Tuesday, November 11, 2008

I Have A Dead Deer In My Yard

  • I have a dead deer in my yard. She died two days ago. I feel a recycling photo series coming on. Must convince wife to let her stay.
  • The mantle is up. The form supporting it is still up too. The holes, the rods ... they all matched up as Mrs. FC and I wrestled the massive thing into place. Now we trust in 5/8 steel rods and poly construction adhesive. I know, I know ... I have to take the temporary form down ... what if? Nahh...
  • The woods are getting birdier here as migrants arrive. No robins sighted (by me) yet.
  • 58 degrees at 9 am but it was a lot chillier last night and the night before.
  • Bear has taken to stripping the Y-shaped dead palm frond bases from cabbage palms and bringing them to the porch to shred, so our cluttered porch now has shredded wood all over it.
  • I made chicken and sausage gumbo yesterday ... oh my ... ate gallons of it last night over rice with french bread. Search this blog for the recipe newbies... be prepared for a heartbreaking puppy story though...dammit.
  • Where was I?
  • Time for me to get back to work. I have to put up the mesh and mortar layer around the fireplace that the faux stonework will attach to.
  • It is a perfect crystal clear winter blue sky day here in Pure Florida.

18 comments:

Dani said...

The recycled squirrel posts were awesome! I'm sure the deer would be as well.

Unknown said...

oh my, i hope it was natural causes...last trip to osceola we found a dead deer, still warm, right in the middle of a hiking trail...it was poached at night for the rack...the rest was left for the buzzards...i have no objection to hunting for meat, but trophy hunters are a menace

bootjacks do make great chew toys...so do coconuts

Doug Taron said...

I have had the occasion to watch the decay process of biggish mammals before, and it's really fascinating. You can get impressive masses of blowfly larvae in the carcass. Later, a whole succession of things show up: predators and parasites on the blowfly larvae as well as other types of decomposers including some cool beetles. A decomposing carcass is an amazing ecosystem. I hope you get to watch the process with your deer carcass.

threecollie said...

Skin crawling here...

Aunty Belle said...

WAIT!!!!

Stop the earth's rotation, go back a quarter turn...huh?

Ya' had chicken and sausage gumbo an' din't invite me an Uncle????
Tha' jes' ain't neighborly, FC.

Uncle has a dead deer too. Hangin' the cooler. 8 points. I make a killer venison chili, but a sublime venison scallopine wif' wine and capers. We could trade?

Sayre said...

It's perfect blue here too - Darling Man has taken the boys to the refuge for an afternoon of fishing and exploring.

Oh, I hope Mrs. FC lets you keep the deer. That series of photos could be very educational for your students (and your readers!).

Mmmmm... gumbo....

Caroline said...

All the deer in my yard are alive and drinking out of the birdbath! Dead deer in the yard here would bring the magpies and coyotes in for sure, also a couple of neighbor dogs.
Snow is disappearing slowly, we have drifts still 4' in the yard and bare ground. I am not sure of snow total here, it came horizontally, in the higher Hills it was 4'. We are doing fine, but there are some folks out on the prairie who are still without power. Hopefully all will be re-electrified very soon. Thanks for asking. Caroline

Just the Right Size said...

How did the deer die? Not sure how long it would take to decompose now the weather is getting cooler, even still, isn't it going to smelllll?

I'd be afraid that Bear would want to start dragging OTHER things onto the porch for munching. Ick.

Anonymous said...

I also want to know how it died. It wasn't the mother of the twins was it? Shades of Bambi, I know. If you are going to let it decay naturally, you better fence it in. Bear will have other plans for it, I am sure. We also had a gorgeous day perfect for the Veterans Day parade. I was invited to go riding, but motherhood and patriotism won out. Think I'll go make an apple pie, now!

Unknown said...

GUMBO????!!!! NOOOOOOOOOO...... I have to quit reading the blog right before I head down to the cafeteria. It makes dinner so much more disappointing. lol Love ya lots!

Sharon said...

Mmmm...Gumbo, and Awww :( Gumbo...

Deer recycling sounds interesting, hope she agrees! :)

Anonymous said...

did the doe meet up with an auto or bullet

Anonymous said...

I found a dead fawn amidst my pines last spring. I think I came upon it the morning after it was born and died. Two weeks later when I returned to the spot, all that was left were a few tiny bones. I don't think it had the chance to decompose. I think it was devoured.

Miz S said...

Aren't the dogs going to be snackin' off that deer carcass?

Freste said...

Bambi is going to get so nice and ripe in another day or so. The whole process (cough) is really quite remark-(cough)-able, though.

R.Powers said...

Yes, it will stink ... already does.

And yes, Bear will show more interest in it as it does.

I will probably move it today to a location that is dog proof ... that oughta be fun.

I actually have this deer on video when she first showed up ... just before she died. I will assemble some type of post about her as soon as I can stop and think.

Sorry for the single response to all the great comments, I am not allowed to blog or have any fun since I am way behind schedule on the mantle project and the supervisor is breathing down my neck.

All I could post for Wed was a lame Wordless Wed post ... just no time ... or actually no unused time is more accurate.

The fireplace mantle and scratch coat of concrete/steel mesh is up though, and I will be applying faux stone to it this evening.

Anonymous said...

you are getting the mantle done by Christmas, right?
(LOL!)

That gumbo sounds gooooood!

R.Powers said...

Laura,
Ack!! Not you too!!