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…