kaffe Fassett needlepoint tapestries and early Laura Ashley vintage items. Things from the earlier days when life was more simple bring me comfort I guess. Oh, and sweet memories.
I have the same conflicted feelings about both deer and plants - such beautiful creatures but so destructive! This year has been the battle of the rabbits for me - they've eaten more than I can enumerate - and things like chives and allium that they're not supposed to like. No lilies of any sort for me this year except one that battled back and finally grew tall enough to bloom....it looks like a naked little stalk, though, from rabbit height down.
But, something tells me I'd let this particular deer eat anything he wanted if he chose to live in my yard LOL.
Robin
wow
If the legends are true, yes, I should be a VERY lucky person. Previously, an albino doe and buck were frequent visitors but I haven't seen much of them this past year so I was thrilled to see this young buck. I'm thinking I had had the pleasure of meeting his parents. They say the odds of seeing an albino deer is 1 in 30,000...so blessed, indeed, to see 3. ~Robin~
You're most welcome Maureen! I can't quite explain the joy and sense of peace and well-being seeing him and interacting with him left me with. ~Robin~
You are so very right, Mary - MAGICAL. I did a post a year or two back of an albino buck and albino doe that visited me as well and used that exact word. I can only think that this young buck must be their offspring - or at least one of theirs. The doe, in particular, was unusually friendly and actually walked toward me quite a distance when she saw me. This young one, likewise, was very sweet and curious - there was an almost gentleness about him. And I'm honored that you are interested in reading my back posts. Fair warning - they are pretty much all over the place. ;-) ~Robin~
Perhaps it's natural to look back...like you said, there is so much more there. Nonetheless, it can be a sobering thought. I agree completely with your comment about nature being essential for a rich life. Thank you Nancy....
I do believe Nancy is correct...for many of us, there is so much more "behind" us at this point than there is ahead. I need to do as you so artfully said "mentally give grace" to those who drove me crazy when I was young and they were not. And, yes, woods and wandering are two of my favorite things...I will rue the day when I can no longer visit them or do it. Hope Monday has been good to you. ~Robin~
Lucky you seeing that albino deer. Like you I spent lots of time on my grandparent's farm with just family about. But it was pure heaven to me. Berry picking helping with the gardens and the animals etc. I loved it all so much.
Cathy
That is so cool!!! Until you posted about them, I never even knew there was such a creature.
I see many deer (giant rats in my humble opinion) and they have once again decimated my hostas, roses, lilies...and the list goes on. ARGH!!! I am NOT a fan.
Goosebumps. Too much of a coincidence. Or maybe intentional blessing?
I've thought about how I spent my youth in the summer. Roaming the neighborhood, playing with my best friend and finding adventures everywhere and even in our little suburb of Chicago we had a small woods that everyone called Witches Willow. It's been made into a playground and green space now. I pity the kiddos who spend too much time looking down at fake news on devices instead of the magic of a child's summer spent outdoors. We also had a small house in Wisconsin (Trevor) that my Dad bought for my Grandparents and many days were spent on the lake there. Good memories.
Good morning Robin, oh I am so happy i checked in on you as it’s been awhile… you brought me too a magical place with the white albino buck. How wonderful to see him amongst the woods, I would give anything to walk with you there… 80 acres, wow, i didn’t know you had that.. I love your little corner in Nod, love my visits with you and of coarse you..Happy August, Francine.
I had to pop back and tell you I’m enjoying your early posts. So sweet to take your mom back to the farm-it must have been so hard to sell and move. And the family history of a great great burned for being a witch - first fascinating genealogy and second, ridiculous people. It never fails to amaze me people didn’t understand if someone really was a witch, they never would’ve allowed themselves to be caught. 🙄 off to read more!
I also find myself, more and more, thinking back on those old by-gone days. The old Stoics say to live more in the present moment, but who can help a meander back every so often. NOw, that peek-a-boo friend would certainly keep one, happily, in the moment, for sure!
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