A roller coaster of a week here in the Black Hills of South Dakota. What started out as a cool autumn week turned into a winter snowstorm mid-week and ended with temps in the 50's and a spring-like snow melt.
Where to start? Since it is Saturday and so many of my fellow bloggers have Saturday Critter editions, I will start with the animals that we saw this week. First, the trail cameras, only two this week. This first one I thought was cool because it not only showed deer and a turkey at the water tank, but if you look closely, you will see a magpie on the floating board as well. You m+ight have to click on the image to really see it.
This one was taken at the pond which is just a shadow of its original self from back in the spring. But enough holds on to provide water to the critters. There are at least 5 deer in this picture, and I didn't even bother counting the turkeys. I bet we have over 60 turkeys on the property every day. They are actually starting to get annoying as we are out there deer hunting.
Since I mentioned them, here are three of my favorite Saturday Critter blogs........
An English Girl Rambles from 2016 to ....: SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER
Viewing nature with Eileen: Saturday's Critters # 568
Reflections from Crumbly Acres: Saturday's Critters
Speaking of deer hunting, we are getting out as much as possible, mornings and evenings. No big bucks yet, but lots of does, so once they come into heat in the next week or three, the bucks will show up!
This is the same doe in both pictures, notice how red her fawn is compared to her grey coat.
We have one ground blind and two tree stands out. I was sitting in the ground blind below, when a flock of turkeys came strolling by. 20 birds probably walked single file by my blind when one of them decides to sit down and take a rest within feet of me. So weird. That thing sat there for 5 minutes before it got up and carried on its way.
We did not get out every night as we had several activities planned. Wednesday was bingo night at The Beacon in Custer. We have never done it before, but fellow blogger, Nancy, makes it sound so fun, we just had to do it!
Cheap entertainment, we only spent $6 per person for 6 games. Sadly, we did not win anything, but we did have lots of fun!
Thursday night was of course Halloween. We took Lily into Custer for Trunk or Treat; she came back with a bag full of candy which she has hid in her room, so grandpa and dad do not steal it all.
Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, our granddaughter Kendall dressed up what she described as "A Preppy Cowgirl". Next to her, is her cousin Braden.
Zoey and Chloe even got dressed up!
Friday night we went to a hayride! Kevin and Cheryl's neighbor, Greg and Jan, invited everyone over for happy hour and a hayride followed by supper at Kevin's. As you can see by the smiles on everyones faces, we had a great time! Greg dressed up in his wildman hat
Greg and Jan had their house decorated for Halloween, Bonnie made a new friend!
Now for the snow event! It was on Tuesday/Wednesday. We ended up getting 3 or so inches, just a few miles away at Kevin's house they just got rain. I think we are only 200' higher than them but it must have been enough to turn the rain to snow. The first snowfall of the season is so beautiful, I just had to get out and take some pictures.
I will leave you with this picture of Zoey. Anytime I have bacon, this is the look I get...... How could you resist this face?
Really enjoy your game farm photos. Looks like lots of fun times with family and friends. Your snowfall looks 🥶! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteOur daughter and family are headed here in less than two weeks, then we'll have the entire family together!
DeleteYou seemed to have a good time in and around Halloween. As for snow, we remain free for now.
ReplyDeleteWe are snow-free once again ourselves!
DeleteKids look cute. What a ball the hayride/bbq was! Always love the first snowfall. Those bucks will be out soon!
ReplyDeleteYou two would have enjoyed the hayride!
DeleteHi I enjoyed all of the photos-when we were hunting in our younger years we always shot does-liked the meat more. and I used to can turkey broth-so good-take out the breast meat and cook down the rest into broth and add some of the other meat to the jars.
ReplyDeletewow snow the first snow is always pretty then I have had enough haha
happy weekend Kathy
You are probably right about the does being better eaters, but I do enjoy the challenge of trying to get a big buck and we can only eat one deer a year these days.
DeleteWhile it does happen, we don't usually have snow in October, and I'm glad. Sounds like a fun week.
ReplyDeleteOur snow usually does not stay until mid to late December, through March. The other months it warms up enough to melt any snow that we may get.
DeleteSome really nice photos here, I can't imagine living somewhere it snows
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine living anywhere where it does not snow! But not too much, too much is too much!
Deletethecontmeplativecat here. Growing up in Illinois, close to the Mississippi, we had snow but it has been decades since it snowed so near to beginning of November. Now we live in Murrieta, CA, and snow is a distant dream.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that you have not seen any snow since your move to Murrieta!
DeleteOh goodness...what is not to like about this post! The fur babies in their costumes, the turkey's, the deer, Bingo, hayride, SNOW...I love it all.. I would love to see that many turkeys all together.. You are Blessed... Oh yes...Your little goblins all dressed up for halloween are adorable..
ReplyDeleteI am guessing you do not see a lot of snow down there?
DeleteLittle to No snow....No turkeys
DeleteOh my gosh - I just LOVE all your critter - I love animals and seeing them in nature. I love your pup there at the end too!
ReplyDeleteThe does and turkeys are pretty comfortable around here. The bucks live elsewhere and are pretty wiley when they come a visiting.
DeleteMy turkey tip.... slice the breast and chicken fry it! Feed the rest to the dogs! I dont much care for turkey wild or domestic! But I can eat my weight in dressing!
ReplyDeleteI hope you observed National Cook A Meal for Your Pet Day on Friday!
National Cook A Meal for Your Pet Day? You are kidding right?
DeleteI have found one way we enjoy wild turkey. Marinated in pickle juice and chunked up into nuggets. Delicious!
Nope, not at all!
DeleteIn fact ,here is a site with recipes!
https://www.vitalpetlife.com/blogs/our-blog/recipes-for-national-cook-for-your-pet-day?srsltid=AfmBOopuTjUEt8qqRcdKK6CyRiUOzBE-oDACOGMODvD1OEZOkc6zXEYl
Did the pups like their Halloween outfits? The expressions seem to indicate tolerance not joy. Thanksgiving is soon, when's turkey season open?
ReplyDeleteChloe didn't mind it at all. Zoey appeared humiliated.
DeleteTurkey season opened Nov 1st. We might have to thin one or two out of the flocks!
Always an entertaining blog. Great pictures...cute grandkids and fur babies. The snow is so beautiful. This desert kid actually spent 5 winters in snow country. And I have actually driven on snowy roads and didn't crash!
ReplyDeleteYour snow days are behind you, nowadays people (including us) are traveling down your way to get away from the snowy winters!
DeleteLove the Zoey "bacon face", how could you not? Enjoy your snow, so glad we are in AZ away from the "white stuff"!
ReplyDeleteI have a very similar "bacon face" when it looks like Barb is not going to give me a piece!
DeleteLiving among the critters is just the best!! Love the tiny ears on your deer - compared to our satellite-dish-ear Mule Deer :-))) I'm sure you'll eventually tire of it, but the first snow is so pretty. The puppers are too cute in their costumes and Zoey's "look" is powerful!
ReplyDeleteWe have some mule deer around here, but not many. They are very distinguishable by their HUGE ears!
DeleteNice critter photos! Zoey has the look and no doubt has you trained!! We did not get snow yet...soon I am sure:)
ReplyDeleteOh, that snow will no doubt be headed your way very soon!
DeleteLooks like everyone enjoyed Halloween! Zoey and Chloe are precious in their costumes!! Haha! Wow, the weather has really done a pendulum swing there, huh? That's crazy! Love the wildlife pictures! Must be amazing to see all of those creatures coming up into your yard. Do y'all have a bad time with bears or big cats and coyotes? That would scare me! Haha!
ReplyDeleteWe have no bears. We have both Coyotes and Mountain Lions. There are about 6 or more coyotes that are frequent visitors, we've never seen a lion on our property, but we have seen a bobcat.
DeleteLove seeing all the critters, of course.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a super Halloween was had by all. As I scrolled down--came upon the dog costumes and almost chocked on my coffee! Laughing--Allie jumped off the chair--lol!
I agree! The first snowfall is always so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
I couldn't resist that face either. ;)
I hope Allie forgave you for scaring her!
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ReplyDeleteWish we could have a couple of feeders out, but as HOAs are, I don't even waste my time asking...heck, they won't even let you have a bird or gold fish inside your own condo! Thank God for ADA laws dealing with service dogs. That look Zoey gives you, I get all the time from Indy too.
Perhaps the deer should create a coalition for the rights of deer!
DeleteDo your magpies swoop to humans causing problems?
ReplyDeleteWonderful for me to see the snow, the video I loved and saw the dogs sniffing the air, gorgeous.
All the animals and humans are looking great.
I cannot speak for all magpies, but ours do not. But now that you mention it, I think when we were in Alaska we had a magpie swooping over the dogs when they must have been near a nesting area.
DeleteUgh, I'm not yet read for the snow. Just yesterday I picked up all the garden hoses for the season and mowed the last of the vegetation matter off in the garden. We finally got a light frost so I know a freeze isn't too far away and eventually the snow!
ReplyDeleteBehind our house, I would see 20 or 30 does for every buck I saw. I used to think that there just weren't a lot of bucks. Then I got a trail camera and found that there are a lot of bucks but they only come out after dark to munch on our vegetation. Our neighbor has a large pond about 100 yards away from our property and with a street on both sides, our property is somewhat of a thoroughfare for deer every early morning and late evening. In the winter, they beat a path ten feet wide through the snow at the base of the hill with all their going back and forth.
Our bucks live off our property. As a general rule, bucks and does live in different areas with the does picking areas with good nutrition for raising their young and bucks picking more secluded areas. Once the does come into heat (usually the 2nd week of Nov in our area), then all bets are off and the bucks are pretty much everywhere!
DeleteSnow, oh no. Is it normal for you to get snow this early? It looks like you had a great Halloween and bingo night. And what a face. Zoey is a cutie. Don't all dogs have this genetic begging face? Grin. Mine just went into morning nap mode. Have a great new week.
ReplyDeleteNot really, but we have gotten it earlier as well. I think one year we got almost a foot of snow the second week of October. The good thing is that it does not last.
DeleteI love the deer, turkey and the magpie photos. The deer look like they are posing for you. I would love that pond, it's like a waterhole for the critters. You and the family had fun times, bingo and trick-or treating and your granddaughters and the dogs look cute in their costumes. I like seeing snow in pictures, that would be enough snow for me. Thanks for sharing my critter link. Take care, have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteI was in the blind and actually made a noise when I had the camera ready so the deer would look my way, so I guess in a way, they were posing for me!
DeleteBINGO?? You actually played Bingo? I figured my blogs would scare you away. I'm glad you had fun ... it IS all about the people after all. Those turkeys ... I LOVE THEM! Oh to have them clucking around!!! And the snow ... you can never take a bad picture in snow!! I'm pretending I'm at your house. Hugs to Zoey ... with that face she can have anything she wants!!
ReplyDeleteWe did! Our games must be mellower than yours as one person called BINGO! in a 4 Corners game and did not have it. I thought the pitchforks might come out, but they did not. The kids playing sure adds a different element as well!
DeleteFirst off, I'm jealous of your snow! I love when it snows here and enjoy it while it lasts as we really don't get much. Oh Zoey and her little face in costume had us both laughing! Halloween looked like a great time!
ReplyDeleteOur snow typically melts in November and usually December. January and February it will stay for the month and then melt again in March.
DeleteOur snow melted, but this morning it was -6 ℃. and cold.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the ShoutOut!
The dogs are adorable. Good luck hunting.
You are welcome, love your critter pictures and videos!
DeleteI’d have to share the bacon with that sweet pup!
ReplyDeleteWe had snow one morning but no accumulation yet. It has gotten colder though we had two warmer days between near zero temperatures.
Good luck with the hunting this week. Hope you get a buck!
Each of the girls know that they get the last bite of pretty much anything I eat. I think I have created a couple of monsters!
DeleteWhat a zoo you have out there in your yard. I love those photos. The pups look too funny in their outfits. Should keep them warm when going outside too.
ReplyDeleteI know you are talking about all the critters in the forest, but I think we have a zoo with all these dogs we have in here as well!
DeleteZoey has a resting bacon face! The snow photos are beautiful. Awesome critter photos too!
ReplyDeleteThe ole RBF rears its ugly head (or face) again!
DeleteIt's nice to check in again after traveling. I'm loving everything -- Zoey, Halloween, all the magnificent deer and turkeys. Looks like life is good -- and fun for you!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had a great trip! But now I bet it feels good to sit back and relax for a bit.
DeleteSo nice to read this blog and not feel like I need to get up and be productive! Good to see you relaxing and enjoying life without a hammer. Love the puppies in their costumes. Good to see a little of Dakota in the video:)
ReplyDeleteFunny you should say that. I had a hard time writing this post as we really hadn't done too much. But we did have a great week though!
DeleteThat's quite a collection of turkey y'all have. Must be a challenge to shoosh 'em away so you're able to see the deer.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a nice and relaxing Halloween.
The cooler weather sounds good but hold the white stuff, please.
Funny you should mention that. The deer shy away from the big flock of turkeys when they come through the woods. A big flock will come through the woods and push all the deer right out!
DeleteLove all the costumes. I am not ready for snow just yet. Our weather is mild right now and I like it that way.
ReplyDeleteIf I could choose my ideal weather, it would be 40's in the morning and mid 60's in the afternoon, with a touch of frost now and then.
DeleteWhat an amazing week in the Black Hills! Love the wildlife pics—especially that sneaky magpie! Sounds like those turkeys were keeping things interesting while hunting. Your Halloween activities looked like a blast, and that hayride was so much fun! Zoey’s bacon face is just too cute to resist!
ReplyDeleteWe have our daughter and family coming out in a couple of weeks, we are planning a hayride for them as well!
DeleteYes, to that first snow, Jim, even if only a small amount and short lasted. We have been having such warm days in Nashua, NH (70s today and tomorrow, like last week) that it seems spring and not autumn is here. You have so many turkeys, so will one of these to be your turkey day main course?
ReplyDeleteWe will have both turkey and ham for Thanksgiving, but it will be a store-bought domestic bird, not one of our wild ones.
DeleteJim, thanks for your comment on my recent post, the one showing that we treated ourselves to Haywards ice cream after voting. This is a locally made brand in Nashua, NH, so that’s “why” you would never have seen it other places. It is very good 😋
Deletei was able to see the magpie, being a birder, i saw it right away. i would love to see some snow...we need rain, i think we are 40 days without right right now. our weather has been all over the place, we need the heat at night and the a/c during the day. hunting is a non-topic for me, i guess it is good that it feeds you for the winter. the snow is beautiful and yes zoey is adorable!!
ReplyDeleteWe had been rainless for over two months, but got almost 18 hours of a light drizzle yesterday. So needed!
Delete...here in Upstate New York, turkeys are making a comeback, but nothing like you have. With climate change, snow has become a rare occasion and I miss it. But I'm prepared to wait a bit longer for the white stuff. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Take care and be well.
ReplyDeleteBack in the 70's you would hardly see a turkey, deer or even a goose. Nowadays they seem to be everywhere. A couple of success stories on bringing a couple of species back from low levels.
DeleteDearest Jim and Barb,
ReplyDeleteOh my, having snow already...! Sure glad I don't have to deal with that on top of my health issues and CKD stage V.
But nature is wonderful in your area.
Proud for having taken my Pieter in 2022 across to the West and from South Dakota into Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and back home. https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2022/08/scenic-route-to-jenny-lake-lodge-in.html
If you click to newer you see the sequence.
Hugs,
Mariette
You were pretty close to us when you were in Custer! You saw some beautiful country across Wyoming and went to places that I have never seen before, yet hope to get to.
DeleteNo doubt you will get to those beautiful places! Stay well.
DeleteIt's fun to experience your week. I particularly like your animal photos and I have to tell you, I love this wonderful fresh snow too. There are still colorful leaves on the trees here, but this night we had frost and the most wonderful sunshine during the day, so we ate lunch outside. Hug. I wish you all a nice time.
ReplyDeleteWe are having that kind of weather here today as well. Snow is all gone and it is sunny and 60!
DeleteHi Jim and Barb, always love reading your goings on, you live a very fulfilling life. So much to see and do. Thanks for sharing, it is truly a pleasure seeing what you have been up to since the last time I visited. Happy week ahead to you.
ReplyDeleteWe do not have much for down time. Our personalities will not allow us to not plan something for each day!
DeleteOh, it's already snowing! We don't get the snow until December usually, but it can last until April. It's such a pretty sight. Those are great pictures of the doe. The pups look cute all dressed up as a bear. You are the only blog friend I have that is from South Dakota. Lots from Texas, California, Georgia, but no South Dakota......interesting.
ReplyDeleteMay your November days be wonderful.
~Sheri
With California having almost 40,000,000 people and Texas just over 30,000,000, compared to South Dakota's 900,000, I can see why I might be your only blog friend here!
DeleteSomehow I missed this post! So many great photos, Jim. I don't want the snow yet, though. Happy to wait a while! The grandkids costumes are so cute.
ReplyDeleteWe are ready for snow, but I am guessing Forrest and his family living in the camper are glad it is gone already.
DeleteI cant read the text on your post it is all dark. Same with Kissak adventures. I miss you both. Do you know what the problem may be?
ReplyDeleteI am thinking it might be something on your end. I read Nancy's this morning without a problem. Hopefully you get it worked out!
DeleteBeautiful video and photographs. It's a completely different world to mine. Our little roe deer are greyish in the autumn and winter and red the rest of the year.
ReplyDeleteI have only seen pictures of Roe deer, would love to see one in person some day!
DeleteSNOW.....already! WOW....we are still having a battle in TN with Mother Nature and Old Man Winter as to who will come out to play on a given day......But at least we are getting rain here and there. Yes, turkeys are not pretty birds at all. And as for making bread, I can say, it does take time, mostly in the time it takes to rise. BUT....it is so good! Had to back off making it, was eating more and more. Want a snack, a piece of bread with something on it, yummy. Hunting, my ex hubs used to hunt, not me. But I have a niece that is amazing at hunting, shooting and field dressing. LIke I said, not my thing but she rocks it.
ReplyDeleteBarb has not made any more bread since then, but I am ready for some more!
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