Thursday, July 9, 2009

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch


Babies are always more trouble than you thought - and more wonderful.
Charles Osgood


We traveled to see Son #2 last week at his internship in south Texas. We found the Wildlife Management boy mired in 17 baby deer. I don't recall ever having such a sweet experience. Finding myself surrounded by these 2-3 day old beautiful creatures brought on a love of young life I hadn't felt in some time.

Each had its own distinctive face. Personalities emerged as they found their legs and kicked their heels to play with the resident dog, a dachshund, eager to spend his days making sure everything ran correctly. Most fun dog.

Oh, yes. This is what's left of the first rattlesnake Jordan had to kill (head and rattles removed before the big gut and stretch.) I wasn't quite so keen on seeing that worthless sucker, but preferred him stretched out on a board to side-winding beside me.




One of those sweet faces warmed up to me. I was thrilled. Even got to bottle feed the babe and dot its butt with toilet paper while it peed. (Apparently mothers in the wild do that to ensure no scent is left for predators. Hence, my Jordan is its mother.)

He was saying they are not quite learning how to do that themselves even though for some of the babies, it is time. I reminded him the greatest gift a parent can give is to instill independence. I think he is on that task now.


I was thankful to discover these beauties will be sold for breeding purposes only and not for deer hunting forays. Three hours with them was fun. I'm thinking Jordan - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, will be glad for a day off come August. So internships go. After the south Texas heat, I'm thinking he'll also be ready for Flagstaff weather - and his senior year.

20 comments:

  1. Looks like the best kind of visit! Handsome son you have.

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  2. A houseful of Bambis - what fun. Flagstaff brings back happy memories for me - have been there several times - lovely bookshop!

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  3. OMG - they're frickin' adorable! How anyone could hunt them down and put in a bullet in them is beyond me...

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  4. that is just AMAZING. I love the pics, the story and the lesson on independence.

    you must be very proud.

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  5. What an amazing adventure he's having. Joy all over his face.

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  6. Aaaaawwww, how cute! What a great vocation for your boy. If I had things to do over again, I think I'd go for something along this line. What a precious gift working with animals everyday would be.

    Good job, mama. And you too, Jordan. :)

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  7. Totally awesome - I'm jealous of both you and your son! The career he's chosen can be a rough one, just like being in the domestic animal field. Nature isn't always as sweet as these babies, as we all know. But how awesome to be up close and personal with wildlife on a daily basis, and to be involved in their protection and management. Kudos to your son!

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  8. How adorable! And interesting.

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  9. What a honey your son is.

    That noted, now I have to be crabby about adorable fawns: we have two in our neighborhood that look just as sweet. However, yesterday morning, just as my stand of lilies was FINALLY about to open and show their blooms, them two little deers came by and at the tops off more than half of them.

    I should love fawns more than lilies, right?

    I don't. Harrumph.

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  10. I'm certainly glad they won't be hunted, but WHY would anyone breed deer? They do a bang-up (smile) job on their own!

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  11. I missed this post because I accidentally marked every single post in my reader as read. I know....only me.

    Anyway, soooo cute. Can't wipe the smile from my face.

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  12. What dear little creatures. You must be so proud of him doing such a worthwhile job. You certainly had a wonderful visit.

    Margaret

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  13. Hi, how I loved seeing those baby deer. I'll be back to see some more of your interesting blog.

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  14. Ooooo, aren't they just the sweetest. You know I didn't see Bambi until I was an adult and I never knew he was a boy! Plus....I did not know about his mom....I was aghast. Wept out loud.

    They should make baby creatures that stay baby creatures. But I suppose amusing humans is not part of the master plan.

    What a remarkable son you have.

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  15. I live in a neighborhood on Lake Conroe just north of Houston. We often get deer in our back yard. Lately there is a doe with her two babies that come by for corn. I am so jealous that you got to be so close to these little darlings. Yet, I will continue to enjou watching them grow during the coming months!

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  16. Too cute! What a great experience for an internship. So cool that you got to share in it with him.

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