Marie's Porch

On Marie’s porch in Oakhurst. A slight breeze plays with the wind chime that hangs from an oak tree branch. I hear the faint knocking of a woodpecker. Then, movement behind a boulder and suddenly there’s a mule deer, coming to graze. She watches as Sari (short for Saringhetti), Marie’s tortoiseshell kitty, joins me on the screened-in porch. The mule deer freezes, yet continues to chew her cud. Her shiny black bulb of a nose looks wet.

Now she’s vanished.

Marie had her house built on the top of a hill, so there are interesting views from each window. From the porch where I sit I look out on a terraced, informal garden of trees and boulders, with the late afternoon sun slanting the shadows.

Now a buck has come on stage, closely trailing a doe. It is mating season. She runs. He chases her. The scene will repeat itself over and over, for probably another 6 weeks. Unfortunately, as a result of this increased activity during deer mating season, many are hit by cars. Deer never look both ways when crossing the street. Or even one way.

Marie took me to see this property about 5 years ago, before construction began. There were deer tracks all over the hill. She decided to name the property and had a wooden sign made for the beginning of the driveway:

A Place Where God Makes Deer

Sitting here is like being in church, only better. Well, except when Marie is giving the message at church where she is an Associate Pastor. I love all of her sermons and so does everyone else.

Ah, a baby just walked by, probably looking for mom. There are 5 youngsters in this herd and about 4 adult females. One mom had twins last Spring. The bucks leave the herd at about one year, hang with other males and only return at mating season. They are not considered part of the herd but they do return once more after the babies are born. They probably then go to the higher Sierras.

I was just going to write that there is no more activity when I see a shadow and a doe crosses in front of me. She sips some water and chews on some acorns. A second, larger doe comes and nudges the smaller one. Mother and daughter? Oh, and now another baby.

The show goes on…

wild fires and old flames

This summer was a scary one with all the wild fires in So. Cal. I am worried about what all the ash/smoke did to my lungs. The back room’s windowsill is a black example of what was in the air. But whatisonegoingtodo? Couldn't lock myself in a plastic bubble.

My old flame, Paul Mantee, has lived in Malibu for many years. He and his wife had to evacuate in the Sept. fire and thank God they didn’t go up in flames. His home was destroyed in the ’90 (?) Malibu fire. I am so happy they got thru.

Speaking of my lungs, I checked w/my doctor, asking her if she thot high altitudes would be detrimental to me, as in going to So. America. She told me there is a prescription drug I could begin a few days before I am to go to a high altitude. Didn’t think it would be a problem.
And, it looks like El will not be going with me. I have some options which I will exercise. More as they develop. Dana and Monica do not think they can go, darn!

Jen turned me onto a blog by an American woman who lives in France and is married to a Frenchman. She’s a travel writer and a gourmet cook. She writes in her blog EVERY DAY. God, I am so lazy… Anyway, I forwarded the info to Sue LaCabe, as I’m sure she’d be interested.

BFF Pat is in Venice, due home in a few days. I am eager to hear how she enjoyed. She went with Daughter Chris, her husband’s daughter. Chris has been there many times and speaks fluent Italian.

Patrck and I went to see the movie Into the Wild the other day. Even tho I’d read the book several years ago, I found the movie very disturbing. What a waste of a very intelligent and idealistic young man who had so much potential. Thru his innocent and ill informed travels to the north he sacrificed so very much. Of course I regard his choices as a mother who loves her children. So I think he was very wrong to do what he did.

Well, he's in a better place, as they say...