NOM NOM

“Your growing antlers,' Bambi continued, 'are proof of your intimate place in the forest, for of all the things that live and grow only the trees and the deer shed their foliage each year and replace it more strongly, more magnificently, in the spring. Each year the trees grow larger and put on more leaves. And so you too increase in size and wear a larger, stronger crown.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi's Children

He came to us a year ago. With his brother. The two of them . Always together. Always eating seeds from the seed pan. Then they must have gone their separate ways. Only he comes now. So serene. So beautiful. So unafraid. 

His antlers swathed in brown velvet. His eyes like dark chocolate wafers. Never challenging. 

We called him "Nom Nom", cause he eats like he has never eaten anything before. It never bothers me what he eats out of the garden.  It will grow again. And if not. Then I can plant more.

In the spring, he comes in the morning, when Mount Washington Range is purple.

In the summer, the range is hazy yellow in summer with the fire smoke that hangs over us. In the winter, he comes  when  skies are icy blue,  and a promise of  snow.

Chewing is his favourite past time.You can hear him nibbling even from a distance. His yummiest treats are nettles, salmon berries and ivy, with a few roses thrown in for good measure.

He loves wild rose bushes, chomping the leaves with gusto. He starts at one end of the garden and  slowly makes his way. He is much more gentle in pulling off  rose heads. His eyes close as he savours each and every bite. Ahhhhhhh! His eyes  glaze over in contentment as he slobbers each one. 

When he gets to the beans he lays down  amongst them. Crushing. Rolling.

Then he  chews in every direction  he can reach. Lovely sweet snacks. 

He sleeps. He must feel safe here. He must feel at home.

When his three or four hour nap is up, he decides he is hungry again.

He pulls on the ferns, ripping leaves from their fine stalks.  He stares in the big glass doors. Ferns dripping from his mouth as he looks at us.  Curious and curiouser.

When twilight falls he is still here. Standing in the  big grey tub of water I have by the back door.  Splash. Splash. He delicately  scratches his nose with a hoof  and sneezes.

He drinks his fill then shakes his velvety head. It has been a good day.

The summer is hot. He will always find sanctuary here. He will always be welcome.

Even the cats are not afraid of him. He watches them go about their lives. They watch him.

And he is off again. Into the night. Into the orange sunset. Serene and  quiet into the darkness. But he will return, looking for more lovely things, and we will look for him ....

Photographs 2023