Sunday, March 20, 2011

a visitor


As you can imagine, we have lots of wildlife around the farmhouse...   we have the expected badgers, porcupines, skunks, wild turkeys and deer. We also have a bear, (though only neighbors on both sides have seen it- we've only seen evidence of it having smashed through a wall of logs along our property line), a moose, and coyotes. 

Several days ago this huge coyote walked across the east meadow in the middle of the day! 
Ella was invited to join their sorority, but when she learned that their "den" didn't have a Mama's bed with a down comforter and a fireplace, organic dog food, cookies in a jar in the kitchen and that not a single one of them had a driver's license and could take her "bye-bye in the car" she opted not to! 






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45 comments:

  1. Elizabeth @ Southern ComfortMarch 20, 2011 at 8:45 PM

    Wow! I love nature and all the wonders (and surprises) it brings to us. Just last week a herd of deer were in our backyard when I let Maggie out before bed. At first she ran towards them barking, but once she saw how big they were in comparison she came running back to the house with her tail between her legs. I still giggle when I think about it. :)

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  2. designchicMarch 20, 2011 at 8:47 PM

    Happy Ella decided to stay with the family...spectacular views!!

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  3. An Urban CottageMarch 20, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    Look at all the snow you still have.

    I just looked at the picture of the moose and I think it's Bigfoot!

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  4. house thingsMarch 20, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Beautiful creature. Hope it keeps a good distance from you guys. And, Ella.

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  5. for the love of a houseMarch 20, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    Elizabeth- Ella is a HUGE scaredy cat too!

    dc- Ella is under the down comforter as I type!!

    Steve- the photos were taken a couple of days ago, and oh what a difference a couple of days can make, yes?! Snow is completely gone. But.... expecting 1-3 inches tomorrow morning :( ..... we're so ready for Spring!
    and yes, that photo does look like Big Foot, now that you mention it

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  6. for the love of a houseMarch 20, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    Kathleen- he's about the size of your three! should I send her your way?!

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  7. the gardener's cottageMarch 20, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    hi joan,

    ella is a smart cookie. coyotes do lure dogs and we've had dogs that were suckers for their luring. glad to know she is safe and sound at the ritz.

    the photos are gorgeous btw. hard to believe you are still buried in snow.

    xo
    janet

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  8. karen - Simply InspiredMarch 20, 2011 at 9:30 PM

    beautiful... thank you. oh so wise ella! -xok.

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  9. SusanMarch 20, 2011 at 10:06 PM

    Coyotes are nasty and dangerous. They are becoming a real problem here and kill small dogs and cats all the time around here. A few years ago I looked out the front window in the middle of the night and one was walking up the street (very nonchalant). Janis's cat of 18 years disappeared not long after.

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  10. DianneMarch 20, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    I do not blame Ella one bit. If I ever get to your farmhouse I am not leaving either!! :)

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  11. KathyMarch 20, 2011 at 10:48 PM

    Clever post! We have fox at our place. My Parson Russell Terriers do not want to join them...they want to eat them! Ella chose wisely....k

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  12. Mona Thompson Providence Ltd.March 20, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    We had one in the neighborhood that I lived in before. I'm scared to death of them. It killed a couple of cats and one dog. I was terrified for my Cappi. Please be careful!

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  13. SharynMarch 20, 2011 at 11:47 PM

    Truly gorgeous photo's. I can't believe people in the northern hemisphere think we have scary creatures here in Australia. Coyotes and bears sound so much more frightening. :)

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  14. PondsideMarch 21, 2011 at 1:56 AM

    Ella is a smart girl! That's a bi-i-ig coyote.

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  15. Infatuated with Homes and GardensMarch 21, 2011 at 2:14 AM

    Oooh that looks sooo cold, great pictures and a little scary too:)

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  16. LoriMarch 21, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    That is huge, they don't grow that big in Texas. I have only seen skinny little ones. The like to eat little tiny dogs and cats here.

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  17. AnonymousMarch 21, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    Beautiful pictures.

    Three words for Ella.
    Stay Ella, stay!

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  18. A Perfect GrayMarch 21, 2011 at 8:04 AM

    I don't blame ella one bit.

    oh, and you were right. artie is the best. he did a fun new header for me and I love it. thanks for the recommendation, joan...

    donna

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  19. BrookeMarch 21, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    Beautiful! I don't blame Ella....there is no place like home!

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  20. The enchanted homeMarch 21, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    Cant blame Ella...she knows a good thing when she sees it. Such beautiful pictures....love the power of them.

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  21. Tara G.March 21, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    So pretty!!! I love seeing wild animals out in nature! We had a blast when we were stationed in Alaska- I have a really funny photo of a moose laying outside my bedroom window, framed by the curtains! :)

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  22. Michelle @ A COTTAGE REVIVALMarch 21, 2011 at 10:22 AM

    Wonderful pictures. Ella is smart to stay where is't safe and warm. If you take a moment and check out my blog from yesterday you will see one of our daily visitors as well.

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  23. Ms. Bake-itMarch 21, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    Smart girl that Ella! Great photos.

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  24. AnonymousMarch 21, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    Since it appears rather large for a coyote in the picture, it may have been one of the hybrid coyote-wolves or coywolves which are now living in the Northeast/New England region. Do some research online and see what you think. Supposedly a coywolf is capable of taking down a deer.

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  25. AnonymousMarch 21, 2011 at 4:16 PM

    WOW he's a big one huh??? I think Ella is one smart doggie !

    Kathy

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  26. Dovecote DecorMarch 21, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    Loved the post! Come visit us at Dovecote Decor to see our fabulous French Basketeer Giveaway!

    Best,
    Liz

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  27. 24 CornersMarch 21, 2011 at 5:43 PM

    Oh my...he looks like he's on the hunt! I'd be under the comfortor if I was Ella too!

    Thank you so much for the sweet comments Joan, they truly made my night...it meant the world to me that the song and the post *mattered*... and in such a timely way too!
    xo Jessica

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  28. CindyMarch 21, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    Hi Joan, Dan, and Ella: Ella knows she has a good thing! We are at our NH place, and a neighbor was telling me the other night he went to the trash, opened it and there was a fox! A few yrs. ago, we had a fox living under our porch. Guess she figured that we're not usually here during the week, so she and her babes would be safe. Cindy

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  29. Jane@Cottage at the CrossroadsMarch 21, 2011 at 7:32 PM

    Beautiful photos! I can admire the wildlife from a distance. Keep Ella safe.

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  30. Haven and HomeMarch 21, 2011 at 8:38 PM

    That is so cool that you can see that in your own back yard! Don't blame Ella!

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  31. KarenMarch 21, 2011 at 8:59 PM

    I love "nature" in and around our yard (and we live in the suburbs---we've had raccoons, opossum, ferret, coyote, rabbits and bob cats. Coyotes have eaten 2 of our cats and several friends' small doggies...be careful Ella.
    Karen

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  32. janette@ The2SeasonsMarch 21, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    I just discovered your blog, and I really enjoyed it! My daughter, who writes our blog with me, lived in New Hampshire for a while, and I loved visiting her.

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  33. home before darkMarch 21, 2011 at 11:32 PM

    I live in town and we now have foxes, coyotes, deer, skunks, possums and my least fav: snakes! Have you read Second Nature by Alice Hoffman... a different kind of love story! Ellla is one smart woman. Passes on fleeting...settles in on known love.

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  34. vignette designMarch 22, 2011 at 12:45 AM

    We have coyotes at our second home in the wine country, but I only hear them at night when they are howling. They freak me out! That coyote in your meadow in broad daylight is huge! I'm glad your Ella didn't join the pack! I think a coyote that big would seriously hurt my Dexter dog. That's why I keep him close by when we are there.
    Beautiful photos....~Delores

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  35. IrèneMarch 22, 2011 at 2:58 AM

    Bonjour Joan,
    I appreciated all the wildlife images,your farmhouse is so gorgeous as well as the astonishing place where you live!
    I just discovered your blog,it's like reading a poem about "the love of a house".
    Very Best Irene

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  36. AnonymousMarch 22, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    Ella, those coyote "sorority" girls are not good company. Don't stray too far from Mommy's side.

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  37. Notes From ABroadMarch 22, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    Whoa ! I was expecting to maybe see a fox ! A coyote ? Wolf-like ? Yikes !
    Pup would have gone nuts and because he is so beautiful, we sometimes wonder how smart he is LOL ... not really!! not really ! He would probably want to be friends with it .. he's that kinda pup.

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  38. A.J.BarnesMarch 22, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    I thought we had it rough with the wildlife here at our place. I just have to deal with the small coyotes, rabbits, turkeys, foxes, armadillos and DEER! But a bear...that crosses the line!

    www.ajbarnesonline.blogspot.com

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  39. Grey StablesMarch 22, 2011 at 10:07 PM

    Hehee, Pidge would have run away with her tail between her legs! I think Ella must be braver :) Thank goodness there was no trouble!

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  40. Linda@ Lime in the CoconutMarch 22, 2011 at 11:58 PM

    Dayum...I have heard of those sorority sisters and their pledging antics. Tell Ella to stay safe and sound. And just say no to sororities!

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  41. UnknownMarch 23, 2011 at 12:10 AM

    WOW!....good choice Ella!.....smiles.

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  42. SarahWhiteMarch 23, 2011 at 12:40 AM

    So beautiful Joan. We've had a few baby coyotes in our neighborhood before...but never one that big. And the bear thing? YIKES! Stay safe on your long walks. I just spent forever getting caught up...everything is so lovely. The living room blows me away. And that kitchen is spectacular. Next time the sweet Alabama girls head your way...I might have to play stowaway. That ride would be worth it to see "The Ritz" in person. Have you named your house?

    Hugs...the conks send their best! :)

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  43. CoryMarch 23, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    He IS big. Goodness! The top photo is SO beautiful - I could frame it. So ethereal and yet grounded. Lovely.

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  44. sconeMarch 23, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    That could be a coyote-wolf hybrid. I live in NH and saw one last year in Wilton.

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  45. AnonymousJuly 28, 2014 at 11:16 PM

    I really think that was a wolf, not a coyote. The size and shape is not right for the coyote. Anyway I hope that you don't have him as a visitor again.

    Vanessa

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Welcome! Thank you for leaving a comment; you have no idea how much your comments inspire me to keep writing- I appreciate each and every one. Comments are moderated by me prior to publishing on the blog, so if you don't see your comment post immediately it will be posted as soon as I receive and read it. joan