A large doe and I startle each other

Walked out the back door yestermorn, gazed around in the morning light, and a large doe and I startled each other. I made friendly noises and sat down on the sidewalk. She chuffed loudly and backed away a few feet. She was maybe thirty feet away or less. We're not exactly strangers. I sat cooing, she resumed grazing, eventually wandering away east. I went back inside, peeking out now and then until she was gone.

We've had up to seven in the yard at times like last winter. Lately, just this lonely doe.

I know they're great big furry disease-and-tick spreading vermin. Cute great big furry disease-and-tick spreading vermin, though!