What's This?

Well, we are on our way to becoming celebrities. A national photographer came and took our pictures. Yes, yes, the lady Human was in the photo too, but it was all about us we are quite sure.

It was all very exciting. Dan, our new photographer friend, and his assistant, Jeff set up all kinds of stuff. Lights that flashed, making a little popping noise, a big box that he threw a blanket over and hid inside. Hint Dan - next time, cover your legs too, we can still see you! We all got lots of extra snacks for hanging around our Humans, probably just so she'd look better with us in the picture.

It was loads of fun and it seems Pepper got the best shots, but afterall, the guys were shooting for a magazine geared to women 40+, and Pepper would probably be in that group, if they included more deer stories. But, we all got lots of pears and apples so whatever it was for, it was worth hanging around.

The Girls of SIS Ranch

Roses...by Nutmeg

Roses are red,
Roses are white
I'd like some roses,
To dine on tonight!

Nutmeg

What?

Am I hearing some sort of noise from the Hilton? Is that that new baby, Autumn talking poop? I hear she screamed and yelled for no reason and called all the cows. It was almost a cow-pede. My mommy hates those cows, so she was all upset.

Well, little missy, you should come on over to the Four Seasons and let's see who is going to be leading whom!

Leading me around are you? Think not!

Bell

It's Autumn at SIS Ranch

I would like to introduce my daughter, Autumn, the latest member of the SIS Ranch family. She has lots to say and is not afraid to say it, even at just one day old. She may be one of the youngest babies we have here this year, but I look forward to seeing her take on a roll as leader.

So, it may be July in the rest of America, but at SIS Ranch...it is Autumn.

Sage, mother of Autumn Sage

Contemplating Life - A Deer-Eye View

I may be new, I may be young, but there are days that it is just nice to stand alone and admire the view. What a beautiful world.

Even when I'm alone, I'm not lonely. The trees talk to me, the grass sings me a song. I'm a happy little deer admiring my world.

Holly

More letters from camp

Dear SIS Ranch Family,
We are doing fine. We have lots of fun and today we got to spend the morning with Susie, our camp director. She brought us in to meet our newest baby from SIS Ranch. She is so-o-o-o little. What a baby. She whined and didn't look too happy.

We are playing with some other kids from other ranches and learning all sorts of things.

Well, we have to go. It is time to take a nap. Spending time in the nursery is exhausting. All the things to see and do and investigate. It is way fun!

Love,
Spirit, Star & Thief

P.S. We will check on Curly to make sure she is having fun too.

Letter from Camp

deer mommy and daddy

i am here at camp. i met susie my counselor. she is nice but she gave me shots and some icky tasting stuff. other than that, she is okay.

i miss you. i did get to meet my fellow SIS friends. they are big, like Rosebud. they came in to the nursery to say hello. but, i live with some other kids my age (these are my bunkmates in the picture). they are okay too. i look forward to coming home soon.

curly parsley, daughter of puck

What?

What, I'm doing WHAT?

These aren't my kids. You get back over here and watch your own little brats. Bell and Chili take great pleasure in jumping out from the tall grass and scaring me. They don't really scare me, but they try, and then I have to act like I'm scared so they can go laugh and laugh.

I thought we got the extra pen because the girls over here wanted to meet me! Not so I could babysit.

I'm a buck. Buck's don't tend to no stinkin' babies. Do you see bucks doing doe chores in the wild? No, you don't. I'm here to enjoy the new trees...and the new girls! Wink, wink.

Falstaff, living the "suite" life!

Babies, we are full of BABIES

Well, it is just a virtual daycare center around here. Parsley had her two last night, a boy and a girl, which gives SIS Ranch a total of 16 babies this season. Girls still outnumber boys, but only by 2, not bad odds.

I tell you what, I'm about to need a vacation from all these little ones wanting to walk with me here, walk with me there. I'm actually relieved to be in the Hilton pen with Parsley and her two versus being at The Four Seasons and being surrounded by Cassia, Rosebud, Lemon, Lime, and my boys #6 and #7.

Now that I've moved down to the Hilton, the Humans opened up The Four Seasons and The Ritz, so Falstaff may think he's living the "suite" live, but he has the six that were in The Four Seasons with me, plus he's surrounded by Bell, Chili, Holly and little boy #4. HE'S the babysitter!! Ha, ha. I am the dad. Dad's don't do much work around here!

Enjoy your plush surroundings, Falstaff. You are going to need them to hide from all those babies wanting to play chase!

Puck, resting at the Hilton

Hi! From Holly

Ho, Ho, Ho.....It may be July but I like to think it is always Christmas. With Mistletoe for a mom and my name, Holly, what would you expect but a bevy of Christmas carols all year 'round!?

I'm not up and about yet, but I have seen Bell and Chili running and chasing that big Falstaff guy. I can't wait 'till I get to play hide and seek with him too. He scares so easy, it will be great fun to sneak up on him and cry, "BOO"!

Well, I'm back to hiding. Just in case. You never know my momma says. Talk later when I'm allowed to be up and running about. I can't wait. I'm so jealous of Bell and Chili out almost all the time now. They don't have to take hiding naps anymore. It's not fair.

Oh, gotta go mom's coming...

Holly

More from the Mailbag

We get mail...as you can imagine. Lately, we've been getting a lot of questions as to why the new baby girl fawns all get names, following their spicy, herby moms, but most of the little buck fawns only get tag numbers.

Well, it is actually quite simple. Just like the Native Indians, our boys must earn their names. The humans watch, evaluate behavior; we watch, evaluate their actions and deeds as deer, and later, if they are lucky, they will get a name and their reputation will begin.

For example, Puckson, was the first son of Puck. He deserved this first name and he will carry on the tradition of Puck and SIS Ranch for generations, hopefully.

Spirit got a name because he showed tremendous spirit in trying to stay alive and survive against all odds. He has done so with flying colors. His temperment, we understand, is one of a peaceful spirit, a buck fawn who will be wise beyond his years, and his spirit will lead many.

Thief, well, he got his name because he was fine when he arrived at the West End Deer Farm, and decided to steal some attention by becoming ill. A thief was born.

Also, all buck fawns from SIS Ranch bear the names of Shakespearean characters, as our Human Guy likes to read. I don't know what plays Spirit and Thief relate to as he is not here right now to tell me again. But, I will do my best to report that info when I can.

You may also wonder why Mistletoe, our normal general assignment reporter, is not posting today. Well, as you know, she had her babies, Holly and W#4 the other day and they seem to be quite a handful. They are growing quite well, but she has little time for too many jobs. So, as her half-sister and best friend, I gladly stepped in to answer some fan questions.

Have a wonderful people holiday, but keep those fireworks to a minimum. We don't like them, we don't think they are pretty, and we really, really don't like the big loud ones. Can't you just wave a flower or something?

Cayenne

Lucky #7 Makes His Entrance

Just in time for the debut of Lucky #7, C. welcomes Puck's 4th son to the SIS Ranch family. There are now 12 doe and buck fawns that have arrived...and as luck would have it...we are at 50/50....6 boys...6 girls.

Ginger, proud mamma, reported he was "a big 'un", and she is glad to have him on the ground. Now, if she can get him to lay still when she tells him, she'll be fine.

The SIS Ranch Girls