Sunday, August 16, 2009, 22:57
Corn Feed
It is disconcerting to be standing out in the yard, in the dark, waiting for Pixie, and to hear screeeee-eeeeech scruuuuuuuunch munch-munch-munch coming up from the direction of the garden.
The neighbor planted about 10 acres of corn this spring, and the deer are working on eating as much of it as they can. They have the first two rows on this side of the field eaten off and along the back of the field. I have not been around to the other side of the field, but I would imagine they have been munching there too.
One evening Randy and I went for a walk around the hayfield, and when we got to the other end, there was a doe, eating corn. The sun was just about ready to set, and we were only 30 feet from her. We stopped and stood absolutely still. She looked at us and bobbed her head up and down as if to see us from a different perspective. She must have decided we were nothing out of the ordinary and went back to munching corn. She strolled down the end of the field, eating as she went. We walked forward a few steps so we could see her. She ate along the end and then went down the other side of the field.
It was amazing to be so close to a doe who was not the least bit worried about our presence at her repast of fresh cornstalks.
More often than not when I go outside with Pixie at night, I hear the deer tearing at the corn and and chewing and munching and tearing some more off. Because it is dark, I have no idea of how many there are. Maybe quite a few since the field is 10 acres and provides plenty of opportunity for fresh corn.
I don't know why, but whenever an organization around here advertises a "corn feed" or a "spaghetti feed" or a "meatball feed" it makes me wince as an inappropriate use of the word "feed." Perhaps this is a regional usage. Perhaps it is more widespread than that. Either way, "feed" is an inappropriate use. But in this case, I am delighted to say that "corn feed" is highly appropriate.
Bon appetit my deer friends. . .
LeAnn R. Ralph
Saturday, August 15, 2009, 08:04
Over an Inch
I am still having a hard time believing it. We got an inch and four-tenths of rain Thursday night. At one time. There were severe thunderstorms to the south, but some of the rain made it this far.
Points south of here got six and seven inches of rain. It sill amazes me that other locations have to get flash floods in order for us to get a little rain here, but hey, at this point, we will take whatever rain we can get.
Surprise of surprises, I found a couple of ripe Roma tomatoes the other morning. I am going to have to keep checking them in the morning when the sun is slanted from the east. With the sun in that position it is much easier to find the ripe tomatoes.
The weather has been hot and sweltering for a week now. It seems unusually hot and humid, but I think that's because of the cold spring and cool summer. We have not acclimated to the heat.
I mowed some of the lawn the other night after it had cooled off a bit at 7:30. I know it's hot and sweltering when the bandanna I tie around my head to keep the sweat from running in my eyes has become so saturated that sweat drips off the ends tied in the back and drips down my back.
Who needs a sauna when you've got weather conditions like that?
LeAnn R. Ralph