Lens-Artists Challenge #218 – Over The Hill

Donna at Wind Kisses, creator of beauty through photos and words, is guest hosting the Lens-Artists Challenge this week in honor of her joining the over-the-hill gang in the same week. 🙂 (That includes me, so I feel free to say that.)

When somebody says to me-which they do like every 5 years- “How does it feel to be over the hill?” my response is, “I’m just heading up the mountain.” — John C. Baez

Sometimes the path leads literally over the hill as it did here in Cape May, New Jersey quite some years ago. There’s something intriguing about a path that leads through a portal, don’t you think?

Sunset in Wyoming. I was down near the cabin when I decided there might be a wonderful sunset in the offing, so I ran up a very, very long, steep hill (at 7,000’+ altitude) that the horses take some time getting up. I wasn’t over the hill but the sun certainly was. I was simply exhausted but managed to keep the camera steady.

I don’t know how I got over the hill without getting to the top. — Will Rogers

Plants that are seemingly over the hill still may manage to keep their beauty. Of course diamonds always add to that!

Sometimes “over the hill” is a bit more permanent than just being old. This is being ancient!

These rock stairs invite you to go over the hill in Descanso Gardens in California.

One early morning on the way home, the Bighorns once again stunned as I drove over the hill (think mountain and very unimproved road) and get ready to put it in first gear and head down the mountain. You never know what view might await over the hill.

Over the hill means the hardest climb is over and the view is terrific.
~found on a coffee mug

Finally, we’re now in autumn and in many places leaves are now over the hill, aging gracefully and beautifully.

Albuquerque sunset

From my hotel window several nights ago.

Beautiful end to a good day

for Six Word Saturday

Wordless Wednesday…swallowing the sun

Lens Artists Photo Challenge: Soft…Moon over the Bighorns

Some nights are more spectacular than others, this being one of them. I did take some shots with the Nikon, but I thought this iPhone photo came out rather well, too. The colors were just like this.

for Lens Artists Photo Challenge: Soft

One Word Sunday…dwarf

Sunsets like this dwarf any man-made light show!

For One Word Sunday at Travel with Intent

From the other side and then home

No, this isn’t some after-death experience post, so sorry if you came here expecting something different.  We’ve seen a lot of views in and from the Bighorn Mountains, but what do they look like seen from “down below?”  What’s the view I see on arrival that makes my heart beat a bit faster and my soul sigh with contentment?

We’ve gotten our books and groceries, so it time to head home.  Before we get to the Red Grade Road, let’s stop for a moment (no cars coming) and take a look at where we’re heading.  Be careful driving here just at dusk or at dawn.  There are deer everywhere and they can seriously damage your car/van/truck!

It’s a much clearer view today than the day with all the smoke.  Do you recognize Black Tooth?  We’re almost back.

Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge: Nature…California dreamin’

It’s another first Monday and we’re back at “Nature” as the theme for the Mobile Photography Challenge.  I can’t believe it’s already July!  Today I head back to Illinois from an amazing trip to California (and that’s not the California trip of the 60’s.)  On the first day, we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway.  When night approached, we were ready to stop for the night, but there were people sitting on the ridges, waiting for the sunset.  This photo is proof that they were right.  It was worth the stopping before we moved on to rest for the night.

A large drop of sun lingered on the horizon and then dripped over and was gone, and the sky was brilliant over the spot where it had gone, and a torn cloud, like a bloody rag, hung over the spot of its going. And dusk crept over the sky from the eastern horizon, and darkness crept over the land from the east.
― John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath

The pale stars were sliding into their places. The whispering of the leaves was almost hushed. All about them it was still and shadowy and sweet. It was that wonderful moment when, for lack of a visible horizon, the not yet darkened world seems infinitely greater—a moment when anything can happen, anything be believed in.
― Olivia Howard Dunbar, The Shell of Sense

Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Nature…sunset in Costa Rica

Another month, another first Monday, another “Nature” theme!  The challenge for this theme isn’t finding a photo, it’s deciding which photo/s to use.  Since I spend quite a bit of time outside, I have more photos of nature than of anything else.  This has been a year blessed with lots of travels.  After my annual trip to visit my parents in Arizona, my older daughter and I spent a wonderful week in Costa Rica, a delayed Christmas present from over a year before.  Besides having a great time, we saw some fabulous sunsets.  Here’s an example of one.  Grab a tropical drink, sit back, and enjoy.

When the sun has set, no candle can replace it.
~George R.R. Martin

A large drop of sun lingered on the horizon and then dripped over and was gone, and the sky was brilliant over the spot where it had gone, and a torn cloud, like a bloody rag, hung over the spot of its going. And dusk crept over the sky from the eastern horizon, and darkness crept over the land from the east.
~John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath

Sunset, nuclear explosion or alien invasion?

Our last night in Cape May Point, our whole group headed for Sunset Beach before dinner to (what else?), watch the sunset.  🙂  To say conditions were less than ideal would be an understatement.  A large cloud bank made us wonder whether we’d even see a sunset, the temperature had dropped precipitously from prior days and, worst of all, the wind was whipping the waves into a frenzy and driving the sand into millions of tiny sandblasters.