Another early morning breakfast visitor. . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . .and this time it was not my granddaughter!

On opening the dining room blinds early this morning I was quite surprised 

to see this larger than usual visitor checking out the bird feeder! 

In the almost thirty years we've lived in the cottage, we've never had deer

in the garden, and we can count on one hand the times we've seen one in the 

cul-de-sac. . . . . . . until yesterday early evening when a neighbor called to tell

 me a deer had just walked up my driveway. I didn't get photos then as it jumped

 over a fence and was gone in no time flat. We are not in the country and are 

actually just a heartbeat away from a very heavily traveled main road.

This morning I was able to grab a camera, managed a few shots from the

 window before this one toddled off over the lawn, then crossed the street into

 the small wooded area opposite.

We really don't want deer knowing how they can enjoy three meals a day

 once they find plants and shrubs on their menu growing in your garden. 

My neighbor has tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions coming along 

and is going on vacation soon. As I'm going to be cat-sitting for a couple of 

weeks I've been given the go ahead to harvest - and enjoy cooking/eating - these

 summer veggies. I'm growing a lot of basil in pots, so I'm ready for fresh-picked 
tomatoes.

- Neighbor's veggie patch -

Methinks I may be spending more time in the garden in my robe these

coming mornings! I have big plans for gazpacho, ratatouille, pasta sauce etc. -

and I may need to be out there ahead of the deer if those are veggies they enjoy!

If you are growing veggies and have visiting deer - do they eat them?

Any tips will be welcomed. . . . . . but no instructions for building deer 

fences please, too late for that.

Just taking a break and sitting in the garden on a sudden whim is not really an option

 for me at this time of year. . . . . .unless I spray heavily with messy, smelly bug

 repellent I become a feast for every mosquito within a square mile.  

This morning I did venture out after the deer left, after all I was already armed

with a camera, nobody was around, being in pj's and robe was acceptable,

 (it's actually one of those 'old lady' habits neighbors expect I think!).

  The garden did look pretty in the early sunlight. . . . . . . and I wanted 

to share a little bit of North Carolina with you.

Have a fabulous week dear friends.

Bob will be heading out with the mower shortly - as you can see, time to

tackle the grass again, grows non-stop at this time of year.