Oh Deer

We've got what I would characterize as a deer problem. Not the kind which you probably think. They don't eat our vegetables - we don't have a garden. They don't peer in our windows - they're too high. But they traipse through our yard and distract our dogs. Tonight, I took Reuben & Lulu for our daily walk around the yard after dinner to take care of business. I let them wander into the woods for 2 reasons: 1. I know they like to check out the various smells. 2. This eliminates me having to clean up after them. Selfish, I know. Well, tonight Lulu was headed back for her cookie reward while Reuben was still out there finding inspiration. As Reuben was poised to take care of business, out of the blue a deer shot past him at breakneck speed. Reuben got up on his front paws and you could see the hair raise inches off the back of his neck. Now I know Reuben is a well trained machine, so if I called him to come, he would. And, I knew that if I am desperate I can always cajole him back with the word "cookie." We trained him to be food obsessed. I called to him to come. He didn't. But he didn't run after the deer either which was my fear. Eventually, he took care of business and came back. Crisis averted.

About 45 minutes later, we were back in the house and back to our routine. I walked by the front door and noticed something on our front lawn. It was 3 deer traipsing through our front lawn like it was a nature reserve. I stopped to look, then quickly grabbed the camera. Then the 3 of us (me, Reuben and Lulu) stood peering out the front door windows and watched them go on their merry way through our front lawn. As they moved out of my sight line, I could swear I saw the last one smirk at me.