Their house is a very fine house
The fox kits are no longer completely helpless. Their cognitive abilities have advanced to the level where mother fox feels comfortable letting them play outside the den unsupervised. Around 11:00 A.M. every morning, the young foxes come outside to explore their immediate world. Under the cover of boxelder trees, and behind the screen of growing grasses, they feel protected from outside danger. As time goes on, it becomes even more apparent how wise the mother fox was in choosing this particular denning location. All things being relative, the fox family is safe in this place.
The fox kits are both curious about me, and a little leery of my presence. Yesterday, I walked a wide circle around to the other side of their lair. I set up the camera tripod in plain sight, as they seem to feel more comfortable when they can keep a watchful eye on my position. None of the foxes like it when I make any attempt to crawl or stalk up to them. It sets off their survival alarms. So, I don't even try to be sneaky. I simply make a casual stroll into whatever range they will allow. You can't outfox a fox.
The door on the old schoolhouse is ajar, and the foxes will occasionally scamper inside the building for a look around. In the region where we all live, foxes grow up to be familiar with old farm buildings and the sounds of machinery. In other places, those things might be frightening; but here, those are the sights and sounds of their habitat.