These last few weeks have been so very interesting. Of course, that’s how my life goes. I’ve never been bored and always looking for the little gifts’ life leaves for us unexpectedly.
One morning this week I went out for my walk before day officially broke and headed up my first short hill. At the top and to my right, I noticed a rather large black and white cat sitting on a mound of dirt. I have never seen this cat before. I approached more slowly wondering why it was out there. As I turned around to go back down the hill, I saw why cat was sitting there. Its job was to slow me down and pay close attention.
Two steps down the hill, I came to a complete halt. On the embankment opposite the cat was the most beautiful baby deer. It stopped and looked at me as well. I wondered if I could successfully get my phone out to photograph this never seen before bit of joy in time. The deer did not seem the slightest bit disturbed at my movements and I captured a few very shaky shots. As the deer move down the hill, so did I. I finally decided to move ahead of it as it was heading toward the larger street and I wanted it to move away from traffic however limited at that dusky hour. I was so blessed that morning to see this baby deer/elk so up close that the rest of the day I was floating on air. There are rewards for getting out of bed in the dark.
The next day I had plans to meet a blogging friend for dinner as they were passing through on an extended trip. They drove an hour each way to stop by. We have been corresponding by snail mail since she stopped blogging several years ago. Prior to leaving for dinner, I sent a text to my son. “I have a lizard in my house.” Now, I am not afraid of them and they eat bugs so I had no intention of bringing harm to this creature. It would starve in my place though. Along with my lack of speed and vision, I was not the one likely to catch this little critter. So, the kids came early to pick me up and quickly came up with a plan. The DIL found a clear plastic container that I had in the discard box. There was also had a small cardboard box (delivered by Amazon just moments before) as they approached from two sides. He lowered the clear container on it and scooted it into the cardboard box closing the lid quickly. She said they don’t see the clear container coming at them. Then she took it outside and placed it back in its own environment.
So off to dinner we went to enjoy some lively conversation with some very nice people. Dinner for the great hunters was on me as my son had also put up a new ceiling fan earlier that day to give me better light in my sewing room. I don’t know what I’d do without these great kids. Hope I never have to find out.
Do you get gifts from nature on occasion?
From my heart to yours,
Marlene Herself.
Comments on: "Little Gifts" (58)
Hi, Marlene. Where I live, I see deer from time to time. It’s always a reverential moment. Thank you for reminding me of that!
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That’s a good word for it, LIz. Reverential! That’s how it felt to me. We have become so detached from nature that seeing something like this beautiful deer just reminds you of how much we are missing. Thanks for stopping by, Liz.
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You’re welcome, Marlene. I need to get out in nature more often!
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how lucky! I think gifts from nature are the best kind!
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I think so too, Beth. Thanks.
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Deer are ever present here …. And are remarkably resilient. Be careful what you plant so it isn’t deer fodder! Being close to nature brings so many interesting things. However, I am grateful not to have that big lizard!!
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We see more elk here than deer in this high desert area. I plant nothing anymore as I live in a tiny box of an apartment with no growing space. The altitude makes growing harder as well. I miss the lush green of Oregon and my gardens but could no longer maintain it. From what I’m hearing, neither can the new owner. ;( Lizards for some reason don’t bother me like snakes do. I guess it comes from all the years of living in the deep south. Thanks for the visit, Val.
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So much to learn about and embrace is not easy. I do believe you are ther for a reason … which may never become clear, but is so worth the exploration. Keep your higher altitude living going 💕🙏💐
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Thank you Val. I lived in the area 12 years ago. Situations change and we must adapt to them.
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How exciting to see that baby deer! ( the lizard not so much). I don’t know if you told me that at dinner or if I missed that part of the conversation in all of the catching up. It was so lovely to see you, your son, and daughter-in-law. We very much enjoyed our visit. You certainly do live in beautiful countryside. Who knew Arizona had so much diversity to offer!
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I think I did mention it early on but wasn’t important in the overall theme of the evening. I lost lots of conversation. My hearing has never been good in separating conversations around a room. I was so happy to see you and meet your husband finally. Yesterday, I saw an elk wander into the trees when he heard me coming. Want to hear all about your trip soon. Hugs.
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Wonderful shots
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Thank you.
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Love your deer and what a handsome lizard!!
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Thank you, Cindy. We see more elk here than deer and a baby to boot. The lizard was a very different one from what I usually came across in other parts of the country. He’s out having his breakfast now, I’m sure. 🙂
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Funnily enough we had a rather dramatic cathouse interface last night. Our children’s indolent cat which we are sitting (with them!) burst into life and hurtled from the kitchen to the sun room in a flash. We didn’t know it could move so fast! The interface proved inconclusive so we may have a mouse to hunt out today..
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Oh dear! Mouse hunting is not what I would choose to do. We tried that once. The darn thing kept running up the walls. I’ll take the lizard first. 🙂
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Yep me too. We still have the mouse…
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Oh dear.
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A beautiful day, Marlene. That gift the deer gave to you! Staying still so you could take in its fully beauty! Marvellous.
And now you have light and coolness in your sewing room. Fantastic.
So glad you could meet up with your old blogging friend, too. Why did she stop blogging?
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Thanks so much for the visit, Amanda. Being mindful in every moment is the challenge of life so I received an early morning reminder. Yesterday, I saw a glimpse of an elk running back into the trees. I love the early morning hours. The sewing room is always the warmest in the house when I work. Iron, machines and as many lights as possible. All my lights are the energy efficient kind which is good and they do generate less heat. Jan had other responsibilities at the time and just wasn’t moved to continue. I often think about stopping but something keeps me pressing on. I think it’s those connections I do not want to lose.
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Connections are one of the most satisfying parts of life. I think that is why social rejection is emotionally, one of the hardest thing to bear.
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How wonderful to have such great support. I’m not afraid of salamanders but agree, not good in the house.
Your deer encounter brought some much needed light to my heart. So happy you had these moments with beautiful nature. 💗💗 K
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Thanks so much, Kelly. I do have great support here and am deeply grateful. That sweet deer lightened my day as well. Happy to share a bit of that lightness with you. Early morning is the best time for those special encounters. If we had any kind of bugs inside, I would have let the little guy stay but he would starve in here so out he went where he could catch his dinner. 🙂 Stay happy. Hugs and love. m
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Loved reading about and seeing your “visits from nature,” too, Marlene! Sounds like everything is really coming together for you, which is great to see. Take care!
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Thank you, Becky. Yes, it is coming together and I’m settling in after 6 months of work here. Almost there. Have a good holiday weekend.
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It’s always so nice to receive your updates, Marlene. Unfortunately, my only encounters with deer are in the early dark morning hours when they run in front of my car during my commute.
I wish I didn’t know you’re out “prowling” around in the dark. Now I’m going to worry about you! LOL! I’m glad you have a little company though. I’m happy you and Jan had a nice get together. We’ve had a few geckos try and set up housekeeping. That’s a great idea to use a clear box to transport them outside. Your place is looking so homey!
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Thanks so much for stopping by but please don’t worry. I’m not prowling in the dark. It’s that dusky bit as the daylight starts to come just enough but hasn’t quite drug the sun up high enough to make a desert walk uncomfortable. The neighbors who are early risers see me walking around and around our building in those early hours and say so.. That’s the lovely part. I get to exercise and we monitored for safety’s sake. I can’t see to walk in the dark, dark. 🙂 These guys get into the lobby when the winds blow the doors open and then wander the halls looking for a way out. The clear box is a safe and humane way to stop them going under something and then get them home again. I’ve been very grateful to not have a vehicle encounter with deer or elk. An elk will destroy a vehicle. They get really huge. Something always slowed me down before I came across one on these long lonely roads when I was able to drive 12 years ago. I’ve been blessed that way. Do be careful, Jill. 🙂 Hugs
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I agree with Jill. Your place looks wonderful and what a great son to read directions and add the beautiful light.
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Thanks so much, Pam. Most men don’t like to read the directions and he’s put up quite a few so I didn’t expect him to bother with reading them but he always seems to go the extra mile to do any job right. I’m very sensitive to lack of light being very visually impaired. He was so willing to help me get more light in there which I very much appreciate. We are getting there. It takes time to settle.
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You are a sweetie, and your son knows it. As a matter of fact, I think he’s a sweetie too! ❤
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Hey Marlene! How fun for you to come across this baby on your walk. We have deer wander through our yard on a regular basis. Last week we had two good sized bucks munching away on shrubs and low tree branches. Take care, my friend and enjoy the wildlife!
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Thanks so much for stopping by, Missy. I live in the main part of town so deer and elk are a more rare sighting and you have to be up in the very early morning hours to see them. I wouldn’t mind seeing them on a regular basis but will take what I’m gifted. Have a great holiday weekend.
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You too!
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Nature’s gifts are the best of all, especially when they’re unexpected. How wonderful that you got to see that baby deer. Enjoy your new fan and light. Super you got to hook up with a former blogger! Best to you, Marlene. 💕
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Nature has the best gifts of all, Jennie. It’s kind of crazy to spend money on an apartment fixture but I needed that light. I cherish friends where ever I find them. Hugs to you, Jennie.
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Beautifully said, Marlene! Mega hugs to you. 🙂
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Lovely post, Marlene. I’m so happy everything is going well with you and your family. Your life is certainly blessed!
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Thank you, Maddie. I do agree, I’m blessed in so many ways. Hope you are doing well also.
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So glad that the cute lizard was put back in nature!!! 😁
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Wouldn’t have it any other way, Tom. Thanks fro stopping by.
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Gifts galore, although I wouldn’t see a deer just out there (Here) or a lizard that looks quite large – but if I needed something done, that I couldn’t – I’d have friends who would deal with something…
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It’s more than rare to see deer here as well though we are in the high desert that at one time belonged to mostly wildlife. It’s good to have friends that will help. I haven’t made good friends here yet and not a one is in any better shape than I am which is why I moved close to my son. He’s getting old too. 😉
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I saw a deer recently in an urban environment near my sons home.Apparently it lives between a hedge and a garden fence. It was a lovely surprise. Don’t think I could have coped with a lizard either.
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I learned to love lizards when I lived in the deep south as a child. Then when we moved to Taiwan, my husband brought home a bucket full of them and turned them loose in the apartment to eat the flying bugs. They were a much better alternative so I was happy to have them there. In tropical climates, the bugs are BIG! I just wasn’t fast enough to catch and release it anymore. I would not do the same for a snake. 🙂 Don’t you love surprises like an unexpected deer sighting?
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You are truly blessed to have spotted a deer. a baby deer!
What followed after shows how blessed you are
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Yes, I am truly blessed in so many ways that I make it a point to pay attention to them. My gratitude list is long each day. I’m even grateful for the hard things in life. Thanks for stopping by.
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You’re enjoying life! That makes me happy. I’m glad you could visit with a friend. It’s good to see that extra light for you to sew by, too. I’ve never seen a gorgeous striped lizard. Thank you for releasing it outdoors. Mouse used to bring them indoors each summer so I kept a release kit as well. I’m glad you are out walking, meeting cats and deer elk along the way. It’s good to see you smile.
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I am enjoying life. That’s what it’s meant for us to do. No matter what else happens, I look for the joy. I have Pauline’s art on my bedroom closet so I see it every morning and every night. “Choose Joy” I’ve also never seen that particular variety of lizard and of course would never let it come to harm. We need them. Have seen no other wildlife since but I’m smiling anyway. Now I’m finding tiny pinecones to make wreaths with that were right in front of me all along. It’s mindfulness in action. Nature may be giving us her own light show again tonight. Could have saved the city a lot of money on fireworks. 😉 Sent a note.
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Thank you for your note. I promise a reply over the weekend. It’s lovely having Pauline’s art around us. She’s cheering so many of us through space and time. xo
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So happy the lizard got put to safety and WOW to that early morning deer Marlene.. What a joy to see first thing and so close too…. Lucky that cat stopped you in your tracks to take notice lol.
Gifts are in abundance in every which way we truly look to find them… And that Orchid a lovely specimen ..
We have so much to be truly grateful for, in the great and small things in life… And your Ceiling Fan looks wonderful just to job to cool you down while crafting..
Life is great when we appreciate all of these little gifts and those who freely help out with their time and energy..
Much love dear Marlene…. Enjoy your walks, your sewing and your rests….. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thank you so much, Sue. Yes, I have an abundance to be grateful for and each day brings a new gift. I’m not in as much need of the fan as the lights. The room was way too dark for me to work comfortably. Just upgrading for the next resident. I have not seen the cat or deer since. My son is an expert orchid grower, not me. Keep things growing in your corner of the world. Hugs. M
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Thank you Marlene will definitely keep blooming all things great and small lol.💕
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Oh Marlene! I am so sorry that I am late to this wonderful wonderful post. In my blog post tomorrow you’ll probably see why. But it doesn’t matter because I am here now. Yes like you I find that a sight of nature’s creatures brings me great joy. I even think of them as signs sometimes. Couple weeks ago I was asking to see some “Light” – a sign that I was not alone. I was sitting out on my front porch around 6:30 in the morning and all of a sudden I felt eyes on me. I looked up and no more than 6 yards away was a huge female deer just standing stock still and staring at me. She stayed that way for a long time. My heart burst. So yes your little deer or elk was a beautiful sign to you. The lizard? Maybe not so much. 🫣
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I see the experience of this kind of sighting the same way. I have seen nothing since so it was quite the message. Even the lizard was a sign for me. My first husband brought a bucket of them to our apartment in Taiwan to eat the flying roaches and I was happy to have them. They have a job to do and they do it well. In my manufactured home in Oregon, I had a bat that lived in the porch eaves. A friend built a bat box for it and I was careful to keep it safe. The lady that bought my house also appreciates the work they do so was very happy to have it there. I sure don’t want to cuddle lizards or bats but am very grateful they are here. I always like to walk very early. We can be more mindful then. Thanks for stopping by.
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I agree, I agree. Lizards just move too fast for me so I’m squeamish, but they do good work. And I happen to love bats. Here’s to walking early and seeing the “signs.” xo
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I tried to identify it and I think it’s a Coues Whitetail (pronounced “cows”). I’m so glad that cat stopped you so you could see it! I’m always pleased that TechSupport is so close by to take care of the details. What a pretty lizard! I love lizards, but I do prefer them happy and healthy in their own environment. I did have a rescue pet iguana for a while, who was a fun, huge, lizard pet. Where I live, Mother Nature gifts me so often I hardly feel worthy. I think spotting a deer in your busy town (even in the quiet morning) would be magical. One of my favourite things that I saw recently was a teenager squirrel annoying the heck out of his mom. She was trying to forage, and her baby kept pulling at her face, wrapping his paws around her neck and pulling her over. She would push him to the ground, over and over. She had one paw out for a while, pushing her baby back with one paw, while she ate seeds with the other paw. Finally, he annoyed her beyond tolerance, and she climbed the pole holding the bird seed – which baby had not figured out how to climb yet – and she sat on the top, shaking her tail and yipping at him. The whole thing was so hilarious.
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I read this a while back and meant to come back to comment. Been a bit distracted of late.
Anyway, I loved the photos of the wee deer/elk. Nothing like seeing wildlife, is there?
Most intriguing for me are the embroidery projects. I learned when I was nineish, have done some off and on since, but not lately. But I bought a bunch of thread a couple of weeks ago. I still prefer the old patterns, like the “Aunt Martha” ones; I’m sure you’ll remember those.
I’m not sure if I’d colour the Gingerbread one, although I can see doing it for another project. Colour would be a lovely addition to a floral design. But with gingerbread being brown, I wasn’t sure what I’d choose if it were mine. Do update us once you’ve decided, will you?
Off to re-read and comment on the next posts. I’m so glad to have these here to come to.
Hope you got your A/C fixed in time for the heatwave . . . hugs to you ~ Linne
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