That silly Parsley. She always races in and goes crazy. I am Sage. I prefer things to be a little, well, calm. I and Thyme sort of lead the group of sisters and cousins. We all have really good eyesight, we can see as good as 7x as you! We are like walking binoculars with fur I guess! While Nutmeg likes to think she can see pink, actually, the little pest can't. Reds, oranges, yellows...and, yes, pinks, actually look kind of grey. Not a pretty color. I prefer shades of blues, greens and browns. They are bright and vibrant. It is fun to watch the grass go from that dull winter brown to a bright, beautiful green.

We can also see shiny objects very well. So, when you come out to visit with your cameras and watches and things, they really attract our attention. Unlike those pesky raccoons, we don't want them, we just notice them. What would we do with a watch?

We can see so well because it is one of our ways of protection. Like our great sense of smell, we notice anything that is out of place. When our humans come out and move anything, we must go and investigate immediately. Especially if they are giving us something new to eat. We like to eat, although we do keep our figure quite well. Parsley may do a better job of exercise than the rest of us, but we just basically have good, lean genetics. Plus, we don't eat things that aren't really good for us, other than corn. Now corn could be our favorite empty calorie. But, I've never seen one of my cousins get fat from too much corn!

Well, I think I'll go watch Parsley do her afternoon race. Perhaps sometime our Mrs. Human can get a picture of her running. It is pretty silly.

Enjoy the sunsets, each and every one is a beautiful thing.

Sage

Sage was supposed to speak but I rushed in to say HELLO! I am Parsley. Notice the slice in my ear? The Humans think it makes it look like a piece of parsley. So, I'm Parsley. I love to run. I hate the wind in my ears. I love to play. I have big, floppy ears. Well, they're not big, they just flop around. When I run the lay back and that way I don't hear all the wind whiring all the time. So, I like to run. Sometimes I get Rosemary to run with me. But, I have to run at her several times to get her interested. Then she gets really, really mad and gives me mean looks! Oh well, ha. She should learn to sit back and enjoy. Run, and enjoy life. When I run with the wind behind me I think I run faster. But, if the wind is really fast, I like to lay low to keep that whistling sound in my ears quiet.

It's windy here today. I ran this morning, but now I'm trying to lay low. Oh, and I don't like those yelling black birds either. So, then I run to chase them! Ha! I'll show them. I can run very fast.

Well, gotta run.

Parsley

Puck Growth Continues

Well, I am continuing to grow my fabulous antlers. This is week 4 of my personal photo series. I must say, I think things are going very well indeed.

Last year my antlers scored approximately 191" on the Boone & Crockett scoring system. The B&C scoring system is a standardized way to compare antler growth from one buck to the next. Unlike some systems, B&C awards inches for the amount of spread between the main beams. (That's what I'm growing right now. All the tines will come off my main beam, or sometimes, other tines.) Last year my spread measurement was 18 1/2". B&C also includes measurements for main beam length, length of each tine and four circumference measurements around the main beam. They total that all up to give what is known as the gross B&C score.

Aren't you glad you asked? Basically, it's like a human reading their portfolio of stuff. I prefer my antlers. That way all the other deer know who's the boss without having to ask!

Like all of us here, I'm getting rid of that nasty old winter coat and soon my sleek summerwear will be in full force. Yeah, I'm getting a little hot!

So, while Sir John resides next door at La Quinta and thinks that title makes him special, I, resting comfortably in Shearton, know how cool I am. Until silly, baby, Falstaff has a B&C score to show me, and YOU, he really has nothing to say. I'm just letting those antlers do the talking.

Puck

Sir John Speaks

I know Puck will insist on talking more about his amazing antler growth tomorrow, so I thought I'd let everyone know today that there IS another guy residing at SIS Ranch -- that is besides Mr. Human.

Puck may be the head buck, the #1, numero uno, but I am royalty. Just look at my name, Sir John Falstaff, #105. I moved to SIS Ranch in early January and live with Nutmeg, Pepper, Indigo and Cilantro. For awhile we had Anise and Licorice, but they got moved. They were soo-o interesting. I thought they were quite the doe, but alas, I am in charge of the young ones. While I'm no older than they, I look like I am much bigger. In fact, I hope to one day give Puck a run for his antler money! But, since I'm a yearling, everyone has to wait and see what I produce in the way of first antlers before I can really start to brag. Well, that is what Puck says. I say, bring it on. I'm cool, I know it and that is a fact.

I don't have a lot to say today, it is just too humid. But, I wanted to be sure and make myself known before Puck has another opportunity.

Have a lovely day,
Sir John Falstaff

My Company

Hey, Pepper is not the only one who had company. I got to play with J. She's a princess like me! I love pink too. I do wish she'd learn to dish up the corn a little faster, but hey, a princess must take her time.

Nutmeg

Pepper & Friend

How exciting to get visitors! My name is Pepper, and I am one of those unusual deer who just love people. They are so fascinating. No fur, they walk on two legs, small ears, beady little eyes and they come in so many different shapes and sizes.

Well, this weekend I got a visit from D. She met me the day after I arrived here and I was not in my best mood. I had had quite a ride from my home near the Texas-Louisiana border and I met cows, not one of my favorite things to see. And, all the other deer I hang with weren't quite sure they were going to let me in the group. It took several group meetings to get them to be social, and even now they sometimes get pesky. But, since I'm the oldest here I figure their problem is just youth. I try to get very Zen about their temperment and only get pushy when it is time for snacks, or visitors.

When D. first came in to visit me I was in the middle of quite a sneezing fit. Sometimes pesky little ants get up my nose and they just make me crazy. It is not those nasty fire ants, just some silly ant that thought it could bite its way back to the ground. I have a great sense of smell, in fact, if the wind is blowing just right, I can smell a human from almost a mile away! Amazing, huh? We use our sense of smell to identify each other. And, I hear for those deer relatives who live up north, they use it to find food in the snow. I would think that would make my nose cold! Brrr...

Anyway, D. and I had lots of fun. She has very tasty fingers! I love to slobber on the humans. They get so crazy when I get there paws, hands, whatever, all wet! Well, they taste like salt, which is a fun combination with the corn. D.'s sister J. came in too, but Nutmeg hogged her attention. D. would make a great animal doctor someday, she has a very gentle touch and is very respectful of our space and how the slightest bit of sound is much louder for us.

I like my humans. They are nice to have around, especially since Mr. Human can make those cows go away when they are yelling and hanging around.

Rosemary Introduces Herself More Properly

I am actually a very nice deer. I simply feel that being smaller than my sisters I have had to be a little pushier to get dinner, snacks, a good place to nap. They are bigger, older, and they think that means they get first pick at the feeder, at the corn, at that great clump of fresh grass under the two big trees.

Look at me. Do I look like a brat to you? No, I look like a nice, sweet deer. Although, I will tell you that there are a few here I don't care for too much. That Ginger is always acting so timid, but given the chance, whoosh, those hoooves could come flying. I've not ever actually seen her do that, but I'm just saying SHE COULD. For awhile, we had Nutmeg with us and she was such a brat. "All the humans like me," she said. She was always getting the snacks first. What a baby. Of course she got snacks first, she ran up there like she was starving. Why not wait and push your way in after all the corn has been thrown and you know where the best grouping is laying? Strategize. That is what I say.

Parsley, now that is a strange one. Always racing from here to there. Always trying to get me to chase her. "Come get me Rosemary, come get me," she always shouts as she races by. What is she thinking? It's hot. I don't want to race, but it always easier to chase her and get her to hush up than it is to try to ignore her. Sometimes I just have to swat her. She won't leave me alone.

My big sister Sage is the nicest. She keeps us all in line. She and Thyme. But, Thyme got all excited with the storm the other night and Sage just kept that sage head of hers. I hear that Sage means wise one. So, I guess she is named correctly. She is the old wise one. Ha, old Sage. I bet she'll like that term... old.

Well, I'm going to go let Sage or someone in the group groom my ears. Hey, I'm not the submissive one here! And, besides, my ears itch. Someone has to clean them.

Hey SAGE!

Exciting Night!

Well, if Rosemary has nothing to say, there has been plenty of excitement. We had a wild storm late last night, waking all of us, and this morning our fence had evidently become a bit of a sail and was bent. Ginger and I have evaluated our fence today and agree it was very scary last night.

Our humans inspected it carefully and it looks like we'll have to move from our luxurious pad in the Four Seasons to the equally wonderful digs over at The Ritz. It seems we'll be moving pretty soon. No big deal, we'll be able to chat with Nutmeg and crew. That crazy Nutmeg will try to talk tough but seems whenever she's been in with us, she sure shuts up!

We all accounted for everyone this morning and enjoyed an unusually calm and quiet day. Which is a good thing since we all heard the storm coming from quite far and by the time it hit, boy did it. I heard from one of those loud black birds that the high school had a lot more damage and their fence around some kind of court was completely down. I hope none of their tennis animals got lost. It is horrible to be scared and afraid and lost. I am very happy we are all safe.

Parsley doesn't especially like storms, it bothers her ears. But then again, wind bothers them, a gently breeze bothers them...heck, she is just bothered most of the time by something.

Even though the storm was loud, it was nice to get some rain. It has already made the grass a little greener today and we should see some new little flowers pop up, which are always fun to nibble.

Well, I guess it is time to get moving. I need to get the girls ready to head across the alley. Stay dry.

Thyme & Ginger

Rosemary has a FEW words to say!

I AM NOT BOSSY! SO THERE.....

Time For Thyme

Oh, hey, hello. Sorry, I didn't realize it was my turn to say HI. I was busy getting a snack. My name is Thyme, not Time, Thyme, like the most popular spice around. I was one of the first girls to arrive here at SIS Ranch last fall, along with my sisters Parsley, Sage & Rosemary. Our cousins, Ginger & Cinnamon came with us from our home in Harper, Texas. We are all the granddaughters of one of the most famous deer in Texas - Airplane. He lived at 777 Ranch in the Hill Country and was on the cover of many outdoor magazines in his youth. I'd like to point out that Puck has not been on the cover of any magazines...yet.

I keep to myself more than my sisters. I'd rather sit under a tree watching butterflies and birds than pick a fight, which is more than I can say for Rosemary, she loves to be bossy. She may be small, but those teeth and hooves are very sharp and she never holds back. Parsley is, well, impossible to keep still. She runs and runs and runs, sits, then runs and runs and runs. I don't know why she likes to run so much but that is what she does all the time. It really makes Rosemary mad too. Sage is more like me, perhaps because we are the oldest, but even she can get testy at times.

The Humans give us snacks and my favorite is corn. It's just like the candy people like to eat. And, just like candy, it is full of calories, but we don't get cavities from corn. The Humans like to give us a more nutritious snack, but it is like eating a granola bar. If we wanted something healthy we'd eat dinner. Gee. Most people think we eat a lot of grass since they always see us looking around in the grass, but actually we are looking for things we really, really like. Fruit, nuts, acorns, melons, beans and clover...now those are delicious and nutritious! Leaves on the trees and rose bushes are also great. Keep your rose bushes away from us, we just can't resist them! Well, talking about all this food is making me hungry, so I'm going back to my snacks. Enjoy your snacks, whatever they may be.

Check me Out!

This is me now and the top photo is how I looked a few months ago. See why the girls like me so much? Keep watching me grow!

Puck

Puck the Buck Introduction

Those SIS Ranch Girls! Right! Like they are the featured attraction here. Don't get me wrong, I think they are all pretty interesting. But, they yack, yack, yack all day long. Whatever happened to spending a quiet afternoon under a tree letting the breeze do all the talking as it runs through the grass and leaves? I am Puck the Buck, numero uno here (just check my ear tag sometime) and I thought you should meet the head of the pack. I'm 3 1/2 years old and my antlers, when in full force, are impressive, if I say so myself. Are the antlers heavy? Yes, and when I shed them in February I was actually quite pleased to have that weight, about 10 pounds, off my head. I've lost a little weight since then, but as the new antlers begin to grow I'll pack on the pounds again. You have to be bulky to carry that crown! I'm three weeks into my new set of antlers and before you know it, they'll be as majestic as they were last season. The girls really take note when my antlers are full-blown. They know who is in charge. But, for now, I sit around enjoying the days of relaxation. I'm not especially fond of the heat around here, my parents were from Indiana where the weather this time of year is more about tornados than heat. But, I've spent my whole life in South Texas and while I don't like the heat, and wish we had a little snow just for fun, I do enjoy the big trees and lots of cover to rest in throughout the day. Enjoy getting to know all the girls, but know that the ones to REALLY know are the boys.

Nutmeg's Introduction

This is not a Dear Blog spot, this is a DEER Blog spot. My friends all Texas White Tail deer, live with me here at SIS Ranch in south Texas. There is Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Pepper, Cilantro, Indigo, Mistletoe, Cayenne, Cinnamon, Anise, Licorice, Ginger....and me, Nutmeg. We also have a couple of guys hanging around...Puck & Falstaff. Yes, there is a theme...girls are herbs and spices, everything nice. Boys are characters from Shakespeare. I don't know why. I think our Mr. Human likes to read. Mrs. Human likes to cook.

I like the humans and will fill you in on them, as I see them, when it is my turn to talk again.

In the meantime, each of my friends will tell you a bit about themselves over the next several days and weeks. But, I wanted to go first. I'm the favorite of the humans, although Pepper is acting awful cute and attracting a lot of snacks.

It is hot here, and it is only April. But I came from further south, near the gulf coast, so this is not bad. I love the trees. We have lots of tall trees to sit under during the day. We like to play "find the deer in the tree" for the humans. They stand out with big glasses looking for us each day. Ha, ha. Silly people. Where would we go? We get lots of great food, snacks every day, and get to watch those humans work very hard all around us.

I like to watch the cows that live around us too. They are pretty silly and very, very big. Not all that entertaining most of the time, but sometimes the babies like to run and play chase, which is fun watching something so big run so fast. They are not near as graceful as a deer, and doubt they can jump a fence with any luck at all, but fun to watch anyway.

So, now it is time for me to play in the sprinklers. See you soon.