Saturday, January 14, 2012

Italian fauna

My last post got me thinking about all the cats we saw wandering around in Italy last summer. Cats...and other beautiful creatures!





"You can't see me..." says this cute little bunny hiding under an old piece of farm equipment...



This gorgeous boy playfully lolled around in the shade of a big flower pot...a perfect spot to rest in the heat of the day!

Mom and I are both cow people (you know, like cat people or dog people...only with cows! lol) So we were enchanted to pass this magnificent herd of gentle Chianina cattle on the road between Montichiello and Cetona. This breed is one of the oldest in the world, dating back over 2,000 years.


Cetona is full of surprises...like these roosters who lived in a coop in the old town wall, just down from our rental house.


This friendly old kitty almost blends into the stone steps! He did rouse himself to come and say hello to me, and rub his head against my legs, while I was exploring the immediate neighbour before the church service began.



Frolicking colts in a field beside Abbazia di Spineto. There were lots of adult horses too, but these young ones were adorable!


Driving along the Strada Provinciale di Sarteano toward Radicofani...we came upon this herd of sheep. They were in no hurry to get out of our way either! These mountain sheep were quite different from what I am used to, they were larger and also had tails.




"Hello! May I join you for dinner?" 

When we ate at the restaurant in Bagno Vignoni, this sweet kitty sat at my feet almost the entire meal. So cute...but I fear she went away without a morsel off my plate. (Dave has me well trained apparently...NO feeding pets at the table! lol)


Ahhhh...la dolce vita!




Slightly blurry pic of a stunning husky by the castle in Sarteano. He did not make a sound, or really even acknowledge our passing, as we went by, which was most unusual for a dog, I thought.




A gorgeous cat in Sarteano.



This handsome guy was keeping an eye on the grounds of the convent of Scarzuola, near Montegiove, Umbria.


A striking looking cat in Parrano, Umbria. She soon left this perch and gracefully made her way down the wall to find a spot free from tourist cameras...



Feed me...feed me!!!! This little guy went from table to table in the cafe in the Villa Borghese in Rome. He was very lively and cute, but I did not give in to those big brown eyes!







And now I have in my head a fun song we've sung in church a few times, complete with hand puppets and fake animal noises! I think it was written by Bill Staines...

All God's critters have a place in the choir

Some sing low, some sing higher

Some sing out loud on the telephone wire

And some just clap their hands, or paws

Or anything they got.

 Good times :)

7 comments:

Trekcapri said...

Hi Anne, wonderful photo collection from your Italy trip. There are some real cuties there. I didn't realize that you were cow people. I wasn't a cow person until my trip to Scotland and fell in love with those gorgeous caramel Highland cows. :) Love the song too.

Thanks so much for sharing these beautiful creatures. Have a wonderful Sunday.

Annie said...

What a great collection of critter photos! And I love that little song, LOL. Great lyrics!

Hope you're having a nice weekend. :)

Annie said...

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/

Me again. There's a photo meme called ABC Wednesday - they go thru the alphabet with a photo for each letter and they are starting a new round (the letter A) this week. Kathy (TrekCapri) and I are going to join - maybe you want to also?

Anne said...

Kathy, I remember your Highland cow photos, I loved them! There is something about cows that I find calming...watching them move slowly through the grass stills my buzzing inner core somehow.

Annie, that sounds like a fun photo meme. Thanks for letting me know about it!

sandrac said...

Hi Anne, what wonderful "critter" photos. You've really captured a beautiful and interesting collection! Love 'em!

girasoli said...

Hi Anne, Happy New Year!!

Love these photos! How fun to see so many different animals during your visit to Italy.

Hope life is going well for you.

Anonymous said...

This design is wicked! You most certainly know how to keep
a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well,
almost...HaHa!) Fantastic job. I really enjoyed what you had to say,
and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
My web-site : Emerald Cats Cattery

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...