Our new critter-cam is bringing us news of the visitors to our wildlife watering station, on the far side of the East Meadow, near the Back of Beyond. This guy is a white-tailed deer, a "spike," he's called, since his antlers haven't developed tines--maybe genetic, maybe nutrition, or maybe just youth. There's a big deer herd here, and a lot of competition for what little grass there is, so even if this fellow has the genetic potential to grow big antlers, he may be stunted because there's not enough forage. Sadly, our long-term drought is affecting our loved wild friends in many different ways.
If you're hearing news of the Austin-area wildfires and want an update (currently, 350 homes gone), this is a reliable link. The closest fire to us, as of this morning, is about 10 miles. So far, so good here, although today is another red-flag day, with very low humidity, gusting winds, and bone-dry grass, shrubs, and trees. The fire-fighting resources are absolutely stretched to their limit, and Austin is calling in all available fire-fighters.
Book report. Tomorrow's the big day for the Cottage Tales. The eighth and final book in the series, The Tale of Castle Cottage, is now available. You can read a chapter on the website. The book is also available in ebook format and soon, in audio. I absolutely love Virginia Leischman's readings of the books in this series. The link will take you to the audio of The Tale of Hill Top Farm--you'll find links to the others on that page.
My stealth writing project is still running under the radar. I hope to have some word for you in the next week or so, when my editor digs out from under and has time to consider the proposal. (You know what that's like, I'm sure.) I'm working on it already--mostly research but some writing--and feeling very itchy about it. I don't want to jinx it by saying too much, so I'll just say that it's an idea I've lived with and loved since BC (Before China). It actually goes back to the very dearest books of my girlhood, which is a very long time, indeed!
Strong thoughts and prayers, please, for those in the path of fire today.
Reading note. What we do best comes not from our heads but our hearts, from an ineffable impulse that resists logic and definitions and calculation: love. Love is what connects us to the rest of the living world, the divine urging from within that guides our best steps in the dance of life.--Susan J. Tweit, The San Luis Valley: Sand Dunes and Sandhill Cranes