Moosing on the Cake

All week long we were on a search. A search for the moose. We wanted so badly to see one, to be able to check it off our list but darn it, it stayed away. Until...

the last day of the trip as we're driving off Flat Creek Ranch. It takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to get down to Jackson Hole. 1 hour and 15 minutes of going 5-10 mph in a Suburban. 1 hour and 15 minutes of being tossed from side to side of said Suburban. Picture yourself in a barrel and being pushed down a rocky, steep mountain. Yep, that's how it felt. But it was worth it. We were driving around a bend in the road when we saw it. From a distance at first but I knew, KNEW it had to be our moose and guess what folks? He was amazing!

~~SIS Barb and SIS Beth~~

A Wild Beauty

So yesterday, after spending about 10 hours at Yellowstone National Park, we were making the 2 hour drive back to our hotel. I admit, I was speeding even though there are signs everywhere not to because of all the wild animals. However, we were ravenous and there are no restaurants between the park and our hotel. Anyway, we're cruising down this hill when we see a ton of cars parked on the side of the road. Another NO NO. They have what are called turnouts and you're supposed to use those, but there wasn't one and we knew they must be looking at something, so I slammed on the brakes, skid in the gravel, grabbed the camera and hopped out.

This is what we saw. So beautiful, so solitaire, so amazing. We've seen a number of wild animals since we've arrived and we'll share them all with you, but this is the closest we've come...yet!

Play Hard, Sleep Hard

Meet my beautiful fur-kids, Nia (the crazy pup) and Cheyenne (the sensitive dog). Nia's the black lab mix and we think Cheyenne's a cross between a Belgian Malinoi and a German Shepard. They both like to play.

Although Nia's the rougher one. A definite Tomboy. Or is that Tomdog?

Usually Cheyenne poops out first, but eventually Nia winds down, too. I think they're the cutest dogs ever. Well, at least in the current Ciotta household!

SIS Beth

What If...

What if...fantastical animals truly existed? What if they weren't just a myth but real creatures that walked amongst us? Would you want to live in a world with such beauty and intrigue? I know I would.

Which mythical animal would you like to see?

~~SIS Barb~~

'Tales' from Brooks

Well, Shadow and Whiskers are having a great time, being here just a little over two weeks. At ten weeks old they are incredibly smart, they learn so fast, this is the time to instill good habits.

I saw them lying side by side, touching, on the back of a sofa one day gazing out the window. They turned their heads in tandem to look at me as I came down the stairs. Darn it, the camera wasn't ready and I missed the shot! But that incredible picture of brotherly love is etched in my memory. I keep the camera with me and powered up when I go down the stairs now, hoping to catch a repeat of that scene while they're still young.

But as you can see, they gave me another gift... a photo op... an actual session. Feast your
eyes on Pots O' Kitties. Shadow is in the pot with the avocado tree and Whiskers is in the
pot where the citronella used to reside. Don't worry, they're using their litter box. And then on the next go around, they must have known what I wanted to see, two peas in a pot.

I love these guys. They're getting used to the lap and we're bonding. : )

Shadows and Whiskers in the forest.

Shadows and Whiskers in the pot.

Submitted by Brooks C

My Wish List

As most of you know I don't have any pets. Sad isn't it. I was raised surrounded and I mean surrounded by animals. Horses, dogs, cats, chickens, goats. You name it, we had it. My husband on the other hand only had a cat. Hence, he's not a big animal person. We have 2 children and I think they, we, would benefit from having a dog. Therein lies my battle to win a dog. I have a couple on my wish list but this big guy is the main one.

The breed is known by a couple different names. Cane Corso (pronounced like the name Connie), Italian Mastiff, Italian Molosso and Cane Corso Italiano. Everything I've read about this breed amazes me. From their docile nature to their role as guardian of the family.

This is the dog for me.

Many people in the states crop their ears, giving them an intimidating look. I much prefer their natural state, their Italian state.

Wish me luck!

~~SIS Barb~~

'Tales' from Brooks

Eight weeks old, having just arrived at their new home, Shadow and Whiskers haven't

ventured outside of their carrier yet. They have no idea of the adventures that await them.

08-16-09

Within the next couple of hours they came out and timidly looked around, then elected to

spend the night under the bed. A couple of days later they hadn't left the bedroom and I

was beginning to wonder how to get them to expand their boundaries. What was it that

our previous cat, Lydia, couldn't resist? Ahhh, the laser light! That did the trick. They

followed it out into the hallway without hesitation. Retiring the laser light, I watched them

turn the hallway into a racetrack. Such joyous abandon. Inside of six days, they owned

the house. Now if I can just get them to pay the mortgage.

Shadow and Whiskers, two wonderous male kitties born on June 18, 2009

More to comere to come, I'm sure. Happy to join all of you animal lovers.

More to come!

Submitted by Brooks Conner