M
y family likes to travel,
and they like to play
baseball. I always bring
my camera along, as there is nev-
er a shortage of interesting photo
ops—on the ball field or on the
way to the ball field. Ever since
my aunt gave me her old camera,
when I was about ten years old,
I have enjoyed photographing
sports, animals (both wild and
domesticated), landscapes and
nature. I am now beginning to
appreciate bird photography.
In August 2018, our eldest son,
Dustin, was participating in a
championship baseball tourna-
ment in Victoria, so we decidedto visit friends
who have a sum-
mer home in Ed-
wards Lake, B.C.
on the way. Along
the highway be-
tween Crowsnest
Pass, Alta., and
Sparwood, B.C.,
we came upon
a small herd of
bighorn sheep.
My husband,
Harold, who is
a wildlife lover
and supporter of
my photography,
quickly stopped
the vehicle while
I propped my lens on the open
window of the truck. The herd
didn’t want to be bothered and
moved away, with the exception
of this fella (above), who can
only be described as especially
curious. As the herd moved
away, he slowly joined them,
but kept watching us while he
did, almost as though posing
for photographs.
Although I do not seek out
bighorn sheep to photograph,
I am impressed by their horns,
beautiful coats and interesting
eyes. I was grateful to have come
upon a herd of them on a beau-
tiful, warm evening with the
sun beginning to set, giving the
photograph a nice glow.If you let your eyes travel
down the face of this ram, you
will notice that his nose is
heart-shaped. I didn’t know it
at the time, but this heart was a
symbol for what was to happen
in a few days.
We continued on our travels,
enjoying our overnight visit with
our friends and then moving on
to Victoria. The baseball tourna-
ment commenced, but was anti-
climactic compared to the news
we were soon to learn. While
enjoying one of the many won-
derful restaurants in Victoria
one evening, our son’s girlfriend
showed us a diamond ring on her
left hand. Dustin had proposed—
revealing his heart. CRITTERSHeart’s Desire
This trip provided welcome
surprises around every corner
by Barbara Northcott,Didsbury, Alta.55