Mother and Child

Photographed this morning.

The fawn and its mother came back this morning and settled down in the meadow, in the typical "facing away from the center," defensive position.

Fawn

Photographed this morning.

Stag In Grass

This afternoon's stag photo.

He minds having his picture taken much less than many human subjects.

Update:

I saw my first deer fatality today.

Body on the sidewalk, being torn at by a buzzard.

I don't know which deer it was.  Just glimpsed it as I drove.

Two Deer

The view from my window.

One Blue Bird

Blue jay at the water dish, this morning.

Texas Women, The Walking Stick: From The Round Top Excursion

The gentleman in the top photo is Harrell Hough.


I photographed him in the Big Red Barn, at his stall, part of the Round Top antiques fair.

I went to the fair for the photo references, the food and the company.  Didn't think I'd be buying anything.

But I fell for a contemporary piece of folk art, a walking stick crafted from a found branch and inscribed with the names and deeds of heroic/notable/infamous/outrageous Texas women.

The stick reminds me of this Ry Cooder song.

(Couldn't find a really good performance of it available on the web, but if you click on the lyrics, you can read the song.

I did find this song.  Second half here.  One of my favorites.  Reminds me of home.)

According to Harrell, a man named Rob makes them--and other Texas topic sticks--for spending money.

The sticks have different themes, like music, women, particular Texas cities.  Rob signs and dates the sticks; mine is Rob '10.

Harrell sells them out of San Antonio and they are also available in Austin, at a store on South Congress (sorry, I've misplaced the card). 

The photo below is my new stick, hanging out with two Warhol umbrellas (freebies from a fun Warhol showing a few years ago).  The names and deeds on the stick comprise a history of/ education in Texas, up to present day.  Just a few:  "Flag Maker - Sarah Bradley Dobson; Henrietta King - South Texas Rancher; Cynthia Ann Parker - captured by Comanches . . . Emily Morgan - free black 'Yellow Rose of Texas' - Santa Anna's mistress was Houston's spy . . . ."

Deer In A Clump

The local does attempt to answer the question, How many deer can fit on one small patch of yard?

One Red Bird

. . . [fill in the rest] Please help me with the story.

One possible story is suggested by this moving post from Austin Eavesdropper.

Twisted Tree Trunk

Okay, this is a two-parter.

First, do you know what this is?

Second, can you explain how it got so twisted?

Answers supplied, to the best of my ability--and I hope with help from you all--next Monday.

Thanks, Ann, for the inspiration for this quiz.