Long Hollow

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Realtor, writer, blogger in Austin, TX

Closings and Close Encounters

"…and suddenly, it was Thursday night."

That was going to be the title of this post, because there I was, still chipping away at my Monday To-Do list,

"…and suddenly, it was Thursday night."

Does that ever happen to you?

I did have a couple of exciting things happen this week I want to tell you about, though…

On Tuesday I had my first real estate closing! Remember Lisa, my friend with the beautiful horses? She bought a lot that adjoins her property to give her horses more space to run. I'm so glad I was able to help her realize that dream. 

Then, this morning on my usual walk with the puppies I encountered a different kind of excitement…

A flock of mallard ducks on a nearby pond was raising a ruckus. While sneaking up on them with my camera, I noticed something else sneaking up on them from the other side of the pond: a coyote. A great big coyote! To me, it looked as big as Max, who thank goodness obeyed my command to 'stay'. Belle, too.

 

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I knew coyotes were out here. I've heard them howling at night, driving my dogs crazy. I've seen the torn, bloody remains of their prey/dinner…and their scat.

But until this morning, I've never actually seen one so up close and personal here in the Hollow. 

The click of my camera alerted it that I was there, and it melted back into the brush. All the way home I searched the woods, wondering if it was watching us.

Part of me is unsettled by the knowledge of its presence…but most of me feels grateful that I caught a glimpse of it, and that I had my camera with me. Also, of course, that no ducks, dogs, or people were harmed in the process.

It's really quite beautiful, isn't it?

 

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Last night I had a close encounter with another beautiful, yet much less harmful, object: the full moon rising over Lake Travis and the small village of Point Venture…

 

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Hope you have a great weekend!

 

 

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20 responses to “Closings and Close Encounters”

  1. Suldog Avatar
    Suldog

    That’s neat! We have sighting of one every once in a while up here (not by me, but reported in the paper. There wouldn’t be much for one to hunt in my neighborhood.)
    As for the to-do list, yup. Almost every day I end up throwing something into the next day or two days later. I’m torn between thinking I’m a lazy sot or if I just overestimate my abilities.

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  2. Ms. A Avatar
    Ms. A

    Glad your dogs were obedient and you didn’t have to witness coyote dinnertime! Beautiful moon… and much safer to be around.

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  3. Gail Avatar
    Gail

    Great shots!!! That coyote looks very well fed! The ones I used to encounter in Texas looked so pitiful and scraggly. Hope this one doesn’t harm any of your beloved pets.
    Congrats on your closing! Woo hoo!! It’s gonna be a great year for you, I can tell.
    Enjoy the weekend. 🙂

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  4. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    I haven't seen many coyotes, but the ones I've glimpsed crossing the road were skinny and scrawny, so I was really surprised when I saw this one! It looks very healthy, doesn't it? Yikes.
     

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  5. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    I'm glad they were obedient, too. I told them they needed to stay close to protect me…and it worked! (Thanks for coming back!)
     
    From: TypePad

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  6. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    Every day I get further behind somehow! I don't think either of us are lazy, but maybe we have a warped sense of what can be accomplished in 24 hours.
     
    From: TypePad

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  7. lisleman Avatar
    lisleman

    As others commented the coyotes looks well fed. Maybe messing up its dinner plans was not that bad for it. Predators and prey are constant parts of nature but it seems many of us want to forget that. I remember watching (not that well because I can’t think of the animals involved) some documentary with predator going after its prey. Others in the family were hoping the prey would escape but I said, the predator has a family to feed too.
    Congrats on your closing.

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  8. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    I agree there has to be a balance in nature. We humans have a tendency to do things that throw everything out of whack! We stay out of it as much as possible here. I do worry about my puppies, but this guy/gal didn't threaten us at all and gave up easily on the ducks. Could be because of the stripped clean deer carcass we came across a little farther down our path. 🙂 Thanks for the congrats!!
     

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  9. Lady Fi Avatar
    Lady Fi

    That looks like a well fed coyote! Beautiful shots.

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  10. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    He looked really, really healthy!!!
     

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  11. catskillblogger Avatar
    catskillblogger

    I’ve seen one on the road going to work one night, last year. I didn’t get a good look at him but I just knew what it was.

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  12. lisa Avatar
    lisa

    A very big congratulations on your first closing, Barbara!!
    The coyote really is beautiful, but I have to say that when I hear them at night, at House #2, that sound scares me.
    I hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend!

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  13. Pauline Avatar
    Pauline

    Look how well camouflaged that coyote is! Great shots. We have them here in Western MA, too, and though I’ve often seen them (and heard them caroling in the dark) I’ve n ever had luck getting a picture of one.
    Congrats on your closing!

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    Thank you! And he does blend in amazingly, doesn't he? It makes me wonder how often he's been close by but I just never noticed!
     
    From: TypePad

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  15. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    Thank you for the congrats, Lisa! I've always shuddered at the sound of coyotes howling nearby, too, but now, knowing how big they are, I'll shudder even more!
     

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  16. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    I saw one just a few weeks ago while on a property tour in a neighborhood pretty close to town, but it was one of those skinny, scraggly ones. I've heard them out here near us, but never saw one. I guess there are more places to hide. <<shudder>>
     

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  17. Wolf Pascoe Avatar
    Wolf Pascoe

    You should save “And suddenly, it was Thursday night” for a novel, or at least a short story.
    And way to go, closer.

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  18. Hilary Avatar
    Hilary

    He’s a beautiful creature. I have only ever seen a coyote once despite the fact that they were seen in my old neighbourhood by others daily. One finally showed himself to me shortly before I moved and I felt that it was a goodbye gift from the area nature.. silly maybe but I was very grateful for that sighting. You probably need not worry too much. They’re shy with humans most of the time. Still I’m glad everyone behaved.

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  19. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    He really did seem shy, totally forgetting about the ducks and disappearing into the brush. The dogs absconded with the deer leg, which has been residing way too close to my house for my comfort, and they bark every night, I suppose protecting their "treasure", although I don't hear any coyotes arguing back. That's surprising to me that you never saw one, as much as you walked your neighborhood. But now you see wolves!
     

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  20. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    I’ll credit you when it becomes a best seller. 🙂 (Typepad still thinks you’re a spammer. Sorry. I just found your comment!)

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