It is firearms deer season, but the herd around here is safe, and they know it. They stay within the confines of “Requat Farms”, where no hunting is allowed. Hence, we are seriously overpopulated. Tulips can only be grown very close to the house, as they are delicious to deer. Daylilies, too. I can accept those restrictions, but now that the trees are being destroyed, I am very sad. Today, I discovered destruction of the Colorado Blue Spruce I planted in 2005 from the Arbor Day Society. It was the size of a pencil, and they are very slow growing. I have loved its development over the years, and after 15 years, to have it ruined overnight is just too much.
Not very big, but it was much loved
To console myself, I took a census of the little pine seedlings I planted three years ago. Of the 25, 19 have survived, which is pretty good. They are in peril from deer, of course, but I intend to step up my protection somehow.
One of the 19 little pines
I worked through the morning, in pleasant, overcast weather, and after lunch, Jane and I rode. By then, it was very brisk, but we had great fun. No pictures of jumping because it was too chilly to remove gloves!
Oisin was a very good “old lady horse” today
Harry worked all day in the studio. He had to do “major surgery” on his current project. It looked great to me before he changed it, but it’s even better now.
Cedar went out the front door for a stroll around, on the lookout for varmints. When I went to visit the studio, she came with me through the gate. Weedy was ecstatic at Cedar’s return. Mistletoe didn’t really care. Harry is her obsession. She made an appointment with her hairdresser today to get beautiful for Christmas.
There are still not as many birds feeding on the back porch as there were last year. But I did get some goldfinch pictures, including one in flight.
Goldfinch in flight
The ginger cats were ready for evening feeding long before it was time. They spend most of the day together.
Tom Morris asks “Do you have fleas!!?” 
Licorice misses Marmalade, but they still dine together
Roscoe remains the King of cats, magnificent even when resting in a pile of leaves. He was dismayed today to have the basement door closed by the furnace repairman, leaving him out of touch, but he sent up a loud complaint and was promptly released to rejoin the action.
Roscoe, the Maltese Cat, still slightly miffed at being locked in the basement
Stay safe, stay well. Peace.
What is the project Harry is working on? Love these blogs, Anne.
so sorry about your blue spruce. that would kill me too. i had 8-10 deer in my front pasture the other night. so rare here because i don’t have many trees. they were probably running from the canons of my neighbors. i’m going to buy them a deer block. i’m sure they’ll go back to the woods when the season is over.
I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your blue spruce. We have dealt with similar deer damage at Innsbrook and iI know that it breaks your heart to lose a tree that you have raised from a mere “twig.” If there’s enough bark left, you might be able to save the tree by surrounding the rubbed bare part with heavy duty aluminum foil.
Thanks, I will try that!
I wonder, is there someting deer might want to rub on more than a little tree? Have you ever noticed how horses often prefer horses of the same color, or how the one lone grey in a herd is often off by himself? Are cats the same way? Can nature be racist too?
Great pictures Anne. We have deer problems also. Great to see handsome Harry back at work.
Sending the afternoon catching up. Just love these Posts and you two!
Opps, spending…