As a teen I dreamed of the day that I would go to Switserland and see the snow topped mountains of the Alps. I got there eventually!
Even saw the mountains of Austria twice (where the movie "Sound of Music" plays).
I became more familiar with the mountains in California, when one of hubby's customers let us stay in their weekend house during summer and winter vacations. I was a graduate student then, and having three children. We took the invitation with both hands.
We eventually ventured out to Yosemite national park and we were hooked!
When our son was 16 or 17 years old, hubby and he went on the 6 hour hike climbing Half Dome for the first time. The last half hour of this 9000 feet mountain, one has to pull himself up on a ladder. Climbers hold themselves with gloved hands to the railings.
You probably have heard of families where one is the first one ever to finish college. This climb was that big of a deal in our family! Since then hubby has made this climb 5 more times.
With in the background Half Dome, which son and hubby climbed, I conquered this mountain with the watercolor medium. I'll show you the paintings another time.
These pics are from the pre-ditigal era (about 10 years ago) - except for the last pic of El Capitain, and one can see the difference!
In the beginning of learning watercolors, I went on the daily FREE plein air trips with a teaching artist and a group of beginning artists. It was always a lot of fun. I stand in the middle and Teach has her coffee mug in hand. You see that I did not come very far with the painting in front of me. Too busy with socializing!
There's another fierce mountain called El Capitain, and one can only climb that one with professional gear. Well that must be then for the next generation in our family!
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23 comments:
I love to LOOK at mountains. I have NO desire to climb them!
Lovely photos, thanks
Wow, you are all very brave and determined in all you have accomplished.
I grew up in flat Chicago and dreamed of mountains too. But at last I made it up the Swiss Alps.
To answer your question: here the kitchen does not count when you say how big a house is. So when the David's Village apartment said 4, it meant a living room and 2 or 3 bedrooms. If you don't mind not having the view of the Old City, the price goes down by $ 300,000 to "only" $2,200,000.
I like the picture of you with the impressive Half Dome in the background. You've got a good figure and a nice outfit. The greenery around also contributes to he beauty of the picture.
Gorgeous scenes :)
Those are some mountains alright Jeannette!! I am glad I dont have to try climbing any of them. :)
I too grew up as a flatlander but when I first saw the Rockies I fell in love with mountains and have lived near them now for many years.
Half dome looks awesome but I don't see myself climbing up a ladder to get to the top.
Hope you'll show us some of your Yosemite paintings.
Can not climb mountains, even before the operation - got height sickness. But walking up and looking out - what another story -incredible.
Patience,
That's quite all right, Patience:)
Painting, not climbing is my favorite thing to do LOL
Dina,
Thank you, determined we are:)
Thanks for the explanation about the number of rooms! Wow, what a difference - but the wall means so much to many, that I can imagine they would pay for it!
Duta,
Thank you for all the compliments you're heaping on me:)
Yes, half Dome is impressive in height as well as in beauty!
Gary,
Yes, we are spoiled in California with all that beauty around us!
Joan,
For sure, I thought you would be a mountaineer! (really!)
Gaelyn,
You probably never dreamed you would be leading a life you do right now!
So, even though you work in such a mountainous area, you would not climbed Half Dome?
Yeah, sometime I'll show Half Dome in painting:)
Joey,
So I guess you never went mountain climbing in Colorado? Hope you painted them?
Those sure are imposing mountains! I also love mountains, but I've never really hiked before. I look forward to seeing your interpretation of Half Dome.
I see pictures of you, but still have no clear idea of what you look like and I'm so curious. I wouldn't recognize you if I passed you in say South Coast Plaza. Not that I'm going there any time soon.
Sreddy,
I don't know the topical/ geographical map of South Africa - are living close or far from the mountains?
When the mountains are far, it is natural that you have never hiked. It is addicting!!
Irene,
Hmm, doesn't the profile pic you see now not reveal enough? That's how I really look like. En ik ben 1.53m., ongeveer hetzelfde als de foto met the bergen in de achtergrond.
I would be startled to death if I suddenly would see you at South Coast Plaza - first send me a post card, would you?:)
I grew up in central California, about equidistant from mountains and ocean. I love mountains best, and I live in them now. I don't challenge the peaks, but enjoy the lakes, rivers, meadows, and forests. Your post brought me back to Yosemite, thank you! I haven't been there for quite a while!
I was at Yosemite sometime around 1991. Such a beautiful spot. Someday I will return.
Matthew - wow that's 18 years ago - time to return:) Of all the National Parks you've been, which one left the biggest impression on you?
Dimple,
Sorry, finally realized that I went out of order with my responses. Wow, nice to know that I'm writing to another Californian:) So, then you know how beautiful it is here!
Yeah, hiking is not my thing, but I'll do it to get to places to paint!
Dimple,
Sorry, finally realized that I went out of order with my responses. Wow, nice to know that I'm writing to another Californian:) So, then you know how beautiful it is here!
Yeah, hiking is not my thing, but I'll do it to get to places to paint!
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