Lens-Artist Photo Challenge : Cooling

While much of the US was sweltering, in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming there was quite a lot of snow on the peaks that top out at just over 13,000′. Several mornings the outdoor temperature was just under 40 degrees Fahrenheit, absolutely lovely for riding. On this day, there was quite a lot of fog, but when I’d ridden for well over an hour, the sun shone and this cool view met my eyes. Taking a photo with a phone while on a horse that’s ready to head home at speed can be a challenge, but I was happy with the result.

Here are the guidelines for this new photo challenge:

• Lens-Artists Photo Challenges are published every Saturday at 12 noon EST by one of our moderators. Post your reply any time before the next challenge is announced.
• Tag your post with lens-artists  so others can easily find it in the WordPress Reader.
• Remember to create a link to this post.
• Subscribe to all 4 moderator blogs to receive the challenge each week.

Week 1 – Patti of https://pilotfishblog.com/

Week 2 – Ann-Christine aka Leya of https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/

Week 3 – Amy of https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/

Week 4 – Tina of https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/

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One Word Sunday…dwarf

Sunsets like this dwarf any man-made light show!

For One Word Sunday at Travel with Intent

Just can’t wait

It’s that time of year: time to load the van and point it west, to see familiar landmarks go buy, to head for the mountains.  My only regret is that my husband can’t come along.  Other than that, Willie’s words ring true as always and I just can’t wait to see this view again.

Those lovely mountains keep out phone service quite well unless you have a satellite phone and our internet is quite slow, so I’ll be saving up all my experiences and photos for when I get back (or maybe I’ll drop in when I’m in town.)  In my absence, be safe and happy and I’ll look forward to seeing you all soon (but not too soon!)

Square/s

Today I’m being wild and crazy, participating in two challenges at once:  Cee’s Oddball Photo Challenge and Debbie’s One Word Sunday.  I wanted to call this post “Square Oddball”, but that would be two words, hence just “Square/s.”

This is the view you get when taking an iPhone photo of two of the five bucks having a meal just outside the screened cabin window in Wyoming’s Big Horn Mountains.  The phone won’t focus past the screen as would my Nikon here, but it does create an oddball photo with plenty of squares.

(Sorry about the two different fonts.  It doesn’t show up that way in the original and won’t change when I try to edit it to all be the same. )

Oh, deer!

Moose aren’t the only four-legged animals I saw near the cabin this summer.  There was a group of bucks hanging around together. One day I looked out the kitchen window and there they were, all five of them!  Thankfully I had my Nikon, as the phone would only focus on the screens in the window.  Besides these guys already were leery and could see me even inside.  If I’d tried to open the door, all I would have caught would have been deer hindquarters bounding away and boy, do they bound!

Silent Sunday…Got it covered

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.  🙂