Saturday, June 21, 2014

Tucson, Arizona

A few years back, we visited Sabino Canyon in
beautiful Arizona.  We decided to hike but it was pretty hot that day.  We were enjoying all the pretty wildflowers....I believe it was 104 degrees.
(but it was a dry heat !!!! NOT....lol !)
We might have gone in about 1/2 mile or so when we decided to turn back...much too hot.  When we arrived back to the start of the hike there was police cars and a news truck... why?
Someone had spotted a mountain lion and they were going to tell everyone to come back.. My hair stood up and needless to say we went back to the car....jogging this time !!!!

90 comments:

  1. Beautiful painting and a great story! All my years in NM and AZ and I haven't seen a live mountain lion except in the zoos. You almost beat me!

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    1. Almost but I'm glad I didn't beat you! lol.... You live in a beautiful State, JO !! Glad you liked this painting!!

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  2. Whoa! Hilda! Great painting and a great story!
    I am looking for the lion behind the brush?
    Nice work and a nice change of pace!
    Jogging! Great choice!
    Michael

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    1. thank you MICHAEL for stopping by to comment! Glad you liked my Desert scene!!!!
      Enjoy the rest of the day!!!

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  3. beautiful painting! glad you got away from that lion!

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    1. thank you so much MYRA!!! I love hiking but wildlife scares me now!!! lol

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  4. I love the painting and the story! You really captured the feel of the desert landscape, Hilda. Nice!

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    1. thank you DARLA ... its so different from portraits...but I had fun painting it in oils.

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  5. Gorgeous landscape that reminds me of when I lived in Tucson for a couple of years.

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    1. thank you so much SHERRY for your visit and your comment....I didn't know you lived in Tucson....Beautiful place!!!

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  6. Oh my goodness, I'm glad you are here to tell the story ! The painting is awesome with a feel of the enormous distance , and great desert plants .

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    1. thank you JANE for your visit ...you just made my day!! Glad you liked it!!

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  7. You never know what will happen in nature. lol This is lovely...so peaceful until you think about the mountain lion. Wonderful texture to the plant life!!!

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    1. thank you JOAN for your visit and your very generous comment. Thank goodness it was too hot to hike!!! There was so much beautiful colors in the desert!

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  8. This is just lovely! Colors, softness...

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    1. thank you SO much MARIA!! I appreciate your visit !!! Enjoy the rest of this beautiful day!

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  9. Your desert landscape is so inviting ,Hilda, and to think there is a mountain lion hidden in there somewhere... how scary! Gorgeous work on the greens and atmosphere, fun story too!

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    1. thank you so much CELIA for stopping by!!!
      This is why I don't hike anymore...I never did like surprises! lol There was so many shades of greens as far as the eye took you.

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  10. Whoa, way too close for comfort, might have been too hot for you. It not a hungry lion. Love the sky blending and feel the heat in this piece with your color choices. Just read and saw a video on using color shapers to blend pastels. I have some type and just tried it on my color pencil, but hadn't on pastel, hmmmm, will now. If interested let me know and I will send you links.

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    1. thank you NELVIA for your kind words. This painting is with oils and I really enjoyed playing with all the colors. That sounds wonderful....I would appreciate you giving me the link!!!

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  11. This painting is ta lovely ending to that adventure that might have been tragic! I've never seen that type of landscape for real. Great job with the warm colors!

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    1. thank you HELEN for your visit! The landscape is truly beautiful but the heat is something else.! LOVE that part of the country!

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  12. Una pintura muy conseguida, Hilda, de un gran realismo. Saludos

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    1. Muchisimas gracias ANTONIO por tu visita.. Lo agradezco to comentario muy generoso!!
      un saludo

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  13. Lovely scene, Hilda, and great story!!!
    Kathryn XX

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    1. thank you so much, friend! I really enjoyed painting this one!!!!

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  14. Un paisaje precioso, y una gran aventura ...

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    1. Estoy muy contenta que ha gustado este paisaje, TINA! Lo agradezco tu visita!!!
      un abrazo

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  15. Interesting story Hilda. Good job
    Hugs from Barcelona

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    1. thank you so much BLANCO for your visit and your comment! I'm glad you liked this landscape!!

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  16. What an experience .. but the landscape is so serene!!! ... A beautiful work, full of color and light, as always, dear Hilda.

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    1. thank you so much RITA ... A landscape that I truly enjoyed painting... I remember it being such a beautiful day!

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  17. There's nothing like motivation to make one jog...lolol Love the story! You have nice lush color in this landscape...beautiful painting.

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  18. Oo-er! I think I would have run a mile!!!
    Your painting is gorgeous and you really have conveyed that dry heat so well! Lovely! :0)

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    1. I'm so glad you liked it, SANDRA.... yes, feet do your stuff!!! who am I kidding? I couldn't out run him. LOL Have a wonderful day!!

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  19. Estoy muy contenta que ha gustado este paisaje, OLGA!
    Lo agradezco tu visita!!
    Un abrazo....

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  20. A wonderful painting, Hilda!
    Don't blame you one bit for hustling to the wheels!

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  21. Splendido paesaggio Hilda, mi ricorda quello dei film western che vedevo da ragazzo. Un dipinto incantevole. Un abbraccio.

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  22. Thank you so much DEAN for stopping by to comment!! I appreciate your words on my painting.. Enjoy the rest of the day... (I'm very glad I didn't see the mountain lion!)

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  23. A splendid landscape - and with a hidden mountain lion! What a scary story - glad you and your hubby turned back when you did!

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    1. Thank you, SUSAN!!! I'm glad you liked this landscape...I took the reference picture and turned around because of the heat...I love Arizona but the summers are way too hot for me..lol

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  24. You can't tell how hot it was from this beautiful landscape. It looks initing. You have a great command of your medium Hilda.

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    1. thank you so much LINDA.... you're very kind.!
      It's such a nice change from portraits...! Enjoy the rest of the Evening...

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  25. Hilda - beautiful painting and wow what a story. Your oils are as gorgeous as your pastels. Thank you for sharing. Hope you are having a delightful day.

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    1. thank you DEBBIE for stopping by to comment. I love painting with oils... of course, it's always a challenge mixing colors.
      LOL but a nice change...

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  26. that is a simply wonderful painting...watch out for jungle cats!

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    1. thank you so much CELESTE!! I don't think I'm comfortable with hiking anymore... the older I get the more chicken I am...lol enjoy the rest of the Evening...

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  27. Precioso paisaje querida Hilda, Bonita mezcla de verdes y ocres. Tu retrato de Christina es tambien una preciosidad. Felicidades!!

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    1. Muchisimas gracias EVA...tu eres muy generoso con tu comentario...lo agradezco!!! .. Estoy aprendiendo mezclando los colores ... Gracias tambien por tu comentario de Christina...Estoy contenta que ha gustado el retrato...
      un abrazo

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  28. Beautiful landscape. Quite the story! Definitely too hot for hiking! Happy painting!

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    1. I'm so glad you liked this landscape, STEPHANIE! I enjoyed painting it and yes... too hot to hike!! Have a wonderful Evening..

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  29. What a lovely landscape! The story is exciting - so glad you arrived back when you did! Love your colors and you captured atmosphere with the heat! Great job!

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    1. thank you ROSEMARY for your lovely comment. No more hiking especially in that kind of heat..who knew..? The desert is truly full of beautiful colors and I'm glad you liked this landscape.

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  30. Awesome one, I dont know how to paint nature ;)

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    1. thank you so much MAGDA for your lovely comment ...I appreciate your visit!
      Enjoy the rest of the Evening...

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  31. Oh what a story Hilda. No doubt the heat got to you being from the east coast and all. Those kind of temperatures sure do take time to get used to. I am glad you had not encounters with a mountain lion!

    Your painting...wow...so gorgeous. There is something sort of stately (not sure that's the best word) about cactus and you captured that well.

    xo

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    1. I am definitely not used to that heat.. it's so hard to breathe!!! lol.. and I really enjoy seeing mountain lions in books.. not in person.
      I'm so glad you liked my painting, LISA... I enjoyed painting it... enjoy the rest of the Evening.

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  32. Interesting incident Hilda, next time you make a trip to here in Oman and you will say Arizona is cooler:-)
    The way you blended the colors is very beautiful, it has made the place come alive like in a photograph.

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  33. OMGoodness, PADMAJA...that's hard to believe! I never realized that Oman could be that hot!... I love visiting Arizona in the Fall... the weather is wonderful.
    Thank you for your visit and for your very kind words..
    I appreciate it!!! Enjoy your day!

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  34. Heel mooi zo'n fijne sfeer voel je hier bij lieve groetjes Danielle

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    1. thank you so much DANIELLE...you're always so nice...I appreciate your words and glad you stopped by! Enjoy the rest of the day!

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  35. You've captured the desert perfectly in this beautiful painting. I love the mixture of Saguaro cactus, Cholla cactus and Greasewood or Creosote bushes. Sabino Canyon is lovely. My husband and son have hiked it several times, but occasionally there will be a mountain lion. Not too often though. In early Spring the creek is running quite well.

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    1. I should have spoken to you before I hiked CAROL.... I would never have gone.. LOL
      But I must say the Desert is truly beautiful with so many gorgeous color...thank you for telling me the names of the bushes...I would never have known! enjoy the rest of the Evening!!!

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  36. Nice, Hilda. You did especially well on that sky!

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  37. Thank you so much DIANA.....I value your comment.! I'm glad you like it...!

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  38. I have never seen Arizona! My grandson says that Arizona and Washington State are his favourites.

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    1. Thank you so much MARIE for stopping by to comment on my painting!! I appreciate your visit....I love visiting out West ..SO much to see.

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  39. Hi, Hilda, your enthusiasm for pastel is super and skills, too!! I admire your landscapes and portraits. All your work tells your inner world, too. So, sweet, sensitive and caring! Keep up wonderful work and make us happy.
    Best wishes, Sadami

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    1. Thank you SADAMI for your visit and lovely comment. I appreciate your very generous words. Enjoy your day!!!

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  40. Thats so pretty Hilda, and very much the way I remember Arizona from my one visit there too. It was two years ago in July, temps were 112 every day. And you're right, dry heat, moist heat.... it doesn't matter. It's downright HOT there. After two weeks, my eyes and contact lenses were so dry and scratchy... and my hair was like straw, and I craved the sight of a big tree. However, that being said, there was some gorgeous scenery there, especially around Sedona, and also in the areas northeast of Phoenix. You've captured the beauty of it, and made it lush and inviting. Well done!

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    1. thank you for your visit and your wonderful comment, KATHERINE! I appreciate it!! Sedona was a favorite place in Arizona for us... The scenery and color are unbelievable! Glad you visited that area! Enjoy this beautiful day!

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  41. Such a lovely scene, wonderful warm colors in there. I enjoyed your story, that would shake me up too! Ahh!

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    1. thank you so much BARBARA for stopping by to visit and for your lovely comment. I enjoy seeing animals but I like to know "where" they are when I'm hiking...lol... lately I get a bit nervous so I guess its time to hike with a group!! Have a wonderful day!

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  42. A beautiful desert landscape, with great depth of colour and perspective. Have never been to Arizona but it's just as I imagined it to be, albate, without the mountain lions!!:)

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  43. Thank you so much for stopping by to comment!!! I'm glad you liked this landscape...I think seeing mountain lions are very rare!!! Have a wonderful day!

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  44. Hilda, your desert landscape is gorgeous! It must have been an exciting day, hiking there. Your story about the mountain lion did strike a cord with me. We often hike in the Smoky Mts. and I have a huge fear of bears, so I make my husband join a group of hikers instead of just us two. The saying goes, "You don't have to outrun the bear.......just outrun your fellow hiker".

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  45. thank you for stopping by and for your lovely comment CAROL! We often visit the Smokey Mountains and I ALWAYS fear bears as well. They're so beautiful but I really love them from a distance..lol joining a group of hikers is the best way to go since the bears don't like noise...the rangers always tell you .. speak loudly to one another.... Enjoy this beautiful Evening...

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  46. Bonjour chère amie,

    Je n'ai jamais eu la chance de connaître un si merveilleux paysage... J'ai cependant la joie de pouvoir l'admirer dans cette très belle oeuvre que tu nous offres.
    Ces plantes gigantesques sont impressionnantes sans doute.
    J'ai été émue d'apprendre pour ce fameux lion ! heureusement que la chaleur t'avait obligé à faire demi tour !

    Gros bisous ♡

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  47. I'm so glad you like this painting, MARTINE ! Arizona has many beautiful places to visit...one is Sedona. The shades of red is in every mountain ...SO amazing!
    As far as the mountain lion...I only want to see them in books...lol Enjoy this beautiful day, my friend!

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  48. Que bonito paisaje bello y misterioso desierto perdiendose en el horizonte
    Besos

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  49. Muchisimas gracias AURORA por un comentario muy generoso. Estoy muy contenta que ha gustado este retrato! Un abrazo

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  50. Beautiful, Hilda! Glad the mountain lion didn't get you!!

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  51. thank you so much THERESA!!! I'm glad he didn't get me as well...I cringe at the thought...lol
    Glad you stopped by to comment!!! Enjoy the rest of the Evening....

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  52. thank you SO much ADRIANA! I don't do too many landscapes but I really enjoyed painting this. I value your comment!!! Have a wonderful day!

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  53. So beautiful Hilda! So much atmosphere, I can almost feel the heat.

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  54. thank you LORRAINE for stopping by.. I really enjoyed painting this landscape...something so different for me...glad you like it!!

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  55. I love the comment about the DRY HEAT! When people say that, I say, "so isn't an oven" :P

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    1. thank you so much MARY!!! I had a tee shirt that said "but it's a dry heat"! with two skeleton's on it...LOVED it..! Glad you stopped by to comment!!!

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