It is blueberry season up here. The weather has been gorgeous.
Those two statements together mean we have spent all of our evenings out picking blueberries, hands down one of Leah's favourite activities. Now, when I say we have been picking blueberries I'm stretching the truth a little, for I've done very little. I've birded and wandered camera in hand, played tag with the kids, built ancient inuksuit but berry picking not so much. A little, I'm more into savouring the fruits of Leah's labour.
Tonight was no exception, but it did have a bit of twist. I had something that needed attending to right after supper, and Leah wasn't about to wait. So she headed off on the ATV and the kids and I followed an hour or so later by truck.
Now, because school starts this Friday, we've been making a rather abrupt change from summer sleep habits for the kids, but it has been challenging, and they've been tired. For Hilary this evening tired translated into grumpiness and tears and by the time we'd reached the spot where Leah parked the ATV I had had enough. Knowing how tired she my strategy was to put the seat back, duck under my jacket and pretend to sleep, counting on her to follow suit
It worked well, too well. I'm not sure which of us fell asleep first. After about an hour I woke up, sat upright and looked out the window. Looking right back at me, from across the road was an Ermine. I lowered the window grabbed the camera and fired away, steadying the camera, checking my camera settings, squeaking or pishing, keeping it in view, until it finally lost interest and disappeared through the rubble of boulders.
Sometimes a little luck, and a little sleep, is all it takes.
Comments
10 responses
Transitions are always rough on kids but wasn’t it nice that your thoughtful parenting was rewarded but such a sweet photography subject. That way we ALL win! 🙂 Thanks, Clare.
Those are wonderful shots! Very clear!
Btw, who starts school on a Friday? Shouldn’t that be illegal? lol.
Hmm, so falling asleep in a truck is the right way to photograph an ermine….
Great photos!
Wonderful photos! How lucky that it hung around so long for this photo shoot!
Thanks Liza. I suppose falling asleep could fall under the category of “thoughtful parenting”.
Thank you Melodie. We often start school here mid week. Its all about getting the end of the school year right.
Thanks John. Falling asleep might not work for everyone, but I recommend giving it a shot. As far as Ermine go it seems to have worked better than everything else I’ve tried.
Thanks Robin. It was lucky. Not near as lucky as it showing up at the exact moment I woke up and looked out, but still.
These are beautiful, Clare! I especially like those fat, furry toes in the first photo.
Amazing. Your photos of ermine/stoats keep getting better — and I thought some of the earlier photos were brilliant. Marvellous, Clare.
Thanks Susannah, hard to imagine just how much terror those fat, furry toes strike in the hearts of lemmings.
Thank you Pete. Couple more opportunities and I’ll get it right.
Well done!
Hi from Yellowknife.
If I’ve learned anything
along the way as well..it’s
that you can hunt anything
all you want — but your
best opportunities come
when you least expect it.
It’ll always happen when it’s
time.
And always carry your camera!
Thanks Riley. Always carry your camera is good advice, I could fill several albums with missed opportunities from not having it at my side. These days it is usually, but not always, there.