fawns galore!

All of the deer in this area have their fawns in late March, early May. They are hidden away in the tall grasses and underbrush of the cedar and live oak trees. Now is when they gain the confidence and skill to follow their mothers. They are adorably playful in a Bambi sort of way. I sure hope she grows up healthy. Many of the deer are hit by cars around here. This fawn's mother was hit, just before giving birth. Her back leg is badly dislocated, but she still limps around and takes care of her baby.

Behind this fawn is a giant rosemary bush and blooming garlic aliums.  There are very few plants the deer won't eat, and these are them.

deer breakfast

She likes her apples chopped, with the skin on.

land shark

I took this picture of my deer friend through the screen door. Any day now, she'll be knocking at the door.

my deer friend

This is the first time this deer has ever made herself this comfortable. She stands in front of my porch, looking at me, waiting for carrots. It's kinda creepy sometimes. I swear she's going to knock on the door one of these days.

This deer is 3 years old and has been coming around here since she was a fawn. Last year she had her first fawn. A week or so ago, she had her second season fawn. I've been calling her Mommy Deerest. I haven't seen the baby yet, but it should be soon. That's when it's time to pay close attention to where I walk. Deer are well-camouflaged, so you don't always see them in the shadows of trees. When there are fawns around, the mothers are very protective and dangerous. They stand on their back legs and hit hard with their front hooves. I should whistle while I walk.

Kinetic yard art. This deer is just like one of the family pets. She is always is my yard. Yesterday I made tortillas, for the both of us.

the neighbors

We have a huge deer population in the Hill Country. For several years I've been feeding and befriending a family. This mother and her yearling come by every day for handouts of carrots, apples, and corn tortillas. She comes up to my porch and peers in the window until I bring food. They are highly entertaining and often downright funny. This deer is pregnant, so it will be interesting to see how she reacts to her ever-present yearling when the fawns arrive. I don't get close enough to touch them, nor do I give them names. But I do love observing them from a few feet away.

downtown

There is an explanation for this. While in Salt Lake City a couple of months ago, I sketched these charming old buildings. Back at home, the deer wander through my yard, so I sketch them often. I grab whatever paper is handy at the time, and it happened to be this. I never planned to finish this, but the pedestrian deer was too tempting to pass up. It's a nice change from another week of client artwork.

feed me!

I know we're not supposed to feed the wildlife, but with the drought and extreme heat, the deer have little natural food to forage. Everyone in town is feeding them, including me. In the mornings they stand in my yard, endlessly gazing at me while at my desk. It's alittle unsettling to be constantly watched, with their thin craning necks and big, watery unblinking eyes . How could I not feed them? They love bananas, apples, carrots, iceberg lettuce and corn tortillas. Oddly enough, they don't care for celery.

oh deer

Here in the Central Texas Hill Country we have lots of deer. Too many. Kitchen compost and bird bath water keeps them close to the house during the hot, dry summer months. This deer actually comes running to the yard when she sees me. I suppose it doesn't help when I feed them apples, carrots and celery (as seen in this photo). They are almost like pets, each with his or her own quirky, comical personality. This variety are small, dainty and quite pretty.

deer on the golf course

There are too many deer in the Texas Hill Country. Their only predator is the automobile. It's not uncommon to stop your car while a herd slowly wanders across the street. While sketching this herd, they just stood there with mild curiousity, waiting for a handout.

my porch

Large moleskine sketchbook, Faber-Castell PITT artist pens.

The Neighbor

So far it's been a really hot & dry summer. This deer has been staying close to the houses here. She eats our kitchen vegetable scrap offerings and drinks out of the cat's waterbowl. She introduced her fawn to the waterbowl for the first time this morning. These deer are tiny, delicate creatures.