It was another deceiving day.  As I headed toward the back door at work, I could see the sun shining brightly through the window.  I walked out the door and turned the corner to the parking lot only to be blasted by a gust of icy wind.  Brrrr.

On the drive home I saw a pair of coyotes in an open field.  They found a grassy area on the top of a hill where both watched as I drove by.  I could see the wind ruffling their long coats.

I pulled into the driveway and noticed that my backyard beauties had visited while I was away during the day.  Before I went inside, I refilled all the feeders and the water pail.  I could hear a flock of birds high in a tree top.  When I glanced up, I saw the branches filled with waxwings.  Their beautiful song was interrupted by a hawk that came swooping in.

Within thirty minutes of filling the feeders, all five of my furry deer friends came filing into the yard for another visit.  I will never tire of watching their antics.  Each has a regular routine that I've come to recognize. The does still head to the hanging feeders.  The little ones eat the seeds that fall to the ground.  They all take turns at the feed tub and the water pail that I've put out.  

When the deer began visiting, the slightest bit of traffic noise would scare them off.  Lately, they are so comfortable in the yard that they don't bother to stop eating when the vehicles pass by.  I watched them until they ate their fill and proceeded down the path to the forest behind my yard.  The little ones duck underneath the bottom strand of barbed wire but the mamas leap over the top wire.  They do it with such ease with at least 6 inches to spare.

My granddaughters are coming to sleep over this weekend.  The last time they stayed over, the deer came during daylight hours and the girls watched as the deer made their rounds.  I'm hoping that we'll have that good fortune again.