Poor Thing

Cosmo, the cat, was looking quite intently in the backyard this morning. I opened the curtains, thinking he was interested in catching a shadfly or two, when I realized he had his eye on something much bigger – a deer.

While there is a forest about 10 minutes down the street, I am far enough away that deer usually don’t make a foray into our yard (except once before).

I locked Cosmo in the bathroom and opened the patio door. I tried to talk in a calm manner to the scared creature while also taking its picture. It was only after I attempted to take video that I realized it was hurt badly.

I woke up my husband and suggested we call someone but he said realistically by the time anyone got here, the deer would be long gone. Instead, I opened the side door and the deer found its way out.

My pictures and video are awful – too dark out and too far away but here they are any way.

Deer on The Run

My husband and I were chatting on Sunday when he did a double take and shouted “Deer. Our son was nursing and by the time I had carefully turned to look, the deer had disappeared and my husband was out the door. He was looking down the road when I noticed the deer at the boat launch. My husband didn’t notice until my tapping on the glass and pointing caught his attention. This time the deer did run down the road. My husband followed, then came back for the camera. Apparently, there were two deer and both had hopped the neighbour’s fence and were trapped in his backyard. My husband captured this short video before both, thankfully, jumped back over the fence and fled in opposite directions.

The City Mouse Vs the Country Mouse

Why?

Why is the question most people ask when they find out I drive at least a hour to get to work.

Loving my job helps. As does leaving early enough that I avoid the highway in the morning (that pleasure is saved for the afternoon commute). But the main reason for living so far away is the feeling of peace that begins as soon as I leave the city limits and head north.

By the time I pull onto our quiet street, the pressures of the day have evaporated; my shoulders unclench, my foot eases off the gas and my eyes start scanning for the beauty that is all around me.

I have had porcupines, skunks, raccoons and deer cross my path. I have seen a trio of turkey vultures enjoy a meal, watched as a male wild turkey show off and noticed an osprey fly over ahead with a fish still gasping for breath in its talons.

I have seen a red fox hunt a mouse and catch it, and kept pace as another walked down the road with a dead rabbit in its mouth. I have snorkeled with fish and dove out of the way as a hawk skimmed the surface of the water where I was swimming. I have followed minks and fed chickadees out of my hand. I am sure I saw a wolf once.

Why do I live so far from work? Why doesn’t everyone?