A "Free" Weekend!

   You can see the young buck on the left side. Two doe were behind it.  I like the fawn with the stone wall.

We had a "free" weekend this past weekend. A weekend without mother. Hope that doesn't sound unfeeling or selfish. I think the three of us get along ok since she came to live with us two years ago. I'm sure all of us have times that aren't great, but so far it's working out.

I use to have "free" days when I worked. When it snowed and the office was closed, it would be a "free" day. I could do whatever I wanted too, and sometimes that was just sitting by the window watching the snow fall. Drinking hot chocolate, of course.

               I snapped this group a few weeks ago. It's one of my favorite spots to see deer.

We had a few plans for the\is "free" weekend, but Jerry woke up not feeling well Saturday morning. He'd been having trouble with his back all week, and his stomach wasn't well either. So it quickly became a stay at home weekend. His stomach now seems to be fine, but he's being very careful with his back and what he does.

Friday I went to Best Buy and bought a new camera. The one I've had for four years needed repair. I had sent it to the manufacturer once before for a different problem, and just decided at four years old I'd like a new one. I bought a Nikon. My first one.

I've been through them all: Brownie,  Polaroid, Instamatic, Olympus, Minolta, and Canon. All of them served me well. Now the Nikon. Lest I sound rich, it's a little point and shoot, and it was on sale.

 I had a difficult time focusing in on these deer and only had two snaps turn out, and not great. Haven't had that much trouble focusing on similar snaps with my previous camera.

I went out Saturday morning with my new camera for a fawn shoot. Jerry was home letting the pups take care of him. Things weren't going well. I had a number of opportunities to take pictures, but the camera wasn't focusing, the pictures were fuzzy and the weight of the camera didn't feel good. I later decided the body was too light for the longer zoom lens.

I worked with it the rest of Saturday and into Sunday, and I did get some nice pictures. But the fit just wasn't right for me. So Monday I went back to Best Buy and upgraded to another Canon PowerShot. I'm thrilled. It doubled and more my zoom capabilities, and I'm very familiar with how to work it. The snap below is the last one I took with the Nikon.

 I was out back Sunday evening still working with the camera, and saw this buck wanting to come to the  back gate to eat. There's a lane between the short grass and the bushes on the other side. He decided he'd come again another time, turning and walking off.

Labor Day weekend marked the end of my fawn shoot for this season. I've been out most Saturday mornings in July and August from 6 to 8. I've gotten a fair number of good snaps to enjoy. Especially the fawn nursing! I'll have to wait until next year for this fun and refreshing time to return once again.

 I did get this refreshing snap Saturday morning. Wish they all could have turned out like this one!

Mom returned Monday evening and brought us back to the routine of life. But I know one day I'll get another "free" weekend! Maybe next time Jerry won't be in pain!