Lens-Artists Challenge #153: It’s a wonderful world

This topic makes me sad, but only because almost every photo I take is something that makes me feel wonderful and although that means I have lots of choices, it means I have too many choices, enough to almost put me in shutdown mode. So I decided to start with my happy place and see where that led. And where it led was to stay right there because what’s not wonderful about a place where you can look one way and see this…

…or look the other way and see this?

Or you might look out the window and see…

…or be walking along a trail and spot one of these showoffs.

And of course in the middle of June, you might look back from a 115F day to relish the thought of seeing a moose in falling snow, also in the middle of June. Very cool! 🙂

Wordless Wednesday…wonderful Wyoming

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #104: summer

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”
― John Muir, The Mountains of California

“Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

Framing Wyoming: walk with me

It’s Monday, time for another walk with Jo and other friends, but on this walk, we can easily frame a few choice bits of Wyoming for Amy and the photographers of the Lens Artists group (as well as all the walkers.) Tie your laces and let’s go! But first, take a look out the window. You never know what you’ll see.

Don’t moose with me!

The two bull moose didn’t just wallow in the willows to eat. This one showed up in the meadow in front of our cabin, framing himself perfectly between the tree branches.  Thanks to the wonders of the telephoto lens, I could get close without leaving the comfort and safety of the porch.

Lest we forget, moose (and buffalo/bison, bears, etc.) are wild animals. The word “wild” is used on purpose.  It means it behooves you to stay a safe distance away.  One summer, my husband was down in the main cabin area near another family’s cabin when he heard the father telling his little children to go close to the moose for a photo.  My husband quickly disabused them of the notion that this was in any way a good idea.  Contrary to their ungainly appearance, a moose can run as fast as a horse and those horns are dangerous!  I’ve never figured out how they can run through a forest not only without hitting the trees, but without making a noise.

A female moose with a calf is dangerous as she will protect her calf. Calves are curious, so they might approach you, but the mother will see you as a danger, not a mere curiosity.  Bull moose should always be respected.  Period.  No exceptions.

My husband also loves to tell the story, a true one, I must admit, of my dad and me riding our horses close to a moose that was near the lake. At a certain point, he put his head down in an overtly menacing way and our horses, sensible creatures that they were, decided enough was enough and we left quite quickly.  🙂

Weekly Photo Challenge: Peek…an a-moosing peek

Welcome to November!  For some of us, that means colder weather, leaves changing color a/o falling, and the anticipation of winter.  For others, summer is just around the corner.  But whatever the weather, the Photo Challenge keeps on going, this week with the theme of “Peek”, showing just enough of a subject to pique the interested of the viewer.

This summer I crouched on the hillside in Wyoming just up from the corral, taking photos of two bull moose head-high in the willows, contentedly chomping away.  A peek now and then was just about all I could capture.  And that’s not a lot of bull (although this one was.)  🙂

 

Riding: it’s not just an adventure!

Riding in the mountains is not just an adventure; it’s a job.  At least it’s a job for the person riding first in line.  Because there be monsters in them thar hills and it’s your job as rider to look out for monsters.  Don’t believe there are monsters?  Just ask your horse.

Dreaming of Wyoming

In the summer, a woman’s fancy turns to vacation…rest, rejuvenation and the mountains.  These are some of my Wyoming dreams.