The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Yes, life on the ranch is nothing if not a potpourri of the best, and worse, nature has to offer.

I love looking out my window to see deer grazing just beyond the fence.

Remember the two pregnant does I shared a few months back? Well, one of the mamas finally decided to give us glimpse of her baby. 

The babies are so fun to watch, because they're just like human kiddos. Always ready to play and explore.

However, the realities of life can affect even the smallest ones. There was another doe that had twin fawns.

We found her carcass in the woods last week. Near as we could tell, she'd been hit by a car.

Now, her fawns are on their own.

We watch for them as much as we can, put out feed for them and do whatever we can to protect them from the coyotes that have returned to the area. I can't help thinking of Bambi, though, and wondering when the twins' big buck of a father is going to swoop in and take care of them.

And then there are those things will make you shudder. 

**Creepy alert**

This banana spider has been parked on the window over my sink for about six weeks. 

Yes, it's on the outside, because if it were inside it would be squished by now. But it's not poisonous and, outside, it poses no threat. At least, not to me. To be honest, it's been rather interesting to watch its behavior. It redoes its web about every other day. It's grown considerably over the weeks. With each "catch," it grows a little more. And just watching its movements when something becomes caught in the web has been intriguing. If only it didn't have so many legs. 

We are gearing up for the Fourth of July here at the ranch. Lots of food, fun and fireworks. Our twelve-year-old granddaughter and two-year-old grandson are here for the festivities. And nothing makes that little boy happier than hanging with the dogs.

I think it makes Dixie Dog pretty happy, too.

What are you Independence Day plans? 

Three time Carol Award finalist Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children and two dogs. She passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she's not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more a mindyobenhaus.com.