All of the deer are likely to lay down on the grass and hang out, whether we know them well or not. Many of them know us personally, and while often running into the yard to greet us with their quiet enthusiasm, they will also swiftly shy away from strangers. 

Although notoriously skittish, able to leap meters in the air in an instant when startled, a few deer we know, most notably Eva and her kids, will let us touch them as if we were family, letting us scratch them or pick something out of their fur. Eva even enjoys a hearty backrub! We've certainly learned a lot about how to act around them so as not to disturb them. We think they appreciate our efforts to fit into their neighborhood.

Freddy with his first big antlers.
Marlis is in the back yard with nine deer from Mama Rose's family.
Mama Rose, the matriarch, taught us the way of the deer, in winter 2005 she disappeared, passing her throne onto Lisa.
Rasa explains how human life to Rasa.
Two women sharing a secret.  

Rasa with Eva and her kids.
Freddy eating clover flowers. 
Rasa explains the mysteries of the Koran to Rosie.
Lisa and Eva looki up to the balcony.
Young Ram flirts with Marlis.
Here he is again, posing from his sexiest side.
She doesn't care about the legs or the plastic rat ... after the photographer leaves, she'll eat one of those pumpkins by the tree.  
Rasa gives Charlotta a third eye massage.
(When he was very young, we thought this guy was female. But then his velvet antler brow first began to appear, and we realized our mistake. We decided to leave him as a buck named Charlotta.)
Lisa ringing the front door bell with her nose.
Just a typical afternoon visit. 
Mama Rose on the balcony.
Young Ram practices the nose ritual with Rasa.
Well, come right in . .  
Young Ram. 
Popping in to say hello. 

Hey, anybody home?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~