Meet Kiri and Talia

I went home to Reno for a visit and met these two characters. Kiri and Talia are k's two Bengal cats. They have so much energy and are curious about everything. This is Talia taking some much needed alone time. She's a talker!! You wouldn't know it to look at her but she makes herself heard.

Kiri and Talia watching the neighbors dogs.

Kiri and Talia are up to something! You can see it in their eyes. They are waiting for the right moment to strike. This was taken a few seconds before k demonstrated how high they can jump. I will try to get a photo or two of them in action.... By the way that is Talia on the top and Kiri on the bottom.

Canned Competition

Last Friday night we visited the University Mall. We were there to see the canned food competition. It is amazing what you can make out of cans of food, wire, tape and a little imagination! The top picture you will have to use your imagination for.. or maybe you can see it already. This is Cancouver. It's Team USA on the Bobsled Track....

And here in the picture above we have the Great Canned Pyramids...
Here is the AlaskCan Boot....
and here we have the Giant AlaskCan King Crab.



This is a wonderful competition that benefits the local food bank. This is the third year of this type of competition. But it was the first year we have gone to see it. The sculptures are judged by the public. To vote for your favorite sculpture ....You drop the can of food that you are donating into a barrel next to the sculpture that you like. The wonderful thing about the competition was that most all of the barrels were half to three quarters full!

I was taking A home after school one afternoon last week when I happened to look over and catch sight of part of the Alaska Range. On clear days this winter we have been treated to some fantastic views of the surrounding mountains.

This is a tiny slice of the view out my bedroom window. See the tree in the background it is covered with red berries. The moose and assortment of wild birds and our neighborhood squirrel love this tree.
While I was taking a picture I caught sight of this fellow in my view finder and decided to try to get a shot of him.

Playing Catch Up...

I took some time off from You Moose Be Kidding to regroup and recharge! I think I am now recharged as for regrouped.... One can only hope! Every year I look forward to the coming year with anticipation that this might be a year of great things. This year seems to hold so much promise. Then I turn on the T.V only to find that O'bama is calling a basketball game!! :o.... If he is calling the basketball game who is minding the shop so to speak!!!! I know, I know for someone who swore she was not political I sure am getting political..... ENOUGH!! Back to the blog.

Above is a wonderful sunset picture that I took from the parking lot at the Alaska Zoo. The pink tint to the picture is that Alpenglow I have been telling you about. When the sun is just about to set and it turns the sky a real pretty mauve pink color.

The bottom picture is of the Chugach Mountains that are behind us. The storm had just given way to blue skies and snow that was stuck to everything not to mention the cold. I was waiting for A to finish up helping the 6th graders at Trailside. She helps out on Mondays and Thursdays so that she can earn points for Orchestra.

Our 1/2 Hour Visitor

Just before Halloween the weather had turned really cold and it had rained. A was on her way home from school when she spotted this little fella running around our condo parking lot. He was cold, wet and scared. A brought him inside and we made him warm. Once we had him warm and dry he hung out with us in the living room.
He made no noise so we thought it would be okey to let him stay a while longer until he saw a dog being walked on the path behind us. It was then that we found out he could bark... Rather loudly in fact! You wouldn't think a dog that small would have such a big bark but he did!! And A and I looked at each other and knew that our visit was at and end. We live in a no pets allowed building. Being the Mom of a rebel means that some times you end up as the partner in crime. A bundled him up and took him back out side. And it is there we parted ways with our 1/2 hour visitor. We haven't seen him since.

Academic Letter

This is A receiving her Academic Letter from Principal Pondolfino. She was one of 319 students that received either a letter or a gold star or silver star pin. Before the ceremony the Service High School Concert Orchestra entertained us with wonderful music. After the ceremony we were treated to refreshments.
This is A's Academic Letter. A lot of hard work went into this letter. So many hours of homework are also wrapped up in this letter. We are so proud of you A. :)

Two More Mouths to Feed

That's right! We have two more mouths to feed. A is such a rebel. She sees the words NO PETS on the front door as a suggestion. I really thinks she looks upon those two words as a challenge. So far our rebel had broken the rules with Goldfish. K took her to"Pet Zoo". That is the local pet store. A was looking for more goldfish or so I thought. when she came in the door the first thing she said to me was "Don't get scared". I was thinking tarantula, or worse... snake. I had not even seen what she brought home yet and I was already thinking "I'm in trouble!!!"

K went about the business of helping her set up the small fish tank that she has. Once that was ready she pulled out her purchase. Two small mice. Well to say I was relieved is an understatement. It's been about eight years since she had her rats. They were the cutest things you have ever seen. They were Russian Blue rats. She named them Snoopy and Woodstock. And they were her buddies.

While they settled in she thought of names for them. The names fit them. See the brownish tan one? His name is Wheeler. This is a good name for him because well.... He is addicted to his wheel. He gets in that thing and runs like mad. I wonder if he knows he's not going anyplace?? Then there is Smalls. He is the two toned white and grayish brown little guy. He likes the wheel as well. The only problem I can see for Smalls is when he gets on the wheel with Wheeler. He either has to keep up with Wheeler or if is forced to hang on and ride the wheel while hanging upside down. Poor Guy!!